'God your music taste is awful', Kristen whined from the back seat while being crushed by the boys, who clearly had never understood the concept of leg space. 'Guys stop man spreading!', Liv piped in from the front, enjoying her younger sister's irritation while she reclined in the passenger seat, hand playfully resting on Trip's as he stared intensely on the road, begging the signal to turn green.
The car revved as Trip sped up, determined to make it to their spot before some other group god-forbid stole it. 'Oi!', Jason complained as the car swerved into the parking lot, making them all jerk as Trip parked. Groans and stretches followed as the worn out crew at the back clambered out, clearly too big for the tiny sports car that was given to Trip for his birthday. 'Next time were taking tank', said Mike, sighing as he stepped out from the rear. 'Your behemoth would take us a week to get here' Trip retorted back, clearly nothing was better than his little souped up charger.
The grass was still damp from the morning dew as the group trudged their heavy baskets, blankets and an assortment of games, sports equipment and sound systems towards the lake. 'Finally!', Kristen whined as she dumped her bags onto the ground, not used to being dragged out of bed so early in the morning. 'Oh Kris you're such a big baby' Liv smirked as she placed the picnic basket on the lush green grass, clearly pleased with their early arrival as the cool waters shimmered with the sun's light directly in front of them.
'Cannonball!!!', Jason screamed as he propelled himself of the lake deck, splashing the girls with water who expectedly shrieked with displeasure from the unplanned downpour. 'Jason you ass'. Kristen retorted as he resurfaced, hair sleeked back despite the copious amounts of wax he'd lobbed in it. 'What, I thought it was funny', Jason said meekly as he stood dripping wet in front her, upset that he'd potentially wrecked his chances with the girl that gave him butterflies when she spoke. Kristen sighed, handing Jason a towel to dry himself off, which he graciously accepted.
It was noon when the chicken sandwiches (crusts cut off for Mike) were passed around to the hungry boys who wolfed them down, starving after the day's swim. 'Phawnks' Trip muffled, between mammoth sized bites. 'Heaven help feed you boys when you go off to college in September', Kristen sighed as she shamelessly gave half her remaining sandwich to Jason. 'It's fine Kris', Jason said as he gulped down her sandwich, 'I can totally cook if I set my mind to it, just like that Gordon Ramsey guy, except more good looking... and younger' he added as an after thought. 'You nearly set Liv alight at our last barbecue', Mike chuckled, 'And we ended up ordering from El Pasto since you burned all the burgers. I may like my meat well done but yours looked they were besties with the sun'. That got him a tub of coleslaw smacked over by a slightly miffed Jason, who clearly believed his culinary expertise were of noteworthy mention.
The air was beginning to cool as Trip and Liv went off for a walk, hoping to salvage what was originally planned as a romantic afternoon for the two, till Jason and Kristen wheeled in. Mike lay fast asleep on the soft blanket, his gentle snores keeping away other picnickers from residing too close to the group. 'What you up to Kris?', Jason questioned as he trotted over and sat down besides Kristen, her pen peacefully scribbling away on an olive leather bound notebook. 'Just sketching Mike', she responded back idyllically, 'who would imagine that such a bundle of energy would make such a perfect subject to capture'. 'Huh he's not all that perfect', Jason grumbled as he peeked over her shoulder, the same butterflies beginning to appear between the now digesting chicken sandwiches in his stomach. 'Jealous?', Kristen chided, her delicate hands reaching up to scratch Jason's chin, clearly making him stand up, flushed with embarrassment. 'I am not!', he said, voice breaking, ' I just think I'd make a better model than Mike'. Kristen smiled at him, enjoying the response she was getting, 'Is that so? Well I'm free next Friday if you feel like posing over dinner.' 'Erm... yeah sure that would be perfect', Jason responded, trying very hard to maintain his cool as he took in what was happening.
'What did I miss?', Mike grumbled towards Kristen and Jason as he pushed himself upright. 'Nothing!', they both exclaimed back as Trip and Liv came trudging back, hand held in each others. 'Shall we head back?', Jason motioned excitedly, giving a quick wink to Kristen, as he began to help pack up. 'You're in a good mood', Liv asked suspiciously as her eyes went from Jason to her younger sister who coolly looked back into hers, olive-green staring back at ice-blue.
The sunset reflected over the now still lake, as a group of shadows made their way back to the car that was perhaps too small for the 5 of them. Their laughter grew quieter and the land returned back to peace as the group unknowingly said bye for the last time, to a place they had grown to love over the years, and made way for a new chapter of memories as the cycle of companions continued.
