Prologue

I collapsed in the dry grass and let out a highly audible sigh. My dad gave me a pointed look, while my brother’s face clouded with exasperation.

“Brielle, are you honestly just going to sit there the entire time?” My dad asked sternly.

I nodded my head stubbornly, and crossed my legs underneath me; further cementing the fact that I had no plans of getting up or doing anything.

“Dad, I don’t even know why we bothered making her come. She’s not having a good time,” my brother complained in an undertone. He let out a long sigh and continued propping up the tent that he and my dad were trying to construct.

Jeff was right; I wasn’t having a good time- not in the slightest. My dad had dragged me along on he and my older brother’s annual camping trip- bonding time, my dad had called it- and I was miserable. The idea of spending three hot days out in the Washington wilderness was not the least bit fun to me- especially when Ashley Comfrey had invited me to her slumber party that weekend. My dad didn’t understand when I told him that Ashley was the most popular girl in eight grade, and that by turning down her invitation to her slumber party I was jeopardizing any amount of coolness I could ever dream of having when I started high school in the fall.

“Who wants to be cool anyway?” he had said, as he pushed me into the car earlier that morning. Obviously, my dad had no idea what the desires of a typical thirteen year old girl were.

“Come and help us pitch the tent, Brielle,” my dad offered, and his tone was more of a plead than a command.

I sighed, and Jeff rolled his eyes. “Look, I know you’re pissed that you’re missing that slumber party or whatever, but get over it. I’m missing the big football game this weekend, but you don’t see me being an ass about it.”

“Jeff!” my dad scolded, “No cursing- you know that.”

Jeff shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry dad, but seriously, Brielle…either help us out or just go sit in the car until Sunday, will ya?”

“Fine,” I said, standing up and crossing my arms. “I’ll just call mom and have her come pick me up.”