2 weeks had passed since the visit to Los Angeles. Now, the 5 guys were planning their annual camping trip. There was a quiet camping trail in Montana, and ever since 1994, they had gone there for one weekend every fall to get away from the outside world, and hang out together as friends, not Backstreet Boys.
Brian and Michelle had been keeping in touch frequently, talking on the phone or e-mailing, and so Brian felt that he would be comfortable inviting her to come. AJ had stopped making comments about her, and had just kept his mouth shut during the whole thing. Nick wanted to invite Gretchen, and vowed to prove to her that she could trust him. AJ was bringing Amanda, of course, and Kevin and Howie had no idea who they might invite, if anyone. The mountains and scenery made the camping trail very romantic, and so they guys had always brought dates.
Brian decided to broach the subject with Michelle one Saturday night as they chatted on the phone.
“The movie is wrapping up shooting next week?” Brian asked.
“Yep. I’m so happy!” Michelle said.
“So you’re going to be free the weekend after next?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, I have a proposition for you. You don’t have to decide right away, and I’ll understand if you won’t feel comfortable with the situation, but the guys and I go camping once a year, and we always invite dates or whatever to come. I wanted to know- …”
“I’d love to come,” Michelle said.
“Really? You don’t think it’s too soon to go on a weekend trip with me?”
“No. I trust you Brian. I can tell that you’re someone I can feel safe with. I’d love to come.”
“Well… great! It’s the weekend after next, and we’re flying up to California anyway, because from there we’re driving to Montana, so we could pick you up when we get there… and it’s gonna be great. You’ll get to meet AJ’s girlfriend, and this girl Nick wants to bring and…”
Michelle laughed. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Cool.”
At Nick’s house…
“You could come just as my friend,” Nick persuaded.
“It does sound like fun, and I could use that time as part of my vacation…”
“Come on, Gretchen. Live a little. You’ve been working so hard lately… Believe me, it’s the most fun thing to do. You’ll feel like you haven’t worked in months after.”
“OK. I’m in.”
“Great! You won’t regret it.”
“Let me just warn you beforehand that I’m not really the nature-girl type.”
“That’s OK. The only nature-type things we do are set up tents and make campfires. We bring our own food and drinks, and basically just hang out. And this part may sound corny, we try to do some karaoke-esque stuff, even though we have no microphone or anything. We basically draw a song title out of a hat, and then have to sing it to Brian’s guitar. It’s a blast. Last year, Mandy had to sing- …”
“Who’s Mandy?”
“Oh… an ex-girlfriend of mine. We broke up awhile back. A couple of times.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, we always fly to California and then drive to Montana, so we’ll pick you up there, OK?”
“OK. Just give me all the details when it’s all organized. Who else is coming besides the 5 of you guys and me?”
“Well, Brian’s been getting chummy with that actress, Michelle Colback, lately. Do you know her?”
“I know who she is, yeah. She’s really good.”
“Yeah, well, I think he’s inviting her. AJ’s bringing his girlfriend, Amanda Latona, and Kevin and Howie have yet to decide who to bring. So… there will be as many as 10 of us.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to it.”
“So am I.”
“I don’t know, AJ. I mean, now that Leighanne and Mandy aren’t going to be there, and Howie’s old girlfriend Claudia, and Kevin’s ex, I’ll feel out of place. I’m the only one that won’t be a ‘newbie’ or whatever,” Amanda said.
“Me and the guys aren’t newbies,” AJ replied.
“That’s beside the point.”
“Just come, Amanda.”
“OK…”
“Good.”
“What would you do if I didn’t come?” she asked.
“Maybe I would have brought someone else,” AJ replied smugly.
“Yeah, right. That’ll be the day. Later, AJ.”
Howie dialed Claudia’s number. Just because they had broken up didn’t mean that she wouldn’t be up for the camping trip. They had, in fact, agreed to be friends, and she had mentioned to him (a few weeks ago when they had talked over the phone) how much she had enjoyed the 2 camping trips she’d been on with them.
“Hey Claud, how’s it going?” he asked when she answered the phone.
“It’s been going good. It’s great to hear your voice,” she said.
“Yeah, ditto. You know how you were saying a few weeks ago that you loved the camping trips we’ve been on?” he asked.
“Yeah. They were always great,” she said.
“Well, we’re going on another one in two weeks, and I wanted to know if you’d be interesting in going for a third time with us.”
“Howie! Of course I would! That… that would be so awesome. Are Leighanne and Mandy and Amanda going too?”
“Uh… just Amanda is, I think. Nick and Mandy split awhile back, and Leighanne broke up with Brian just a few weeks ago.”
“Oh my gosh! No one told me. Well, Brian’s going alone then, isn’t he? He must be crushed, poor thing.”
“Uh, actually, he’s bringing someone…”
“Oh, well… that’s interesting.”
“So, I’ll call you back later with more details, OK?”
“OK… and, Howie?”
“Yes?”
“I’m really glad you called me.”
“No prob. Later.”
Kevin sighed as he typed away on his laptop. He knew the other guys were probably wrangling dates for the camping trip, but he didn’t feel like even trying right now. He had felt unusually down lately, and he didn’t know what was bothering him. When they were in Los Angeles, while the other guys were off having fun, he had basically just walked around, alone, thinking. Thinking about his dad, about his family, about his future. He wanted to confide in someone, but he didn’t know who. He just felt lonely. He didn’t feel complete.