Strictly Taboo(2)

“Sorry, kid, you’re going. End of story.” Easton knew better than to push. With a frustrated sigh he stormed out of the room towards the staircase.

“Easton, dinner will be ready in five minutes, you’d better be down here when it is!” Stella called from the kitchen.

Easton’s nostril’s flared as he stomped up the stairs like a pouting child. He was tired of being treated like a kid, but every time he tried to fight it he was met with the ‘our house, our rules’ comeback. He couldn’t wait to have his own place so he could make his own rules, but with what he made at the grocery store, it’d be a while.





Chapter 2




Scout and Easton had lost all appeals to get out of the camping trip. They now found themselves crammed in to an old school bus amid fifteen complete strangers. Scout guessed that they were all freshmen in high school because they didn’t look any older. She wasn’t seeking to confirm her suspicions however, since that would mean the possibility of someone trying to get to know her. Instead, she sat beside Easton twirling her long dark hair around her fingers and staring out of the window. At least, she thought, Easton would be just as miserable for the next few days.

“Who wants to sing a song?!” Mary called from the front seat. A chorus of voices cheered and they all broke in to singing ‘Kumbaya.’

“Oh brother.” Scout muttered under her breath. Easton snickered.

“Right?!”

“Can you tell how much fun this weekend is going to be?” Scout asked.

“We’ll figure out something to do, but I’m sure as hell not sitting around a campfire singing Kumbaya.” Easton said.



The drive out to the National Forest was long. It was made even longer than the repeated choruses of campfire songs. By the time the bus pulled up in to the gravel parking lot, Scout and Easton both itching to get off.

“Okay, everyone! Be careful when you get off the bus! I want you all to collect your bags and just wait. When everyone has their bags we will walk out to the camping area together.” Easton rolled his eyes. It was going to be a very long couple of days.



Once Mary had led everyone out to the camping area, she instructed everyone to put up their own tents. Scout watched in amusement as the freshmen struggled with tent poles and ropes. She was thankful to have a pop-up tent. The younger kids all circled their tents around the pre-existing fire pit. Scout and Easton picked a small area further back and closer to the tree line. When Mary saw where they had put up their tents she walked by, shaking her head disapprovingly.

“I’d really like it if you guys moved a little bit closer to everyone else.” She said. Easton took it as a suggestion more than a request and decided that they would stay where they were. Scout concurred. Once Mary had walked away from earshot Easton mimicked her nasally voice.

“I’d really like it if…fuck you! I’d really like it if you left me the fuck alone!” He said. Scout laughed loudly and Mary turned to look at them both suspiciously. After a few seconds of staring at them both she shook her head and moved on.

“I don’t think she likes us very much!” Scout said as she threw her backpack inside her tent.

“Good, maybe she’ll steer clear of us and not play your mom’s spy all weekend.” Easton said as he reached in to his backpack and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

“Oh God, I hadn’t thought of that.” Scout said. “Do you really think she’s going to be spying on us the whole time?” Easton shrugged as he pulled a cigarette out of the box and slipped it between his thick lips.

“Don’t really give a shit.” He patted his shirt pocket and then pulled out a lighter. Taking a long drag, he offered the cigarette to Scout. She took it and took a long drag too before handing it back to him.

“So…” Scout said, smoke slipping from her lips. “This trip is pretty much going to suck either way, what do you say we make it fun?” Easton took another drag, paused and then let the smoke curl from his lips.

“What did you have in mind?” He offered her the cigarette again and she took it.

“I’m not sure yet, but I really want to fuck with her head.” She took a drag and handed the cigarette back.

“Hmm, I’m in. Sounds like more fun than what she’s probably got planned.” Just then, as Easton took another drag from the cigarette, Mary’s voice came from across the camp.

“Easton, if that’s a cigarette in your hand then so help me God!” She sounded angrier than Easton imagined she could ever be. He stubbed the cigarette out.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to say God like that!” He shouted back. Scout laughed. Mary glared in their direction for a few minutes before turning away and walking to one of the kid’s tents.