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Exiting the recreational vehicle Tala took a moment to stretch and yawn, lifting her arms above her head and arching her back. The ride from her home to the lake wasn't a long one, but her lack of sleep was catching up with her. She and her parents had been at each other's throats the last few of days with their last screaming match ending with her stepfather taking her cellphone from her.

As she stretched she watched Cassandra and Kassey quickly set up their tents. Tala then moved to one of the outside storage compartments of the RV and retrieved her duffle bag and sleeping bag.

"I have room in my tent, if anyone wants a roof over their head," Cassandra informed the group before disappearing inside her tent to change clothes.

"Same here," Kassey gestured toward her own tent. "I've got room for a person or two if we need it. I brought an extra sleeping bag too just in case anyone forgot," she said before she also disappeared into her tent.

Though she had not been socializing with her friends as much this past year Tala's feelings towards them had not changed. No, she did not hate those around her now. It was just something had changed within her. As though a dial was steadily being turned inside of her that was slowly transforming Tala from a cheerful and outgoing teenager into a more introverted, antisocial girl. Less and less did she feel the need to interact with others. Tala did not attend any of the past school year's dances or sporting events. Neither did she hang with her friends after school or on the weekends during the last six months or so. No going to the movies. No going swimming. No shopping sprees or girls' nights out. Fact is, if Tala's home life wasn't currently in turmoil she probably wouldn't have come on this camping trip.

Despite the fact that she had never officially [i]'came out'[/i] to her friends, before the shift in her temperament Tala used to be quite flirtatious with her girlfriends. Although gay she had not yet become physically attracted to the other girls. That is unless comments about being jealous of Kassey's derriere counted as physical attraction. Cassandra and Aaliyah -affectionately dubbed the Twin Towers- were entertainers as Tala was once. She enjoyed Riley's tomboyish nature, and Kassey's curiosity, loyality and athleticism were all traits to be admired. Elisha was a new addition to the circle that, even though Tala had seen her around, she hadn't really gotten to know her. Yet the way the cute little Eurasian girl's brown eyes beamed whenever they looked toward Carlos did not go unnoticed.

Tala considered her sleeping options. After Billy claimed he was going to go after some real firewood and struck a ludicrous pose with his hatchet, a moment that brought a genuine amused grin to Tala's face, Cassandra chose to accompany him along with another new kid, Evan. As they walked off Kassey was dragging some logs suitable for sitting on around the spot where the campfire would be built.

Brushing shiny black locks of hair behind a tiny ear Tala stepped toward Kassey. "[color=C71585]Guess I'm bunking with you[/color]."

"By the way," said Riley as she set up a few folded chairs around the fire circle, "if some of you guys are sharing tents, I don't want to hear any moaning or anything like that." Riley chuckled as she walked away to begin assembling her own tent.

"[color=C71585]No need for moaning. I'm sure that snoot of yours could pick up the scent of sex a mile away[/color]," Tala retorted in a lower tone before slipping into Kassey's tent with her things.