The Stroud Family and I

Chapter: 22

Chapter 22: Nothing but a Couple of Pranksters

"Come on, slow poke," I said to Sidney.

"Oh my god, Clo, I seriously swear to Mother Nature, my legs cannot take me any further up this damn mountain!"

I stopped and turned around to find Sidney had decided to plop her body down on the dirt floor beneath us. Rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms over my chest and propped my leg out in annoyance.

"Sidney."

"Cleo."

"It is literally only like, five minutes more of hiking, and then we're there. Come on, the guys passed us not too long ago, and I know for a fact, they are already at the river. Let's go, before I'm an old lady," I groaned.

"You're already an old lady, old lady," Sidney rolled her eyes and stood up, brushing sticks off of her shorts.

We continued walking up the mountain. Let's just say that Sidney was literally begging me to take her somewhere 'cool and awesome,' so I told her about this certain mountain we are currently hiking up to get to the river we can swim in, and she happily obliged. I was a little concerned about Colton hiking, because of his back, but he insisted that he would be fine. Well, now Sid is grumpy and tired from the small hike we have been on, and has not stopped complaining since.

"Ugh, my legs hurt so much!"

"Are you on your period or something, Sid? You sure are acting like it," I teased.

"No! I just didn't realize I would have to exert this much of my energy, just to swim in a river!"

"Well, you don't have to exert any more energy, because we're finally here."

Sidney looked up from the ground, and when her eyes connected with the crystal blue water of the river, they widened with excitement. She drank the view of everything in. The trees surrounding us were different shades of green, and the water of the river was clear. We walked over to where Colton, Blake, Dillian, Eli, and Hayden were setting up, by laying towels out and setting the cooler down. I watched as Colton reached for the bottom of his shirt, and he took it off. I never get used to how perfect he is. His head lifted up, and his eyes connected to mine. I smiled and walked over to him. He engulfed me in a hug, kissing my cheek. I looked over at Hayden, Colton's best friend and smiled at him.

"What's up, Cleo? I haven't seen you for a while," Hayden grinned.

"You should come around more, Hayden," I smiled back at him.

That was actually a lie. I have seen Hayden a lot, actually. I think after what happened to Colton with his accident, it sort of freaked him out and made him realize how much of a great best friend Colton was to him. He thought Colton was going to die, same as everyone else, and it tore him up inside. Hayden's eyes flickered behind me, and he stood up about another inch. I raised one of my eyebrows and turned around to see Sid standing awkwardly behind me. I laughed and pulled her over, slinging one of my arms around her shoulders.

"Hayden, meet Sidney. Sid, meet Hayden, Colton's best friend."

"It's nice to meet you," Sid waved her hand slightly at him.

"My pleasure," Hayden winked.

Sidney's cheeks immediately flamed up, and she pulled away from me, going over to set her towel down on the ground. I laughed, then shrugged out of my shorts, and pulled my shirt over my head, exposing my bikini I was wearing. I was wearing a baby pink triangle style bikini, and Sidney was wearing a halter top, plum colored bikini. We both went shopping a couple days ago, and she claimed we needed to buy new suits, so, I figured I would. I looked up and caught Colton staring at me. He whistled a low whistled, and took a step closer to me.