Chapter 8
The next day, the group started home. They were making good time. A few days later, when they were halfway home, Stephanie spotted a small animal eating a berry.
STEPHANIE: Aw! How cute!
Stephanie pointed the animal out to Chelsea and Max. They were about to walk towards it and try to pet it when suddenly, its fur spiked up in all different directions.
MAX: It's a porcupine!
Max ran and hid behind a tree. Chelsea went to go find him.
CHELSEA: What's wrong?
MAX: I don't like porcupines. When I was a kid, I had a really bad experience with one at a zoo.
Chelsea took Max's hand.
CHELSEA: Come on, let's go. It's like Brady's been saying every time we see an animal, ignore it and it will ignore you.
So, they kept going and for the rest of the journey, they saw many other small animals. As they walked along, they continued talking and laughing with each other. They were now good friends with each other, and even had their own inside jokes. Each one hoped that the camping trip would never end. But, as you and I know, dear reader, all things must come to an end. But, the end of one magical adventure is just the beginning of another. And so, all too soon, the group came to the end of their hiking trip. Their final stop was the Java Café, the place where the whole trip began. Each got a drink and had a good time chatting with one another. However, all too soon, it was time for each of them to leave. Shawn-D and Belle were the first to go.
SHAWN-D: We'd better get going. We promised my parents that we would pick Claire up shortly after we got back.
BELLE: We had a great time with everybody. See you all later.
PHILIP: Yeah, I'd better get going, too. I kind of neglected to tell my father that I would be going on this trip, so he's probably gonna kill me when I get back to the mansion.
STEPHANIE: I should go, too. It's been a few weeks, and they'll want to know how the trip was.
Philip and Stephanie left.
MAX: I should get back to the Pub. Grandma Caroline's probably been really busy running the Pub by herself. Later.
CHELSEA: I should catch up with Shawn and Belle. I need to see Hope and my dad. It's been a blast hanging with you guys!
Chelsea and Max left.
REX: Well, Cassie, since we're back, we should probably stop at Roman's house and let him know we're home.
CASSIE: Yeah, I guess.
MIMI: I'm coming with you guys since Rex and I are back together again. We'll see you guys around town.
Rex, Mimi, and Cassie left to find Roman.
ABBY: I've been staying with Aunt Maggie since I got back to town. She'll want to hear about our trip, too. So, I'll get going.
Abby left to see Maggie.
MORGAN: I gotta head out too, I suppose. It's been real great seein' y'all.
Morgan left.
WILL: Well, my dad wanted to have us over for dinner the night we got back, so we should go, too.
MIA: Really? I mean, I always get the impression that your dad doesn't like me.
WILL: He does like you. He's just a little overprotective of me sometimes. Besides, I know that he likes you. I've asked him. He says that I'm probably the luckiest guy in the world to have a girlfriend like you.
MIA: Well, I'm probably to luckiest girl in the world to have a boyfriend as sweet as you.
Will and Mia kissed, and went off to Lucas' apartment.
MELANIE: So...I guess it's just the two of us, then.
BRADY: Yup, it sure is.
MELANIE: Well, what do you want to do?
BRADY: We could go over to the Kiriakis Mansion and go for a swim in Grandfather's pool.
MELANIE: Really? Won't Victor get kinda mad?
BRADY: No, not really. I mean, sure, he kicked me out of the Mansion and practically disowned me. But, Henderson still likes me and is good at keeping secrets. He can make sure that Grandfather never sees us.
MELANIE: Okay then. Let's go!
And so, all of the kids headed off their separate ways. They all knew that they had grown closer to each other over the trip, and were glad of it. It had been a great summer!
