You Can't Shake the Noise From Their Bones

SHANE'S POV:

Jasey and I looked over the map her dad had tossed to us in the back seat, finally allowing us to see our charted route and destination. And when we saw, Jasey and I both stared at the piece of paper and then at each other. Yeah, we were both in shock. Well, not shock I guess. It was more so a mutual understanding that we were disappointed with the choice made by the parental powers.

'Virginia? That's the state this year? Why couldn't we do Yellowstone again?' Not my complaint, it belonged to Jasey.

'Because it takes over a day to get there, it takes like three and a half hours to get to Virginia. Besides, it's Sherando Lake. It's pretty! And there's a beach! You love the beach. It'll be fun, just like Yellowstone.' Okay so Jasey's mom made a good point, but I knew Jasey. I saw her sink back into the car seat, almost deflated. And I knew why she wanted it to be Yellowstone so badly.

It was our spot. We couldn't tell you where it was but we would know it in an instant. Last time we were there, Jasey had a full on panic attack when it was just me and her exploring so we sat and we talked and she cried and then we scratched our names on a rock. Although it was stressful, it pretty much summed up our friendship. We would always be there for each other, no matter what. We would never be too busy to help the other out.

'Plus,' Mr G continued, 'it was either this or Yogi Bears Jellystone park.'

'Let me guess, my dads idea?' I asked.

'Wow, how'd you guess that so quick? Gee I can't believe it, you're good kid,' he told me, smiling at me in the rear view mirror. I smiled back and turned my concentration back to the map.

'I don't like this,' Jasey stated.

The shoulders of her parents deflated significantly and they didn't do a very good job of hiding their sighs. Mrs G turned around in her seat, clearly taking one for the team. 'Honey, it's fine. Noah doesn't mind. He's fine.'

'But it's our tradition! Every year, Halloween, we go camping. All of us. It doesn't feel right that he's not here!'

'It'll still be fun, I promise. Noah will be enjoying himself with school, just try and have a good time. You still have Shane.'

'Hmph.' Jasey slumped back in her seat, arms folded and leaning on the window. I sighed and squeezed her knee in sympathy. She didn't look back at me.

'Oh come on, I'm not that bad.' When Jasey finally looked at me, I could tell she didn't appreciate my failed attempt at humour. Her mom turned up the volume and I lowered my voice. 'Jasey, what's really wrong? Come on, this isn't just about Noah, is it?'

She shrugged. 'I don't know. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Either way it doesn't matter.'

'Of course it matters.'

'No. It doesn't. Just leave it alone, okay? Or I'll ask mom and dad to stop and leave you on the side of the road.'

'Yeah right, you know my parents would just catch up with us and put me in their car.'

'Right. Well maybe you should just get it over and done with.'

'What?'

Jasey sighed and leaned her head on her hand. 'Just forget it.' And I did exactly as she said. I didn't want to push her. But I'd pick it up again later. We had all night after all. I hated seeing my best friend like this. It was just weird. Clearly something was eating away at her. What was that exactly? Well your guess is as good as mine. But I was supposed to know. I was supposed to look after her. We've known each other since we were babies, we became best friends...sometimes our brothers get jealous of how close we are but they have their own friends and we annoy them most of the time anyway.

It took us just under four hours to reach the lake, and when we did, I was pleasantly surprised. It really wasn't that bad after all. A scenic lake, a beach, foliage, typical components within a quaint reservation. Trying to not sound like a girl, it was, in the most masculine way possible, cute. Cosy.

My dad and his band mates attempted to be all masculine and set up their tents. All the families ha split off into teams. Alex had joined up with Rian because Kayleigh, his daughter and only child, was too young to really take part. Zack had his son Evan and then there was my dad and my brother Nate. The wives, Mrs G, D, B and M as I like to refer to them were huddled together with Kayleigh and Zack's twins, Lilly and Tara. I sat with Jasey watching and laughing as the parents got competitive and egos took over, resulting in a tent which had just been all set up, collapsing on Alex and Rian just as they started their victory dance.

'Oh my god, I think that may just be one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen your dad do,' I told Jasey, between wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.

Jasey smiled small and nodded.

I frowned and put my arm around her, pulling her closer to me. 'You okay Jasey? You've been weird this whole time. Seriously. It's freaking me out.'

She shrugged. 'Sorry.'

'I don't want you to apologise, I want you to tell me what's wrong.'

Jasey was quiet and I got the feeling she wasn't going to answer. A few silent moments passed between us as we stared out at the disorganised adults trying to arrange something mildly coherent and good enough to sleep in. 'I think mom needs help with the food,' Jasey finally said, and she got up and walked over to where the women were cooking. They'd managed to set up a food tent with less than a tenth of the fuss the guys had. And Jasey's mom most definitely did not need help with the food. But I didn't say anything, I just watched her go and then went to help Alex and Rian.

It wasn't long before all the tents were done, be it only just, but nonetheless done. I mean, we'd be able to sleep in them. We all sat around the campfire eating hotdogs that we wanted to pretend we're made in the traditional over the fire way. We got the ghost stories out the way, too quickly for my liking because Kayleigh and Tara started crying because they got too scared.

To halt the crying we broke out the marshmallows and before you know it everyone was laughing again, this time over stories of my dad and the band touring. I couldn't help but smile, knowing soon that would be me. Me and Jasey, the ultimate road trip for best friends. A freakin tour. In the UK. Was I stoked? Hell yeah! They hadn't played the Uk in years, it would be immense. Every show was already sold out.

'Alright guys, tents,' Zack declared. 'Nate, Tara, Evan and Lilly, you're all together. Nate, you're in charge. Don't let my kids outta your sight.' My brother nodded and saluted. 'Kayleigh, you're with your mom and dad-'

'But I wanna go with them!' Kayleigh complained, referring to my brothers squad.

'Sweetie, you're too young, maybe next year,' Cass told her.

Kayleigh slumped in her mothers arms and wouldn't stop sulking. 'Thats what you said last year,' she muttered. We all bit our lips to stop from smiling.

'Sam and I will share-'

'Zack, honey I'm gonna stop you right there,' Sam said, interrupting her husband. 'I was discussing with the girls and we decided we're gonna have some quality wives bonding time. It works out better, seen as we only have five tents. Me, Allie and Erin will share and you, Jack and Alex can spend the night enjoying the company of each others farts.'

'Oh how thoughtful of you,' Alex said dryly.

Erin laughed. 'Alex, you're the worst offender out of the lot.'

'Exactly, I fear for my bros lives.'

'Mr G, not trying to be mean or anything but aren't you kinda too old to be using the term bro?' I pointed out.

'Oh hell no, Jack your kid just sassed me, spank his booty.'

'Alex. You deserve it. I love you, but you can't take the anguish of your farts out on my son.' My dad held his hand out or a high five, and, of course, I obliged him.

'So me and Jasey take up the last tent, right?' I asked. Zack nodded. This had been a tradition for a few years now. Ever since I was seven and we convinced our parents we were adult enough to look after ourselves. I smiled over at Jasey, who smiled back, but somehow I didn't believe it. And I noticed she had been pulling down her sleeves all day. She'd been wearing long sleeved shirts for far too long now. I mean I know it was fall but come on!

In an hour we were all settled and everyone else was asleep. I heard soft snoring from all around, aside from within our tent. I wasn't sleeping, Jasey wasn't sleeping. Nobody was gonna hear. It was really just us. Perfect.

I shook her shoulder and she turned over in her sleeping bag. She looked annoyed with me, but my guess was that was due to the fact that she knew I was going to question her.

'You can't avoid it anymore, I won't let you,' I told her.

Jasey looked at the ceiling of the tent and sighed. 'I know. But if I tell you I'll hurt you, and I don't want to hurt you. You're the best friend I've ever had. I've known you my whole life, I just don't want to lose you.'

'Jasey, I know.'

'Know what?'

I rolled my eyes. 'Oh come on, you haven't worn long sleeves since...you know. I know, Jasey. I know. I just need to know why. Why would you do that? You promised me it had stopped, you promised you'd try, for me.'

'I did try, but things just got too much okay? It was the only way I knew to handle it.'

'Why wouldn't you talk to me? You know you can talk to me.'

'Not about this.'

'Why not?'

'Because I know.' Jasey looked me directly in the eye. 'I know I'm gonna lose you.'

I shook my head. 'You aren't gonna lose me, okay? I'm always here. I promise, I'm not gonna leave you.'

She sighed. 'Whatever you say.'

I touched her arm and used my other hand to force her to face me without looking away. 'Jasey, you're my best friend, I love you. I'm not going anywhere, okay?' Jasey nodded glumly. What did I have to do to convince this girl? 'Please, can you try and stop? For me?' Jasey shrugged. 'Jasey come on, please, for gods sake. I need you to try!' My eyes started watering and I gripped her arm tight, holding onto her because I knew all she needed to feel was that she was needed by somebody. And by god, did I need her. 'Please. Jasey, please. Stop.' A tear fell and Jasey looked at me and wiped the tear away with her free hand.

'Okay,' she said quietly. So quietly I almost didn't hear her. 'Okay,' she repeated.

I smiled softly at her and kissed her wrist, then her forehead. We arranged ourselves so we could zip the two sleeping bags together and share, ready to fall asleep in each others arms.

'And by the way, when we get home, you're telling me exactly why this all started again.'

'Fine,' she said, 'as long as you don't leave me.'

And with that we fell asleep in the knowledge that it would all be okay, that Jasey would tell me what was wrong and that we would sort it, together. Except she didn't need to tell me. Because I would find out for myself. And it just sucked that she had figured it out before I did.