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like it was working.
    A tap on her shoulder made her look around with hope that it was Emily but instead she found David with an unsure look on his face.
    David was a great guy. A little quiet compared to Josh and not as outgoing as Quinn but a stable addition in their group. You could always count on David for anything. Most of the time you didn’t even have to ask him, he just seemed to know what was needed. Alex knew that David had a thing for Emily. She didn’t know if he was in love with her but definitely he had been crushing on her for years. When Emily had started dating Mason, David had been in such a funk that he barely talked to anyone. For the first three weeks he walked around in a sulk. It wasn’t until Alex had talked to him about it and shared her feelings with him that he started to come around. They had both decided that Em was just trying out a new crowd and once she really got to know Mason and his jerk friends, that she would ditch them and come back to her real friends. That conclusion seemed to be very wrong now that Emily had made this huge choice.
    “You okay?” asked David with concern.
    Alex thought if she tried to speak she would end up crying so she just gave a tiny shake of her head. How could any of this be okay?
    “Listen Alex I don’t think she’s going to change her mind. Even Mrs. Moore took a crack at her and had no luck. So the only thing I can think of is, I have to go with them. I don’t think I could live with myself if I let her go off with those three assholes alone. What do you think?”
    The only thing Alex could think at that moment was how could Emily be so blind to this guy? So instead of replying she just leaned in and grabbed David in a tight hug and breathed into his ear, “Thank you.”
    She felt David stiffen just as she heard a tentative, “Lex? Can I talk to you?”
    Alex let David go and with a deep breath turned around to face her best friend. She couldn’t think of anything to say to her so she just waited.
    When it was clear to Emily that Alex wasn’t going to say anything she began, “I’m so sorry Lex! I know you must think that I’m a fool or crazy but,” at a loss for words she stopped.
    Alex took pity on her friend and tried to help, “But why? I don’t understand why you would go with them. You don’t know anything about sailing and those guys are so self-centered. At least with us you know we would do anything to keep you safe.”
    “Well that’s one of the reasons. I don’t think they would make it on their own. They bluster and brag so much but I think they are pretty clueless outside of their shallow high school world. So I think they need help. And I know I don’t know anything about sailing but I’m the best swimmer in the whole school. You know I was on track for the National’s and then maybe the Olympics so that will help. I don’t think Mark even knows how to swim. Alex I know you don’t like Mason but I really believe he cares about me and will try to keep me safe. He comes off as such a jerk but when it’s just the two of us he is a totally different person. Please I need you to trust me. This is something that I have to do.” she begged for understanding.
    With a groan of frustration Alex replied, “I do trust you Em, it’s them I don’t trust. I know how stubborn you are under that mop of blond hair. How can I go on this epic adventure without my best friend and what am I supposed to do if we make it and you aren’t there?”
    Emily gave a cheeky smile and said, “You know what an adventure really is right?” and in unison Alex and Emily cheered, “Far away from home and fucked up!” both girls broke out in laughter.
    Alex’s older brother Peter had once told the two girls to be careful and safe when they went on their first solo camp out. And when Emily said it would be a great adventure he had replied with the famous line. The girls had never forgotten and anytime they started off to camp they would yell it