"You know we didn't have to stop at Starbucks," Aisling comments as she resides in the passenger seat of the truck.

"It's okay Aisling to have a little fun. What do you want?". Preston grans his wallet from the center console. He pulls out a gold level Starbucks card. "Before you ask, it's my sister's card".

"Well, you've never appeared to me as a Starbucks type" Aisling jokes, while Preston proceeds to exit the truck. "I'm fine with an iced tea".

"Okay. Be right back". Preston shuts the door and begins to head across the parking lot. 

   As Preston nears the entrance, Maddie appears to exit Starbucks. Maddie crosses the parking lot, dressed in a pair of flip flops, a pair of lavender yoga shorts and a bright blue tank top. Aisling patiently waits for Maddie nears the truck. Aisling grabs the handle to pull down the window. She greets Maddie.

"Oh, hey". Maddie unlocks and opens the door to her car.

"I've been trying to get a hold of you. Been texting" Aisling tells her.

"Sorry, I haven't responded. I've been busy" Maddie replies, standing by the open car door.

"I...I'm sorry for how I acted. You were trying to help me because you're a good friend. I was wrong and I'm sorry" Aisling explains.

"I'm sorry too. For making you feel pushed" Maddie apologizes.

"It's okay" Aisling replies.

"So, where are you off to? This doesn't look like Kyleen's ride" Maddie asks.

"This is Preston's truck. We're going on another camping trip" Aisling answers.

"That's good. Have fun" Maddie replies, getting into her car.

    A couple of minutes later, Preston returns. He carries a grande iced green tea and a grande medium roast pike place. He passes her drink through the window and she takes it. He pulls open the door, places his drink in the cup holder and settles into the seat.

"Saw and talked to Maddie before you came out" Aisling informs.

"How is Maddie?" Preston asks.

"She seems okay. A little distant" Aisling answers.

"Maybe, she just needs longer to get over what transpired" Preston suggests.

"Yeah, maybe" Aisling agrees.

Aisling becomes quiet to allow Preston to focus on exiting from the parking space.

"So, you said you had a sister" Aisling recalls.

"Yeah. Renley. She's a good kid. But she can be a troublemaker sometimes" Preston explains as he pulls the truck onto the road.

"How can she be a good kid and a troublemaker?" Aisling inquires, confused.

"She likes to insert herself, sometimes where its not needed. She means well" Preston informs. "Renley enjoys playing matchmaker. I thought I should warn you".

"Oh, does she believe there is something between us?" Aisling asks.

"In her crazy mind" Preston confirms.

"Renley sounds like an interesting person" Aisling comments.

"Oh, she is a unique person alright". Preston turns the left blinker on. "You know, she refers to our trips as camping dates".

"Yet, we aren't actually dating" Aisling points out, quickly.

"Exactly," Preston agrees.

"And we are sort of friends....I guess...we are still getting to know each other" Aisling explains.

"Yeah," Preston replies.

   For some of the drive, there happens to be a slight bit of awkward silence. Aisling watches the scenery out the window. Finally, Preston proceeds to pull into the campground. He parks the truck outside the campground store. He opens the door, informs Aisling that he is going to check them in and heads into the store.

"If I said something wrong, I'm sorry" Aisling apologizes, when he returns.

"It's not you. You're about the only reason I'm sane this weekend" Preston informs.

"If you were too busy, we could've camped another weekend. I would've been fine with that" Aisling tells him.

"It is good we're camping...let's get to the campsite and get settled. Then I'll explain what is wrong". Preston starts to carefully drive down the dirt road to their site.

"Okay," Aisling replies.

    After a short distance of driving, Preston reaches the campsite and parks alongside the road. He exits the truck first. Aisling follows.

"When you mentioned your grandpa,...that got me thinking about my uncle" Preston begins. "The uncle I told you about, that would take us all those secluded camping trips. Sunday is the seventh anniversary if his death. He died on one of the last family camping trips. I found him. He wasn't the healthiest person. He died of a heart attack".

"Preston, I'm so sorry" Aisling apologizes.

"It's fine...I'm still getting past it. I'll be fine. It's just frustrating because..." Preston begins.

"Because he isn't here" Aisling completes, sharing the same sentiment about her grandfather.

"That and the fact, my family desires to visit the campsite tomorrow to celebrate my uncle" Preston explains, walking toward the back of the truck.

"All your family is coming here" Aisling understands.

"Most of them. My cousin, sister and aunt. Even though I told them not to bother". Preston pulls the tent bag forward. He sets the bag off to the side of the truck bed. "I get it if you desire to bail. I can grab what I need for gear and bring you back home".

Aisling shakes her head. "No. I'll stay. Sounds like you could use the support".

"I don't deserve what you're doing right now. Especially since I sprang this information on you" Preston explains as he grabs a chair.

"You deserve it. We're friends. Friends be there for other friends" Aisling tells him.

"That's true,". Preston passes her a chair.

Aisling ventures over and begins to set up the chair by the fire pit.

"You know, I almost feel I put you in unfair position. I should've suggested you bring Maddie along or your sister". Preston sets a pan, a reusable Stop and Shop grocery bag and a box of plastic utensils in the chair for later.

"Kyleen and Maddie can always come on another shopping trip" Aisling reminds him.

"Okay and don't let me forget it. I owe you a trip with some guests of your choosing" Preston replies.

"Oh, I won't let you forget" Aisling says as she unfolds another chair.

    A while after dinner, Aisling settles into her tent. Preston remains by the fire. She answers a Facetime call from Kyleen. Aisling explains the new addition to the camping weekend.

"So, he didn't inform any of this ahead of time. He sprung all of this on you as soon as you reached the campsite. Wow, that is a lot to handle. Maybe Prestons believe you'd bail, if h just straight out asked you to meet his family" Kyleen expresses.

"I don't think this is some elaborate plan to meet his family" Aisling states.

"Sure, sounds like it" Kyleen disagrees.

"Well, I disagree and I think Preston is a very honest person. If he wanted me to meet his relatives, he'd just ask me" Aisling defends.

"You are really starting to care about him" Kyleen notices.

"He is starting to become a good friend" Aisling decides.

"Do you desire reinforcements? Mads and I can come down tomorrow" Kyleen asks.

"For a family thing. I'll be fine. Besides he invited you and Maddie to accompany us on another camping adventure".

"Sounds good to me" Kyleen replies.

    With the evening already being late, Aisling was becoming more tired. She yawns again and Kyleen agrees that it is time to end the conversation. Aisling hangs up the phone, connects it to the charger and sets her phone beside her sleeping bag, She makes herself comfortable in the sleeping bag and soon falls asleep. The pleasant sound of crackling fire drifts into the tent. Later, she awakes to the sound of chatter. The only voice she recognized belonged to Preston.

"So, how many trips have you been on so far?" Preston's aunt Zoey inquires, curious.

"Uh, this would be trip number two". Preston keeps his gaze on the fire pit.

"Well, you should have said something. We could've done the celebration some other time". Zoey exits her chair, momentarily.

"Better to get the celebration over with. So, everyone stops obsessing about it" Preston replies, grumpy.

Renley rolls her eyes. "It's okay to grieve. Isn't that you suggested you desired to say to Aisling?".

   A couple of minutes later, Aisling finishes putting on her sneakers and then she proceeds to exit the tent. She steps out, cautiously.

"Good morning everyone". Aisling pulls the zipper down, stands up and settles herself into one of the chairs.

"Good morning. I'm Zoey, Preston's aunt and this is-" Zoey begins to explain.

"Preston's sister Renley. She is famous" Aisling completes.

"Oh, I'm famous am I?". Renley looks to Preston. "I'm curious, how was my backstory introduced?".

"That you're a good kid. But you can be a troublemaker. That you are the matchmaker of the family" Aisling answers.

"Most of that is true. Except for the troublemaker fact. Though the matchmaker comment, I do believe I have a weird correct sense about relationships" Renley explains. "And it's been proven-".

"No, it hasn't been proven" Preston interjects.

"Oh, really". Renley gives him an unimpressed look. "What about Alexis?".

"Alexis is ancient history. No one important enough to be conversing about" Preston answers, determined to shutdown topic.

Aware of the tension, Aisling decides to the end of the topic.

"Let's go to another topic. We don't have to about Alexis" Aisling informs.

Preston exits the chair and heads off in the direction of his truck. Aisling and Renley exchange a look.

"He might not want to admit it. But this whole celebration thing is a lot for him" Renley explains. "And probably bringing up Alexis hit a nerve".

"Just leave him be for now, honey" Zoey suggests.

"Okay," Aisling replies, deciding to take the advice.

      After an hour and half passes, Aisling decides to go look for Preston. She wanders down a couple of dirt roads, seeing various tent and trailer sites. Once she determines that she isn't coming across Preston in this general area, she relocates to the camp store. Finally, she finds Preston residing in the gazebo by the playground.

"There you are,". Aisling stops into gazebo and sits down on the cushioned bench.

"I'm sorry I didn't-. I shouldn't have disappeared from you like that. Leaving you my family" Preston apologizes.

"We talked and I came to look for you. Besides, I figured with the uncle celebration and whomever this Alexis person is...someone who triggered a nerve" Aisling presumes.

"Alexis...she isn't a kind person, and I once thought she was worth having in my life" Preston explains.

"Did you two date?" Aisling asks, brushing a piece of hair away from her face.

"We did. For almost three years. You're more enjoyable company to camp with. Then she was" Preston answers.

"Did she not enjoy camping?" Aisling asks.

"Camping isn't her favorite thing. But ultimately I wasn't who she wanted. I was just filling a role. She'd agree to go camping and then invite her friends without telling me" Preston answers.

"Kind of rude," Aisling replies.

"Yeah," Preston agrees. "Her and I were once at another campsite. It was raining and the truck got stuck. Instead of helping me, she stayed in the truck because she didn't want to get wet".

Aisling laughs. "Seriously?". Preston nods. "That's so obnoxious. If that were me, I would've tried to help you".

"That was probably one of the worst camping trips I've ever had" Preston comments.

   After half an hour of talking, they begin to make their way back to the site. Renley and Zoey appear to be in the same seats as they reach the site.

"There you two are," Zoey states.

"See Zoe. She doubted it. But I knew Aisling would find him" Renley expresses, while Preston and Aisling take seats in some nearby chairs.

"Are you okay?" Zoey asks Preston.

"Yeah. Better now" Preston answers.

     Preston mouths a thank you to Aisling and she nods. Zoey inquires what everyone desires to do for the day. Renley suggests for her and Aisling go for a walk to get each other better. Which Aisling ends up agreeing to.