A/N: Ohmygawd. I'm alive. Shocking, no?

More shock: I got my lazy butt around to updating.

Before you go all "RAWRMUSTKILL." on me, let me testify: I've been BUSY. One of my friends I know personally had their brother die. And when I say die, I mean "run over by a car to the point where he wasn't recognizable at the hospital". I don't want your pity. I'm just saying.

Not too long after, my friend online, Grease, had a grandfather die.

I felt down. I felt stressed. Thus, I didn't update.

Wow. Such cheerful news I'm bringing you.

To top it all off, I've been pushed to my limits this week by running for student council. I found out today since the results are in that, of course despite all my efforts, I've lost. But I won't go into detail about that. Unless you want me to. Whatever.

I've had projects due like you wouldn't believe, and have abruptly come to the conclusion that eighth grade sucks. Majorly.

Anyways, more about your update: It's not near as long as it should be. The guest role doesn't even start till the end of it. Rest assured, I'm going to have another chapter with more guest-roley goodness in it.

I figured you've waited long enough to see most of the characters together, and my little...plot here is going to bring a good many of them in. Whee, what fun.

Don't demand I update immediately. PLEASE. It irks me to no end, and then I get mad and end up trying to decapitate some poor random person. Spare the random person, please. I don't want to be thrown into jail for murder at such a young age.

Disclaimer: No. I don't own it. Stop trying to sue me. I've got no money to give you anyways. Obviously. Why else would I want to waste my life on the computer?

Now of course, it was mentioned that summer was fast-approaching, what with the temperature rising constantly and the teenagers' excitement growing, until it had pitched to a fever.

Today, finally, that last long-awaited day of school had arrived.

The noise throughout the educational institution was positively deafening as the bell finally gave a shrill screech, notifying every student within hearing range that their torture was on temporary suspension, and that summer had officially arrived for them.

Adolescents flooded the hallways, and anyone who fell was more than likely trampled down like a pancake in the record time of only five seconds.

The exuberance about the arrival of vacation-time had spread to almost everyone—especially Demy. Not that he wasn't usually cheerful anyways…But over the course of the last week, his attitude had skyrocketed until it was a wonder he hadn't already imploded from whatever was keeping him so upbeat.

As he raced throughout the hallways to approach Braig—for the two could still be considered buddies of a sort, seeing as they hung around each other and chatted, despite the fact that arguments were frequent amongst them as well—he grinned when his aforementioned friend was spotted by his locker.

Increasing speed, then coming to a dramatic skid-stop right beside Braig, Demy grinned. Shortly after though, his grin turned to a pout when he saw that his friend either hadn't seen, or just didn't care, about his show of energy and enthusiasm.

The musician coughed softly once or twice, in an attempt to grasp Braig's attention.

"Ahem…"

When that didn't work, he finally gave a heavy sigh, and took it to the next level.

"AHEM!"

"Huh?"

The brunette grinned triumphantly, practically jumping up and down with his eagerness to go on and explain what was up.

Braig raised a doubtful eyebrow. "…What the heck are you so happy for?"

"Three words: Camping. Trip," Demy explained, his Cheshire Cat-grin continuing to spread across his face, like a virus.

The boy had put an extra emphasis on the 'ing', as though it were the most important part of the word.

The older teen finally sighed, "Demy…" desperately fighting the urge to just go on and call him 'Dumb ass'. "That was only two words."

The blondish-brownish-haired musician waved the fact aside, as though it meant nothing—and to him, it probably did.

"So?" the boy went on excitedly. "It's not every day that the opportunity to go camping comes along!" he nearly squealed. "So, anyways—I've been able to reserve this awesome spot in the woods for the tents to be set up at. It's near the river, not too far from a hill…"

Braig gave the slightest roll of his eyes and he opened his mouth to protest—but it seemed their conversation was overheard by another person who had already rushed through in gathering what remained of their supplies in their locker and had a few minutes to spare before leaving the prison of an educational building.

"Camping?"

Ramiual's voice.

It wasn't too hard as to guess why the word sparked such interest in his voice. After all, camping involved nature. Plants, wildlife, streams…it was his kind of activity.

Braig furrowed his eyebrows, his forehead wrinkling somewhat. "What's it to you, Pansy?"

"I want in," he replied rather simply, ignoring the 'Pansy' comment for the time being.

Demyx grinned. Braig scowled.

"It's not even set that we're going at all!" the oldest boy of them protested.

A familiar red-head paused as he sauntered by the scene, pondering only briefly as to whether or not he should inquire as to what was going on. A moment later, Ale was there, arms crossed and his usual 'I'm-a-smart-ass' grin set in place. "Going where?" he inquired innocently.

Before Braig even had a chance to yell out 'Nowhere!', Demy cut in excitedly. "Camping!" he answered.

The teal-eyed boy thought this over, and looked slightly disappointed. He'd hoped for something a bit more interesting than just that. Camping had never really struck him as that fun of an activity…he'd much rather stay where there were electronic devices around. The outdoors? Hmph. The indoors seemed a much more eventful place.

"Jeez. That's it?" Ale sighed, shaking his head in a downcast manner.

Braig grumbled something inaudibly, before taking a deep breath of relief. "Finally. Dude, you side with me! Demy—what in the world possessed you to go camping?"

Ale gave a small roll of the eyes, blocking out the argument that followed and instead grinning as he spotted a mass of bright, blond spikes. Instinctively, his hand shot out and he grabbed the younger boy by the shoulder, spinning him around.

"Roxas!" What could he say? It was the last day of school and he was thrilled to have a friend who could keep him from being forced to actually have to listen to the argument between Demy and Braig on something as trivial as camping.

"…Hi?"

Roxas blinked once or twice, grateful that he would have no more school for awhile, but not quite so energetic as his red-haired friend.

"How about we hang out this weekend? Y'know…doing something like…not camping?"

The younger boy was just about to inquire as to what exactly was wrong with camping, but a temperamental blonde beat him to it.

She had her backpack slung over her shoulders, eager to get out of the 'hell-hole', as the school was so affectionately called. "What's wrong with camping? It's not as though there are any swimming pools out there," she quipped with a devious smile.

The red-head narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure that just breaks your heart."

"It might," she shrugged, flashing a mock, sweet smile. Turning to Demy, she arched an eyebrow. "When's the trip set for?"

"WE NEVER SAID WE WERE GOING!" Braig thundered, only to be ignored by the rest of the group.

Demy arched both eyebrows at Arlene, looking amused. "Who said I was inviting you?"

Arlene's face darkened for the briefest of moments, and Demy wisely stepped back a few steps. "I said I was coming," she informed him knowingly. "The end," she added for dramatic effect.

The musician nodded. He'd intended for her to come anyways, but even had he not right from the start, he knew better than to argue with her.

Heck, when she wanted something her way, she got it.

And of course, the fact that she had made the decision to go made Ale have second thoughts.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully for a few more minutes, before his eyes brightened playfully. "I think…I've suddenly changed my mind," he declared. "Count me in for camping."

Braig's face was set into a scowl that was in danger of becoming permanent, but he'd long since given up protesting all of this.

"Sudden decision, indeed," Dulor noted as he threw them a passing glance, pausing in the hallway with his knapsack slung across one shoulder. Ienzo was with him, and Elaeus as well, but both, unsurprisingly, chose to keep silent.

Demy was on the verge of going into a fit of hysterical cackles. This was turning into quite a gathering—all because he mentioned it to the one person who hadn't even wanted to go camping in the first place. "H-hey, all of you, come camping with us?" he managed to get out in-between his attempts to hold his delight back.

The three exchanged glances, before Dulor, always the gentleman, gave an indifferent nod. "Tomorrow, then," he agreed, having no doubt that one of them would somehow or other get in contact with him to let him know a more specific time.

Ramiual also bid his farewells, and Arlene stalked off, her mood down to a dangerous low again since Ale had taken it upon himself to walk her home—despite her oh-so-polite ways of telling him to shove off and leave her alone.

Braig was still positively fuming. He did NOT want to go camping. And now EVERYONE was going, it seemed. Why did these people not enjoy the beauty of staying at home and being a lazy-ass?

"Gee. Looks like we're going camping!" Demy announced cheerfully, as though it were a huge surprise.

The older boy snorted, shoving the brunette—hard. "Shut up."

---

Meanwhile, a certain two girls walked through the doors of the school, into the much-welcomed sunshine. Oh, sweet freedom.

"Soooo…" the first girl began, looking over curiously at her friend. "They all said they were going camping?"

"Yep!"

"Well, what's so great about that?"

"Ale said he was coming, too. Duh." She stated it as though it was the simplest reason there was in the world.

"Shay…" The first girl sighed, shaking her head and opening her mouth to say something—but she thought better of it and closed her mouth again for a moment, before coming up with a better question. "What about…?"

The second girl's eyes brightened at the prospect of teasing. "Ieennnnzoooo?" she cooed tauntingly.

Girl number one reddened a bit, staring down at her shoes. "…Maybe. Just tell me anyways."

"I'm not saying anything if you don't admit it directly—you only want to know more because of Ienzo!" she cackled.

Blaze was resisting the urge to smack her friend upside the head, as it was. "Fine. Is. Ienzo. Coming. Too?" she growled out, emphasizing each word.

"Mmm, he sure is!" Shay answered ecstatically.

Blaze brightened for a moment, then paused. "We don't even know…where they're camping…"

Shay waved the fact around. It was insignificant to her. "I heard them say it would be near the river. How hard could it be to find them from there?"

Blaze finally cracked a smile. Oh, the lengths teenage girls would go through just to 'accidentally' run into someone. "All right. Let's get ready," she agreed.

A/N: Yes. It's rushed. Oh well. The next few chapters will be better.

xD Blazonix, Shaylex, I hope you don't mind me portraying you as fangirls. Because fangirls are fun. Ch'yeah. Not like, rabid fangirls or anything. Don't worry.

So, I've been really down in the dumps, guys. My sadistic sense of cheerfulness is only just now starting to come back to me. Reviews really would cheer me up. Since you've waited so long, I won't up the amount from five to ten--it'll stay at five. Though if you reviewed more, it might cheer me up some. Honestly, ninety-three reviews already? I'm shocked. In a good way. I never thought this fic would be such a hit. When I see all of your reviews, it makes me feel better than I have in a long while. I don't think you all understand how much it really means to me when you write something in that little box.

Sappy much? Yes. Do I care? Nope.

Thanks for putting up with such a long wait for a review. Don't worry--I'm still livin' here.