roadkill (wip)

Lake of laughs

Justin led the others down into a gorgeous valley, the trees gently danced in the breeze, the glistening cyan water rippled against the wide coast of the lake  soaking the sediment, crashing against the cliff on the east side as a waterfall spewed into the lake. Willow gasped, scoping the perfect Dutch angle of the waterfall to snap with her camera, exclaiming:
"It's beautiful!" Justin barged past tossing his belongings to the grass and kicking off his shoes.
"Last one in has to eat some of Gracie's food!" He yells,
"What, are you five years old? I ain't doin' that!" Lewis stated. Justin paused briefly to smirk before continuing to strip down. Kasia rapidly threw off her shirt as Lewis muttered "They're not making me eat dog food." Scrambling to drop his trousers, Lewis tripped as they caught round his ankles. Blocked by the shoes that were still very much on his feet. Barry and Willow exchanged looks realising synchronously they needed to hurry.
"B-but I didn't bring trunks, I wanted to roll up my pants and walk up to knee height at most!" Barry stammered. Willow pulled her jumper over her head and flung it at him.
"You don't need trunks, c'mon!" She persisted. Meanwhile, Justin cannon-balled off a rock quater the cliff's height,
"Woooohoooooo!" Screaming his way into the water from sheer excitement, he produced a gargantuan splash from the impact. Kasia, covering only her breasts with folded arms, sprinted into the water next. Screaming instead at it's freezing temperature, swallowing her legs. Lewis continued to struggle on his ass. Legs in the air, tugging at his laces.
"Knew I shouldn't have triple knotted!" He cursed. Willow slipped down her leggings and underwear, placing the camera atop her clothes pile cautiously, so as to cushion it. She followed Kasia into the lake, Justin and Kasia were already splashing each other with self-made waves. Thrusting their palms towards one another at water level. Lewis finally took off his shoes and wriggled off his trousers, dumping the jacket that hung from his shoulders. Barry shivered, turning from Willow to Lewis stood in just his boxers and shirt. Kasia, Justin and Willow called over to him
"Get it out, bro!" Yelled Justin,
"C'mon Barry, we're all naked too!" Kasia wailed. Willow splashed in his direction with an underarm swing,
"It feels great in here, join us!" As Barry lifted his shirt, he could feel his cheeks burning red as his scar covered belly flopped out. The rest of them cheered him on. As he took a few deep breaths, he realised no one cared about his flaws. Smiling to himself, he dropped his boxers and raced Lewis towards the lake. Veering right, he darted up the rock and leapt off it, crashing into the water before Lewis could even wet his toes. They all chuckled at Lewis's failure, watching as he sauntered in. Justin grabbed Lewis by the neck, once he eventually joined them, dunking his head under the shallow blue. Lewis retaliated with a direct splash in the face,
"Oh now you're defo munching the worst smelling treats when we're back!" Justin bellowed, insistently. Gracie paddled about joyfully behind their playful tussle, letting out excitable panting.

***

After an hour of tranquil swimming and relaxing in the soothing cool of the lake, the gang pulled their clothes back over their soaked bodies. Sitting themselves a rock-pit fire Barry had produced with firelighters, they passed around the crate, each helping themselves to a beer. Gracie trotted over slowly before she shook off her soggy fur over Lewis,
"Aww mannn, thanks Gracie!" He groaned sarcastically, wiping his face on his sleeve before drying his spectacles. The others chuckled, doting over Gracie as she rolled on the floor beside the warmth of the blazing fire. Willow beckoned Gracie over and let her rest her head on her lap. As the fire went down they had drained a few bottles each, huddling closer to the amber embers, making jokes about Lewis's dog food forfeit. Barry added more wood to prevent the fire reducing to cinders, then twisted open another bottle. Offering another to each of the gang he handed Willow hers last, going round the circle. She had a poised disposition once holding the bottle, still sealed. Gazing at Barry, pondering to herself but wanting to process her thoughts before blurting them out insensitively.
"Say Barry... if- if it were alright for me to ask: What were those marks on your tummy?" She asked, no one else had heard her. Lewis was busy leaning towards the flames to light the end of his spliff. Whilst Justin and Kasia had continued playing tonsil tennis, as they did whenever conversation died down. Barry's face, already red, went flushed moreso. The layer of insecurity he peeled off getting into the lake was taped over him once more. He necked the rest of his bottle, pivoting towards Willow on his crossed legs, then replying timidly:
"They're from a while back.. I uhh, I wasn't doing so great. Suffering with body dysmorphia. I turned to self harm.. things have been better since though, a lot better. But I'll always be left with the scars of my past mistakes."
Willow was unsure how to respond, silently taking it in, wishing she hadn't asked when realising how visibly uncomfortable it was dredging up Barry's past.
"I- I'm sorry, I-" Willow attempted to find the words. Lewis had overheard them and leapt across from his side of the campfire, clasping an arm around Barry's shoulder, holding him close to console him.
"Well I for one am glad you're here now. Still with us, for what it's worth you're an amazing friend Barry." His dopey tone was still heartfelt enough to have Barry smiling as he took a swig from his beer over Barry's other shoulder. "Say, hows about you have a toke on this?"