"So, where to next?" Jack snorted, ruining the moment for all. The words interrupted Shanna's comfortable gaze over the mid-day horizon and brought her attention to the hand she had left lingering in Anna's grasp.
Shanna gently pulled her hand from Anna, suddenly feeling awkward as she crossed her arms over chest, "Ah, we might want to head back." The hike had lost it's charm to Shanna, who was having trouble mentally pulling together the odd events of her short day. She made a point not to return the curious look she felt directed at her by Anna.
Paul cocked his head at Shanna, "Are you kidding? We have a least two hours before we need to go back for dinner, and three or four before we need to get in line for tickets to the Trail. I feel great." He wrapped his arm casually around Katie, "How about you, sprinter?"
"Absolutely fantastic, slow-poke," Katie replied. She did feel fantastic, a little flushed from her run and invigorated by the scent of nature around her. Katie realized she had the strong wish that the others would go back and leave her alone with Paul. She could make his flirtatous hug turn into much more. The sudden desire seemed a long way from the casual attraction she had been developing for him.
"Well, I'm with Shanna." Jack gestured in the direction of the camp area. He looked at Emily. "Wouldn't you like to relax by the fire before tonight?"
Emily shrugged and rubbed the front of her thigh. "I still have some hike left in me, cutie, but what about you, Anna?"
Jack could swear that Anna looked directly at him with her answer, "Jack can head back if he wants to. I'll stay out here with you, babe." Shanna made an effort to not redirect her gaze from the group to Anna in response to her obvious and cute baiting of Jack. She didn't understand what drove Anna to be so protective of her friend, but Anna's confrontational personality also fostered the strange interest Shanna had begun to feel about her.
Jack furrowed his brow at Anna and subtly took Emily's hand into his own, "Hey, you guys know me, I'll hang with the majority." His eyes gazed at Shanna. "That just leaves you, girl. Do you want to stay with the pack?"
Shanna pursed her lips. "Fine, but let's get off these rocks. Paul, did you have an idea of which direction you want to head in?" She rubbed her arms, still feeling a little deja vu from her dream.
Paul raised his eyebrows in an academic parody. "Actually, Miss Shanna, I do." He stepped to the peak of the overlook. "I think I can spot a clearing in the woods in the direction of the stream beads. We can act like real explorers, for fun, and get off the tourist paths."
Jack noticed Shanna's restlessness and chimed in, "Super, chief. But can we all do whatever we're doin' and get on with it?"