Go be neighborly

While you understand that part of the allure of camping is the illusion of isolation, you figure now might be a good time to go introduce yourself to the neighbors. Besides, anything could happen out in these woods and it wouldn't hurt to have somebody else to rely on. Not wanting to spook them, you set the compact hatchet down by the fire pit and make the trek down the road.

Before you even get to where you saw the van turn off, you start to hear voices discussing something in what sounds like harsh tones. For a moment, you hesitate and wonder if maybe this isn't such a good time after all, but another few steps reveals the back of the parked van and your decision is made for you.

Leaning against the open back of the van is a young girl that may be the single most unprepared-to-camp person you have ever seen. She looks to be about 18 or19, with medium-length blown-out blonde hair that frames a pointing face. Engrossed in her phone, you give her body a quick glance and are pleasantly surprised. She had rather large breasts for her age and height, at least a D-cup if you had any sort of handle on that system of measurements. She's wearing a tight fitting black shirt with bedazzled lettering on it that stops above her midriff, exposing a pierced bellybutton and toned stomach. She's wearing a pair of cut-off jeans shorts that are so short the pockets are peeking out from the bottom, and a pair of boots that appear to function more as heels than actual hiking gear. The sunlight glints off of a pair of pricey looking earrings and a bracelet, her amount of jewelry further advertising her disinterest in the outdoors.

“There's like, no service out here at all!” the girl sighs loudly. For a second you think she might be talking to you until you get a reply from the other side of the van.

“That's the point, Elise,” a man's voice responds exasperatedly. “Who would you even need to talk to, anyway?”

“Um, I don't know, dad. My friends?” She rolls her eyes upward, and in the process of doing so she notices you standing several feet away. She looks at you with a smile, apparently pleased to see somebody else out here.

“Oh, hi there! I didn't notice you.” Hearing her daughter talking to somebody, the owner of the other voice walks out from behind the van, visibly relaxing when he sees that you're not particularly scary. He appears to be in his late thirties, with short dark hair and some stubble. He wipes his hands on his jeans before extending one in a handshake.

“Hey. I'm Bruce and this is my daughter Elise.” He says as you shake his hand amicably. You just finish introducing yourself as another woman pops up from behind the vehicle, holding a collapsed set of tent poles. She seems to be about Bruce's age, and judging by her appearance you would guess that she's Elise's mother. Bruce confirms your suspicions a second later. “This is my wife, Nadia.”

Despite being an older woman, Nadia is quite beautiful. She has the same blonde hair as her daughter, although it hangs straight in a more modest fashion. Her curvy body is covered by a zip-up jacket and a pair of tight-yet sensible jeans. She smiles at you and also shakes your hand.

“So it looks like we're not the only ones that decided to get away for the weekend.” Bruce continues, “Was that you that waved to us further up the road?” You nod in confirmation. Elise still has her nose in her phone, but you can see her looking you up and down through her eyebrows out of the corner of your eye. Maybe the girls you came with won't be the only people you have to talk to this weekend.

“We're just finishing setting up camp.” Nadia butts in. It's faint, but you think you detect a bit of a European accent in her voice. “We would be done by now if 'somebody' would help.” Her tone and glance at her daughter makes it very clear who that is directed to.

Meanwhile, Bruce opens a cooler and grabs a beer. “Can I get you something?” he asks.