Single father and son - Dan and Derek

Dan announced the unplanned trip about a week after graduation. Derek was headed to Florida in the fall, where he would begin his college career as the second string quarterback for the Florida Gators. It was the fulfillment of one lifelong goal and put the boy one step closer to another, playing in the National Football League. But it meant his son was going to be half a day's drive away from home.

Father and son hand grown close since the **** of the boy's mother when he was 12. In many ways they were more like brothers than a parent and child. Dan was only 16 when he'd gotten his late wife pregnant, so at 34, he was still very young to have an 18 year old. They liked the same music, television shows and sports teams.

The two also looked almost like twins, despite the age difference. Not only did they have very similiar features, they had the same hair and eyes. They also had the same build and followed the same weight lifting regime.

They'd even been hit on by high school girls when they were at the mall together after Dan was mistaken for Derek's brother.

Dan booked a cabin in the mountains for a week. It was just the two of them, so he took the cheap route and reserved a one bedroom. They could share a bed for the week if it meant saving close to $500. It wouldn't be the first time.

Then, the week before they left, Derek had begged to invite a friend on the trip. Dan reluctantly agreed. His son was leaving him soon, but he was also leaving most of his friends too.