You can't decide

“Please...” Lacey begs. “It'll be too dark to hike soon.” As she says this she pulls on your arm and gives you a big, doe-eyed stare.

“We have flashlights, Lace,” Amanda argues. “It's always dark in the caves and you don't see me complaining.” Something about the way she arches her eyebrow at you when she mentions how dark it is in the caves grabs your attention, but you're not sure exactly what she's implying.

“I don't know about you two, but I definitely forgot to bring a flashlight,” Claire chimes in. “Not only that, but we have all weekend to fuck around in this miserable forest. I want to get every last bit of civilization that I can before then...”

You quickly realize that there's no way you're going to be able to go with one of the girls without hurting the others' feelings, and try to stammer out an excuse to one or all three of them at once.

“Actually...I don't know...gotta finish setting up camp first...because...bears...” you finish lamely, as the other three stare at you incredulously. When it becomes apparent that you'd rather stare at your feet than attempt to clarify your response, Amanda rolls her eyes and trudges over to Lacey.

“C'mon, Lacey,” she says to her, grabbing the shorter girl's hand. “You can get your hiking done on the way to the caves, and maybe we can find something fun for both of us to do once we get there.”

Meanwhile, Claire gives you one last expectant look before twirling the car keys around in her hand and muttering something under her breath. She walks off towards the car and hops in, asking if anybody needs anything while she's out. Amanda reminds her about the extra flashlights, and Lacey adds that you might need some tampons if you're going to be such a giant pussy the whole trip, sticking her tongue out at you afterwards.

And with that, you find yourself alone, fiddling with the cooking gear and wondering what exactly you thought you were accomplishing by staying neutral. Switzerland must not be as popular of a country as you thought, at least not with the ladies. Still, you push your own colossal awkwardness to the back of your mind and go about setting up camp. You notice that there are only two tents beside your own, and also wonder which of the girls is planning to double up, and with whom...

Soon, however, you run out of things to do, and an idle mind does what it does best. The sounds of the forest amplify, and every little bump and rustle grabs your attention. You're not quite sure what sound a bear sneaking up on the camp site would make, if any, but you'll be damned if you're caught unaware. You're imagination gets the better of you, and you grip a compact hatchet defensively as you consider the tactical advances bears may have made out here in the untamed wilderness.

Just then, you hear the sound of a car approaching. At first, you think that Claire may have forgotten something, when you see a van round the corner, you remember that other people camp too, and you wave amicably to the family in the van as they drive past. You watch them turn off of the path a good ways down the road, and remember that the forest isn't quite as isolated as you think. You passed a lodge on your way in, and you have at least one set of neighbors. Now might be a good time to go exploring or making friends before either the bears or your own imagination gets the better of you...