Brewed to Perfection

"I expected cheering of some sort by now if i'm being honest." Jerry admitted with a huff.

"We're all too mentally and physically exhausted Jerry." Benjamin snapped back whilst swinging his backpack on.

Jerry shot him an annoyed glance. "I'll grab all this. You guys head to the car. It's a thirty minute drive from here to the cabin." He grunted as he bent down to grab all the junk on the floor. If I was a decent person I would have helped. But I didn't.

Mandy stayed behind to help Jerry grab the random poles and string whilst the rest of us started to head towards the van. Bev walked beside me.

"I'm actually worried." She whispered into my ear, her lips tight. I had no idea what she was talking about but decided to keep the same hushed tone in my response. "About?"

She widened her eyes, as if the answer was obvious. I shrugged my shoulders in response "Sorry. I don't know what we're talking about" I said truthfully.

Bev let out a small breath. "Well Twyla peed in the bush, right? And even Benjamin went behind one of the Pine trees. But I haven't peed in like-" she paused for dramatic effect, her voice still whispered. "-Five hours. That's not normal. And you haven't either." She pointed out.

I hadn't even thought about it, but she was right. I haven't peed since getting in the van hours ago.

I pulled a face unintentionally. "Jeez. you're right. We're probably both dehydrated as hell. I haven't actually had a sip of water since this morning" i responded trying to remember the last drink I had.

"What are you two whispering about?" Benjamin asked from behind, his brows quizzical.

I looked to Bev, waiting for her permission to admit to Benjamin about our empty bladders.

She nodded before I stopped walking, waiting for Benjamin to take a few steps closer so that we were walking alongside him. I didn't feel like shouting all of that out loud.

"If you really must know... Bev and I haven't peed since before getting in the van."

Benjamin's eyes flashed disbelief. "What? You mean before the drive this morning?" He asked again.

"Yerp." Bev replied and I quickly looked behind her shoulder to see Mandy struggling to juggle different poles in her arms. A small laugh left my mouth.

I felt a nudge on my shoulder. "Drink this. Both of you. You're going to get dehydrated." Benjamin ordered as he pressed a dark green water bottle against my arm.

I took the bottle he was extending out and examined it. "It's just water. Probably room temperature by now." He promised.

I must have pulled a face at his words as he laughed. "If I was going to kill you I'd do something much more imaginative than lacing my water bottle with poison."

I raised an eyebrow. "I doubt that very much."

Bev grabbed the bottle from my hand. "I don't mind being the Guinea pig and testing it out first" she said whilst unscrewing the bottle's lid and taking a big gulp.

"Yep. Just water. Though I was sort of hoping it was going to be Vodka if I'm being honest." Bev replied after taking a few sips from Benjamin's water bottle.

"Did somebody say Vodka?" Twyla shouted from behind and I couldn't help but laugh.

Bev passed the bottle back to me. "Go on Love. Benjamin's right. You need to stay hydrated." As I took the bottle from her hand, Bev looked across to Benjamin.

"Peppermint?" She asked. Unsure what she was talking about, I looked to Benjamin.

He nodded like he was impressed. I sent him a confused look that he brushed off with a shrug.

Well that was weird.

I lifted the bottle and took a sip. Benjamin was right, the water definitely wasn't cold but it made me realise, rather quickly how thirsty I truly was.

"Is it too late now to check that no one gets cold sores?" I joked, going in for another sip. It was then that I realised what Bev was talking about. Peppermint.

There was a faint taste of peppermint around the rim of the bottle.

"My Burt's Bees lip balm. Benjamin answered the question before I even asked.

It never even crossed my mind that men used lip balm.

"It's nice Benny." Bev spoke, pressing her lips together. "I can practically imagine what it's like to kiss you now," she joked as I handed Benjamin his bottle back and I spat the water out of my mouth.

Benjamin gently slapped my back as I coughed up the water I had inhaled. "What's wrong Maeve? The imagery just too intense for you?" he winked and I wondered for a second If maybe we had been eaten by a bear and all of this wasn't really happening. 

"Hey, give me a sip!" Twyla yelled just as Benjamin was putting the bottle back in his bag.

I tried not to feel overwhelmed but immediately after Bev's comment about kissing, my brain couldn't help replay everything Benjamin had said to me that horrible morning.

"You okay sweetie?" Bev asked and I nodded quickly in reply, plastering on a smile. I had to stop bringing the mood down.