Dangerous Days of Daniel X

Chapter 11

BY TEN O’CLOCK, completely wiped and with still no sign of civilization, I decided to call it a night.

I stepped off the road into the dark woods, kicking myself for staying up late to watch The Blair Witch Project a couple nights before. I found a level clearing about thirty yards in that was as good a spot to camp as any.

I opened my minitent and made a little fire. Then I sat beneath the northern stars, propped against a fir tree, cold hot dog in one hand, warm Gatorade in the other. Ahhh, the great outdoors. Could it get much better?

I hoped so, because it was pretty lonely, actually. And scary, considering that I’m often hunted by aliens.

That’s when I heard a bunch of footsteps just outside the firelight. Uh-oh.

“Quit tripping me, doofus.” I heard a girl’s voice.

“That’s not me. It’s Willy,” said a boy. “You know what a klutz he is.”

“No, it’s not. It’s Dana,” said another boy. “I’m not a klutz.”

“You are such a klutz.”

“Hello? Does anyone notice that it’s like pitch-black?” said yet another girl’s voice.

“No, Emma, we didn’t notice that.”

“Hey, guys,” I finally called out to the intruders. “What took you so long?”

My best friends-in the whole universe-had just arrived.

Let the party begin.