Thomas put some food on his plate and began to eat. He wasn't much of a drinker, not liking the taste of beer very much. He was glad things were going well.

Claret got a plate of corn and a hotdog bun, then sat down next to Thomas with a beer. She took a drink from it before smiling at him. "This is nice isn't it? I can't believe we just randomly met again like this," she said.

" It is nice. I can't believe it either. " Thomas said with a smile. He took a bite of his dinner and smiled.

"Do you think it's something like fate?" Claret asked, looking up at the sky that was just starting to darken pleasantly so that stars showed in it.

" I do think so. " Thomas said. He did believe that he had accepted the invitation for a reason. Thomas had a feeling that things were about to be better in his life.

"Well, what does one do when fate brings you back to someone almost forgotten?" Claret asked, a twinkle in her eye. At this point, she was sitting right up against Thomas and her beer was already half empty.

" You do what you can not to lose that person again. " Thomas said.

Claret grinned. "You really think so? Hey, we should trade phone numbers!" she exclaimed.

" I do. " Thomas said with a smile. He went to his bag and found a slip of paper and wrote out the number. " Here it is. " He said.

Claret took the piece of paper and ripped off an unused portion of it to write out her own number before passing it to Thomas. "There. Now we can really keep in touch. There's no way I'm going to let us drift apart again after this little camp out is over!" She finished off her beer and uncurled her legs from under her before standing. "You sure you don't want a beer?" she asked.

" I'm sure. Tried it once and just didn't like the taste." Thomas replied.

Claret smiled and went to get a second beer. When she returned, she sat back down. "It's because you've only tried it once. Alcohol is an acquired taste." She shook her head. "Do you just play designated driver to everyone around you? Because I mean, everyone drinks in college."

" I do sometimes. I think it was because I tried the wrong thing. A couple of guys had a bottle of whiskey and dared me to try a shot. It wasn't how I thought it would be, but I would be willing to try a beer." Thomas said.

"Wine is the best," Claret said, laying on her back in the grass. "Beer's only good because it's a cheep way to get drunk."

" I'd be willing to try wine." Thomas said looking at the fire." They are getting ready to roast marshmallows and make smores. Would you like one?"

Claret smiled. "I love smores," she said. "I always feel like I need to stick the marshmallow deep in the fire until it nearly catches on fire itself. Aren't they best when they're crunchy and black?"

"I agree they are. " Thomas said with a smile. " I'll be back with the stuff. Do you want one or two?"He asked.

"How about three?" Claret said with a laugh. "Not that smores are on my diet!" She let out a little laugh at her joke.

Thomas laughed." I'll get you three." He said and went to get the stuff for the smores.

Claret was still smiling when Thomas came back with the smore supplies. "Thank you," she said, sticking a marshmallow on a stick. "I should definitely camp more often. This is fun."

" I agree." Thomas said as he started roast his first marshmallow.