Laughter sounds around me and I walk over to Natalia, hot cocoa in hand, who wears a frown. A piece of hot ash lands on my arm when I reach her and I yelp, dusting at it quickly.

"Stupid bonfire," I mutter under my breath, trying to steady my hand and the cocoa that's sloshing around in the cup.

Natalia laughs, her chocolate eyes crinkling and I smile. At least some good has come out of my pain.

I sit down next to her on the isolate log away from the rest of the party and offer her a sip from my cup. She shakes her head, looking around at the 'festival' that's materialised around us. With no campers insight — most tucked away in bed sleeping, or at least pretending to be asleep — counsellors pass around water bottles that contain devils water in plain sight, the effect of said liquid already happening. I'd decided early in the evening that I wouldn't be drinking whilst under the control of minors. But some people are idiots and I cant speak for them.

Or Tanner and Brooklynn who had been stupid enough to accept the bottle when it was passed to them and were now feverishly making out, Brooklynn back against the tree, her leg curled around his and both their hands... well, everywhere.

"Oh, yuck!" I grimace turning away from them to Natalia. "They're like animals!"

"Don't remind me." She sighs, swooping a piece of her brown hair back behind her ear neatly.

I frown. "What?"

"N-nothing."

I cock my head at her noticing how her dark skin becomes a bright red and how she's fidgeting in her seat. Strange.

"You can tell me anything you know? I'm not exactly one to judge." I offer her a smile.

Her head bows. "I-I know."

"Okay." I'm about to leave it there when I remember that sometimes we don't say what we mean — I'm sure as hell guilty of it.

"But really, Natalia, if somethings eating at you? I've always found it's easier to talk about than deal with alone even if at first I didn't want to share."

She looks up her eyes glazing over slightly. "Everything will change."

"Change isn't a bad thing, you know."

"I guess.." She sniffles. "I'm just scared."

I give her a moment to compose herself staring back into the crowd of now rowdy (mostly) teenagers dancing around the burning fire and violating so many health codes it would give you a heart attack and see Brooklynn and Tanner still at it.

"God do they stop?" I mumble under my breath.

But Natalia hears. "I wish they did."

I quirk an eyebrow. Does this have anything to do with Brooklynn and Tanner eating each others face off?

"Are they why you're upset?" I ask quietly.

She nods but says nothing.

"Are you, um, jealous?" I try and she nods once again, deathly silent.

"Is it Tanner?"

She takes a deep breath. "Yes and no... I like Brooklynn... more than a friend should."

"Oh." Well that wasn't helpful but I'm lost for words, I don't want to screw this up for her. How do you say I'll always love you and support you regardless of whose reproduction parts take your fancy?

Probably just like that dumbass.

I shake my head before engulfing her into my arms and squeezing tightly. Her body physically relaxes into me and my shirt feels sticky near my shoulder but I don't care.

Eventually I pull back and wipe her tears away. "Nat, I didn't care when I thought you fancied a boy, so why would I care now you fancy a girl?  Plus, now I don't need to worry about you stealing my mans!"

She laughs smiling brightly, a few tears escaping. "That's true."

"What? Your sexy, Latina ass is hard to compete with!" I widen my eyes and look at it pointedly and she giggles. "Now wipe those tears away, if Brooklynn doesn't want you it's her loss. Now let's get up there and shake our asses and show her what she's missing!"

Giggling again we stand up and dance to the booming bass that's echoing around us, Natalia's tears well dry now.

I'm in the middle of dropping it low when Briella appears in front of me. I startle in fright and fall backwards turning my slut drop into some sort of badly executed death drop.

"Are you okay?" Briella's headpops over me, her small eyes large.

I prop myself up on one elbow using the other to rub my head. "Briella? What are you doing here?"

She fiddles with her fingers in front of her but doesn't say anything. "Briella?"

"I-I don't think the other girls like me," she finally whispers.

I frown. "Why would you think that?"

"Because they keep whispering and won't tell me what they are s-saying."

Fury rages through my body and I try my hardest to keep my face neutral. "I'll sort this—"

"Briella! There you are!" We turn to see Riley running towards us.

Another one? "Riley what are you doing here?"

She squints her nose. "Lianna is being super annoying as usual and I don't want to listen to her whining about bears or her other stupid stuff anymore. Plus, she says everything in a whisper as if she's not just telling us that her feet are cold!"

Briella giggles. "Is that what she's whispering about?"

Riley throws her hands up in the air. "Yes! And her feet are only cold bcs she only wears her stupid, girly sandals that look like glitter threw up!"

Brianna continues to smile, Riley leaning forward and cupping her mouth whispering, "They also stink!"

At that both the girls burst into a fit of laughter and I can't help but smile at their high pitched shrieks.

"Alright, alright, go talk about Lianna's stinky feet in the dorms, okay?" I shoo them.

They nod running off down the path they came from, holding hands and still laughing. I shake my head. Children are both annoying and adorable.

I don't know what life hold's for those girls, or even for Natalia. Heck, I don't even know if Tanner will win his beloved Annual Camp Competition. But for once, I'm happy about the future. There's limitless possibilities out there and each scenario is chosen by us. We just need to be brave enough to the tell the story we want told.

"That was cute." I jump, pulling myself out of my thoughts and spotting Braden.

He swaggers over to me with a water bottle in hand and a cheesy grin on his face. Wobbling way more than a little, he finally reaches me and raises one finger up to my face to touch my nose with a 'bop'.

"But you're cuter."

how do y'all feel about the fact there is only three chapters left?

are you ready to say goodbye?

but don't worry i'm already writing a sequel that is going to be within the lgbt community with natalia called In Real Life (a sneak peak is up on my profile for a limited time). i'll also write one with peyton but that's what i'm focusing on next. hope y'all will still read!

xox,
jessie.