August 14

Mainland, Lake Joseph, Muskoka

I jolt awake at the sound of an owl hooting. God, I hate camping.

I especially hate camping when I'm over-tired, over-sensitive, over-emotional, over-everything, and like a million steps away from the washroom.

Generally speaking, I prefer sleeping in the safety of a building, not in some fabric tent that an animal or serial killer could rip through in a moment.

After a full, and fantastic, day with Sam and Liam, we're all camped out in the woods, spread one tent after another from the cottage, down along the treeline in five small tents. It had been too cloudy last night for fireworks, but we'd gorged on toasted marshmallows and told ghost stories around the fire. Which I wholeheartedly regret in this moment as every noise brings my worst fears to life in my imagination.

Sam and Liam are closest to the cottage, and I'd tried not to pay attention to the sounds that were coming from their tent specifically earlier tonight. Greyson had a similar idea, trying to tempt me into letting him show me more of what he'd been thinking about the other night, but I was adamant in my refusal.

One, tents are hardly private. Two, I was not loving the way sound echoed here, and I was completely and utterly mortified for Sam. If any one of these boys says a word about it tomorrow, I will personally kill them. I'd already texted them the warning, so fair game.

Three, there are some lines I'm just not willing to cross, not now, maybe not ever. Putting on an audio show for my closest friends was definitely a no go for me, as was letting Greyson anywhere near my lady parts this time of the month.

Obviously, because nothing is supposed to be easy this summer, my period had made a surprise arrival this morning, two days early, with all her friends: anxiety, sensitivity, cramps, and apparently neediness. All I wanted to do was crawl on top of Greyson and let him distract me from my suffering. It's apparently what my body wants every time he comes near me, every time he touches me.

Just another confusing part of the female body and mind.

I nearly laugh, the hysterical little bubble growing inside me, at the direction of my thoughts, as heat floods my traitorous body again. I'm barely in control of my raging hormones at this point, so desperate for sleep, warmth, affection, and comfort from him.

Light rustling pulls my attention back to the darkness, but when the quiet surrounds us again, I settle back down, snuggling even closer to Greyson. At this point, we're pressed so close to the side of the tent, I'm not sure there's anywhere left to go.

This week, he's been so playful, so attentive and caring, it's like I barely recognize him. His every move mirrors mine, when I laugh, he smiles, when I'm frustrated, he fixes it. My heart is about to burst from the happiness I feel with him, but of course, the happiness is tinged with the bittersweet knowledge that soon everything might change.

Rolling to my stomach, wincing a little as the muscles in my abdomen clench uncomfortably, I stretch out across Greyson's chest, using him as a warm, spicy scented pillow. I try to muffle the sounds of the outdoors with his heartbeat on one side of my head, my pillow pressed above the other.

Just as I drift off, or what feels like mere minutes, I'm jolted awake again by a plodding sound and the rustle of leaves.

This is the fifth or sixth time I've bolted awake in a few hours, and my system is fried as a result. When Greyson shifts beside me, his hands running over my tense body, he blinks himself awake, slowly.

"Not another trip to the bathroom already?" His muffled, sleepy voice makes me smile, despite my exhaustion and nerves. I also feel bad for him, I've woken him up every few hours to walk with me in the dark to the bathroom. At first he'd teased me about my small bladder, and I'd let him think that was the case.

"No, not this time. I can't sleep. I keep waking up to every noise, I'm so tired I think I might cry."

"Scared?"

I nod, biting my lip to stop my exhausted, strained emotions from taking over.

"Hey, it's okay, babe, you're too light of a sleeper, that's all. Remember, a squirrel can sound like a deer out here in the quiet, that's all it is. Come here."

My heart stutters a little when he calls me babe, and even though I'm scared, I smile, pressing my face into the crook of his neck and inhaling his warm, familiar scent with a sigh of pleasure.

He respositions us on the mattress and I slide even closer to him, closing my eyes, willing myself to relax and sleep as his palms run up and down my back under my tank top. I nearly weep in relief as he kneads my lower back, pressing the palms and fingers of his warm hands deep into the muscles there.

"Stop thinking so hard."

When a branch snaps near the tent, I jerk in his arms again. "Greyson, what was that?"

"They're just animals, Elle, it's okay, I promise. Squirrels, racoons, maybe the odd skunk."

"We're on the mainland, Theo saw bears this summer. What if it's a bear?"

"They won't bother us. I pro-"A massive roar cuts through the tent, as a huge mass falls against the canvas fabric. I scream, but Greyson only yanks me against him, slapping his hand over my lips. "It's fucking Theo."

When Theo unzips our tent, laughing, I look up at him, then burst into tears. Not graceful tears, no. Full-blown, hysterical tears that leave me gasping for air.

"For fuck's sake, Theo. She's been terrified of every Goddamned sound all night, then you go and pull this shit? She's going to have nightmares for weeks. Hell, probably for the rest of her life."

With all the commotion I've caused, Hudson also shoves his way in through the opening of our tent. "What's the matter, Ellie?"

"I scared her." Theo shrugs at Hudson, then looks back at me. "I'm going to get our sleeping bags."

"Move over, Grey, we're coming in. She'll be fine in a bit."

Sobbing a little hysterically, mostly due to being overtired, hormonal and scared, I try to regulate my breathing.

Knowing there are just some things the boys can't understand, can't help with, I long for Tess, or Steph as I try to reign in my unpredictable emotions. They'd understand, they'd make me laugh, commiserate with me. They'd probably have some chocolate hidden away for an emergency just like this.

"I'm s-sorry, you g-guys. J-just, ig-gnore m-me."

"Fat chance, Ellie."

Hudson takes my hand in his, pressing on a stress point between my thumb and palm, then shifting his grip to my wrist, then forearm, pressing on the small points to help me relax. "Deeper breaths, you're fine. Are you having a panic attack?"

"I kn-know I-I'm f-fine. N-no, not a p-panic attack." I try not to be annoyed at him, knowing it's unfair. He's only trying to help, but sometimes I just want to cry, just need to let it run its course. I don't always want to fight the feelings off, especially not now, as they swirl inside me, crashing into one another.

Greyson's hand is warm and soft on my back, as he mutters under his breath, "Are we all having a slumber party in here?" His voice is tired, resigned, lacking the bite it normally would have in a moment like this. He eyes Theo as he shoves his way back into our tent with his and Hudson's sleeping bags.

"Yup. Maybe she'll sleep better if we're all here. Plus, maybe one of us will snore loud enough that she won't hear the critters."

I can't help but laugh at Theo's terrible joke. "There she is." His voice is filled with humor, and is just a tad sheepish. "I'm really sorry. I thought it would be funny. I didn't know you were actually scared."

"It's okay, T-Theo. I overreacted. I'm just t-tired and extra emotional this week."

"Why this week? Anything we can help with?" Theo stares at me expectantly and I blush, struggling to explain why I'm extra sensitive this week, more than any other week.

Hudson flushes a deep red when Theo just stares at me. "Dude she's got her period, you know? Hormones. Leave her alone."

I feel my entire body flush with embarrassment at Hudson's revelation to the group. Greyson's hand stills on my back. "How do you know that Hudson?" My voice is a high pitched squeak.

He only grins and shrugs, "One, you put tampons and those fancy flowery cramp pills in my backpack like all the time, it's kind of a pattern, time wise, if you get me? Being cyclical and all. So, I put it in my phone calendar so I know to avoid doing shit that annoys you. You're unpredictable at the best of times, Ellie."

I roll my eyes at Hudson, surprised by how well he knows me, but not really sure why I'm surprised. We've always been on the same page, even the same word on the page most of the time.

Theo pats my back awkwardly. "Oh, yeah, guess there's not much I can help with there. Sorry." I laugh at his earnest expression.

"T-Thanks all the same, Theo." When strong arms wrap more securely around me, cocooning me gently, I sigh in contentment, longing to lean back into Greyson's embrace, like a cat stretching in the sun. Right now, everything about him is even more appealing than usual and my system goes a little haywire as he holds me.

As I listen to Hudson and Theo bicker about sleeping positions, I feel my eyelids getting heavier again now that the excitement has passed. Less than a minute later, Ryan pokes his head in through the tent flap, startling me back into a dazed, but alert state. "Party in here tonight?"

I giggle again, steadier, calmer with Hudson and Greyson smooshed beside me. "Come on in, Ry. We're having a slumber party."

"Elle, you're literally the only girl I know who would call sleeping in a tent with four boys a slumber party instead of a sausage fest without batting an eye, but cool. I'll grab my sleeping bag. Maybe another mattress too.

After considerable shuffling, elbowing and the odd slide down the mattresses, we're five people piled into a four person tent, but it's oddly cozy and reassuring. I'm still sandwiched between Hudson and Greyson, with Theo lying above my head, and Ryan lying down by my feet.

"Thanks, guys. I'm not big on camping, if I'm being honest."

Four groans resonate through the tent, "You don't say, Ellie." I smile at the dry sarcasm in Hudson's voice.

I snuggle closer to Greyson, resting my head on his shoulder. "Thanks for not freaking out and making them leave. I feel better already."

His lips press quietly against my forehead as he whispers so quietly I have to strain to hear him. "You should have told me you had your period, Elle. I wouldn't have made you sleep outside so far from a washroom if I'd known. Or sleep on the ground for that matter."

I look around the tent awkwardly, wondering if anyone is listening to this conversation. "It's not really a big deal, that's all fine." My voice is barely a whisper.

"Cramps? The pills you were taking before?"

"Yes, but only a little, nothing unmanageable."

When Greyson's hand slides down to my lower back, kneading a little, I bite my lip, trying to stop myself from crying again at the sweetness of the gesture.

I relax against him as he continues to rub my back, easing me back into a light, but peaceful sleep.

When the sun rises the next morning, I drift contentedly, warm and secure, now that the noises of the night have passed. I open my eyes when I hear an off sound of something clicking and shuttering.

Blinking my eyes rapidly to adjust to the bright early morning sun streaming through the skylight, I immediately see I'm in a tangled mass of arms and legs. My head is still on Greyson's chest, but Hudson is wrapped around me from behind like a monkey, his face pressed into my lower back. Ry's curled up half on top of Greyson's stomach, one arm thrown over his ribs, as we'd all slid to one side of the tent and down into the corner.

Theo is spread starfish across the top of the tent, with Greyson's head resting on his bent leg.

I blink to clear the sleep from my eyes, frowning as a shadow moves again, and the clicking sound continues.

When I hear giggles, I realize Sam must be outside. Rolling over gingerly, trying not to squish Hudson's head, I nearly scream when I see her crouched over me with a camera.

"Morning, Elle."

I stare at her, then down at myself and the tangle of boys. "Um, hi Sam. What are you doing?"

"Liam said all the tents were empty, that all of you were in one tent. I didn't believe him. Then you all looked so cute, I couldn't resist. I especially like Grey and Ry."

Self consciously smoothing my hair down, I look for a sweatshirt. At some point, I'd stripped down to my tank top after all the body heat piled in, but I know as soon as I wiggle out from here, I'll be cold.

Sam digs the sweater out from under Grey's legs and hands it to me, helping me stand when I raise my arms to her.

"I have to go pee so badly, I might just explode. How did you and Liam sleep?" we wander the trail back to the boathouse.

"We moved inside around one."

"You what?"

She grins at me. "Sorry, should I have told you? I guess maybe you could have moved in too."

I shake my head at her. "Literally the only reason I slept outside is because Liam said it was nice, that he wanted to."

"Yeah, we got tired of sliding around on the slippery mattress, trying to get busy, so we bailed."

"Ah, I just figured you were finished when the noise stopped."

Sam gasps, then bursts out laughing, tossing her arm over my shoulders. "No, we weren't even close to done by that point, girl. So consider yourself lucky we didn't stay and continue the show."

"I'm going to run to the washroom, do you want to start coffee? I can grab the others after and we can all have coffee together on the dock."

"Sounds perfect."

When I make my way back to the tent, I unzip and start shaking the boys by the closest body parts. One by one, they start to respond, although I can't reach Theo from here.

"Hud, shake Theo, then meet for coffee on the dock."

Greyson shoves himself out of the tangle of bodies with a groan, stumbling a little as he slides on the slippery mattress and sleeping bags.

Once he's clear of the tent, I let him pull me in for a kiss. "Morning."

As we wander hand in hand towards the boathouse, Sam's scream rips through the peaceful quiet of the morning.

Greyson leaps forwards, charging towards the boathouse and I'm hot on his heels. He takes the stairs three at a time, peeling around the corner, and nearly sliding on the rug as he skids towards his friends.

Liam's on the floor, seizing, and Sam is kneeling beside him, frozen.

Greyson grabs a pillow, sliding it under his friend's head, shoving furniture out of the way so Liam won't hurt himself. He stabilizes Liam's head, pressing at his jaw to keep his mouth slightly open.

"Go get one of the nurses."

I run as fast as I can towards the cottage, I stumble through the doorway, "Jacqueline? Paul? Hello? I need help, Liam's having a seizure."

The house comes to life all at once as I knock on doors, trying to find my way to someone.

Nurse Doom, Sandra, is the first person I find, but Liam's parents are only seconds behind her.

Leading the way back down the path, I shove through the door and run up the stairs, nearly crashing into the banister in my hurry.

"Out of the way kids, let me see." I pull Sam out of the way, letting Sandra take her place beside Liam, wrapping my arms around her.

After she administers a shot, Liam's body calms, and eventually he moans when his mom sweeps his sweaty hair back from his face.

"Hi, baby. You're okay. Just gave us a little scare, is all." Her smile is soft, reassuring as she continues to stroke his forehead.

When three more pairs of footsteps pound up the stairs, I release Sam, moving to stand with Hudson, Theo and Ryan, out of the way.

"Give me a hand, Grey?" Paul steps forward, bending down to lift Liam gently in his arms. Greyson lifts his friend's shoulders, helping Paul stand upright under the weight of his son.

Once Liam is settled back on the bed, Sam flies to the other side of the mattress to take his hand. "I'm okay, guys. Just got a bit dizzy. Overdid it a bit."

I clear my throat. "Why don't we give Liam a bit of privacy, you guys? We'll be down on the dock, but no pressure. We can come back later today, or tomorrow if you want to rest, Liam."

Jacqueline makes the decision for us. "Why don't you kids come back tomorrow? I'm sure he's just overdone it a bit with last night's excitement."

Ry and Theo stay behind to pack up the camping gear, and I drive Hudson and Greyson home, the jovial mood of the morning quickly forgotten as reality hits the boys, and me in the face like a bucket of ice water.

- - -

These boys, especially Hudson, are no one's fools. They all know and respect Elle's many moods because hey, that's part of what being a girl is all about sometimes.

Our sweet Elle might not have much of a filter, or shyness when it comes to her boys, but her shocked embarrassment when Hudson told the group why she was upset made me smile.

After all, who doesn't love a 'woke' male friend, or boyfriend for that matter?

Hope to hear from you all in the comments! Your feedback is very welcome. If you enjoyed the chapter, please vote or comment!

Xx Toria