Camera Shy

Chapter Seven

"Don't stop believin'" my friends and I yelled as we were driving into the parking lot.

"We're here!" Dylan said as he stopped the car. By the time we got there, it was already 5:00 pm. We left a little later than expected, and stopped a few places on the way.

"Ok, so I was thinking." Dylan started, "We can get settled in, eat, and then have a bonfire on the beach!"

Bonfire. That word makes me think of Luke. The name Luke makes me cringe. It makes me happy that I'm back with my friends. But I can't help but wonder what Luke is up to. Is he on his way to Brisbane? Is he thinking about me to? Probably not he hates me, I mean the feeling is mutual.

"Oh my gosh! That sounds fun!" Channing said, clapping her hands together.

We all settled in our room. It was small with two bunk beds. One for Jax and Dylan, and one for Channing and I. "Dibs on the top bunk!" Channing shouted tossing her bag onto the bed. "Me too!" Dylan shouted. "Dang it!" Jax sighed. I laughed, "Chan, you know I don't like the top bunk anyway!"

We then went on a short tour of the house. It was a small 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with a kitchen, living room, and laundry room. It even had a patio. We went to the kitchen to eat some pizza rolls, and grab snacks for the beach.

Once we got down to the beach, it was 6:00. We picked a nice spot, and played in the water for about an hour and a half until our bodies were numb and pruney. I was walking away from the ocean when I felt a pair of arms sweep me up. I turned my head to see a smiling Jax. "Jax, put me down!" I shouted, hitting his arm. His very muscular arm, may I add. "Where's the fun in that?" Jax laughed. I rolled my eyes. "Can you at least carry me on your back? You know hate being carried bridal style." I said pouting my lips. "Of course." He said smiling like a goof. He set me on my feet before I swiftly hopped into his back. "Onward my trusty Jax!" I said pointing towards the bonfire that Dylan and Channing have already started.

Once we got comfortable on our towels, we made s'mores and played songs on our guitars. We were all good singers and musicians. We all actually had a YouTube channel called 4 Days of Hell. Stupid name. We post group covers and Channing, Dylan, and Jac also post individual covers. I don't know why I am able to show my face when I'm with my friends, but once I am alone it's a whole new story; whether I'm singing to a camera or not.

"What song should we do next?" Jax asked after we finished singing Rolling In The Deep by Adele.

"How about Classy Girls?" I heard someone say behind me. I closed my eyes knowing that it was Luke. "Uhm how come none of us saw him walking up?" Channing laughed. "Chan it's almost nine and it's already pitch black. How would we be able to seem him?" Dylan questioned back. "Well I mean we have a bonfire and-" Channing began before being interrupted by Luke's voice. "Hey, Carson."

He came and sat down by me; my friends looking at me in confusion. We weren't crazy about Luke' band, but we have seen some of their covers. Our channel only had around 5,000 subscribers so we were still quite small. On the other hand, Luke's band had almost one million subscribers, so they must've been quite confused on how I knew Luke. I'll just tell them I just met him at a local coffee shop, after all he does live in Sydney as well.

"Luke--" he cut me off, once again. He started playing Classy Girls by The Lumineers. In the middle of the chorus, I put my hand on the string of his guitar. "Stop!" I demanded him. He put his hand over mine, but I pulled it away.

"Go I'm the water with me?" he said poking me. "No! I just got dry!" I snapped back at him. Luke didn't take no for an answer. He quickly dropped his guitar and took mine from my lap. "Luke!" I yelled, before he started for the water.

"Luke put my guitar down!" I shouted, running after him. I looked back at my friends, "A little help here?" I asked, but they were still frozen confused. I took a few more steps before I felt my feet go numb from the icy water. Luke held my guitar above his head and over the water. Although I felt as if steam was coming out of my ears, I couldn't help but notice how cute Luke look with the moonlight beaming down on him. I quickly snapped out of it and remember that my guitar was hovering right over the ocean.

"Luke, please put my guitar down." I pleaded. "I will." He said, and I sigh from a bit of joy. "But first," He continued. I groaned. "Tell me why you, like, hate me." He said with his eyebrows furrowed. His face was the only thing I could see, but I wasn't complaining to much. I sighed again.

"Luke honestly I don't know. Besides I don't hate you, I'm just irritated with you. I don't know why. I really want to get to know you but I just can't stand seeing you. Maybe it's because you're the first boy that I've ever actually liked. Maybe it's because you're so incredibly cute that I can't take it. I have no idea and I'm so sorry! I just want to start over. Turn over a new page, and get to know you, Luke." I let all these words flow out. I had more to say, but honestly I had know clue how to put any of it into words.

Luke stayed quiet and slowly handed my guitar back to me. He smiled like a big child and stuck is hand out. "Hi, I'm Luke. What's your name?" I laughed at how he was literally 'starting over.' I'm smiled widely and shook his hand. "Hello, I'm Carson. It's nice to meet you Luke." He kept holding my hand and easily slipped is fingers in between mine. For once I didn't object. Even though this'll have to be some getting used to, there was something about Luke that just made me feel safe and comfortable. I have no clue how, but my whole thought on Luke has suddenly flipped. All I want to do is be with him, rather than be away from him. Is this what it feels like to be bipolar?

We silently walked back to the bonfire and sat down on my towel. "Guys this is Luke." I said, not really knowing what to say. "Yeah, we've seen some of his videos remember?" Channing said. "How do you know her?" She asked again. Luke looked down at me, obviously not knowing how to answer the question. "When I was waiting for my coffee in Coffee Haven downtown, Luke approached me and we just bonded." I said. I hated lying to my friends, but it's what had to happen. "So, uh, what're you doing here?" Jax asked. I noticed he was gripping his guitar harder than normal. Maybe it's just because he's cold. "Yeah, I thought you had a gig in Brisbane with your band."

"I came to get my girl back." he said as he put his arm around my waist and pulled close to him. All my friends still seemed a bit confused, but we just left it at that. "Well it's getting late. I should probably hit the road." Luke said.

"What? No, stay!" Dylan insisted. "Are you sure?" Luke asked. "Yes, yes, stay!" I said as I playfully hit his chest I looked at all my friends. Dylan and Channing were smiling and nodding their heads. Jax, on the other hand, didn't look like himself. I gave him a friendly smile which was asking if he was okay. He faintly smiled back, but it all seemed fake. He seemed tense, uncomfortable, upset even. I ignored it and figured I would just ask him about that later.

"A little beach time won't hurt!" Luke smiled, reintertwining our fingers.