𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳 ~ [𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘹 𝘖𝘊]

⇒ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ

"Mail's here." I looked up from my coffee with tired eyes when Quartermaster strolled in and informed us of the news. I instantly let my shoulders drop again. Nothing interesting. The only mail us counsellors got was late notices on paying bills. Maybe if our prick of a founder wasn't such an asshole, we might be able to pay them all on time, instead of scrabbling together odd change from every nook and cranny of the camp.

"Good morning, Avery!" David chirped, dropping into the seat next to me. I inclined my head slightly and raised my hand wearily as a greeting. "You look more tired than average." He commented.

"Yeah, I couldn't catch much rest." I shrugged, taking a sip of the caffeine infused drink in my mug.

"Well you should have told me, we could have gone for a walk like usual." I smiled at the sentiment, but shook my head.

"No, I could hear you snoring. I know it's rare you sleep properly, so I thought it best not to disturb you." I explained, stretching out my back a little as I began to slowly wake up properly, correcting my posture.

"Oh it's really no trouble-" I cut him off.

"Davey. It's fine." I insisted. Gwen joined us a few seconds later. "Anything interesting in the mail?" I inquired, knowing she usually handled it.

"Not really. Bills, final notices, blah blah." She paused, fishing an envelope out of her pocket. "Letter for you, though." She passed it across. I frowned, taking it between my forefinger and thumb. I vaguely recognised the handwriting on the front, but thought no further about it as I opened the top with my finger.

"I never get letters..." I muttered.

"Maybe it's good news?" The redhead suggested, smile ever-present on his face.

"Or bad." I barely made my voice audible, thinking back to when I found out about my mom. I pulled out the folded sheet, giving it a quick read. My face twisted slightly as I did so. It was from my dad. I placed it down on the table when I was finished, face blank.

"What's wrong?" Gwen spoke first, noticing my expression.

"My dad he's... He's re-marrying." I really wasn't sure how to feel. Yes, it had been a few years since mom had passed, but I assumed he wouldn't move on so quickly. "The wedding's in two weeks." I added, looking back to the information he'd told me.

"And he's only telling you now?" The male counsellor seemed confused.

"I told you, I'm not massively close with my parents. I thought maybe he'd at least tell me he was seeing someone." But I'd just said it myself, hadn't I? We weren't close. It wasn't even for a particular reason. Taking the job at Camp Campbell had meant a big move from home, but he'd supported me doing it.

"How old is your dad?" The dark skinned woman raised an eyebrow.

"Late fifties." I replied, still hung up on the news. How did I not know about any of this?

"Are you going?" She asked another question. I considered it, before nodding.

"I'm his child. I don't know what it'll be like, seeing him with someone else, but I need to be there." I answered decidedly. I double checked all the information. "I get a plus one at least." I shrugged. Gwen immediately sat up when I said that.

"Like a date?"

"No, like a plus one." I repeated, giving a half smile at her antics. The counsellor shifted her eyes subtly in the redhead's direction. I pulled a face at her, playfully rolling my eyes.

"Hey David?" Gwen drew out the vowels in his name.

"Yes?" He paused, fork halfway to his mouth.