This Year is My Year

Nervous

I may have had little faith in the rest of the group, but I was woefully unaware of how much outdoors skills I lacked. I watched Steve as he tried to explain how to start a fire for the third time. It was like someone was trying to teach me algebra in Greek.

"Munson, didn't you do Boy Scouts? Y/N has all of those patches on that jacket of yours she wears."

"It is meant to be ironic, Harrington," I sniped back at him, annoyed that he was good at something that I wasn't. He rolled his eyes as he went back to some sort of flint and kindling. I crossed my arms, hating how useless I felt.

"Look at my little Eagle Scout," Helena walked up behind Steve, grasping at the back of his jeans. He hopped up, shocked for a moment before blushing a deep red. Helena winked at him as he smiled stupidly at her.

"Hey, Helena," he stammered. She kissed his cheek before settling on a log near the firepit. She turned to me, smiling brightly.

"Y/N wanted me to tell you that your tent is all set up," she informed me. I nodded. "She also wanted to me to tell you that she didn't have as much trouble as you did last time? I'm not sure what she meant by that."

My face twisted into a smile as I remembered the morning after our night in our spot. I nodded before heading towards the group's tents.

The little ones were running around their set up tent, acting like they were still in elementary school. I smiled as Lucas tackled Mike to the ground, Dustin following closely behind as he piled onto them.

"Bow before my almighty strength, weaklings!" Dustin hollered, wrestling with the other boys. They were laughing, care-free and joyful. I could only imagine the amount of trouble they would cause for the rest of the week.

I finally got to the tent that I had bought for the night I spent with Y/N, opening it quickly, hoping to surprise her.

I was disappointed when it was empty, no one there for me to scare.

"She and Cristina went to go find more kindling," a voice snapped behind me. I turned to see Robin, her arms crossed, standing in front of the tent. I left the tent, standing awkwardly with her as she glared up at me, tapping her foot.

"What's the matter, Chatterbox?" I asked, knowing that Y/N was right earlier. She started gesturing wildly.

"Is there a reason why you enjoy embarrassing me so much?" She was practically yelling. I winced.

"I'm not embarrassing you, Buckley! Cristina likes you!"

"In spite of you!"

"Buckley, seriously, what's the deal? You were way worse to me when I started dating Y/N – we weren't even friends then!"

She got quiet, jamming her fists in her pockets before stomping away. I followed her, hoping to resolve whatever had bubbled up between us – not just because of Y/N and how upset she would be if Robin was mad at me, but I had come to really care about our talkative band geek.

"Buckley, c'mon – look, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you. I just was teasing my friend a little bit. You're normally so confident."

She turned to me, her face twisting. I was unsure what was happening as she looked down at her feet.

"I just don't want to screw this up. I already know how weird and dorky I am, I don't need you reminding her." She was quiet, almost sad. I felt my brows furrow into a look of concern.

"Rob, don't talk about yourself like that," I insisted. She looked up. Her eyes were welling – I was at a loss of what to do. "Maybe you talk a lot, but you're great. And you're a fun weird, not a weird-weird."