Since Forever

Chapter 20

Archie's POV

I'm gay, I'm gay, I'm gay. I'm so gay. 

That was the absolute worst moment of my life. It was the worst second-hand embarrassment ever. That poor girl. She looked so uncomfortable, and no one was looking away. I mean, I didn't either, but I didn't want people to know. 

She was pretty much paralysed with shock but one of her friends got her bra and gave it back to her. You'd think after she put it back on, everybody would just move on, but that's not what's happening. Her friends are going around and yelling at everyone for looking or smiling or laughing. They're coming Zachary's way right now and he looks very uncomfortable.

"Hey! You!!" one of the girls shouts, sticking her finger in his face. "You're a perve!"

The others nod in agreement behind her.

"You"—she gestures to all of us except Alice—"You should all be ashamed of yourselves."

I blink at them. What did I do?

A short girl with dark hair steps forward alongside the girl who is talking. She narrows her eyes at us and gives us the stink-eye. "And if you ever bother her again, I'll kick you where it hurts." She stalks off to harass some other campers and the others follow.

Zachary looks almost as scared as when Thomas told him off. 

"Don't worry," says Finn. "Just don't bother her."

This comment seems to freak Zachary out even more. I can't understand why. Then Zac explains it.

"Don't tell me you already forgot what she looks like," Zac teases.

Zachary goes red. "Well, I-I wasn't exactly looking at her face."

Freddie and I exchange a disgusted look.

"That's horrible. She's right; you are a perve." Alice glares at him.

Zachary tries to argue but Alice gets up and leaves.

"How about now?"

"No," Finn answers for the millionth time. He is walking next to Zachary who has said about three words since we started walking back to the bus. The same three words. Multiple times.

Freddie smiles. "Thanks."

"For what?" I ask.

"For not being Zac."

I grin. "You're welcome."

As for Zac, he is walking towards the back of the group with Alice. I don't mean the back of our group, I mean the back of everyone. So far back that I'm worried they won't get seats on the bus.

"Do you want to sit together again?" Freddie asks.

"Sure," I say. Freddie is probably my closest friend at camp after Zac. Becky's great but she can be a bit much sometimes.

We get on the bus near the front, across the aisle from Zachary and Finn. Have I mentioned how bad I feel for Finn? 

The last camper boards the bus, but it isn't Zac. Or Alice. I don't see them anywhere. I scan the people around me to make sure I didn't miss them. Just when I'm about to tell someone that they got left behind, they get on the bus.

Zac courteously lets Alice get on first and she sits in the second row back. He joins her and Gabe does a head count before we leave. I try to catch Zac's eye, but it's difficult when he's facing in the opposite direction.