Unraveling [BXB]

Chapter 24

Over Thanksgiving, the school gave everyone a long weekend, so after everyone had celebrated with their families, Chase and Taylor were invited to go along on the annual camping trip with Trey, Wren, Kai, and Harper. It was the last weekend before the chill of winter really set in, so despite the dropping temperatures, the four of them always got excited to spend a few days in the woods roasting hot dogs and talking around a campfire late into the night. Chase and Taylor had never been asked to come along before, but seeing as both of them had found a place for themselves in the group, it only felt right to include them in the trip too.

"Alright, bathrooms and showers are a quarter mile up the trail, and the lake is just down the hill. Also, don't go anywhere alone after dark, it's easy to get lost and there have been a few bear sightings in the past year," Trey said as he walked to their camp sight with a cooler in his arms.

"I think I'd be more worried about drunk campers," Harper said, carrying her tent kit with a light blue backpack on her shoulders that almost looked bigger than her.

"Hey, didn't we pack four tents?" Chase asked. "I'm only seeing two more in here," he said, searching through the trunk a bit more.

"We didn't need an extra, Kai and I are sharing, and you and Wren are sharing," Taylor said with a shrug.

"Yeah, but Trey and Harper aren't," Chase said, taking one of them and grabbing the bag of food.

"I didn't bring my tent, I thought you were bringing yours," Kai said, glancing over at them as he picked up the bag of logs and his sleeping bag.

"No, I thought you should bring yours since it's bigger," Taylor said, and then the realization dawned on both of their faces at once.

"Shiiiit," Kai murmured. "Well, hey, you and Chase can take one tent and Trey and Wren can take another so Harper can still sleep alone. I'll just sleep on the ground."

Harper walked over to grab another armful of things. "What's the problem?"

"Oh, it's nothing, we just forgot to bring a fourth tent, but I'll just sleep outside, it's not a problem," Kai said.

"What? No, we're not gonna let you sleep outside, I'll just ask Trey if I can sleep in his tent," she said with a shrug.

"That wouldn't make you uncomfortable?" Kai asked and she just smiled.

"Nah, I don't mind as long as he doesn't," she said, walking over to talk to him.

"You ever think Trey and Harper would kind of make a cute couple?" Wren asked, his arms crossed as he leaned against the car, watching the two of them talk.

"Well, now that Hayden's out of the running, there's no 'bro code' anymore," Kai said. "I'd put money on them getting together by prom."

"How much?" Chase asked.

"Mmm, twenty bucks," Kai said.

"Nah, he's too far in the friendzone. There's no way," Taylor said.

"The friendzone doesn't exist, and he's totally into her," Chase said. "Wren, which side are you betting on?"

"I'm gonna go with Taylor on this one, but I think it comes down to whether or not he actually gets up the nerve to flirt with her," Wren said, grabbing the case of beers. "Come on, let's go get our tents set up.

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"Okay, so...this goes...here, and this goes...here?" Chase murmured, looking at the instructions as he connected the tent poles, though in reality, he didn't have the slightest clue what he was doing.