REPOST - [ camp discovery ] - a tayvis short story

prologue.

July 2004

taylor: age 15 || travis: age 16

"Do you trust me?" He asked her as he took her hand. It was well past curfew, but it was also the last night of camp. Tomorrow, they would all be going home to their lives. And for Taylor and Travis, it would be their last year at camp. They were officially going to be too old to come back as campers next year, and they weren't old enough to be camp counselors next year.

"Of course, I trust you," she told him. They had been the best of friends for the last five years. They met during their first year here and became quick friends. Every year, both of them looked forward to seeing each other again every summer. This summer had been no different for them. Their summer had been so different for them. Their friendship had evolved into more than just best friends who spent the summer together. They had become a couple. The second night of the summer, they shared a kiss that left a lasting impression on both of them.

"Then come on," he said, pulling her into the direction of the lake. "I just want to spend some time with you before we leave in the morning." Taylor had already pacled hjer bags and had her clothes laid out for the next day, so her night was free for sleeping until he came knocking on the window to get her attention to come out. Taylor giggled as they ran to the lake behind the dining hall. Everyone was tucked away in their cabins, so only the two of them were out. When they got to the side of the building, Taylor saw a blanket and snacks laid out for the two of them.

"It's a late night picnic!" She said excitedly, with a little laugh. "I thought you said you weren't romantic."

"Well, I had to pull something out of my bag of tricks," Travis said with a smile on his face. He was pleased with himself that she liked it. All she ever wanted to do was impress her and make her laugh.

"I think you did a pretty good job," she said as he led her over to the blanket. They sat down and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him. "I'm going to really miss you," she whispered, looking out at the lake and how the moon reflected off of the ripples of it.

"I'm going to miss you too, Tay," he told her, kissing the top of her head. "You make every summer here worth coming; I just wish we didn't live so far away from each other." They both knew that once they left tomorrow, their summer romance was over. They would both go back to their normal lives. The main difference was that half of their friend group from camp lives in the same town and went to the same school, while the rest of them were scattered across the United States. Exchanging numbers was the only way to keep in contact with each other. None of them had cell phones yet, so speaking to each other would have to be on their parents' house phones.

"Do you have to go back? What if we run away instead?" Taylor asked him turning to look into this eyes. Her life back home wasn't the greatest. Coming to camp every summer wa sher escape. She wished she could stay in thie place forever. She wished she could stay with these people forever. These people felt more like family than her own family did.

"I don't think we can do that, babe," Travis let out a little laugh. He was going to miss her. He was going to miss everything about her. Her smile. Her laugh. Her jokes. The way she ran up to him and jumped on his back. Her hugs. Everything about her was perfect in his sixteen year old eyes. He wanted to pack her up in his suitcase and take her back home with him. No one in his town got him the way she did, and he didn't think anyone ever would.

"But what if we could? Where would we go?" She asked him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"As long as I was with you, it wouldn't matter." He turned his head to look down at her. "Wherever you wanted to go, I would make it happen."