After our amazing trip to the cotton fields, we headed to the campsite where we'd be spending the night. The sun was dipping low, painting the California sky with streaks of orange and pink. It was one of those moments where you couldn't help but stop and soak it all in. Everyone was buzzing with energy, setting up tents and chatting about the day. The whole vibe felt like one big adventure.
Once the tents were up, we gathered around a giant campfire. The flames flickered and danced, making the shadows jump across everyone's faces. It was cozy but alive with energy, the kind of night where you knew memories were being made.
Professor Page suggested we have some fun team games, and, of course, it turned into Fashion Technology versus Fashion Design. The stakes? Bragging rights for the rest of the semester. Adri was on the Design team with Bradwin and Dalia, while I was repping Tech alongside Patrick and some of our classmates.
"Alright, Fashion Tech is gonna wipe the floor with you guys!" I called out, my competitive side flaring up.
"In your dreams, Kat!" Adri shot back, smirking.
The first round was charades but with a fashion twist. People had to act out stuff like "runway model," "couture," and "fabric swatches." Watching Patrick try to mimic a designer sketch while looking extra serious had me in stitches. Design won that round and another game, so Tech was feeling the heat. But then we pulled it back with two wins of our own, which meant everything came down to the final game: tug-of-war.
Now, here's where it got real. Bradwin from the Design team and Patrick from Tech were both super competitive, so it felt more like a showdown than a friendly match. You could see it in their stances—they were ready.
"Don't let him beat you, Patrick!" I yelled, throwing in my best cheerleader impression.
"Yeah, Bradwin, show 'em who's boss!" someone from Design shouted. Notably, Adri stayed quiet, and I caught her glancing away when Bradwin was in the spotlight. Guess she still wasn't over how he dumped her friend.
The match kicked off, and it was intense. Patrick and Bradwin were evenly matched, each pulling with everything they had. The crowd went wild, shouting and clapping, hyping them up. Finally, Patrick gave one last heave and pulled Bradwin over the line.
"YES! That's how it's done!" I yelled, clapping so hard my palms stung.
Patrick grinned at me, his face flushed from the effort. "Told you we'd win."
The campfire roared back to life after the games. Marshmallows were passed around, and everyone was either roasting them or accidentally catching them on fire. Adri came over to sit next to me, her usual smirk replaced by a soft smile.
"You guys got lucky," she said, nudging me with her shoulder.
"Luck had nothing to do with it. We're just better," I shot back, sticking my tongue out at her.
The night mellowed out as the fire crackled, casting a warm glow. Adri pulled out her phone and started playing some of Jade Kason's songs, her face lighting up instantly.
"Did you hear about his new album? I swear, I've been waiting forever!" she said, practically bouncing.
I chuckled. "You're such a fangirl."
"And proud of it!"
The music filled the quiet moments between conversations, creating this calm, dreamy vibe. Eventually, Professor Page told us to head to our tents and rest up for the morning.
"Kat, wanna bunk with me?" Adri asked as we walked toward our tent.
"Of course! Who else would I annoy all night?"
Inside the tent, Adri set up her phone to play music softly while we got into our sleeping bags.
"This trip's been awesome so far," I said, yawning as I nestled into my spot.
"Yeah," she agreed, her voice getting drowsy. "But you gotta admit, the games were the highlight. Watching Bradwin lose? Priceless."
I laughed, then teased, "You're ruthless, Adri. I love it."
Her reply was a sleepy mumble, and soon she was out like a light. The tent was quiet except for her soft breathing and the faint hum of music. I was just about to drift off myself when my phone buzzed.
Curious, I grabbed it, squinting at the screen. It was a message from Patrick.
Patrick: "Hey, you still up? Wanna chat? Meet me outside?"
My heart did this little flip. I glanced at Adri, making sure she was asleep, then quietly unzipped the tent and stepped outside.
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