SUNKISSED - Jeremiah Fisher

- 8 -

- Jade -

Sarah and I finally clock out after what felt like the longest three hours of our lives. Our replacements, fresh-faced and seemingly unaware of the chaos that awaits them, take over as we exchange relieved smiles and quickly make our exit.

"I usually like kids, but those ones... I swear they've drained the life out of me," I say dramatically, stretching my arms over my head as we head down the long hallway. My legs feel like jelly.

Sarah sighs, her hair falling into her face as she walks beside me. "This is our whole summer, Jade," she groans, nudging me with her elbow. "Babysitting for hours on end? I'm starting to think we got the short end of the stick."

"Yeah, no kidding." I shake my head, already dreading the next shift. "But hey, at least we get breaks in between. Could be worse."

Sarah shoots me a side-eye, her lips twitching into a smile. "True. I guess we could be doing actual work like Steven. He probably has to smile at old rich dudes all day."

I laugh, imagining Steven's fake, polite smile plastered across his face. "Yeah, he's probably suffering more than us. Let's just cling to that thought."

We walk in comfortable silence for a few moments, the chatter of the camp fading behind us as we make our way toward the debutante hall. I glance at Sarah, a mischievous thought forming in my mind.

"Is it kinda sad that I miss being a deb?" I ask, half-joking but half-serious. There's a hint of nostalgia in my voice I didn't expect to hear.

Sarah's eyes widen as she looks at me in mock horror. "Jade, what?" she laughs, giving me a playful shove. "Are you seriously saying you miss that? I mean, I miss it too, but still."

"I'm just saying! It was kinda fun, you know?" I defend myself, lifting my hands in mock surrender. "I mean, the tea parties, the dresses... the drama. You can't tell me you didn't secretly enjoy the attention."

"Okay, fine," Sarah says, grinning. "It was fun—until we had to learn how to waltz. Remember how I nearly tripped over that guy's shoes and face-planted in the middle of the dance floor?"

I burst out laughing, the memory flooding back. "Oh my god, yes! And he had no idea what to do, so he just stood there, like, staring at you while you were mid-stumble!"

She cringes, but she's laughing too. "I think that was the moment I knew debutante life wasn't for me."

"Fair," I admit. "But you've got to admit, the chaos was part of the charm."

As we reach the hallway leading to the deb hall, our laughter fades as we spot Belly and Cameron standing close, clearly in the middle of a conversation. The air around them feels heavy, and there's something in the way Belly is looking at him—almost like she's trying to say something but isn't sure how.

I clear my throat loudly, letting them know they weren't alone anymore. Cameron jumps a little, turning around like a guilty kid caught sneaking snacks from the kitchen.

"Bonfire boy," Sarah says with a small nod, a knowing smile on her face. Her voice cuts through the awkward silence like a knife.

Cameron looks mildly uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, hey... Sarah, Jade," he mutters, glancing over at Belly for reassurance.

"We didn't mean to interrupt," I say quickly, sensing the tension but trying to keep it light. "Just passing through."

"It's fine, really," Belly chimes in, but her voice sounds a little tight. She looks down at the floor, her arms crossing over her chest. There's a flicker of something in her eyes—frustration, maybe? Or something else I can't quite place.