Forever and a Day

Getting Settled

Alright first off, some people thought I left Sean out- which is so not the case, but I guess the fact that you guys are assuming that means that I must have left something out, for which I apologize for. To answer, Sean is supposed to have a shift at the hospital, and will show up either this night, or the next morning, depends on what all happens up to that point.

Also! It's short, there's a word spelled wrong, but alas it's something and not nothing! 

The rest of the tents were put up, and by that time the fire was going beautifully. So great, in fact, that I had a sneaking suspicion that in addition to his fiery hair, Nathan had some pyro powers or something. Luke started going through a cooler, and I watched from my spot in the grass, which I had refused to leave.

After a moment or two he looked up and winked at me, "Sugar what would you like for lunch?"

At the mention of sugar, North straightened up from putting sleeping bags in tents, "Oh hell no, it has to be healthy or she doesn't get s'mores shit tonight," he said, glaring at Luke as if he had already decided we'd have candy bars for lunch.

"North, really? I was going to give her the choice of hot dogs or some sub sandwich stuff, but it doesn't matter because if she wants to eat unhealthy, she can if she wants," he said, also straightening up to stand his full height.

Sensing a fight just beyond a few more exchanges, I popped to my feet, "Sub sandwiches sound nice... North do you want help with the beds?" I asked, clasping my hands behind my back.

I could feel Kota gazing at me, and after a second of searching the campground I found him half in the woods, half stepped out. He seemed to be asking if I was good with the situation. Without answering, I looked at North who still glared at Luke.

"Guys come on.. can't we just all be happy?" I said, feeling as if I was already losing more people from this trip than I already had with just Owen.

It was if the spell over them had been broken, Luke apologized for being rude, and North apologized for thinking the worst of him, and then invited me to help only if I wanted to still help. I nodded at him, and briefly met Kota's eyes, smiling before climbing into the tent with North.

From the outside it was green and grey, I had assumed each of them would have their own tents when they said we'd be going camping, but Victor had told me that finding a spot big enough for nine tents, and all of the other stuff would be nearly impossible, so they shared. Whoever got to have their color as the outside, had to let the person they shared with, pick the sleeping bag colors. This tent was forest green, and inside held two bright orange sleeping bags.

The contrast hurt my eyes, but after a moment my eyes had adjusted.

"Sang Baby, I've got the sleeping bags covered if you just want to grab some water bottles and an ice bag, we've got to fill up this drink cooler for Kota and Gabe," he said, as he put an orange cooler on the floor of the tent, between the two sleeping bags.

I nodded, "Sure thing."

When I had returned with what he had asked, he was already into the next tent, setting up. So I went inside the tent and dumped half the bag of ice into the small cooler, and wrestled the drinks in between the small ice chunks. As I moved over to a light blue tent, North came out of it and winked at me. Inside was red sleeping bags, and this time I put the drinks in before the ice.

We went through this process with several more tents, and then finally North pulled out a pink sleeping bag, "Where does this go?" he asked.

I instantly felt bad, but I also knew if I didn't say where I really wanted it, they would just try and cram into one tent before I made up a desicion.

"Well I'm staying with Victor later, and stayed with Sean last night.. how about with Gabriel and Kota?" I said, and then cringed, waiting for him to become upset.

But he never did, none of them did. I guess after having finally come to terms with what "normal" is, I always think that they're going to one day just stop and realize that I should definitely not be so blessed with nine amazing people to call my very own. North smiled and kissed my temple on his way to Kota's tent, and I felt a wave of guilt. It wasn't fair of me to be getting so much, and only be able to give one ninth of my attention to each boy.

Victor sat in a camping chair perched by the fire, and I smiled, noticing the way the flames danced in the reflection of his eyes. Seeing the flames replicate the ones I often found myself seeing, drew my worries away and let them drift up with the smoke.

I walked over and slipped onto his lap, to which he wordlessly wrapped his arms around me and sighed. His hands brushed up and down my ribs. At one point, I had been exhausted, and probably a bit slap happy, and accused him of playing piano with my ribs. Ever since this point he made it a little bit of a game to play bits and pieces of songs I knew how to play as well, on my ribs.

I grinned to myself as he began the opening notes to Winter, and kissed his cheek in a silent happy reply.

The boys who had been gone in the woods returned just as Luke had finished making and cutting the sandwiches, and together they stacked the freshly chopped up wood a good but safe distance from the fire, and then Luke declared it break time, to which no one complained as the subs were passed out.