The Boy Who Called Me Songbird

Chapter 8 ~ Holding on in the Cold

Chris's POV

Ferrior handed the phone back to me and I put it back into my pocket. He looked terrible. His nose was red and he had dark circles underneath his eyes. He was shaking uncontrollably and his skin was so pale that it seemed almost blue. It made me wonder how bad I looked but I was too cold to even think about trying to move at all.

I was so cold that I almost couldn't feel anything. The only thing that reminded me that I was alive was the steam coming from my mouth and the sore feeling in my joints from shaking so much to keep warm. I never thought that I would freeze to death in the middle of summer- then again, who would ever expect to freeze to death at a summer camp for musical teens?

So, at that moment, as I sat there freezing my buns off on my bed, I decided that if I was going to die, I might as well clear things up with Ferrior. I mean, what the Hell.

"You're really lucky to have a friend that you can call. I don't have that."

"What do you mean?" my roommate asked, looking puzzled, "You have loads of friends!"

"No not really," I said, "All of those guys just hang out with me because they think I'm some sort of big shot player. I just date all of those pretty girls so that I can be popular and have friends. I don't even like any of them. They're a bunch of ditzy airheads! The only girl that I actually like thinks I'm a first rate asshole... and I guess I am a first rate asshole considering that I'm a jerk to everyone."

"Well then why don't you just try being yourself?" he asked, "What's the use of being popular if you don't have any real friends?"

"I don't know." I replied, rubbing my hands together, "I used to be on the chess team and in chorus when I was younger and I played the saxophone in the marching band. I got made fun of a lot and I got sick of it so I took up guitar and quit band after the season was over and chess team and started dating girls and people haven't made fun of me since."

Ferrior shook his head, "You shouldn't have to be someone who you aren't just to have friends. I know that I'm not the prime example for having loads of buds but people should like you for who you are."

"You know, I've always looked up to you for that," I said, "And I'm sick of doing this. If I get out of this mess I swear to God I'm going to change. I-I'm leaving those jerks who call themselves my friends and I'm going to break up with Hannah and I'm getting my life back."

"Well," Ferrior smirked a little, "When you totally tick off every single popular kid at camp and they totally hate your guts, we'll finally have something in common!"

"Guess I'll sit alone from now on," I pondered.

"You can sit at my table," Ferrior offered, "You aren't half bad."

That was a definite first for me. I've been kicked out of tables before but never invited to join one. 

"Thanks man."

We sat there a while in silence as we waited for our help to come. I constantly rubbed my fingers together from inside my hoodie. As of now, I didn't care if I lost my toes, but I needed my fingers. How was I supposed to play anything with out my fingers?

"You really like that Willow girl don't you?"

He whipped his head around to look at me, seeming startled by my random question. "Why do you ask?"

"I heard you talking about her to your rat last night."

"Oh." his cheeks gained a little of their color back, "Yeah. I like her a lot. She's the first girl who has ever really been my friend."

"Do you think she could get Lilly to talk to me?" I asked.

"What?"

"Do you think Willow Drake could get Lillian Way to talk to me?"

"I don't know, maybe. Why do you ask?"

"Well she's really cool and nice a-and stuff." I mumbled, feeling like a complete idiot.

"You are totally in love with her aren't you?"

"Uhh..." it was my turn to get red, which actually felt good since he actually felt his face get warm.

"Dude, I think she'd like you more if you just talked to her."

"I don't know," I replied, "I don't want to get shut down."

"If you let being afraid of being shut down keep you from taking the chance, there's no chance that you won't be shut down."

"Thanks man." it sounded like a cheesy knock off of Babe Ruth's "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" but it still made made me feel a whole lot better.

"Don't mention it."

Willy's POV

I hung up the phone and handed it back to Lilly.

"Will? What's the matter?" she asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Their cabin is flooded and they can't get out," I replied, my voice filling with determination, "We have to get Keith and help them.

"Bea and I will go and get Keith," said max as she grabbed her jacket, "You can go help Ferrior."

"I'm going with Willy," Lilly announced.

"I'm coming too Willy," Andrea spoke up, "You might need more help."

"Thanks," I said, "I really appreciate it."

"And we'll go with Bea and Max," Sarafina volunteered.

The five of us put on our jackets and rain boots and lent out all of the rain clothes that we could find to the other girls. We met at the door one more time before the two groups parted and we wished each other good luck and gave a quick hug.

The rain pelted down on us as we trudged through the mud towards the boys cabins. We gave the umbrella to Sarafina and Tonya because all that we could find for them were hoodies so we were left unprotected from the storm.

We were lucky that Bea loves rain boots so much and that she has big feet because she had a few extra pairs that we were able to use.

The ground was muddy and slippery making it hard to keep our footing and we fell multiple times. By the time we were able to see the boys cabins we were a mess. Andrea's short hair had become a mess of mud and frizz, Lilly had mud splattered on her face and stuck in her hair and I didn't even want to know how bad I looked.

"Look!" exclaimed Andrea, "No wonder they can't get out. There's a giant tree branch blocking it."

We ran to the cabin as fast as we could and I pounded on the door.

"Ferrior! Can you hear me?" I yelled.

"Yeah!" a muffled voice responded.

"There's a tree branch blocking the door. We're going to try to get it out of the way."

"Is Keith there?" he yelled, "Chris isn't looking too good."

"Speak for yourself!" yelled another voice.

"He's coming!" I yelled back, "Don't worry! You'll be out soon!"

A tree branch was an understatement. This thing was huge. I had no idea how we were going to move this thing.

We started by just grabbing branches and trying to pull it of but it didn't budge. I slumped down on the branch, exhausted, wet and tired.

"This isn't working!" Lilly yelled.

"I have an idea!" Andrea yelled, "We need to lift it on one side and just turn it!"

We all ran to the end of the branch and grabbed a part of the branch.

"Up on three!" she yelled, "One... Two... THREE!"

We all grunted as we actually lifted the branch off of the ground. We shimmied it over about 2 feet before we had to drop it but it was just enough to get the door open.

I ran over to the door and yanked it open.

"Willy!" he exclaimed. He jumped up and gave me a huge hug, "God I'm glad to see you."