Take Me Home

Chapter 9 Are We Ready?

Kevin's POV

"Today is the last day of music before the first day of Battle of the Bands. There are 10 other groups, all using instruments. You guys will have an advantage being an A Cappella group. Remember that, but don't let it get to your head. Every week will go like this one until there are three groups left. The summer will end with the last day of camp having the last Battle of the Bands and a winner." Ben announced. "You guys won't have instruments to hide behind and since you will just be standing there needs to be some movement."
"You mean like choreography?" I asked
"Yes. Can you guys dance?" Ben asked.
We were all silent.
"So is that a no?"
We all nodded. He was silent for a few minutes.
"We can still do some easy choreography"
We nodded
"Let's get started"
After we finished learning the choreography we went over it a bunch of times until reveille blew indicating that the class was over.

Avi's POV

I talked with Kevin as we walked to lunch.
"So, how have we gone to the same school since kindergarten and lived in the same neighborhood but are just becoming friends now?" I asked Kevin although he probably had as good of an idea as I do.
"We have never had a single class together and-"
"Not true! We had geography together last year"
"Right. We never got a chance to get to know each other early on, like in elementary school, and from that we had different friend groups and never got to really know each other and become friends."
"Huh. I never thought of it like that."
"What do you mean?"
"I always wanted to talk to you or sit with you but you were always with the more popular kids and I never felt like I could really approach you"
"Really? You felt like that? I felt the same way!"
"That is a lie"
"Is not"
"Sure..."
"Whatever...."
We arrived at lunch and I couldn't have been more hungry. I got so lucky to find out that today's lunch was pizza. I was deep in conversation with Kevin and Scott when Esther pulled me aside with some important.
"Avi, I just got a call from mom and dad." Esther said with tears in her eyes.
"Is everything ok?" I questioned
"Um... Avi, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but umm"
"Esther what is it? Come on you can tell me anything"
"Ok. Um...well...Grandpa is very, very sick and is in the hospital and the doctors are not sure how long he is going to last. I'm really sorry" tears were now streaming down her face as well as mine. The hardest part of all this was that I know very well that I won't be able to see him probably ever again. I was very close with him. He would come over everyday after school when I was really little and we would play outside everyday, but as we both got older we both of us had less time to spend together and eventually we only saw each other on holidays and other special occasions.
"You okay?" Esther questions "do you want to go to the bunk and rest and skip your afternoon class. I will tell the teacher you are sick. Mom and Dad are at the hospital and if you call them you might be able to talk to him."
"Okay. I think I will"
"Do you want me to sit with you?"
"Yeah. That'll be great thanks"
We walked to the bunk together in silence. I felt pretty bad that I just left the group and didn't tell them anything. Esther decided to go back to lunch because as a counselor she needs to clean up the table and get more food if anyone wants more. So I was alone in the bunk and I just sat there, on my bed, and cried, really hard. It felt really good to get it all out. After about a half an hour of crying I decided to call.
"Hello" I heard my mother pick up.
"Mom?" I replied
"Avi, honey did Esther tell you the news?"
"Yes mom. Are you still with grandpa?"
"We were just about to leave but if you want to talk to him we will stick around so you can"
"I would love to"
"Great. Let me put him on the phone"

"Avi?" My grandfather questioned
"Yes grandpa"
"Tell me about camp and about you"
"Okay. Um I'm in a bunk with three other guys a really nice girl and Esther is our counselor. We are are taking music in the morning and have formed and A Cappella band which we don't have a name for yet and I'm the bass. We are competing in the camp's Battle of the Bands which starts tomorrow and we are really good."
"Good luck Avi. I love you kiddo"
"I love you to grandpa"
There was no response. That worried me. I heard my mom come back on the phone, her voice shaky, after all it was her father.
"Avi, h-he's gone"
I hung up the phone. I couldn't be more upset. Whenever I've had a problem he was there. I could always call him for anything I needed. The one person I fully trusted was gone.

Kirstie's POV

Theatre couldn't be better. I love it so much!! I went back to the bunk to find Esther on the porch staring at a text message on her phone.
"Esther?" I asked starling her
"Oh Kirstie, hi"
"Is everything ok?"
"Not really. Avi and I, our grandfather just died on the phone with Avi. Avi was really close with him and this is going to be really hard on Avi. I got him out of afternoon activity so he could call my parents and talk to my grandfather. He was very sick and in the hospital."
"I'm so sorry" I hugged Esther. I didn't really know what else to do. I walked into the bunk. Avi was sobbing. I walked over to him and hugged him. I don't know much about how to deal with this kind of stuff, but one thing I do know is that if someone is really upset they will need a shoulder to cry on. For Avi, I want to be that shoulder.
"Thanks Kirst" Avi said after he finished crying
"Esther told me what happened and I figured you would need a shoulder to cry on and I wanted to be that shoulder." I replied
"That really means a lot to me"
"I want you to know if you ever need a shoulder to cry on I am here, okay?"
"Okay, if I need to cry or maybe talk about what's going on that isn't making me feel great I will come to you"
"I'll always be across the bunk if you need anything"
With that I walked over to my bed and pulled out my notebook and started to write.

Scott's POV

After hearing about Avi's grandfather, I entered the bunk to see him hugging Kirstie. He looked up at me and I mouthed I'm sorry he nodded and I walked over to my bed to read my summer reading. The book is pretty easy for what I'm used to from my old school, but I'm enjoying it. Mitch was sitting on his bed next to me. He handed me a crumpled piece of paper with writing on it.
More friendship lessons tonight?
I found a pen and wrote back
I've told you basically everything
Canteen then?
Sure

Mitch's POV

Kirstie returned to her bed and I pulled her aside.
"Mitch!" She raised her voice, but not too loud.
"Kirst I need to tell you something"
"What is it?"
"I know we were never really friends at school, but everyone at school knows how much Travis hates me"
"Yeah...what are you trying to say?"
"He's here and he is in a band for battle of the bands"
Kirstie's eyes grew wide
"There hasn't been any physical violence has there?"
"No he's verbally bullied me once or twice but that's it"
"Ok. Stay with us and everything will be okay don't worry about Travis. If he does anything to you I will-"
"No Kirst you will not do anything. Let me fight my own battles"

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter I had a lot of fun writing it. I will try to update this story more often.