Summer Camp

n i n e

chapter nine

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"Wherever I go there's a shadow of you" - Wherever I Go by OneRepublic

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Being Tom's girlfriend was nice.

Great, actually.

We had went on four successful dates and while we weren't that big on PDA, he always made sure to squeeze my hand softly under the lunch table, or to press a little chaste kiss on my cheek or lips, or even to tell me I looked beautiful. He made my heart flutter and while I was a fool to think this would in any way end well, I just wanted to dwell in this for a while. He surely wasn't what I had expected to find when I moved here, but I was glad I did.

Speaking of moving somewhere new: Summer was quickly approaching, the days getting even hotter than usual and that was horrific in California.

"Do you feel like this is hell too?" Max asked, desperately pressing a cold water bottle to his forehead in an attempt of refreshment. His face was taut with exertion and his pale skin glistened with sweat. "I think this is hell on steroids!" I half-heartedly exclaimed. This heat was making me feel sluggish. It was too hot for him to remark anything else.

I was currently seated on the hood of Max's car, waiting for the rest of the squad to arrive; he was being so kind as to let us all hitch a ride on his old pickup truck. Sucked for him, but was great for us. Granted, I didn't live far away, but it was too far to walk and too hot to sit in a bus.

Okay, Max wasn't exactly doing it voluntarily. We had an agreement - we took turns driving everyone home. That is, Max, Brad and Sierra; they were the only ones who had licenses at the moment and thus were burdened with these tasks.

"So," pause, "you and Tom?" Max asked after some time. I almost choked and recovered smoothly (not) with a cough. Max was probably the one person in the group I hadn't connected that well too yet; for him to talk to me about this subject was surprising to say the least.

"Y- yeah."

I felt my cheeks burn fiercely, but I was fairly sure that my face was already beet red, so it wasn't of great significance. Max chuckled. I frowned at him, "You have a girlfriend too!"

He smiled, a faraway look in his eyes. "I know. I'm real lucky too." I almost aww-ed out loud.

One by one, our friends arrived. First came Brad, who looked so exhausted that he might pass out; next was Sierra managing to look flawless in the endless summer heat - what was that girl's secret?!; then Lisa (she was even more jumpy than usual and that was a feat in this weather); and last, but surely not least, Tom.

I smiled brightly at him and even though he was totally sweaty, he still looked great to me. He gave me light peck on the lips and I heard Lisa and Sierra squeal behind us. I've never been shipped before, I thought while talking to my boyfriend, so unbelievably and soppily happy that I was almost disgusted at the degree of cheesiness. If I wasn't careful, I would soon be spouting out positive quotes and lifestyle advice!

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"A dinner?!" I shrieked. I would have felt at least a little embarrassed at losing my composure, but I was too shocked too. Even though we had air conditioning, it suddenly felt ten times hotter in the room.