Camping ~ a Joel Dommett FanFiction

FIRST TRIAL

Whilst everyone is engrossed in conversation, I slip away silently to rifle through my rucksack. Three bikinis, underwear, toiletries and nothing else.

"Are you okay?"

I turn to see Joel leaning against a tree. I could hardly make out his expression due to the darkness of the jungle, you'd think it would be sunny but because of all the trees it's all completely shaded.

I nod, gradually refilling the rucksack.

"You sure?"

I sigh, "Just a bit overwhelmed. That doesn't sound stupid does it?" I fluster, slinging the rucksack over my shoulder.

Joel shakes his head, "No, I get you."

Silence.

"Thanks for helping me out with Martin, you didn't need to." I stand up and suddenly feel conscious of how short I am.

Joel moves away from the tree and takes the rucksack from my shoulder and slings it over his own. "Don't worry about it, and anyway, that hammock is pretty small. How tall are you?"

I stand up on my tiptoes, stretching my back out to make myself as tall as possible, "Five foot four." I say with confidence.

"Oh really." Joel smirks, arms folded.

"Yup." I reply, struggling to maintain balance on my tiptoes.

"Sure about that?"

I nod, before collapsing back onto the flats of my feet. Goddamn. Back to being five foot one.

"So you're definitely five foot four then?" Joel jokes, nudging my shoulder before telling me to follow him towards the spare hammock.

He's right. It's small compared to the others, and is located in the centre of the messy part of camp.

"I'm guessing that hammock is yours?" I point towards the messiest hammock.

Joel slips the rucksack off of his left shoulder and places it onto the empty hammock. "How did you know?"

I shrug, "It's the messiest?"

"How is this messy?" Joel questions, pointing at his scarily messy hammock, it's not like we even have many possessions but he has still managed to create a tip. It looks like a grenade has exploded underneath his sleeping bag. "I didn't know you were the hotel inspector Calla!" He jokes as I sit down on the ground and stretch my legs.

"Any idea what the trial is tomorrow?" I ask, raking a hand through my hair.

"No idea, but because we're all involved I'm guessing we're going against one another." Joel seems stressed about this. He tears his eyes away from his hammock to look at the rest of the group, chatting, laughing.

I shuffle closer towards him. "Even so, you all seem close, it won't change anything." I smile reassuringly.

"I just hate confrontation, it makes me feel uncomfortable." He worries, eyes still fixed on the ten celebrities.

"So don't let it get confrontational."

Silence.

I stand up, straightening my shirt and flopping my hair back over the left side. "Come on, let's go back."

Carol hands me a serving of rice and beans. How thrilling. Graciously, I accept the bowl and notice how all the other campmates don't seem bothered by the plain meal, obviously aside from Martin.

"I'm not hungry." He pushes aside the meal. "Anyone want mine?"

"Martin you'll go hungry mate." Wayne acts like the protective parent.