Foreigner of Fire

12 - Camp Party

The streamers that flew around in the air were colored in green, blue and purple. The ground was littered in sparkly confetti and there was music being played. Lily sat at a bench facing the campfire, which was ablaze during the eve hours after the sun had gone low enough. The sky was the perfect ombré of purple to deep night shade blue and it was clear, revealing the many many twinkling stars up ahead. Sam walked up to Lily, holding two plates of cake. There was laughter surrounding everyone.

"Thanks." Lily smiled at Sam, who pushed her plate towards her. "Oh! Butter cake!" She announced delightedly before taking her spoon and digging in.

"Ash asked about you." Sam said to her quietly.

"Oh, you met him?" Lily breathed, stifling a giggle.

"No, I overheard him ask someone else about you. He seems quite desperate. Probably wants a lay for tonight 'cause his girl said no." Sam said in a grumpy tone.

"No way." Lily said, matter-of-factly. The cackling fire cast glowing orange luminescence over half of her face and accentuated her eyelashes even more. "He knows I wouldn't sleep with him even if my life depended on it."

"Maybe so, then. But he's looking for you." Sam shrugged.

"I wonder what for." She raised her eyebrows when she saw him asking around through the crowd. "Oh no!" She ducked, getting up and turning the other way. "I'm heading back to my cabin. I really don't want to see him today." She said to Sam.

"Can I go with?" He asked her while standing up.

"Hm..." She didn't have much time to think. "Okay." She said in a hurry and speed walked behind the cabin in front of her. Her cabin was all the way around the other side, behind Ash, from where he stood right then.

Ash sat down on a log in defeat. Where could she have gone? And to think they had almost resolved the issue. She had apologized the night before the last. Was it something he said? Why was she no where to be found?

Lily walked around the side quietly, Sam following close behind. She successfully managed to get into her cabin and sighed in relief. Sam began to inspect around.

"Sorry you have to miss the party because of that jerk." Sam began in a sad tone.

"Oh don't worry. I wasn't really socializing with many people anyway. Not much of a socializer," Lily sighed as she flopped down on her bed. "Ironic, considering how this is camp interact."

"Why'd you come here then, if you're so socially awkward?" Sam raised his eyebrows at her as he walked over to her.

"I thought the camp would change things for me. It is working somewhat. I'm a lot more confident in speaking to people now..." She gave him a thumbs up and a smile. "I can't make friends by myself yet, though. It's always other people that befriends me."

"Can I kiss you?" Sam asked, leaning down.

"No," Lily blurted out hastily. "I'm saving it for marriage."

"Your kiss?" Sam was confused.

"Yes? I'm saving my whole self, because Jesus saved me, and I would like to be pure for him." She smiled.

"Oh..." Sam nods. "So you're not just a good christian girl; you're a true devotee."

"You can say that." She let out a little laugh.

Outside, Ash's chest got heavier the more he wondered about where Lily had disappeared to. She had intentionally avoided him the previous day and he wanted to know why. He got up to check her cabin once more.

When he got to it, he paused. The light was now on through the little slit under the door. He was about to approach the door when it opened and out walked not the familiar delicate-looking frame of innocence, but rather, the frame of a tall and very familiar man to Ash.

"Sam." Ash near growled. "What are you doing inside her cabin?" He demanded.

"Take it easy champ." Sam raised a hand, his expression unrelenting. "I'm simply not hurting her – unlike what you are doing. I advise you to stay away from her, or I know a few verses I can quite out to you in an instant."

"I swear, I should have finished you off when I had the chance." Ash's anger began to build up.

"But you didn't." Sam ran a hand through his hair. "Don't think about going near her. I've already told her you can't love anyone except the dead one – "

"How dare you!" Ash fumed. "You dick head! You're the reason she's dead in the first place."

"What...?" They both turned to see Lily standing at the doorway of her cabin, shock washed over her whole face. Before either of the men could react, she slammed the door of her cabin shut.