Alone Together

1

"Kathryn honey?" Kathryn took a step back from the bed that her luggage was on. She was trying to fit just one more outfit, but apparently it was too full. "Yeah mom?" She went downstairs and found her mom fixing something in the kitchen. "Make sure to bring pads just in case you get your period on the trip alright?" Kathryn nodded, "I'll pick a pack up in the gas station or something, we ran out." She went back up to her room and stared at the hopeless suitcase.

Everyone had been waiting for this trip. The highschoolers get to camp for one week in the national park and get to enjoy things off the grid, typical camping stuff like bonfires and smores. "For fucks sake just close already," Kathryn whispered under her breath. She scratched her nape and grabbed her phone, "Hey Kels? Can you come over and help me pack? Things aren't going well for me." "We are staying for a week K, don't overpack!" she could hear her cousin, Kelsie, try not to laugh on the other line. "Whatever, just come over!" Kathryn put the phone on speaker and attempted to close the zipper again. "Alright, coming K!" Kathryn smiles, "Thanks, take care."

Apart from being cousins from their mother's side, the two girls were also the only children of their family and were raised like sisters. Kelsie was a year older than Kathryn. They said she was smarter, more mature. Sometimes Kathryn couldn't help but feel insecure and inferior to her cousin. Kelsie just seemed so, perfect. That doesn't stop her from loving Kelsie like her sister though, she said that's just how life works.

As promised, Kelsie showed up in ten minutes and helped her squeeze her outfit in. "You done packing Kels?" Kathryn asked Kelsie as she checked the pizza rolls that she put in the toaster oven about 3 minutes ago. "Yup, finished yesterday actually," Kelsie smiled. "I should've expected that," Kathryn said sarcastically, "I think these are ready." She took the oven mitts and slid the tray out of the oven. "Hey your phone's being spammed with messages from..." Kelsie held the phone up and grinned cheekily, "Aaron!" Kathryn dropped the scorching tray on the stove and ran to the other side of the counter island. "Hey! Give that to me!" she snatched her phone from the latter and scrolled through the notifications. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop a smile. "Are you ever gonna tell him how you feel?" Kelsie looked at her, "Maybe he likes you too K." Kathryn put her phone down and sniffed, "How's Lee, I haven't seen him in a while?" Kelsie took a pizza roll and bit it, "Trying to change the topic huh? Wow this is really hot," she put it down, "Lee's fine, I just, haven't told him about, you know, Stanford."

"That's a problem Kels, you gotta tell him soon," Kathryn sat next to her and took a pizza roll, "i'll miss you when you move out." Kelsie stood up and hugged Kathryn. "We still have two months before that happens." Kathryn hugged her tighter, "You mean just two months left? I don't think I can survive without you Kels."