[wattys shortlist 2018]
Colton has always hated Alexis. It's as simple as that.
Alexis has never hated Colton though, not even after the night havoc was let loose: chaos caused by him.
This summer, Alexis doesn't expect to be reunited with her to...
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[A/N: this is a flashback, it says so in the banner but some of you are missing it? Remember to check 'Contents' if you are offline.]
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The woods are alive with chatter, the once quiet night, gone. I stand huddled with the other girls from my cabin - Ashlynn, Brooklynn, Natalia, Vivian and Peyton - waiting for tonight's activity to start. A loud beep blasts over the huddles of campers and turns our attention to the senior counsellors.
"Our midnight hike is about to begin, please stick with your groups and follow the trail. There have been some weather warnings but we have been cleared by our adviser to proceed," Gianna's voice rings out over the noise. "And remember to have fun!"
Group by group, the campers in front of us take off until finally it's our turn. We walk in silence for ten minutes or so, simply enjoying the serenity of the atmosphere. That is at least until Brooklynn lets out a groan.
"This is so boring. I thought being thirteen and being in the older half of camp gave us more freedom. So far our first 'privilege', of a later curfew, has been used to go on the most boring adventure ever. This is so lame!"
"I'm actually quite enjoying the walk," Peyton mutters.
"But you only arrived this year! Sure, they're fun the first couple of times but after five years? Well, they become unbearable."
"I'm with Brooke, this sucks."
"Nat, don't be a drama queen. These walks are so we can learn new things." Vivian looks pointedly at both Natalia and Brooke.
"But I thought I was at a summer camp, not school."
"Brooke, stop being such a baby! These walks are very peaceful and if we're lucky we might see an owl!" Ashlynn's beam lights up the dark for us.
Brooklynn groans again. "No way am I putting myself through another one of these walks. Let's split from the group and go exploring."
No one speaks for five or maybe six steps as we take in the statement.
