Without You..

Buttercup Baby

I walked up to the pavilion where all of the other campers were, eating, laughing and having a grand old time.

I hated it.

Okay Nate here's how this is going to work, you're going to grab a plate, eat very quickly, and get out of here. I went through the line, not making eye contact with anyone and got my things before quickly scarfing down my food. I only looked up from my plate when someone would walk by me. I thought it was that guy from earlier. What was his name? Kevin or something? No Kert. It was Kert.

Speaking of Kert maybe he's around here eating. I hadn't noticed him before so maybe I'll see him now. I looked up and glanced around the pavilion. But he wasn't there. I didn't see him at any table or with anyone. I guess he must've already eaten.

After dinner I got up and put my dishes away and started walking back to the cabin to retire early.

"Nate! Nate!" A very perky voice from behind me said.

I recognized that voice.

I turned around slowly to face the person who had run up behind me. I sighed quietly, "hey Sydney..."

The young girl smiled, "hi!!! I've never seen you eat dinner with us before I can't believe I didn't spot you until you were leaving that's such a disappointment! I wish I could've sat with you, dinner would've been so fun that way," she now started to pout, "but you never eat meals with us so I never get to. You should really do it more often Nate." she said.

I stopped myself before I could say anything rude or snarky, "yeah? Well sorry Syd. Maybe next time-" I said, starting to turn back around and keep going to the cabin. But she grabbed my arm.

"What are you doing?! You can't leave now everyone is heading to the campfire to sing songs! Come on Nate you never go to those things!"

"Ever wondered why?" I mumbled.

"Oh please come just once- just this once?! You'll have a great time I swear! And I won't make you sing anything you can just hang out with us! Please Nate? Please??" She begged, looking up at me with big eyes.

My shoulders tensed slightly as I felt other campers eyes on me. I wish she wouldn't make such a big deal out of this. I looked down at my feet, "... look Sydney... can't I just come another time?" I said quietly, hoping to tone her down a bit.

"No! You'll never come! I'll never get another chance to do this- come on Nate just this once?!" She asked yet again, not quieting down. If anything she just got louder.

I tensed more, "fine fine fine, Geez do you want everyone to start starring at us?" I said in a hushed done.

A grin spread across her face, "yes! Thank you Nate thank you!!!" Her grip on my arm tightened and she started to quickly pull me to the camp fire.

Many campers were already at the fire, which was changing colors. A guy with Sandy blonde hair that covered his eyes held an acoustic guitar in his arms as he started to gently play songs and campers would sway and singalong or just chat with friends.

For nearly an hour Sydney made me sit beside her while campers sang stupid main stream songs.

Why are other people so annoying?

But finally I managed to slip away after she got busy talking with some friends. I snuck off to the side of the campfire. I was still pretty close though, I could smell the fire and hear everyone singing clearly when I heared, "not one for camp fires huh?"

I looked to the side to see Piper leaning up against a tree with her arms crossed in front of her.

"No, I just don't like singing..." I said to her. I was surprised to see her here. I didn't see her at any events that weren't mandatory. At least not recently... not that I really went to any either...

She nodded thoughtfully, "oooh..." her gaze moved from me and back to the fire, "... so are you like really bad at singing?" She said with a small smile.

I rolled my eyes. "No. It's not that..." I said, moving over closer to her. I leaned against the opposite side of the tree that she was leaning on, also crossing my arms. "I just don't like to sing... at least not in public."

She nodded again, "I can understand that..."

We stood in silence for a few minutes when I heard a familiar song start to play by the boy with the long hair. My eyes softened as I stared at the fire.

"Why do you build me up. Buttercup baby, just to let me down. And mess me around?"

Piper looked over at me, "... what?... your face changed, you look... non-angsty it's weird."

I glanced over at her, my cheeks turning pink from embarrassment, "it's nothing... I just really like this song..."

We stood in silence again and listened to the lyrics as the group began to quietly sing.

"And then worst of all... you never call baby when you say you will, but I love you still. I need you. More than anyone darling, you know that I have from the start..."

I began to quietly sing along.

"... so build me up. buttercup, don't break my heart..."

I wasn't paying her much attention but I think I saw a small smile formed on Pipers lips. I contonued to softly sing the song. But as the group began to sing the next verse their voices started to fade from my hearing until I could only hear the guitar and my voice when I sang.

That is until Piper started to quietly join me.

"Although it's untrue, I'm attracted to you all the more. Why do I need you so?" She gently sang.

"Baby baby, try to find... a little time, and I'll make you happy." I sang with her.

As we continued the song, we both sang certain lyrics separately.

"I'll be home. I'll be beside the phone waiting for you..."

"Why do you build me up. Buttercup baby, just to let me down and mess me around..."

"And then worst of all..." her voice grew quieter, "you never call baby when you say you will... but I love you still."

"I need you."

"More than anyone darling."

"You know that I have from the start..." I started to slow down as I sang, "... so build me up... buttercup..."

"Don't break my heart..." she finished softly.

We stood in silence yet again. I don't know what compelled me to start singing, it was like a wave washed over me that made me need to sing that song so bad.

I glanced over at Piper who glanced over at me at the same time. We smiled faintly at eachother.

"Wow..." I spoke quietly, "that was... really weird."

Piper nodded on agreement, a bigger smile forming on her face, "yes it was."

"Let's never do it again shall we?" I asked, not being able to help it as my smile grew as well.

She nodded again, "yes, let's not."

"And let's never speak of this again?"

"Speak of what? Nothing weird or out of the ordinary happened here."

A quiet chuckle escaped my lips, "yeah, right." I stood up straight again. "Well, bye Piper. I don't want to stay here any longer or I might start singing again. I'll see you around." I said, starting to walk away from the campfire and back to the cabins.

I could hear her giggle, "yeah, that would be really horrible. Please go away... bye Nate."

I looked back to give her a small wave before going to the Aphrodite cabin.

This had been a strange evening. But I'm not gonna lie...

I kinda liked it.