Miranda Sings Summer Camp

Chapter 21: Playing Games

Colleen's POV

I was really worried about Ava. I wanted to ask her what was going on so I could help her, but I didn't know how to bring it up again. The last thing I wanted to do was upset her.

As we hugged, I started thinking about the summer so far. I'd learned so much from Ava. Before that summer, I wouldn't have ever known how much I could care for a kid. Yes, I had my niece and nephews, but there was something different about this girl. I felt like she was mine... like, my own daughter. Or little sister, maybe. I didn't want to face the fact that the summer would be over soon, and I'd almost never see her again. When she told me about her parents, I got an idea. But it was way too outrageous. It would never happen. Only in my dreams.

Ava breaks the hug and looks into my eyes. I saw a broken girl who needed help. I wanted to be the one to help her. I took her hands and held them tight.

"Ava, do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know," she sniffled.

"You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to talk about, but just know I'm always here for you, and if you really do want to talk about anything, I'll always listen," I told her.

"Thank you, Colleen. Maybe not right now, but later, I guess," she said.

"Okay."

A few hours later, everyone was doing the usual sports and swimming activities, but Ava and I decided to stay in my cabin and play board games. I thought it would be fun, but I also remembered whenever I had to go to therapy or anything like that when I was little, they would always have board games to play, and it made me feel much more comfortable. I wasn't expecting Ava to immediately open up to me, but I wanted her to feel calm and safe.

I picked up the stack of board games I had. We went through each one, and most of them required more players, and they constantly used the word "family" to describe themselves. Every time that word popped up, it was like a part of Ava died inside, but she was trying to hide it. And, I mean, she was good at it, but I could see right through the front she was putting forward. I could read her like a book.

"Ava?"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes... I think... maybe? I-uh, yeah. Yes."

"Are you sure?"

*silence*

"Ava-"

"No, I'm not sure."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I guess," she said, and I could tell it was reluctant.

"You don't have to..."

"No...I-I do."

A/N: heyooo wow i haven't updated in SO LONG. i don't think anyone is even reading this anymore. every time i update the a/n is like "sorry i haven't updated! i'll update more soon!" and then it's like a year later and i'm like "oops" so yea... i'm sorry about that lmao. i'll REALLY try this time. but i don't know how much longer this story is gonna be. but i've recently gotten my interest back in reading and writing, so maybe i'll write another story. let me know if you have suggestions... if you're still here. i think everyone who has read this story probably doesn't care anymore lol. let me know if you're still reading. have a great day (and a happy halloween!)