Proxy

Eleven

Dear Diary,
Remember when people say that your life starts the moment you're finally independent and out of your comfort zone? I know it's gonna sound weird but it feels like it's happening to me right now.

The campsite took my breath away. I'm so glad that Troy picked the location at random or we wouldn't have found this piece of beauty.

I took off my hat and dusted off the dirst from ny shoe, admiring the beautiful scenery. Forget the beach, this place is awesome!

We're located near a riverbank surrounded with trees and a few steep rocky walls for a cliff where you can easily hear your voice echo back at you whenever you shout.

Troy even told us that the cliff was always filled with fireflies at certain nights and that it makes the whole area glow even without the moonlight.

I hope we're lucky getting lucky this time.

There's also a rope ladder stretched across it so it's much more thrilling than just walking all over the place.

Savannah let go of our bags the moment she saw the freshwater and striped off her shirt like there was no tomorrow showing off her lean figure and tiny waist.

"Come on, girl!" She said to me. Her hair bouncing in her shoulders in a carefree manner. Weird. She doesn't look like the Savannah we know of.

"This is madness." I laughed.

I mean, she's not that busy as of now.

I kinda felt bad about myself when I saw her but I quickly brushed my budding envy aside.

It isn't proper.

Troy didn't even waste a single minute and also stripped into his boxers and joined in. I followed suit.

By and by, all of us were splashing around the water like children.

Even the seriously-serious Barclay was not an exception.

Troy even managed to beat Clay in the King of the Rock game but instead of the rock, it was a tree root that they're both trying to take over.

It's amazing how I've grown accustomed to having Clay around. Truth be told, I should've been at home eating chips and watching TV series. Or reading a book.

But here I am having the best time of our lives in some forest with three of my newly found friends.

I turned my phone off and stuffed it in the bag. I wouldn't be needing it anyway for the whole recreational trip.

I'm too exhausted from splashing around the water so I left. I went back to the campsite and pitched up for our tent.

"Hey, Hare! Come back here!" Savannah yells at me.

"No can, sugar. I'm beat!" I said as I slumped inside my sleeping bag. I've got to reserve some energy. Maybe we'll go treking on the mountains tomorrow, who knows?

I just hope the someone wakes me up in time for the fireflies.

Moments later, I'm hearing loud grunting noises in the next tent with crickets chirping all over the place. It's lready nighttime.

I opened my eyes and say Clay with his back turned to me, the moon, silhouetting his face.

The grunts grew louder and my face felt hot. Oh my gosh, was is Savannah and Troy then?!

"More, Troy. More!" I can clearly hear Savannah's voice yelling out his name.

I pried my eyes open but Clay just took my arm and laughed his face off. Pretty soon, Savannah appears with a fully clothed Troy in tow looking like he just got out of the bath or something.

"What's so funny?!" I asked him.

"You're face! Hahaha! So precious!" He said, still laughing as he holds out his phone. I looked at it's contents and there is was, an audio file of grunting and groaning noises on his phone.

"You played me!" I screamed.

"Shut-up, Hare. I just wanted to do a little surprise in order to wake you up." He replied, Savannah and Troy joined in the fun.

"You're so red!" Troy giggled like a school girl.

I bet they were in on this.

"Come on, the fireflies won't wait until morning." Savannah warned.

Putting on my sun hat, I groaned as I tried my best to follow them in the stone path where the cliff was located.

We passed by a few fireflies along the way but it's even more beautiful when they're all being gathered up close.

Next to the cliff was an old tree with its branches reaching out to where we stood. Hundreds of fireflies light up the whole tree and the four of us just stood there, mesmerized.

It was a beautiful sight.

"Hey, I've got dinner duty." Savannah said from out of the blue.

"Me, too. Got things to load up from the truck." Troy added.

And the two of them left without saying goodbye. Great. Now I'm stuck here with Clay.

Remember when I said that I don't mind that we joke around? That's because everyone was there! Patricia, Savannah and Troy.

But here, in the far corner of a forest by the cliff was the both of us, barely speaking.

He coughed as if trying to say something but I just hung my head lower. I don't even know what to say, let alone, ask him. What should I do?

"T-the weather seems fine tonight." He said.

Then it became my turn to burst out laughing.

"Did I say something funny?" He asked.

"N-no. It's just. It's like you're trying to hit on me or whatever. Or like... you just saw me for the first time and was trying to act col or something." I said, grinning.

I couldn't help but notice the light features that the fireflies gives off on his side. He kinda looks like a... saint. If he does maintain the innocent look though.

Great! So awkward alert vanquished.

"It's not like I don't like you, you know." He turned his back on me and I relaxed. It's a good thing that he wasn't looking at me right now.

What does he mean by that?

"I... I think I'm starting to like you, Harley De Rio. But the thing I'm most afraid of is that," I patiently waited for him to finish his sentence when Troy shouts for help with the firewood from the campsite.

And he left without saying another word, leaving a small flashlight in my palm before running back to camp.

I was left all alone to think of my worries under the lighted tree.

"I... I think I'm starting to like you, Harley De Rio. But the thing I'm most afraid of is that,"

"What was he supposed to say?!"