HIKE

11 | we be screaming go fish

"Go fish," Jaemin whispered.

It was dark now and the campsite was quiet, and they were sitting in a circle in Jaemin and Jeno's tent, without Donghyuck, playing cards.

Jaemin nudged Jeno with his toe. "Go fish me, bitch," he hissed, trying not to raise his voice.

Jeno was falling asleep in the dark warmth of the tent, slipping into a fetal position until his head was resting on Renjun's thigh. Renjun brushed his hand against the side of Jeno's face, his sleepiness making him less withdrawn than usual. Jeno's hair was just as soft as his own, due to that god given shampoo. Renjun's fingers ran through Jeno's hair until he reached his ear and started tickling it.

Jeno jolted awake again. "Go fish?" he said, a little too loudly.

"Oh my god, shh." Jaemin tossed his cards at him in frustration. "Mr Kim is going to actually kill us if he finds out we're still awake."

"We can't let Renjun go back to his tent though," Jeno objected, rubbing his eyes, "Donghyuck and Xiyeon might still be making out."

"You don't even know they were in the first place, headass," Jaemin said, rolling his eyes. "They've probably fallen asleep anyways."

"Which you should be too," said a voice from outside the tent.

"Shit!" the three of them chorused in the quietest curse managable.

Someone started unzipping the tent door and Renjun, Jeno and Jaemin held their breath anxiously. Being awake this late could probably get them disqualified, not to mention having a boy and a girl in the same tent after lights out. The school rules were strict like that - sucking the joy out of everything fun.

"Mark-hyung," Jaemin exhaled as Mark poked his head in the tent.

"If I was Mr Kim, you guys would be screwed," Mark told them sternly, "but I'll let you off. Who's in the other tent then?"

"Um..." said Jeno.

Mark sighed and shook his head at them, trying not to crack a smile. "Just get to bed, okay?" he suggested. "I don't want you guys getting disqualified or anything."

"Uh... okay, sorry, hyung," Renjun whispered, and Mark offered him a reassuring smile before zipping up the tent again.

"Well, night night, Ren," said Jaemin, reaching out to rub Renjun's shoulder warmly before he left.

"Night, Nana."

"Sleep well, Renny," Jeno added before yawning widely.

"You too, Jen." Renjun found himself yawning too whilst getting out of their tent and zipping it up tight again.

He was standing outside in the cold, under the twinkling stars, realising what he just said. Did he just nickname Jeno? He must be really tired.

Renjun unzipped his own tent to find Xiyeon and Donghyuck curled up together on top of Donghyuck's sleeping bag, most likely only half asleep. Renjun shook them awake, since Xiyeon had to get back to her own tent before Mr Kim murdered them all.

Xiyeon stirred and sat up, taking off her glasses to rub her eyes. "Shit, I didn't mean to fall asleep that long," she whispered. "Sorry, Renjun, you can have your tent back now."

"It's okay, goodnight, Xiyeon," Renjun replied as Xiyeon started to head out.

Donghyuck groaned and rolled over to cuddle Xiyeon one last time. "Fuck, I fell asleep," he said. "Night, Xi."

Xiyeon kissed him quickly and climbed out of the tent so she could dart back to the tent she shared with Nancy, unseen by Mr Kim.

Renjun zipped the tent closed and wriggled inside his sleeping bag, Donghyuck doing the same. He took a while to get comfortable, but finally settled down into a curled up position on his side. Donghyuck was lying on his back, staring up at the top of the tent.

"You okay, Ren?" he asked, turning his head to face him.

"Hmm?"

"After earlier, I mean," Donghyuck explained softly. "I'm glad you told me, I was just worried you were still upset."

Renjun paused and then sighed. "I'm not upset, Hyuckie," he admitted hesitantly, "I'm just kinda scared. And confused..."

Donghyuck nodded in understanding. "How long have you known for?"

"I'm not sure..." Renjun rolled onto his back as well then, and they stayed silent as if they could stargaze through the fabric of the tent. "I guess I've always liked... boys. Ever since I started liking anybody..."

Donghyuck grabbed Renjun's hand in the darkness and squeezed it for comfort. "You know you can trust me," he promised. "And you can talk to me, okay? I'm not a complete asshole all the time."

Renjun was silent again for a moment. Something kept bothering him - a thought, a feeling that wouldn't go away. the words stuck in his throat. It was a thought that made him put his entire friendship dynamic with the group in jeopardy. But he couldn't stop feeling what he felt.

"Can I say something?" Renjun whispered.

"Of course."

Renjun hesitated. Instead of what he wanted to say, he asked, "Are Jeno and Jaemin really close?"

"Well... yeah," Donghyuck replied. "They've known each other since kindergarten, whereas you and I... We only joined the squad in middle school. so it's different, I guess."

"Mhm," Renjun murmured. "But... they are just friends... right?"

Donghyuck squeezed his hand again. "Uh-huh," he said, "just friends. Besides, jaemin has the biggest crush on Nancy, it's not even funny. Don't tell him I said that, though."

"Jaemin likes Nancy?"

"Duh. I told you I see everything."

Renjun shifted in his sleeping bag and settled again, the rustling noise cutting off the conversation and giving him time to think.

"Renjun," Donghyuck began cautiously, "do you..."

"No!" Renjun blurted.

"I didn't even ask it yet, dumbass," Donghyuck sighed. "You don't have to answer it, by the way."

Renjun closed his eyes and turned his head away from Donghyuck. He knew what he was going to ask before he'd even finished.

"Do you like Jeno?"

"No," Renjun said quickly, turning back towards donghyuck. "Yes... maybe? Ugh, I don't know, yes..."

"Knew it," Donghyuck grinned proudly.

"How?" Renjun narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not stupid, Ren," said Donghyuck. "And besides, I have the attention span of, like, a two year old, so I need to keep an eye on other people's shit so I don't get bored."

Renjun rolled his eyes and chuckled a little. "You are actually the worst."

"Well, I mean, you never know with Jeno, do you?" Donghyuck smiled, poking renjun in the ribs. "He's obsessed with rainbows..."

"You can't tell him," Renjun implored immediately.

"Chill, I won't," Donghyuck assured him. "You can trust me, remember? This is just between us, in a conversation when everyone else is asleep, and we are whispering."

"Still..." Renjun bit his lip anxiously, "I don't want to mess everything up."

"Don't worry, Ren, you won't. I promise. And it's okay if you're still upset, 'cause I took a first aid course, remember?"

Renjun snorted at that. "I don't think first aid works like that, hyuck. It can't fix broken hearts."

"Who says your heart's broken, headass?"

"It isn't, not yet. But I don't want it to be."

"It won't. Now get the fuck to sleep, we've got more of that walking shit again tomorrow."

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