[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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Laughter sounds around me and I walk over to Natalia, hot cocoa in hand, who wears a frown. A piece of hot ash lands on my arm when I reach her and I yelp, dusting at it quickly.
"Stupid bonfire," I mutter under my breath, trying to steady my hand and the cocoa that's sloshing around in the cup.
Natalia laughs, her chocolate eyes crinkling and I smile. At least some good has come out of my pain.
I sit down next to her on the isolate log away from the rest of the party and offer her a sip from my cup. She shakes her head, looking around at the 'festival' that's materialised around us. With no campers insight — most tucked away in bed sleeping, or at least pretending to be asleep — counsellors pass around water bottles that contain devils water in plain sight, the effect of said liquid already happening. I'd decided early in the evening that I wouldn't be drinking whilst under the control of minors. But some people are idiots and I cant speak for them.
Or Tanner and Brooklynn who had been stupid enough to accept the bottle when it was passed to them and were now feverishly making out, Brooklynn back against the tree, her leg curled around his and both their hands... well, everywhere.
"Oh, yuck!" I grimace turning away from them to Natalia. "They're like animals!"
"Don't remind me." She sighs, swooping a piece of her brown hair back behind her ear neatly.
I frown. "What?"
"N-nothing."
I cock my head at her noticing how her dark skin becomes a bright red and how she's fidgeting in her seat. Strange.
"You can tell me anything you know? I'm not exactly one to judge." I offer her a smile.
Her head bows. "I-I know."
"Okay." I'm about to leave it there when I remember that sometimes we don't say what we mean — I'm sure as hell guilty of it.
"But really, Natalia, if somethings eating at you? I've always found it's easier to talk about than deal with alone even if at first I didn't want to share."
She looks up her eyes glazing over slightly. "Everything will change."
"Change isn't a bad thing, you know."
"I guess.." She sniffles. "I'm just scared."
I give her a moment to compose herself staring back into the crowd of now rowdy (mostly) teenagers dancing around the burning fire and violating so many health codes it would give you a heart attack and see Brooklynn and Tanner still at it.
"God do they stop?" I mumble under my breath.
But Natalia hears. "I wish they did."
I quirk an eyebrow. Does this have anything to do with Brooklynn and Tanner eating each others face off?
