Surviving Camp Cedar

Chapter Twenty-One

Again Elsa woke up to the harsh sunlight and the stifling heat trapped in the tent. It was barely 8 A.M., but she was anxious to get a move on. She could feel deep in her bones that they were close to Jack, close to saving him and potentially crushing her broken heart further. She was anxious, but not ready. Slipping quietly out of the tent, she found a shallow pool of water and tried to examine her reflection. Her usually bright blue eyes were dim and sporting light purple bags beneath them, the pallor of her skin dull, her hair limp and a little greasy. She was nothing like the glowing girl she was when she had come to camp this year, and she knew she would be returning home a changed woman. If, she thought pessimistically, she did indeed return home. The thought hadn't crossed her mind before now, but it was a distinct possibility that she wouldn't make it back to Arendelle. She could die here, trying to save the life of a boy she barely knew but felt certain she loved. She felt herself start crying before it registered that she was, slow tears rolling down her cheeks as she thought of all the trouble she had gotten into. She put herself in danger, she put Jack in danger, she dragged Flynn and Rapunzel into this, all because she wanted her parents to treat her normal. She would never be normal, no matter what happened. If she had ignored the change in Jack, she would have gone home to be a guilty mess, and if she returned home with her powers, she would be treated like a freak the same as she had been treated for the last sixteen years. It was a lose-lose situation for her, and she knew it.

Rapunzel stirred in the tent, a heavy weight across her chest. Fluttering her green eyes open, she smiled as she realized the weight was Flynn's arm. She didn't want to leave his embrace, but the heat in the small tent was suffocating her. She tried unsuccessfully to wiggle out from under her toned bicep, and his eyes popped open as he realized what she was doing.

"Easy there, wiggle worm," He teased his smiling girlfriend, amazed at the way she could look so beautiful first thing in the morning. She was practically glowing in the sunlight, her hair shining and eyes gleaming. Her smile topped it all off, lighting his heart up the way the sunlight filled the tent.

"Should we go find Elsa?" She asked, noting that the other girl was not in the tent. He nodded, not wanting to break the spell that was over the two of them, early morning sleepiness filling their voices as they lay snuggled together. She sighed slightly as she exited the tent, stretching her long arms and breathing in the warm mountain air. "Oh, I'm going to miss this," She wistfully spoke to herself, not knowing Flynn heard it. He made a mental note to ask her about it later, but decided to leave it for now. In a rush of the moment decision, he swung his arms around her small waist, revling in the feeling of her hands on his back as she squealed in delight.

"Hold on tight, Blondie," He called to her, running towards the creek behind the tent. He splashed his way into it, setting her down on her feet in the chilly water. He leaned over, grabbing the clear water in his cupped hands, and splashed her as she cried out.

"Flynn, stop!" She cried, though her giggles made the words seem less serious. A few feet away, Elsa could hear and see the happy couple. She sighed to herself as she wished for something so uncomplicated, wishing her life might one day be like theirs. She wished she could have the ability to go for an easy, early morning swim with someone she loved, laughing and giggling without worry of messing up and hurting someone. She knew it was a fruitless wish, but she wished it nonetheless. Meanwhile, Rapunzel was soaked and deciding it was pointless not to, she tackled Flynn. They both wound up drenched, laying in the cool water. She looked into his warm brown eyes, this moment one of her favorites of the summer. Throwing away her inhibitions, she pressed her lips to his and smiled against them.  

"So, um, are you guys ready to go find Jack?" Elsa asked awkwardly, wringing her hands as the couple turned to look at her. They both blushed awkwardly and Flynn coughed.