Colorful (H.S) | ✔️

20

The next couple of days are spent being enjoyed with family. We get to know the other cabin families around us. 

They're either old people or couples with young children. Lily met a girl her age and they've been hanging around.

It's our 6th night here.

One of the cabins is hosting a bonfire tonight, as it's Christmas eve. 

Yep, we're leaving on Christmas day.

My family and I get ready for the night. We dress warm but know the fire is going to keep us hot. Knowing us, we'll get cold anyways.

These last couple of days have been really fun. It feels so nice to actually hang with my family, knowing once we get back it'll be different. We won't see each other anymore.

It kinda sucks, but you deal with it.

We gather at the door, waiting to walk together. Once my sister has all of her shit together, we head out. 

A handful of people greet us when we arrive at the bonfire. Friendly cheers erupt as multiple hands pull us in for hugs.

Lily immediately scurries away to her new friends. My mom is pulled away by the adults and all of a sudden I'm alone. 

Until I see him!

"Clyde!" I yell, waving my arms frantically to grab his attention. "Over here!"

He chuckles and makes his way over.

"I didn't know you were coming!" I say once he's within earshot. I go in for a handshake while he goes in for a hug.

...Awkward...

We awkwardly chuckle at that mess and pretend it didn't just happen. 

"Yeah! They have this every year and they always invite me," he smiles, looking over at the friendly crowd. 

They're really sweet.

I smile, very thankful to have some company. 

We both sit on one of the logs set out. They set it up just like the campfires in the movies. It's so cute!

Of course, I begin to shiver. My mom notices and tosses me a blanket she packed. "Share with your friend, he looks cold."

I shrug and wrap my shoulder in the blanket and hand off the other half so he can wrap himself. He thanks me and takes it. I keep blowing on my hands to keep them warm. I totally forgot to wear gloves.

Clyde notices my struggles and grabs my hands. He smushes them between his gloved hands and begins to warm them up for me. 

"Okay, they're hot now. Thanks," I say, pulling my toasty hands away. I feel a little awkward, but push it aside. It's our last night and I'll never see him again.

"Mom, I only have one film left, make sure you take a good one," Lily gives her polaroid camera to my mom, drags her friend over, and take a seat in front of us on the ground. I throw a quick smile on and my mom clicks the picture.

Lily grabs the film and camera and sits down again. We wait for it to develop, making small talk about our memories.

"Lil, remember when we went tubing?" I say out of laughter. Clyde looks very confused. "We went way up north to an area with actual snow. We decided to go tubing, but the snow was already melting!" 

He nods and Lily continues the story. "We slid until the snow melted. At one point, we went down the tiniest hill. Ellie slid down right into a puddle of water." She says between fits of giggles.