(COMPLETED) Together, Under The Stars

Chapter 5: They Might Ask You Out

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LivingWithMyLife

Justin glances behind us, making sure that no one is near. "I can't tell you, but it's someone from our group."

"Someone from our group?" I ask. The first name that pops into my head HAS to be Charlie. "Yikes. Yikes yikes yikes."

"Yeah," he answers. "I just wanted to let you know, since you know, they might ask you out."

I almost choke on my saliva. "WHAT? Nonononononono. No way. No."

"Uh, yesyesyesyesyesyesyes. Yes way. Yes," Justin laughs, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

I heave a sigh.

Justin heaves a sigh.

"Oh yeah," I remember, "are you going to ask Ria? Cause she's been bugging me about it. She was like 'please please please talk to Justin and ask him if he's going to ask someone out that's not me because then I will crawl into a hole and die.'"

He grins. "Then be that annoying friend you are and tell her that I won't ask her out."

"But, like, are you actually?" I raise an eyebrow. He's clearly avoiding the question.

"Yeah. I plan on asking her today before Large Group Icebreakers in the Dome, but yeah," he shyly says. "Don't tell her, though. I want it to be a surprise."

I nod. "Okay, but you have to make sure I'm with her when you ask. I want to see the look on her face."

"Mk. See you at dinner!"

"See ya," I yell over my shoulder.

Wow. Interesting conversation. The most interesting one I've ever had since that lecture after Health Ed in fourth grade with my mom. But. . . SOMEONE LIKES ME??? Please let it be Charlie. Please please please.

I walk back to my friends.

"So. . . what did he tell you?" Emze asks.

"Nothing really. Just updated me on the new campsite and stuff," I answer. "Did you guys know that there's a sand volleyball court? Let's go check it out."

The three of them exchange a look. They clearly don't believe me. Why was I not born as one of those people who can lie so easily?

In the end, we go to check out the court, but they still don't believe me. . .

We spend the rest of our free time just playing a game of sand volleyball. We used to play volleyball during recess, but that kind of died once we reached middle school and also because it was really hard to play with three people since Brie was at a different school.

Then it's dinner time. Every group lines up on the grass outside the dining hall. The Program Directors take attendance, and then we start trying our wrists together, per tradition.

On the first night of every camp, we tie our wrists together for dinner and eat like that. It gets chaotic, but it's really fun.

Today, Justin is on my left, and Brie is on my right. Kind of disappointed that a certain someone couldn't be on my left, but whatever.

Dinner is really good. We have nachos with cheese sauce and salsa and guacamole. Everyone in my group eats an apple because Jamie orders us to.

After dinner, we have an hour of free time. I quickly grab my toiletries bag and my bath towel. Then dash to the shower stalls. There's only six per wing, which is why you have to shower at a very strategic time. Like after dinner, since no one ever THINKS about showering after dinner.

Five minutes later, I'm back in the room.

"Hey," Brie asks, "do you guys wanna play Speed?"

At the exact same time, my phone dings with a text from Justin.

Can you meet me with Maria and everyone else in the common room right now?

I reply: NOW? But we were just going to play a game of Speed!

He texts back: Yeah well it's now or never so. . .

I groan. "Hey you guys we, um, kind of need to go to the common room. . ."

Brie raises an eyebrow while shuffling a deck of cards. "What for?"

"Well. . . YOU KNOW THAT THING." I indicate fiercely at Maria's turned back.

All three of them, including Jamie, go "OHHHHHHHHH" at the same time.

"C'mon Maria, let's go get some fresh air," we all chime.

She glances at us suspiciously. "Fresh air? Why?"

"Cause, you know, we've been cooped up here since after dinner," I say innocently.

"Ughh. Fine. But when we come back, we're playing Speed. Or else," Ria threatens.

Eagerly pushing her out the door and down the stairs, we glance at each other with smirks.

Can't wait to see Maria's reaction, Ezme mouths to us.

We laugh silently as we walk down the stairs to the common room. Maria is in front of us, so you can just imagine her face when we see Justin standing by the stairs.

"H-hey," she stammers while we snicker. "Um, what are you doing here?"

Brushing his bangs aside, my cousin shyly asks my best friend to go to the dance with him.

Maria's jaw drops open and starts stuttering in a language of her own until she finally can speak. "I-I think you have the wrong person."

Justin grins. "Nope. I'm pretty sure I have the right person."

"Oh. Oh. I guess. . . Well then, um, yeah. I guess. Sure. I'll go to the dance with you," Ria replies once she has the ability to speak again.

"Great!" Justin's face lights up with a smile. "So. . . Do you want to take a stroll with me? You know, just for a little bit?"

We're all surprised Maria doesn't faint, even Jamie.

Instead, she says yes, and the two of them stroll out the doors to have a nice chat about their undying love for each other or whatever.

"Wow," Ezme says, "I WAS NOT expecting that."

"Yeah," Brie replies, "very unexpected indeed."

The rest of us march up the stairs, back to our room to play a few games of Speed before Large Group Icebreakers. I win a few rounds, but my heart's not really into the game.

When time's up, we pack up everything and make our way to the Dome for Icebreakers.

The Dome is basically like a tent, except it's extra large, and there are actual doors and actual floorboards. The sides are reinforced with metal bars, and the "tarp" is white.

Maria's already there.

"How was your walk?" I ask, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

With hearts in her eyes, she gushes, "It was soooo amazing. I had so much fun! Just chatting with him. . ." Ria lets out a satisfied sigh.

The PDs (Program Directors) tell us to get in line, and our group hastily scrambles into attendance formation. Almost everyone else is in order.

Once attendance is taken, a loud voice booms, "Let Large Group Icebreakers begin!"