Genesis

Dear Diary

     I smiled at his cute expression. He smiled in the dorkiest way when he was asleep.

     Sleep. I couldn't sleep. I was too excited about tomorrow. So, instead, I was awake, my fingertips tasting his dark chocolate hair as I thought about the day to come.

     In truth, I had no idea what he had planned for my birthday. He insisted on secrecy, and nobody in camp knew what he was up to. I doubted they would tell me if they did know. It's possible that he had them all sworn to secrecy, too. It frustrated me, not knowing, but it excited me too. I'd never really been surprised before.

     I reached towards my backpack, looking for something to take my mind off of the fluttering feelings of excitement that threatened to tickle me so much, I might laugh. That's when I found it again. My hand rested upon the familiar papery cover of the small, Noleskin journal that Dorian gave me two months and thirteen days ago. I turned on a dim camping lamp, and I flipped the booklet open to the first page, running my fingertips over the to-do list we made that night by the campfire. Who knew that a small list could turn into the organized camp we had today? I certainly didn't. But then again, I didn't know a lot of things then. Like that Dorian would kiss me the next day.

     The kiss. I turned the page over to discover my first proper journal entry. In wobbly, frantic writing, I wrote about how when setting up the washing schedule by the river we'd found that day, Dorian appeared with a box-full of water guns. From there, it could only go to all-out, everyone-for-themselves, water warfare. Soon, Dorian had chased me down and threatened to soak my blouse, but he settled for grabbing my waist, pulling me close, and kissing me like there was no tomorrow.

     I smiled once more, flicking to the next page and the next, rediscovering how we went about cleaning up camp. We promised fresh clothes if people volunteered for jobs. Some became part of Colt's hunting and fishing party. They would be away for hours to days at a time since they went so far out, and they would usually come back with quite a bit of food. Others took on sanitization, filtering and cleaning river water, clothes, and cooking supplies. 

     Speaking of cooking, remember the Giovani twins that Maya had a fling with? I got to know them, too. Blaine Giovani was the more confident one, and he and Maya seemed to get along very well. His brother, Kraig Giovani, turned out to be a rather excellent cook. Rumor is that the Giovani twins ran an illegal food joint in juvie, where Kraig recreated the most popular junk-foods with the limited resources behind the gates. Blaine, of course, smuggled everything across the sections, and business was booming until the second Outbreak. It wasn't all bad for the twins now, though. Blaine had as close to something as one could have with Maya, while Kraig and Christy were now officially together! Thanks to Maya, of course, as she kept reminding me.

     I turned another page and my eyes landed on the time I found what camp now calls the 'Lost Boys'. They're the younger kids from juvie that went hiding into the woods when everything started. Sometimes, there would be no sign of them for days at a time. Even though I insisted that we give them some spare tents from camp, Colt assured me that they were doing just fine on their own, so I let it be. I was glad that they were around camp a little more often now, at least.

     I turned a few more pages and almost giggled when I read the first sentence of an entry from only a few days ago. 

     It read, "You will not believe what just happened: Xander told me he's been sleeping with Mayanna?!"

     So, as it turns out, Maya wasn't kidding when she said she was going to turn him straight. Well, almost. Xander told me that he thinks he's bisexual. I was happy for him, but also a smidge worried. After all, he wasn't built for the kind of casual fling that Mayanna initiated with him. Soon, he'd want something more and his heart would be broken.

     I turned another few pages, coming to today. A blank page. I picked up my pencil and started to write.

     Dear Diary,

     Today was wonderfully routine. At first, I thought that life after the end would never settle down. Now, I wonder why I was scared of this camp going crazy in the first place. After the schedules for work were implemented, everything slowed down and life here became really... well, wonderful. Not to mention that I have the best boyfriend in the world. I'm not too sure I love him yet, but what I feel for him comes pretty close. 

     Who would have thought that I'd end up here? I'm best friends with a serial romanticizer, also known as Maya, and a hacker I've known since childhood named Xander. I've even found myself a whole group of friends here. Lucius, who has become Dorian's official second-hand-man. Danny and Kit, who are now dating. Kraig and Christy, who are just meant for each other, and Autumn. She is doing well and is really anxious for the baby to arrive. Even Colt has stopped bothering me so much. For the first time in my life, everything is perfect. Tomorrow's going to be perfect too, if I don't deprive myself of too much sleep. I better get to bed now.

     Goodnight,

     Quinn.