fake | tratie | EDITING |

| twenty |

Instead of hesitating to get ready for fireworks that night, I rushed around to get myself together. Once I actually had something to look forward to at fireworks, I felt much more like being there. The open windows of the cabin allowed a cool breeze to move around us as my siblings and I prepared for the night ahead.

Excitement nipped at my nerves, rather than anxiety adding to them.

Once I achieved the "I don't look dead inside or like I just rolled out of bed" look, I sat on my bunk and waited for Travis to knock on the door.

Miranda settled next to me while the rest of the campers began trickling outside. "Hey, I'm sorry I was such a jerk about Travis. I shouldn't have jumped to any conclusions, but it was really hard not to when you come home crying because of him."

That was fair. I supposed that I wouldn't take too kindly to that, either. My thoughts dwelt on that night - how Travis had admitted he loved me, how I rejected him all too soon because of my stupid paranoia for opening up.

I shook the memory from me. "No, I get it. I'd do the same if Sherman made you cry."

It felt weird comparing Travis to Miranda's boyfriend. But not entirely horrible.

"Yeah, I know."

She gave me a side hug and we sat like that, taking in each other's comfort.

My head wandered to how understanding and comforting my half-sister was. She didn't need any explanation from me, she just needed to know that I wanted to do what I was doing. She trusted me. She didn't look down on me, or ever doubt me.

"Why is it that my camp family is so much better than my real one?" I pondered aloud.

Miranda looked at me. "They're not your real family. That's us."

Warmth spread through me as I hummed contentedly. My brother, Ben, was the only person in my mortal family I could feel like this around. Everyone else was a washup. Miranda was right - my camp family really was my family.

A quick knock rapped at the door, and Miranda giggled. "He does know that you could just meet at the lake?"

I wrinkled my nose when I smiled. "I think he knows, he just doesn't care."

She rolled her eyes and stood up to let him in. When she opened the door, she slipped out with a, "See you two lovebirds at the lake."

I faced the front of the cabin, where Travis stood with a lopsided grin on his lips.

"What's that look for?"

"You look gorgeous, Kates." In a few long steps, he stood toe-to-toe with me. His hand traveled from my hand to my upper arm as he brought me in for a hug.

I would've found his comment touching, if not for the fact that it made me second guess myself. Why had I felt like I looked presentable? I shouldn't have just assumed I was ready to leave yet. I distanced myself from the embrace and looked myself over.

Oh, no.

My shirt was wrinkled. The shorts I wore were the ones I wore to the last fireworks, and I didn't want people judging me. I slunk into the bathroom to inspect my face and- my hair was a mess. My eyes had bags under them, and I noticed exactly seven zits I hadn't seen before.

"Is something wrong, Kates?"

In the short span of time it took me to assess myself, every negative comment that was ever said about my looks flew through my memory. Every last degrading remark by my family, ever snide opinion made from the toxic guys in my past.