don't let go • jenzie

chapter 5

• Third person •

Next day

It was late in the afternoon and everyone was sitting at a bonfire. They made a little buffet with food, snacks and tea.

''Ugh, I can't take this anymore! I didn't shower for three whole days!'', Nadia shouts.

''And I am so hungry! I can't see this food here anymore!'', Emily says frustrated.

''And I am constantly freezing! These bed here are not comfortable!'', Jayden cries. Hayden goes over to her and lays an arm around her.

''Don't worry, babe. When we go back home you can sleep in my bed.'', he says as she smiles laying her head on his shoulder.

Annie stands at the buffet listening to them. As she sees them she immediately feels anger but also sadness inside of her. She has that weird feeling inside her stomach. He's her best friend, she couldn't have actual feelings for him. Or could she?

Kenzie comes by laughing at the complaining girls. When she sees the look on Annies face, her smile fades.

Annie gives her a fake smile and leaves.

-

''Guys!'', Johnny calls coming from somewhere. ''Let's go!''

''Where?'', Hayden asks.

''Partying, of course!'', he says. ''Over there are a bunch of foreigners that want to party with us. Come on!''

''What are we waiting for then, let's go!'', Hayden shouts.

''But why?'', Annie sighs.

''Shut up and come on.'', Hayden says pulling her by her arm. ''How are the girls?'', he asks Johnny standing up and going to him.

''Super hot.'', he says as they go to the party. everyone stands up and follows them. Except Kenzie.

Nadia stops as she sees Kenzie standing there and not following.

''Oh no.'', she says as Kenzie looks up. ''Now no one tried your paratas. Pack them.'', she grins and leaves to go to the party. Kenzie looks down and cleaned up the buffet.

-

An hour later it's already dark outside but the party doesn't seem to end.

Kenzie was still at the camp and sat at the bonfire alone studying. Suddenly she hears a noice and takes her flashlight to see who it was. Johnny was peeing there in the back. She quickly turns the flashlight off giving him a weird look. She focuses on her book again.

''When the leaves rustle in the wilderness, you better not turn around.'', he says going over to the bonfire.

''What?'', she says confused.

''Are you serious?'', he says noticing her books. ''You're still studying here?''

''I think your bladder is empty so you can go back to the party.'', she says avoiding eye contact.

''Yeah, but why aren't you going?'', he asks.

''I don't care about your stupid parties.'' He looks at her and then goes over to sit next to her.

''You liar.'', he says looking straight to her and she not bothering to look up. ''...you want to go to that party.'', he says understanding.

''That's not true.'', She quickly says. Then Johnny grabs her book out of her hands and stands up.

''Wha- Johnny give me my book back! I said give me my book back!'', she tries to get the book out of his hands but he keeps moving.

Then they stop as he drops her books, faces close and looking in each other's eyes.

''Tell me the truth.'', he begins. ''Do you want to go to that party.''

''Yes.'', she says not even thinking twice.

''Then why don't you?'', he asks.

''Y-you won't understand.'', she says moving out of that position and picking up her books. ''It was always easy for someone like you.''

''What was easy?''

''Everything!'', she says looking back to him. ''Going to parties and make new friends. You've always been like that. In school you were always the coolest and the most popular one. Don't you remember how I was treated back then? I never had like friends or something. I was just in some corner most of the time and studying. I never went to clubs or parties or anything. Back then I didn't know how to do those things and I still haven't learned it. I'm just... boring.''

''You're cool, Mackenzie.'', Johnny says calmly.

She just laughs sarcastically shaking her head. She turned around and tried to walk away but he grabbed her wrist pulling her back. She looked at him again as they made eye contact once again.

''You went yourself to this trip full of people you don't know. All by yourself. I thinks that's really cool.'', he says. ''You've beaten with people and almost beat me at the race. Yeah, you're a real life Hollywood heroine!'' Kenzie slighty blushes and looks down. ''Stop pitying yourself and start to like you. Because you're okay, just the way you are.'', he continues. ''There's only one problem.'' She looks up to him again. ''You barely smile. And your wonderful smile is really dangerous. If I had something like a heart, I would've lost it already.'' A smile rose up her lips at his words. They look each other deep in the eyes.

''Mackenzie...'', he whispers. ''Will you let go of my hand again?'', he says holding his hand up. She quickly lets go of his hand not noticing she held it the whole time.

He smiles as he turns around and goes back to the party.

Thinking for a little bit, Kenzie decides to join them at the party too.

''Hey! You're here!'', Annie says seeing her smiling. She smiles back at her.

Kenzie looks over to Johnny who smiles and winks at her.

author's note
rip Ashannie 😔💔