Match

67: Firefly

 The sun begins to set overhead the mountains, signifying the end of the first day. While some of the guys went for a late-night dip in the lake, others stayed at the campsite to make the fire. Cole didn't want to join the others at the beach, as the bugs have become more abundant in the dusk. So he stays at the site, prepping the fire with Joel, Coach Ryan and Graham. He was a bit late on getting a solo tent, so he's sharing one with Ashton. While sifting through his bag in the tent, he listens to the conversation from outside.

"Can you believe this season's over?" Graham asks.

"I'm honestly glad it's over." Joel says.

"Getting tired of playing soccer?"

"No, no. It's just," he sighs, "this season was really stressful."

"Ah," Coach Ryan chimes in. "Yeah, it was pretty hectic. At least we got through it, though, right?"

"I'll drink to that!" Graham laughs.

Cole unzips the tent, startling Joel.

"Holy shit!" He says, clutching his chest.

"What's wrong?"

The three of them turn around to see Jay come out of his car, toothbrush in mouth. There's an awkward silence for a few seconds, until everyone breaks out into laughter.

"Dude, why're you brushing your teeth?"

He takes the toothbrush out of his mouth. "I'm going to sleep soon."

"Sleep?" Joel's tone sounds more relaxed, as if trying to repress the scare from earlier. "But it's only ten."

"You're not gonna join us for the campfire?" Coach Ryan says.

Jay looks at the campfire, dry and untouched from any lick of flames. "Maybe later," he then yawns, "I wanna take a power nap. I'm fucking tired from setting up the tents and shit."

Cole can see the fire return in Joel's eyes, but instead of being his bossy self, he turns away, reverting his attention to setting up chairs. He then stops once his eyes lock onto Cole.

"Cole, were you here the whole time?!"

He raises an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Sheesh, you're quiet as a mouse."

"Thank you, I get that a lot," he says nonchalant.

Graham butts in. "You didn't see him? He had to take Jonah back to Thunder's campsite 'cause his foot was bugging him."

Cole feels his body hitch. Jonah told him he was going to have a nap to give his foot a rest, so he didn't want to disturb him ever since he brought him back. Instinct makes him take a glance at the pathway connecting both campsites, where a lone squirrel scampers across the trail and up a tree.

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"Shit, it got so cold all of a sudden!"

"Well no shit. You were in the freezing cold water at night."

"Nah Joel, the lake's warm."

Cole shuts the door to his car and locks it. Two bottles of beer are in his grip. He walks over, grabbing Ashton's attention.

"Hey, Ash, where's your cooler again?"

Ashton turns away from Joel, who's busily fixing up the firewood. "Oh, I just took it out." He points to a vacant spot by the fire. "It's by the log over there."

"Cool, thanks."

He locates it, then opens it up. Ashton peers around his shoulder.

"You only brought like, two beers. Not going hog-wild?"