Chapter 4

When I woke up in the morning I checked my phone to see a response from Chris. His response stated that he was thankful I reached out to let him explain and that he would find a time to talk privately with me sometime today. I would just have to wait and see when that time was. As much as I wanted to have the morning in peace the other girls did not share that want. Screams were heard everyone someone got asked to the dance and it felt like camp had turned into a popularity contest where the girls throw themselves at the boys just to say that they are going to a dance that no one would understand when we all went back to our normal lives.

I got ready and went outside to meet with my friends. I had been slow this morning because I got to wrapped up in a book I lost track of time and only realized I had to go when the bell rang. I ran to the Mess hall and found my friends easily. They had saved me a spot that I easily squeezed into waiting to see what they had cooked up for us. I hadn't realized that I was searching for Chris until my eyes landed on him and he smiled at me. I looked down at my food after and tried to eat it as fast as I could.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom?" Lizzie said looking straight at me. Our entire group looked at each other like we had a silent code that we needed to speak without anyone else hearing us. We all got up and walked to the washroom trying to be as non suspicious as possible.

"Okay what is this I feel like this is an intervention or something, I have yet to do something stupid" I said

"We need to talk about Chris and tomorrow" I thought about that for a second. Last year he had asked me and then humiliated me Infront of everyone because he did not want to go with me.

"Do not worry I will not be making that same mistake again" I stated. Maybe he had a good reason for doing what he did but I would not be falling into that trap again.

"Maybe you should" Felicity stated only earning glares from everyone but me. Why would she say that.

"And why would I do that?"

"Maybe he has changed. He asked you out in front of everyone on the first day. "

"Well I would rather sleep and read instead of going to the dance so I am good." I stated. With that comment we all left and were going to head back to the mess hall only to run into Chris and his friends. We held eyes for a few seconds and then I followed in suit back to the mess hall with my girls.

The morning was a blur. We spend most of the time doing crafts and watching skits that the Team members have prepared. It was like I was going through the motions. My body was doing everything but with my friends but my mind was always searching for Chris. It was like I had jumped back into my 15 year old body and I was pining after him again. Nothing was changing. After a while we got called into Tony's place to for a gathering only to find out that we were playing Capture the Flag. It was not my favorite game because I was never really good at it but it was a classic for camp and I just had to get over it. I was tasked with hiding the flag somewhere they would not find it so I went out into the trees to start finding somewhere safe and far away from any action.

After a few minutes of searching I found an almost cave and sat in their with the flag in my pocket. If I was found and got tagged they would never actually find the flag. A long time went by when I heard some rustling in the bushes around me. In the forest I felt calm and protected, but not all things stay that way and I say legs coming my way.

"Hey Amara are you near?" It was Chris' voice and I could tell that the time was near to have the talk I have been waiting anxiously for.

"Yeah I am in the little cave"

"Okay I am coming" He crawled into it, and there was not a lot of room for me let alone a big lanky boy like him. After we both shifted to look at each other he opened his mouth. "Um you have been hanging out with Glen recently are you both going to the dance together?"

"No we just knew each other because he goes to a school that my father works at so we became great friends when I was there doing homework. It is just a lovely surprise that he is here also" It was not entirely the truth but most of it was true.

"Oh well that is good. Just so you know what I did last year was stupid. I was young and my guy friends were laughing at me for actually wanting to go to the dance instead of hanging out with them at our cabin and I did not realize that my want to go with you was stronger then my need to fit in with the bros"

Hearing all of this I understood what he said, the need to fit in haunted everyone no and again but it did not excuse the way that he treated me. He could have just pulled me aside and told me straight up, I would not have minded staying at my cabin reading because I would have known that he cared still.

"Well I understand what you felt but you could have done it somewhere better than the in the middle of the dance floor in front of everyone at the camp. "

"I understand that now and if I could I would go back to that day and do it over again I would. I thought about that everyday this past year and I could not wait to see you again in hopes that I could make amends. I would really like to go to the dance with you if you let me?"

"I just do not know, I was kind of hopping that I would get a night of reading in"

"Oh if that is what you really want I will not stand in your way"

"Can I at least be able to think about it for a little bit and give you the answer before the dance tomorrow. I just do not think that I can make a sporadic decision right now. I need to think about it.

"If all you need is time to say yes then you can have all the time that you desire"

With that comment we heard the bell ring.

"Guess you did not find the flag" I stated

"No but I was not really looking. I knew that you hate this game and that you would always come here to get away from it all so I took a chance on finding you instead of the flag. "

Well jokes on you I have the flag in my pocket" I said with a smile. We joked the rest of the way back and then it was time to each lunch. I reunited with my friends and left him to find his own. When we got back to the others my girls looked like they needed all of the information that had just conspired so I filled them all in.

The rest of the day went by so fast and there was not really anything worth thinking about, except Chris and his proposal. Tomorrow was the day of the dance and I had to figure out if I truly wanted to go back in time and try this again or did I want to be safe and have a date with my books instead avoiding all drama and Chris for another year? It was a difficult choice.