Behind A Smile [Wattys 2023]

4 - Natal

It was the final stretch of camp when I met Nat. That morning I woke from a dream...

I logged onto Bubble, a messaging app my friends and I use. A Notification.

Jayden_The_Koala: KAJJJ

I smiled.

Kaia_O'2: Yeah?

Silence.

PING!

Jayden_The_Koala: Oh hi.

Kaja_O'2: hi

Jayden_the_Koala: I screamed when I got your text XD

I face palmed as my face heats up.

Kaja_0'2: *laughs* I knew you were thinking about me!

Jayden_The_Koala: When I wasn't

Kaja_O'2: It's kinda late. Is there a specific reason why you texted?

Kaja_O'2: Boom, gifted, I know when people are thinking about me

Kaja_O'2 has left the chat

Kaja_O'2 Joined

Jayden_The_Koala: *laughs*

Jayden_The_Koala: No, just wanted to spend time with you ^-^

Jayden_The_Koala: I was like- I wanna text my girlfriend but she might be asleep or busy-

I woke up to a knock on the door. "It's almost 8:45, breakfast ends soon!" Called the extra wake up crew. Groaning, I closed my eyes for a few extra minutes. Before long, I got up, took a shower, and got ready for the day.

       Every Thursday and Tuesday I help the camp librarian. This year especially, as a lot of programs were held at the library. I was on my 6th round of carrying boxes of stuff, daydreaming, when I knocked into someone.

"Oof!"

"Hey! Watch it asshole!"

Everything fell. There, in front of me was a guy, around 5'3, dirty strawberry blonde hair and a pale complexion. He was quick to recompose himself. The confident stranger held their hand out as if to say, 'Do you trust me?'

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" He asked softly. That was a 180. I stared at it before cautiously taking his out stretched hand, heart racing. What was this feeling?

"I'm Natal by the way, but everyone just calls me Nat," Nat said with a small smile. "And you are?"

"K-kaja!" I squeaked as a way of introduction. "Nice to meet you-" Dammit what did you do to me?  Was I suddenly... shy? I AM NEVER SHY!

I hastily bent down to pick my fallen things. It was so awkward but I was able to pick up all my things with Nat's help. "That's a lot of boxes," Nat commented shyly. I laughed nervously.

"I'm used to it," I said as I shifted the two boxes to one arm. "I even got these bad boys," I said as I flexed my free arm, showing off my bad boy fem muscles. Then I instantly slapped myself, mentally, for flirting with random strangers. Hopefully it wasn't too weird.

To my relief, Nat looked down red in the face and I just laughed.

"See ya around," I said, subconsciously winking.

I was mentally screaming.

WHAT THE FVCK WAS THAT?

---

I didn't see Natal again till dinner time which was around 6:00 pm. The pavilion area was crowded with campers. I boarded the dinner line and got myself soup and mashed potatoes. There were other good things but I wasn't super hungry tonight.

My mind was elsewhere.

The box incident played on my mind like tape. I couldn't stop thinking about a certain blonde stranger. Chill, Kaja, it was an accident. You know you're straight... as a pretzel stick.

Just keep your distance...and eat an apple a day, it will keep the... feelings at bay.

A voice slapped me into reality. "Hey can I sit here?"

I looked up and saw...

FVCK!-