"Nice beanie, Griff," Jorge complimented Griff in the lunch line.
"Thanks. (Y/n) got this for me." Griff smiled before walking away.
I got my food and sped over to Griff. We sat down at a table, swapping the bracelets again. We had a little game when we were in juvie where we would steal each other's bracelets so that one was stealing the other. I stole his last night before I went to bed and he stole mine. We swapped when we saw we had each other's bracelet. It never stopped.
"How d'you end up in a military school?" Griff asked.
"Dad thought it would be good for me. I had to deal with my stepsister and stepbrother," I said, rolling my eyes. "My sister and I have to deal with them, even though we hate them."
"Glad we're together, right?" Griff questioned, letting our bracelets connect again.
"Of course." I nodded, eating.
~~~
"Well, Zuri and Tiffany are weird," Griff said, walking into Weasel Cabin.
"Define weird, because our weird is straight-up psychopath," I said, looking up from my book.
"They're very giggly. Jorge said that they're fighting over who gets to dance with him." Griff sighed, sitting at the opposite end of my bed.
"That's strange." I shrugged.
"Are you going to the dance tonight?" Griff asked curiously.
"I guess. The last formal event I went to, shots were fired," I explained.
"What, people were asking others out?" Griff questioned.
"No, literal bullets were being fired because some murderer escaped a mental asylum," I corrected him.
"Maybe I could take you. After all, we are best friends, and I promise there won't be any armed murderers," Griff assured me.
I smiled. "That would be nice."
~~~
A knock on the door echoed throughout the cabin as I finished lacing up my boots. I opened the door and saw Zuri and Tiffany at the door.
"Hey, where's Emma? I thought she was helping me with makeup," I asked.
"She's busy," Zuri said, pushing me back into the cabin.
"Hey, what're you-" I was cut off when Zuri pushed me into the bathroom and locked it. I pounded on the door. "Guys! Let me out! Let me out of here!"
"After the dance," Zuri said simply.
"Sis, please! I want to go to my first dance!" I said, punching the door.
"Sorry, sis, but we can't have Griff being distracted from us," Zuri apologized before I was met with silence.
I ran my hands through my loose hair as I sat against the door. I was going to miss my chance.
"Mama, I'm in love with a criminal..."
~~~
"(Y/n)? Are you in there?" Hazel knocked on the door.
"Can you let me out? Please?" I begged.
Hazel opened the door and saw my tear-streaked face. I haven't cried in a while. It hurt.
"What happened?" Hazel asked softly.
"Zuri and Tiffany locked me in the bathroom because they thought I was a threat to their chances with Griff," I explained.
"I'm so sorry," Hazel apologized.
"Don't be." I shook my head.
Hazel walked out of the cabin abruptly, ignoring the complaints of my bunkmates. She shortly came back with Zuri and Tiffany, sad looks on their faces.
"I'm so sorry," Zuri said softly.
"We let jealousy overcome our sense of reason," Tiffany added.
"What she said," Zuri agreed.
"It's okay." I nodded, wrapping my arms around them in a hug.
They hugged me back as Hazel went out the door again. I pulled away, wondering what she was going to do next. Zuri and Tiffany left, leaving me to sit on my bed. I was calm again as I read a book.
A knock came from the door and I looked around. Everyone was asleep except Hazel. She motioned for me to get the door. I sighed, getting up and trudging over the door.
"Griff," I said, startled slightly.
He held out his hand, waiting for me to take it. I took it, letting him lead me out to the Great Lawn. The dance floor was still up. Music started automatically, a slow song. He twirled me, pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck so that we were hugging while also swaying to the music.
"This is nice." I sighed contentedly.
"Agreed." Griff nodded. "You look beautiful."
"You look handsome," I replied, straightening his collar as I pulled away.
We sneakily swapped our bracelets, making us laugh and connect foreheads. I missed this. I'm sure he missed it, too. Not having a care in the world; just the two of us.