A: I’ve realized that I won’t be making it into the Second Round of the Watty Awards anymore…
But I guess that’s okay. Anyways thanks for your support and to all the people who take their time to press that little vote button and drop in a comment! I appreciate it tremendously!
Anyways picture of Ronnie & Stella (Stella’s on the right)>>>>>>>>>>
The girl starts laughing hysterically once we’re all done screaming. For some reason unknown to me I look over at Nick to see him absolutely mesmerized. I smile, but with my head still a little foggy I don’t pay any more attention.
“The look on your faces,” the girl wheezes clutching her stomach before finally starting to calm down.
“I’m Ronnie,” she says extending a hand to the closest person which just so happens to be Dan.
He looks at Ronnie skeptically before shaking her hand.
“Sorry about before, it was part of a dare,” she apologizes looking sincere.
Dan frowns, “What are you even doing here?”
“Oh, well my family owns a house by the lake and I came with some friends for the weekend,”
“No, why are you here?” Dan asks.
“Oh,” she says seeming to comprehend, “Well my friends and I heard some noise before and came to check it out. When we saw you guys they dared me to see if I could scare you. Obviously I could,” she grins flipping some of her hair back.
She’s pretty; pin-straight black hair, baby blue eyes, and a petite but curvy body.
She walks over, spots our half empty bottle of vodka and kicks it distastefully with her foot.
“If you guys want to have some real fun you won’t need that,” she states.
I frown. Who is she to pop out of nowhere and start bossing us around?
“You’re all invited to the party at the lake house. It should have started by now,” she exclaims.
“How do we know you’re not luring us to kill us or something?” Brandon asks curiously.
She laughs; the noise rings clearly and bubbly.
“Sorry, I have a tendency to sort of just show up places, but I’m serious you guys can come. There’ll be music, drinks, food, and the lake,” she replies shrugging.
“If not then that’s okay too,” she says starting to turn away, “Just offering,” she finishes.
I have no intention on stopping her. I’m sure she’s nice and all, but I don’t know her and I’ve been told not to go places with strangers. Apparently Nick hasn’t because he makes her turn back around.
“I like lakes,” he says with a shrug.
She smiles at him, “I did say one would be available,” she replies.
I briefly wonder if she’s drunk. I know Nick is and that’s why he’s talking funny, but…
Nick laughs, “Let’s go guys. Make new friends?” he suggests.
Hank shrugs, “Hey as long as there is food,”
“Eh, why not,” Dan agrees.
I scowl, but nod my head. I don’t want to be stuck in the woods with no protection whatsoever.
“Then follow me,” Ronnie tells us.
Nick gets up and heads towards her. They start a conversation as everyone else trudges behind them. Becka’s really quiet throughout the whole thing.
~Nick~
I don’t know what hit me. I don’t know if this is what Chloe was talking about the other day, but I like it. I like how Ronnie makes me kind of anxious-a good kind of anxious.
“I’m glad I found you guys,” she tells me.
“How come?” I ask.
“Well, usually my friends all ditch me for their boyfriends and I spend most of the time just watching people make fools of themselves. But now that you guys don’t know anyone except me you’ll have to stick around,” she laughs nervously.
It’s cute.
“What if I meet someone?” I question to see what she’ll say.
She pouts, “Too bad,”
I laugh. After a moment's silence I clarify, “Don’t worry I’m not going anywhere,”
She smiles, “Good,”
Who knew that when I agreed to come camping I’d meet a girl in the middle of nowhere.
~Dan~
When we reach the party there’s probably a hundred people simply going insane. Some are running into the lake, while others are dancing to the loud pounding music. I have to say, it’s my kind of place.
Without anyone noticing I slip my hand into Becka’s hand and pull her aside. She seems shocked and more than a little surprised but she doesn’t say anything.
“How about we go make our own fun?” I suggest winking.
She gasps and slaps my arm. I laugh at her.
“Why must you have such a dirty mind?” I ask teasingly.
She frowns at me, “Look who’s talking,” she replies with an eye roll.
I laugh and lead her into the house. It’s warm inside and there’s a lot of people but I’m hungry. Plus the more people there are the lower chances of the rest of the group finding us.
~Chloe~
I grab Brandon’s arm and pull him a little farther away from the music.
“So what happened with Stella?” I ask giddy to know.
It sort of just popped into my head. He grins.
“I’m definitely winning her over,” he answers.
I smile widely, happy for him, “How exactly?” I inquire as we sit down on a nearby log.
We put our feet into the slightly below warm water as Brandon starts speaking.
*Story*
Incident 1:
“Brandon you think dropping something into my locker will make me like you again?” Stella screams at me from down the hallway.
I grin. “Again?” I ask.
She frowns, “Not the point,” she replies stomping her foot on the ground angrily.
She’s real cute when she’s angry. I probably should not be noticing this, but I can’t help but want to laugh at the furious expression she wears.
“Do you?” she pushes trying to get me to reply.
I tilt my head to the side, “No, not exactly,”
She growls, “Yeah so don’t do it,”
I smile, “But I want to,” I answer.
She scrunches up her face, “So?” she challenges.
“So I’ll continue to do it,” I reply confidently.
She lets out a frustrated sigh.
“Fine Brandon,” she responds getting closer to me, "But"
Then suddenly her knee juts up. I’m too quick for her. I catch her knee in my hand and give her an amused look.
Stella’s mouth opens in a surprised “O” before she sets her knee back down and turns around.
“You’ll have to try harder than that sweetie!” I call.
She lets out a muffled scream. I laugh.
~Chloe~
“Good job,” I compliment.
Brandon’s doing a good job. Sure he’s getting on her nerves, but like they say there’s only a small step between love and hate especially when you liked the person before the hate part.
Plus now she’ll have to think of a way to outsmart Brandon which means she’ll be thinking about him. The more she thinks about him the higher chances of Stella starting to notice things she likes about Brandon.
“That’s only one thing that happened,” Brandon states.
I look at him expectantly. He chuckles before he starts his story telling again.
*Story*
Incident 2
This morning I had stepped it up a by putting a little bracelet in her locker. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting to her or she’s trying to play mind games with me but I actually saw her wearing it.
“Nice bracelet Stella,” I shout from across the hall.
She looks at me and her eyes immediately widen. She turns in the opposite direction and slips outside. I smile to myself before running after her. As soon as I step outside I find the bracelet on the floor. I chuckle to myself before bending down and picking it up.
“Stella, come out, come out where ever you are!” I call into the courtyard.
I hear some leaves rustling and head in the direction to find a cursing Stella.
“What’s wrong darling,” I ask amused.
She points and I turn my head to see a little garden snake. I chuckle.
“Scared princess,”
She scowls at me but then lets out a sigh, “Shitless,”
I laugh before looking around. I spot a rock and grab it before bending down to where the snake is. I throw the rock right on the snake’s head and of course I squish it. Stella who’s still huddled in the corner lets out a sigh of relief.
“Thanks,” she grudgingly tells me.
I grin and trap her before she can get out of the corner.
“Keep the bracelet where it belongs,” I exclaim calmly before grabbing her wrist and putting her on.
Then I turn around and walk away.
The next day the bracelet gleams from her wrist.
~Chloe~
“Of course I’m sparing you all the small details,” Brandon finishes.
I smile, “It won’t be long now, will it?”
Brandon nods his head in agreement, “I think just one or two more confrontations.”
I let out a small breath, “Well go have fun,” I motion him to go mingle.
“You sure you’re going to be okay?” he asks.
I nod my head vigorously. He chuckles and gets up. Soon he’s out of sight.
“I bet this isn’t what you expected when you brought us camping,” Hank says popping out of nowhere.
I let out a startled yelp, but calm down almost immediately. I’m just shocked since I had been sitting here completely alone for the past 30 minutes and now Hank’s randomly here.
“Yeah, I most certainly did not think about this happening,”
“So how about we go exploring,” he asks.
I get up, “Why not?”
***
It’s almost a full moon tonight and the light gleams through the leaves. Surprisingly I’m not the least bit scared of walking through the woods at night. Hank and I talk here and there but mostly we just enjoy the company. Soon we’re at the other side of the lake. It’s extremely late and my eyes are a little more than droopy. Still, Hank and I sit down instead of start heading back.
In the time I’ve been with the boys I think I’ve seen the most beautiful things I’ll ever see in my life. The lake is one of these things. The moon glistens on the still water and trees surround it on every side. At the other end of the enormous lake I see the ant-like people jump and run through the water.
But there’s no noise except the occasional cricket. It’s very peaceful and soon I find my droopy eyes closing shut.
***
I wake up the next morning having no idea where I am, but that something soft and warm is underneath me. I pull myself up and find that I had been lying on Hank’s chest. I look at his peaceful face for a few seconds before stretching and knowing I should be waking Hank up.
We need to get back to the camp and find the others. We’ll be heading back home in about 6 hours. Then we’ll be back in school on Monday. Soon it’ll be Christmas and New Years. Christmas should be especially interesting with mom visiting this year; not to mention the fact that Hank will be spending it with us since he lives with us.
He told me a while ago, when the holidays had randomly come up in a conversation, that his parents didn’t really like the cold and preferred to go on vacation somewhere warm. Hank on the other hand would love a white Christmas so he stays every year and spends it with Dan and the boys. They all fly up to the big apple and watch the ball drop.
I wonder what mother is going to do about that. Will she make Dan break tradition or will she tag along?
Hank groans behind me and I shake my head in order to clear my head of my thoughts. Suddenly I get an idea. Grinning I grab Hank’s jacket. I dip the hood in the water and get as much water I can into it. Let me tell you his jacket it really absorbant. Then I tip-toe in the direction Hank is sleeping.
When I’m right above him I wring his jacket on top of him. He sits upright in a split second; that is before he lets out a blood curdling scream. I don’t wait for him to realize what happened. Instead I drop his jacket and bolt.