#camp!au

“You okay?” he asks, taking your bag from April and you grunt, pulling the strap from him to which he grins, shaking his head, “Come on, let me help you,” he said, his easy smile makes your blood boil and you roll your eyes, shoving him to the side.

“Don’t act as if we are chummy, Taeyong,”

Maybe you are a little mean to him but you find your bitterness to be justified. Dragging yourself away from him with your bag slinging on your side, you are greeted by a chorus of ‘Hey’ and ‘Hi’ followed by Ms River. Smiling at the group of girls aged eleven to fifteen who tag by your side almost immediately as you walk towards your accommodation at Camp Blue Creek. You spot the platter that reads ‘House River’ and fish out the key to the entrance, “Ready, girls?” you ask excitedly, getting a chortle of ‘yes’s.

Spilling into the room, you settle into the blue corduroy sofa on the side beside the one window in your lodging and sigh deeply, letting a wide grin overtake your expression. “I am seeing a couple of new faces, shall we play an icebreaker?” you inquire, skimming the faces of the girls in the room.

Standing up with a little exaggeration to your movement, you clap your hand and angle your face stating your name in a fancy accent and continuing, “I am Ms River, the group leader of House River and I am a camp counsellor this year, so you can come to me for anything at all,” you beam, twirling around and gesturing the girl nearest to you to speak. Her stark red hair, dyed and fading, immediately makes an impression on you. 

“I am Skipper, thirteen. This is my first year at camp,” she shyly said, sinking back into her seat and you gasp, doing the jazz hands, “Hana, you are her buddy! Finally, you wanted a buddy last year, didn’t you?” you grin, eyeing the girl with feather earrings and a wide smile. You love pairing up your campers with buddies, it was a tradition only House River follows to get the new campers accustomed to the way things are run. You and your buddy are still friends to this day, though April has learnt to be away from you after becoming a group leader herself. 

Hana is a new addition to your house as of last year, her chirpy energy was the thread you hung onto when Taeyong’s presence in the lodging beside yours overwhelmed you. Her ash-blonde hair and dimpled smile always raise your mood, her wanting a buddy comes out of the fact that the other girls already got buddy-ed and she couldn’t get one and was stuck to you, someone way older than her and you were always busy with your duties as group leader slash volunteer. “Hana, sit with Skipper and introduce yourself,” you said, pulling her your way by her hand and grinning her stompy feet. 

“Hi,” she gushes, rapidly waving her hands making you giggle, “I am Hana, also thirteen and I am super excited to make friends!” she said, turning to face Skipper whose cheeks reddened under the attentive eyes of Hana, “I love your hair!” Hana squeals, tying her hands together and squeezing herself beside Skipper.

As you continue with the icebreaker, a knock sounds through the wooden lodge making you jump a little and open the door being greeted by Yuta and his group of gecko boys. “It’s time for us to gather,” he yawns, covering his mouth behind his hand and you glare at him, blinking. “It’s only twelve,” you point, pushing him aside and guiding your girls outside as Yuta follows you along with his group.

“Don’t you have to go help with the arrangements at the cafeteria, camp counsellor?” Yuta inquires, lazily shading his eyes from the sun and watching his boys run towards the largest and least ancient wooden structure in the area, the common eating area that serves subpar food. “It’s not my duty,” you stretch, catching his yawn and sighing.

“I’ve got twenty in my pocket, wanna grab something good?” you glance around cautiously, Yuta nodding at your suggestion, “The closest food chain is Olive Garden though,”

“Let’s buy one spaghetti and share,” you roll your eyes, intertwine your fingers with his and drag him to the discreet pathway that leads to a resting area near the camp though it was like a thirty-minute walk away. Dragging his eyes up as the sun's heat is cut under the leaves in the woods, Yuta mumbles, “Taeyong is here,” 

Squinting to see ahead, you grunt when you spot the familiar baggy white tee and beige cargo shorts he sports. Taeyong's limpy walk beside another group leader, Johnny, sends a rush of annoyance to your head that splits in pain. Shaking your head, you tell yourself to just ignore him. His shiny dyed hair reflects sunlight, his frame being embraced by the view and you hate him, even in a world where it would be just you and him, he would make your blood boil and want to strangle him for breathing. 

“That’s it, we aren’t getting Olive Garden,” you huff, turning back as you threw your hands in the air and Yuta groans, stamping his feet, “Do you really want to eat the shit they serve?” he scoffs, still despite complaining he trails behind you. “I’d rather eat shit. No way am I following him into Olive Garden,” 

But you can’t help the way your eyes linger on him for a second too long when he beams like the world’s happiest person alive right in front of you before you tear your eyes away.

one.

Taeyong scratches his cheeks, a burn manifesting on them as he glances back to find you glaring at him. Inhaling sharply, he gulps letting out a nervous laugh towards Johnny. He knows the reason you didn’t like him because as much as he tries to help you and get on your nice side, first impressions that last for three years aren’t easy to change. 

He remembers the time he told Yuta that you and he kissed and Yuta crying while you were telling him it was a lie, he also remembers the day Yuta grabbed a knife from the camp’s kitchen and slashed away his name furiously from the administration office. Trying to make it up, twelve-year-old Taeyong carved TY beside your lonely name and you swore you would never like the person who lies about kissing people. It was his fault, no questions asked and since then he has never kissed and told (the fact standing that no one knows you have actually kissed him more than once now and no one knows from his side).

“Man, she must really hate you if she won’t even eat in the same place as you,” Johnny muses, a smirk on his face watching his friend’s saddened expression. “You should talk to her,” 

“How can I when she is always avoiding me?” he asks, pushing his hair backwards and kicking against the ground whilst they walk in the direction of the food chain. “Also, I always act so insufferable in front of her. I even won the house cup last year because she wanted to win it, I don’—”

“You just need to show her you like her,” Johnny cuts him off, slinging his arm around his shoulder and nodding thoughtfully as he goes on. “You should do something nice, show off a little and maybe make some moves,”

Taeyong knew this already. The problem was the execution. Johnny sharply turns, dragging him with him back to the camp repeating the words, ‘it’s okay, we can start now,’ a hearty laugh that fills the forest, comforting his doubts and he decides to trust him and asks, “So what do we do first?” Taeyong peers at his friends, biting his lips with wide eyes. 

“Let your presence be known,” Johnny announces, jogging to the cafeteria as the loudspeaker howls calling for lunch. 

The smell of fruity salads and grilled marinated meat is heavy, invading their senses as soon as they pull open the cafeteria’s wooden door and your bubbly laughter infiltrates his mind, eyes searching for the source and you are clapping your hands, side pressed against Nakamoto Yuta and your slightly parted lips curved into a smile, pointing at the girls around your table and he notes that House Blue Gecko has moved their table to be right beside yours. You are always smiling around your girls and Yuta, he knows that the two of you are best friends; ever since his accidents, you and Yuta have never been said to be a couple, no one ever talks about the two of you out of the platonic light. 

“Earth to Taeyong,” he hears, April smiling at him mischievously, “If you stare at her that much, she’ll be creeped out,” she sings, pushing his shoulders down and making him sit at his table.

“Uh, you’re right,” Taeyong shakes his head, capturing your attention by the sound of him slapping his cheeks harshly and greeting his house finally.

“God, he is so weird,” you roll your eyes, pulling your eyes away from him after studying his rosy cheeks that almost make you squeal.

“You’re weirder, you laughed at me farting and burping out ABC’s,” Yuta laughs, pushing your hair away from your face. “Oh, by the way, our lodging is farther from you this year,” he locks eyes with you, pooping a crispy chip into his mouth and nodding, “House Blue Jay is beside you and House Blue Heron took the big one since they won the cup,”

“Ugh, I am so mad, don’t talk about the cup,” you swat your hand on your forehead, exasperatedly looking at the cup that sits in the centre of the cafeteria inside a glass casing and breaking into your view, you notice Hana staring at your left hand’s wrist and you ask, “Hana, you want to ask something?” 

“You got a tattoo?” she smiles, leaning over the table and running her finger across the inked skin of your wrist. “Is this an insect or a bird?” she asks, her eyes sparkling as they pull you in. 

Chuckling at her, you shake your head and explain, “This is not an insect, it’s a bird,”

Yuta smirks beside you and asks, “It’s pretty neat, right?” slapping his side, you roll your eyes and add, “Mr Gecko here dared me to get this if I don’t win the cup. But now, I think this is pretty cute,” smiling down at your tattoo, you momentarily forget what the bird represents and Yuta snickers, “It sure is cute, isn’t it, Ms River?”

 “Oh, ple—” 

“Newcomers and returnees! Welcome to Camp Blue Creek, where we welcome all things blue and enjoy the sound of running water beside the creek!” the camp director laughs, awkwardly meeting your eyes and skimming towards the other group leaders and staff, “Every year we like to collect points and reward our campers with new and exciting facilities for their enthusiastic competition and let’s give it up for last year’s winners, House Blue Heron!”

A flurry of ‘woo’s and ‘boo’s sounds, Taeyong standing up from his seat and clapping for his boys with a timid smile and the C.D asks, “What do you have to say as the winner’s of the Blue Cup?”

“Um, we plan to win it again and remind everyone, who the real winners are,” Taeyong offhandedly comments, his eyes locking with yours and you feel a gush of competition fill you. “Oh, he is challenging me,” you sneer, scoffing as the C.D begins talking again.

“I am so winning that cup,” you declare, the girls of House River watch you and you determinedly grin, “Let’s win ourselves the big house next year,”

two.

“Oh fuck, I forgot they were all sporty,”

The wind blows gently embracing you and your girls while you watch House Blue Heron excelling at dodgeball and Yuta’s house being pummeled. Tying your arms across your chest, you sit on the bench outside the netted ball ground and glance at your girls. You mentally sigh, you wish you could change your schedule but unfortunately, they were set by age group and you run on the same schedule as House Blue Heron. 

“Are we going to play?” you ask, peering over your shoulder at your kids and laughing weakly at their lack of response. “Want to go bracelet making instead? We can sit this out,” you suggest, propping your hands on the bench and leaning upwards towards them and getting a show of hand, obviously they’d rather do that than get slammed by a rubber ball.

Smiling at them, you push yourself off the bench and call out Yuta’s name, gesturing him to the mess hall right beside the ground. Taeyong catching the exchange couldn’t keep his mouth shut and scoffs, asking, “Running away, love?” a shit-eating smirk settles on his face and you curl your fingers in, rolling your eyes. “As if you could do better at bracelet making,” you hiss, throwing your finger at him.

Johnny giggles, breaking the tension as he pulls your eyes towards him and his huge body curling in a shy manner. “Is something funny?” you ask, bending sidewards to observe his shaking shoulders. Vigorously shaking his head, he responds, “N-no, it was my head making a joke and man, I am so funny,” he laughs, tousling his hair away from his eyes.

Sighing at him, you roll your eyes strutting away from them and remind yourself that his friends’ are all probably as insufferable as him. 

The girls keep the door open for you, watching your bitter interaction with the group leader of House Blue Jay and you scoff, you didn't get along with any of the other group leaders other than Yuta and April. You blame yourself because you knew you were picky with friends but even more when it came to people you didn't like, Taeyong being on the top of that list was definitely not accidental. 

You wish you could turn off the part of your brain that was always on him; whether it be thirsting over how sexy he looks under his white shirt or how infuriating he is when his smirk makes you weak all while he is also actively provoking you to a fist-fight. It was the fact you couldn’t just feel one emotion towards him, the influx of emotions instead that he erupts in you—from anger to annoyance to embarrassment to making you blush at your thoughts. He had a power over you that you didn’t want to accept he had, one that wins over your hate for him.

In Yuta’s words, “You are in denial of the fact you might be in love with him.”

You settle your girls in a table and search the materials required for bracelet making, noting the House Blue Jay's boys delicately working their way through the bracelet making. With an easy smile, you walk over to the boys and greet them cheerily, “Hi, boys,” you sit in the empty seat beside them and ask, “When do you think I can have materials for this?” 

“How about after a rafting match with Taeyong this evening?” you hear, Suh Johnny's boyish voice invading your ears. “Yeah?” you chastise him, “How about a n-no?” you fake a stutter, rolling your eyes. 

“Oh don't be like that,” he whines, sitting beside you and propping his arm behind your chair. “Taeyong is a decent guy once you've known him,” 

Pursuing your lips together, you exaggeratedly nod your head and furrow your brows, “Hm, interesting of you to say that. He must really be a nice guy,” you lock your eyes with Johnny and ask again, “We just want the bracelet making kit, when can we have it?” 

Johnny sighs, giving up. “How many bracelets are done, boys?” he asks, and they begin counting, seven done and three in progress. “Well, then give us a few and you'll have the kit,” 

“Thank you,” you smile chastely at him, walking away bur before you could ignore him he says, “You know, Taeyong absolutely sucks at rafting,” 

And that was the beginning of an intense showdown between you and Lee Taeyong, masterminded by Suh Johnny and commentary by Nakamoto Yuta. 

“Heh, you are so dead bro,” Yuta snickers, a smirk on his face. His hawaïen shirt dancing with the wind and the rafts making beats by clattering against each other. “I didn't need your commentary, Yuta,” you grunt, rubbing your hand harshly over your eyes. 

The weather is shitty, your mood is shitty and the entire week has been shitty because a certain cretin by the name of Johnny decided he was going to be more annoying than Lee Taeyong to the point that you would rather his company over Johnny's. “This weather will be the end of my and rafting's relationship,” 

“Don't tell me you're afraid,” Taeyong chirps in beside you, his gorgeous grin swallowing his entire face and puncturing your lungs before you catch yourself and bite your tongue from cooing. “I accepted the match and I am not a quitter,”

“Whatever you want,” Johnny shrugs, “Anyway, we need to leave before the C.D sees,” 

You and Taeyong wear safety pads, turning the rafts over and taking each ore in your hands, Yuta behind yours and Johnny behind Taeyong’s to push the two of you into the shaky waters when the counts stop. “First to go and come back from the other end wins!” Johnny raps, “three, two,” Yuta pushes you slightly snd with the sound of one, you are dropped to the sea. 

Gripping the ores tightly, you use all of your arm's strength to row you forward, eyeing Taeyong's swiftness from the side and the disturbed waves begin to get to you because you weren't a strong swimmer. Holding your breath and pushing forward, you row and row and row until suddenly, with a clang you bump against the little guiding light and your raft loses balance, your weight shifting to the side and you topple over. 

Thankful for the pads, you shake your legs urgently to hold yourself up and Taeyong notices. Grunting, you struggle to swim to the other shore before he rafts beside you but he was there before you were even a mile away from your original falling spot. “Hah, here to make fun of me?” you sneer, letting him pull you up from the waters and he smiles tightly, “Of course not, I think you did your best,” he reassures you. However it only made you more infuriated and as you neared the other shore, you push yourself off the raft and Taeyong quietly shrieks, almost losing balance and a wave hits you as you laugh at him, choking your throat and you push your body to the shore. 

Laying down with closed eyes, you regret giving into Johnny's obvious schemes. You knew Taeyong wasn't a weak rafter and yet, for the sake of winning something you said okay and even pushed the match to a week away to get some practice and yet. You bite your inner cheek and hold your breath, to calm your wavering heart. 

“Oh god, did she swallow too much water?” you hear Taeyong's panicked voice and you flitter your eyes open, locking with him, his face nearing yours even though you were clearly alive and he kisses you softly, almost breathlessly, like a drizzle falling on at a time and watering down the walls of your heart, you push him away, springing up. 

“What was t-that for!” you blush, stammering over your words and Taeyong's expression mirrors you, “W-why'd you kiss me, you bit—” 

“I am sorry!” he cuts you off and moves away from your sight, Johnny's are you okay pulling your attention as he and Yuta (who had an abysmal smirk on) come by with a proper boat and Taeyong avoids your gaze for the rest of the day. 

One thing you were positive about, he totally knew you didn't need CPR because he didn't even check your pulse. 

“Admit it that you enjoyed it,” Yuta said, wiggling his eyebrows and groaning, why did it have to happen in front of Yuta! 

three.

Camp lasts for three weeks before you go back to your regular summer break and prepare to work on your summer assignments and somehow, a week and a half has already passed and another week and a half is left. 

It irks you how attached you were to this place, these dusty, ancient wooden buildings that just sat there and didn't have anything to do with you other than for three weeks every year till now, you didn't know what caused your attachment to it. “Fuck man, I can't believe this is my last year,” you mumble, nibbling on ice scream and leaning against April. 

April sighs beside you, “What will I do without you and Nakamoto?” she asks, blankly staring at the glistening sunset in the waters in front of you. “Yuta will keep coming here,” you lazily said. 

“He won't if you aren't there,” she glances at you, “He might be in love with you,” 

“April, that is so dated,” you sigh, rolling your eyes and staring at the waters. “It's not carbon-dated yet, so it can happen,” she argues. 

“Never, he is like my brother from another mother,” 

“Babe, I am messing with you. Yuta would date a carp over dating you,” 

“Exactly, his taste is questionable,” and with that the two of you go silent again, staring at the shining multicoloured waters, reflecting the sky. 

The two of you are sitting on a bench, admiring the view as the final roll call is done and now all that's left is leaving the kids to sleep. Much of the activities have already been done, five points with House Blue Heron and three with House River. It annoys you the fact it is a two-point difference and you are on the losing end. 

“I want that cup to be my last legacy,” you said dramatically and April nods, “That's some exciting goal,” she smiles, “But what about Taeyong?” 

“Ugh that pest,” you blush lightly remembering the last time you had a vis-a-vis with him because since then your heart has been hammering and your lungs have given up on breathing around him. 

In Yuta's words, “You are in denial of the fact you are in love with him,” 

You call bullshit but it totally made sense. He wasn't any better than before, you always knew he was a nice guy and it was your antagonisation of him that made him be this hated by you. Literally, no one in the world could hate Taeyong and you are pretty sure someone ran a petition to get him personal guards when he broke a bone down a stair because someone was being clumsy. Everyone loves Taeyong but not you. 

Tears bubbling in his eyes, his lashes heavy due to them, Taeyong cries, “Why did I have to fall for her when she won't even like me back?” his words are muffled inside the pillow that he stuffed his face into but Johnny hears it word to word. 

“Don't cry, Tyong,” he pats his back, this is the third time it happened this week. “She is making me cry, I can't stop,” 

Taeyong sobs, his eyes softening and looking at Johnny. “Did you hear she won't be coming back here after this year?” he asks, “This is my last chance to woo her and she is definitely done with my shit now,” Taeyong said, his cheeks stained with tears and Johnny suddenly feels a light bulb moment, taking Taeyong’s hand in his. 

“Let's get you a redemption arc, Lee Taeyong!” 

Said redemption arc came in the form of campfire night for the group leaders, lead by Suh Johnny, commentary by Nakamoto Yuta. 

“He is totally depressed, lonely, heartbroken and thinking he must give up on you now,” Yuta said monotonously, leaning his shoulder against yours and looking directly at the duo of Johnny and Taeyong, who looked way worse off than you. “If this wasn't camp, you would've been wrecked by the TY FC,” 

Perking your ears, you muse, “TY FC?”

“Taeyong Fanclub, obviously. He has the entire school in his palms and the poor boy decides to fall for the one person who hates his guts while being in denial,” he said, his eyes furrowing in an act of sorrow and you jab your elbow into his side, accidentally locking eyes with the boy whose heart you broke (though somewhere in you, you think you broke your own heart by your stupidity). 

“Set up the fire guys!” April calls as she finally makes her appearance and breaks the awkward tension between you and Taeyong's current disposition. “Move your chairs closer guys, it's scary story night! Not avoid the idiots night,” 

Quirking your brows, you let out a quizzical sound. “Yuta is the obvious idiot then,” you said, pushing him off you and dragging your foldable chair closer to the flames that April set up. It was quaintly and very autumn-like despite the summer setting of the camp. “I think you are the real idiot,” Yuta comments, placing his chair beside yours and Taeyong was there on your other side, before you could panic and it was settled in your head, let's ignore the loud heart and Taeyong.

Johnny laughs, clearing his throat and you pay attention to him. The night sky lit by the stars, the crackling fire and the sound of nature made for a beautifully haunted situation you think. “So, there was once a little girl who loved dolls,” he begins, his tone lower than usual cheery fun he spoke with. “You see she has a whole collection of them, stacked one upon another in her room at all times,” 

Yuta yawns, mumbling that it was already boring but you wouldn't believe him because he had a knack for making up weird stories. If you weren't keeping your guard up, you bet John's doll story would scare you for the rest of the week. The story went on, shrieks were heard from April, you and Taeyong respectively then suddenly, the wind blew out the flame earning the loudest scream from you yet, latching onto the person closest to you. “Oh Yuta, I am scared!” you sob, pressing your nose on his shoulder and you get thrown off by the lack of immediate teasing. 

“Um, afraid, love?” Taeyong said, smiling stiffly at you and you pull away, gasping again when Yuta's hair tickles you from beside you and you think, of course, he went to sleep. “You wish,” you pretend, rolling your eyes and crossing your arms. 

Johnny announces his leave and drags Yuta with him, telling you to walk back with Taeyong while April finishes cleaning up the fire since she wasn't scared of the dolls anymore. You can't even remember the story but dread clings to you like swear under the scorching sun, you remember why you fucking hate horror movies and especially ones in the dark, in the night. 

“Are you okay?” Taeyong cautiously peeking at you while he walks a distance from you but you still notice the glint from the tear stains on his cheeks and you ask, “Are you okay?” back. 

“What do you mean?” he bites his lips, looking away from you and you mirror him, tying your hands behind your back like him and matching your pace to his. “Did I make you cry?” you ask, he feels an unfamiliarity in your tone but it warms his heart to see the concern. 

“Yeah but it's okay, I will get over it. Plus it makes sense, I mean I kissed you instead of CPRing you,” he brushes it off, shrugging his shoulders and you pursue your lips, watching his subtly uncomfortable stiffness. 

“Sorry about that but I still don't like you very much,” you said, patting his side in an act of comfort. Turning to face him as you arrive in front of your house cabin, you gently smile at him. It might be the first time you smiled at him and he flushed, snapping his head away, in turn making you chuckle. 

Grinning, you feel a cold touch on your shoulder. A shudder runs down your spine and you turn back to find nothing, taking steps backwards and walking into Taeyong. “Did you see someone touch me?” you ask, bumping your shoulder with his, afraid out of your mind. 

“I didn't see anything,” he calmly said, holding you in front of him by your shoulders and you see it, a figure dressed in the checkered clothes of Johnny's story with wet hair and wet hands due to being drowned by her collections of dolls in revenge for drowning them under other dolls. You shriek, throwing your hands over your ears and your turn into Taeyong, whose arms wrap around you immediately, words of comfort pouring in. 

“Shhh, you're okay, there is nothing there,” he softly whispers, rubbing circles on your back. 

“Did YOU see that!” you exclaim, your eyes wide and shaky, trembling all over your body. You grip Taeyong tightly, pressing yourself against him and you whisper, “I just s-saw the girl Johnny told us about!” 

Sighing, Taeyong felt bad. Guilt was thrown at him like hailstone and he hugs you, keeping you snug against him, in his warmth and he calls your name softly. He rarely utters your name, your heart squeezes, like he squeezed the fear out by making your heart flutter but it is only your name, you remind yourself. 

Patting your back, he said, “Sorry but that's was Johnny trying to scare you,”

“What the fuck?” you spat, looking at him confusedly, “For heaven's sake, why did he pick me to scare,,” you grumble, resting your forehead on him. 

Taeyong swallows his pride, rolling his eyes at the whole plan and saying, “It was a redemption arc,” his cheeks are coated red and you press on, “What?” 

“It was a redemption arc for me to get on your good side,” he explains and you scoff, pushing him away. 

“Do you think it worked?” you ask. 

“Now that I revealed the plan, no,” he mutters quietly but you hear it anyway. 

“Well, no,” you said pointedly but you pressed a kiss on his cheeks, “It worked, the redemption arc earned by telling me the truth,” you said. 

four.

Taeyong crossed over the moon when you kissed his cheek and it was all he could talk about for days before Johnny snapped him back to reality with a eureka. 

“Dude, this is it,” Johnny grins, rubbing his hands together and Taeyong asks, “What is it?” 

“The way to win Miss River's heart in one step,” he teases, slinging in arms around Taeyong and he said, “Tell her everything that is the truth behind the reason she hates you,”

“You mean like the explanation for the shit I did?” Taeyong widens his eyes, it seems to click. This was it, “Johnny you are a genius!” 

And thus he came to the conclusion, the redemption arc is essentially honesty is the best policy arc. 

He had asked Johnny to send for you, to the creek beside the camp that he hangs out at whenever he was overwhelmed. An honest conversation was what he was looking for and when you walked in looking confusedly at him, you said 'hi' instead of ignoring him like usual. Taeyong puffs his cheeks, awkwardly smiling at you.

His feet gently being embraced by the flowing creek, he thinks it was the only part of his body that wasn’t on fire as you roll your eyes at the ground beside him before you take a seat. “It's so freaking cold! How are you sitting here?” you jump a little and settle down again, not wanting to look weak in front of him.

“So, speak up,” you lock eyes with him, raising your brows and wearing an unamused expression on your face. “Johnny said you were going to clear up the air?” 

“Um yeah,” he laughs quietly, scratching the skin of his knees. You honestly couldn’t read him. Not since he kissed you after the rafting match, not since he held you like you were the most precious thing while hiding from a fake ghost and maybe, not since ever. You couldn’t read Lee Taeyong and if he wasn’t going to speak you are forever going to judge him through the shitty reviews left of the cover of his book that wasn’t related to the substance his pages held. Taeyong isn’t a book obviously but it was the only way you could thread your patience together for him right now.

“Johnny said I should come clean,” Taeyong said, his voice carrying the weight of his embarrassment and to say the least you enjoyed the shades of it that appear along his cheeks and neck. “I am sorry about blaming you for the fire but I have no excuse and also huh, about lying to Yuta about kissing you but I really liked you and I hated Yuta for—” 

“—Woah, slow down. That’s a confession!” you gasp, eyes as if they were saucers and your jaws weaken. Forget the fire but you are Taeyong’s first love, you realize and you feel your body tingle in excitement.

“Winning the cup and fighting over it was only for your attention, then it became a habit because you didn’t talk to me unless it was about that,” he said in a breath and you nod slowly, interesting development, you thought and you look away from him as he looks like he was about to combust.

Sucking his lips in between his teeth, Taeyong takes a deep breath and went on, “Also, about pushing you down from here,” he looks at you nervously, his cheeks fully blushing and you begin feeling the heat when his fingers find their way towards you. His hand gripping your arms, eyes desperate. “I didn’t mean to push you but you were suddenly super, super close to me and I was like going through with the worst, uh um, sexual awakening because you and paaanicked,” 

Blinking once, twice and one more time, you narrow your gaze and drop your jaws with a heavy scoff, “So, that’s confession two,” you nod, gesturing with your hand to continue because you were too far gone to react. Your head was blaring with hypotheticals. If you didn’t hate him, you might’ve dated him. His first love, his sexual awakening and potentially—No, you stop yourself from assuming and turn your upper body towards him, teasingly leaning into his space. “You have been thinking about me for quite a while,”

“S-sorry if that’s weird,” he shyly said, leaning back and you smile, raising your brows. 

“What about all the drunk kisses?” you ask, remembering the number of times you were frustrated because of his chaste pecks that left you hanging during the worst high school parties ever. “Ah those, I didn’t want to push you away or take advantage because I knew you didn’t like me, so I kissed you to satisfy both our horny teenage needs.”

“Yup, didn’t satisfy me at all, you suck at kissing by the way,” you said, rolling your eyes and melting internally because of how nice he was when he knew you didn’t like him in the first place.

“That’s not true,” he retorts, leaning close to your face. Not even a hair away, his breath against your lips, he said, “I’ve been told I am a pretty good kisser,”

Scoffing at his audacity to bring up other people, you jab your fist on his chest, “Don’t kiss and tell, it pisses me off,” you said honestly, your head burning up and you realize, Taeyong was fever inducing. He made your body feverish, the same dizziness you feel when your head is all hazy and heated, no thoughts make sense and you can tell that you're sick. He was the same, except all you could tell was he had some kind of power over you right now. 

Taeyong's shy lashes settle on the skin of your cheek, his head slightly tilted and his hand begins to make way up to your face. Cupping you delicately, without a moment to spare, his lips are against yours and you melt into his hands, responding to his kiss as if in synch. Taeyong's lips were pink, always looking so kissable and god, dear god, you felt like a petal was being brushed against you, his lips were soft but not for long. You shouldn't be kissing him like this though. You shouldn't be kissing as if you are lovers. 

He bites your lower lip, tongue gliding over it in a way to ask for permission and you whimper, unable to deny him. You were weak against him once you've fallen. You try to pull away, immediately softened by the little groan that escapes his lips and you kiss him again. Teeth clashing clumsily, he chuckles softly and creases your cheeks, pushing your hair away while pressing butterfly kisses across your face, making his way to every crook and cranny. Your hands wrap around his neck, pressing your lips on his once again and he pulls away, staring into your dazed gaze. 

“God, y-you're making me senseless,” Taeyong whispers and his fingers brush against your waist, your breath makes a sharp reverse as his nose settles in the crooks of your neck while his swollen lips took nips of your skin. Your mind short circuits, Taeyong’s fingers sending electricity throughout your body in a way that curves your thoughts from being transported through your neurons. 

“Taeyong, s-slow down,” you gasp, dragging your lips against his. Eyes drinking up your flushed form, he feels shudders run down his back and the chill of the night in the forest didn’t help with the trembling. His heart rattling in his chest felt louder than the words you were whispering against his ears, the warmth of your breath ironically makes him want to do the exact opposite of your words, “Taeyong, let me go,” you sneer, your fists pushing him away and he realized the tone that came back.

Here we go again, he thought, back to square one.

“One kiss doesn’t give you the green light to make out with me, you idiot!” scramming away from him with heated cheeks, you feel your lips with your fingers; he kissed you deeper than before, you think, it was kinda nice but maybe it was his touch that made it even better. Sighing to yourself, you press your back against the wooden wall of the mess hall and throw your palms towards your cheeks, “Now is not the time to gush over how good of a kisser he is!” you grumble. From the periphery of your eyes, you spot the awfully craved TY beside your name and you groan as your heart accelerates at the idea of him being in love with you your entire lives.

You almost couldn’t find a reason to hate him now that he has explained all of his actions. It was cute in retrospect but the annoyance didn’t fail to stir in you when you thought of the things he did, especially blaming the fire at the cafeteria on you. Johnny might’ve been right about him being a decent guy once you’ve known him but Taeyong was more than decent, he was the sweetest guy you’ve met minus the memory of his younger self. “God, can this get any messier?”

“Yeah, babe, where’ve you been?” April frowns, breaking your line of thought and it hits you like a block—you just skipped roll call for the night when you are responsible for the lives of your dear campers at House River.

five.

April messes with you on a daily and you still fall for her tricks. 

She covered for your roll call and successfully had Taeyong be in trouble alone, minus three points off his house making him and you tie at six-six. Whatever happened between you and Taeyong last night, you want to forget because it gives you massive heartache and an incredibly painful twisting in your stomach, you might call it butterflies but it was painful because well, you just went three steps back the moment you pushed him away and pretended you didn't kiss him twice on your own devices. 

And now it was The Two-days One-night camping event. The thing you looked forward to every year as a camper yourself. It was easily the most exciting since you would make your tents and have a sleepover, eat s'mores, have a campfire barbecue and you think it will put a lid on your time as a Camp Blue Creek camper, you will be retiring from being Miss River. However, there was an everlasting flaw in the most perfect day ever just as usual. 

House Blue Heron and House River house the same age range of kids and so share almost all activities. Perfect because it was just the person you wanted to see, Lee Taeyong and the looming memory of you running away when you are pretty sure you hinted at liking him too at this point. If he gives up because of last night, it would break you but damn, would it make sense. 

“Hello,” you said, waving at him. 

You never do that, “Hi, I heard you almost got in trouble?” he asks and you shake your head nervously, “No no, April covered for me,” 

“I wish I had a roommate then, it seems fun and helpful,” he pouts, adorably pushing out his pink lips and god, you are starting to sound like a creep. Pinching your arms, you walk to your kids and begin helping them, remembering that the last activity that will determine the fate of the House Cup lies in the tent set-up; who does it faster and the best. 

“Hana, Skipper,” you call, noting the bright red hair almost fading. “I will help the two of you with the tents, come on,” you smile. 

You inform the girls in your house to hurry and do it well to win over House Blue Heron, you take out the pieces of the tent and start pushing in the thin poles that will keep the tent from being like a blanket and more like a roof. “Is this the last competition?” Taeyong asks, appearing from nowhere and you nod, “This is our spot, so piss off,”

Ruffling his hair, Taeyong walks back to his group and you sigh at yourself, you just had to close your mouth and the tension would fix itself. Talking to him came easy when you were not in your head about him. Everything he did is inherently annoying and not even your common sense can tell you otherwise. Helping with the kids’ tents, bringing our barbecue gear, setting up camp around the boxed bonfire sight and all the while, the way his gaze circles back to you at the same moment you take a glimpse of him. You are quickly more conscious of him than you’ve ever been.

The shadow of his movement tickles the skin under your house shirt, the denim jean and the hair on your neck sits out. “Yuta,” you say, taking his hands in yours and you sigh heavily at his gaze because his hooded gaze tells you he knows what’s on your mind. “Olive Garden, please?” 

“Lead the way,” he smiles, swinging his arm around your shoulder and you drag him to the dirt path that guides you to the rest stop where it was. Limping due to the weight of him on you, you decide to start speaking before you even go halfway into the forest path. 

“So, we kinda made out and pretended as if I didn’t let him,” you blurt in one breath, stretching your lips in a stiff smile and Yuta hums, “What else is new?” 

“Don’t,” you glare at him, already seeing where he was going with this but he went on anyway.

“You have been doing this since forever, you have kissed him in every party you’ve been to and you’ve been to almost all of them,” he pauses, turning to face you and you slump your shoulders because you couldn’t deny it. You call yourself stupid often in your head but man, it was showing proof now. “Listen, I know I am always teasing you but damn. Oh man, oh man, are you in denial if you think you aren’t into him already,” Yuta breaths heavily, pulling you into a hug and you sigh, “Thinking about him all the time doesn’t mean shit,” you state, blushing at your confession.

“Yeah, it means you’re batshit crazy,” Yuta slaps your side and groans, utterly tired of you. “You and he are going to hold hands, hug and make up or else, say bye-bye to whatever you are feeling because you won’t have an excuse to talk to him after this if you do hate him like you say you do, Miss River,” Yuta’s gaze softens, your frowning face wasn’t something he saw often and he would rather not see it. 

“You make the move now,” he ends, walking away from you with a loud sigh.

six.

Your eyes linger on your tattoo, a blue heron. 

It was last year after camp when Yuta concluded your constant annoyance with Taeyong is because you were secretly in love with him but didn’t want to accept it. Taeyong lives and goes to the same school as you but you still don’t see him much because of your differences and the parties where you catch a glimpse of him, girls all over him and his embarrassed rejection of them, it pissed you off why you thought about so much when you have nothing to do with him. You mind your business, going about your regular school life, taking classes and passing with enough and enjoying the rest of the time goofing around with Yuta, whom you knew separately because your parents work together.

Taeyong is a nobody to you.

“Are you sure you won’t go all kissy monster on him again?” Yuta laughs, driving up to the curb outside the weekend party house. Rolling your eyes, you get off his car and smile, “Of course, I don’t want a tattoo on my precious skin. Especially one that has to do with him,” you inform him, stretching your arms and grinning, “Now let’s get this party started!”

We all know what happened because obviously, you know have a blue heron that represented Lee Taeyong etched on your skin the same way he was etched into your brain. Self-reliance and self-determination, that’s what google said it represents but for you, it spells Taeyong in every stroke of its creation. Sighing, you take your hand down and stare at the top of the tent you set up with Hana and Skipper, who enter the tent with their hands full of snacks and you smile at them, “Some for me?” you bubble, trying to push away your personal feelings and sit up.

“We brought salted chips!” Hana cheers, placing a bowl of potato chips in the centre and you take a bite while saying, “Thank you,”

“I am sad tomorrow is the last day of camp,” Skipper frowns and you awe, pulling her into your side, “You can come back next year,” you comfort her, “I won’t be here but the camp is always good,”

Hana gasps hearing your words and yells, “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah, this is my last year,” you explain, “I might move from here or else, I’ll have to get a job during summer,”

“No way, you are the best group leader ever! I don’t want a new one,” she whines, hugging you and you chuckle, enjoying their flattery, “Oh please, there are better leaders. It’ll be so much fun,” you stress.

You knew you weren’t leader material for one, you picked up your past leaders behaviours and guided your group but you weren’t good at it. It would look good on your resume was your first thought when you applied for it. It was fun though, so you kept being a group leader and even took up being a counsellor. While it wasn’t that much different, it was still the only time you will ever be one. You think the reason your house does well is that the girls are well adjusted and rely on themselves than on you for most of their needs. “It was fun being your group leader,” you smile widely. 

“We had fun too, watching you fight with Taeyong from Heron is always funny,” Hana said, laughing to herself. “Remember when he gave you a flower with a bug on it? It was so smart,” she shakes her shoulders while Skipper cringes, probably mirroring the expression you had on when you got the flower.

“That wasn’t funny when it happened,” you pout, Hana giggles and said, “I saw him crying after you yelled at him,” 

“It was funny when Johnny dragged him away from the front of our cabin,”

“Why did he cry,” you ask out loud and Skipper replies, “Maybe it was an accident. That it had bugs in it,”

Humming at her answer, you know that was probably it but you didn’t give him the chance to explain before you shrieked and yelled I hate you. That probably hurt him for more reason than one now that you know he has liked you since forever. Thinking back to all the hate you gave him, you had to apologize for being this mean to him all this time even when he was trying to get on your good side by helping. It might’ve been pride that kept his actions under your nose all this time but it was definitely the affection he had for you that kept him going all this time because if it were you, you would’ve hated you and avoided you forever unlike him, still clinging onto this childhood crush.

When you think of it, it was a crush that only had three weeks every year to grow and then you went back to being strangers minus the occasional drunk kisses. How did it last this long? There is no possible reason. 

Leaving the girls, you exit the tent and look around searching for the cause of all your inner turmoil as you sit in the dark. His stand-out baggy white tee catches your attention and you trudge towards him, keeping your eyes and you watch his shadows dance on the ground because you were too conscious to meet his gaze and you hesitate, “Um Taeyong,” glancing at him, you flush as his full attention is on you.

“Yeah,” he said, his tone exuding joy. “You called for me?”

“Let’s talk,” you state, you got nothing to lose anyway. All you had to do was make a move and leave yourself defenceless for once—the way he was with you despite the thorns he stabs every time he speaks to you. 

The forest that surrounds Camp Blue Creek is beautiful under the night sky. A galaxy of stars that alight the heat of your body the way it did the blue skies above. The soft sound of trickling water down the creek soothes your racing heart, the feeling of your chest jumping out of your chest that curses you in the presence of Lee Taeyong, who follows you confusedly and you sigh, curious to know what he was thinking but well, you couldn’t read him, you take his hand and pull him down the usual path to his creekside. This time, you take him to your spot. 

You haven’t been here at all this year because you were occupied by both him and Johnny this year. 

“You know, I noticed you have a tattoo,” Taeyong breaks the slice as you quietly sit on the grass beside the river, it was moist but oddly warm. “Is that a heron?” he teases, raising your wrist to inspect the tattoo and rubbing circles over it.

“Yeah, how’d you know?” you bite your lips, locking your eyes with his. “It’s my house, of course, I’d know,” he says in a matter of fact way. His cheeks flustered and you kind of could tell why. 

“I am sorry,” you gulp your nerves, intertwining your fingers together and looking far into the waters. “I am not angry anymore, well, I might be but not the same way as before.” 

Taeyong blinks, watching your fiddle with your hands and he moves closer in front of you, asking, “What is this about?” 

“About you, about me?” you choke out, clearing your throat with a heavy sigh. You are tired of yourself. Rolling your eyes at yourself, you place your hands on your hips and stare into him. “About love, this is about love and well, you know what, I know bullshit about it but I know that you have put up with me because you're in love with me. Did I get that right?” you trail off, Taeyong nodding at your words and you continue. 

“I kiss you at the parties because I can't stop thinking of you even when we don't see each other outside camp. Because I see you with so many girls.” you said, pressing your lips into a thin line and Taeyong smirks, “I kind of could tell because you only ever do it to me,” 

“Also, I honestly hate your guts. For whatever you did as a kid but man, I still feel the same because it was annoying back then, how much I liked you but denied it. Now too but that's not the point,” 

You felt like your heart was going to explode, your face heating up and your body trembling, Taeyong casually taking your hands on his and you biting your tongue, tell yourself to keep going. 

“I liked when you kissed after the rafting, and also when we almost made out at the creek. I am over the moon that I am your first love even though you were stupid then. I don't know how to feel about the sexual awakening but damn, I must've been hot then. I also—” 

Taeyong calls your name in a shaky voice, making your voice crack as you stop speaking. “Do you love me how I love you is what I want to know right now because you are like, tempting me to kiss you,” he sneers, pressing his forehead against yours and you nod, “I am not if this love but maybe, if thinking about you while I am eating, thinking about you when something annoys me when something makes me fluttered, maybe I do like you but I can't tell,” 

“Then, I can guide you to love me. Outside camp, in the real world I think,” he said, “I would really like to know you more,” 

“You are welcome to but now, we leave this here because…”

“Because?” Taeyong echoes, blinking at you.

“I am grossed out that I am doing this with you,” you said, frowning your lips and he giggled, rolling his eyes, “I knew something wasn't right and it was this, you hate me,” he said, smiling eye to eye. 

“Not anymore but it doesn't make it less cringe and gross,” 

seven.

“So are you dating?” Johnny asks, sitting beside you in the mess hall as the house cup points were being counted.

“Nope, Taeyong is getting to know me and I am apparently going to fall in love with him,” you shrug, leaning over your shoulders to watch the C.D nodding his head and swiftly write down the winner as he walks up to the podium and you lace your hands together. You are pretty sure your house did the tent set up the fastest without getting distracted. You wanted that cup and not even Taeyong could take it away from you. 

“Camp Blue Creek!” the C.D bellows, “We are pleased to have the number of you join our camp and it was a blast having you do your summer activities with us. However, with the departure of Ms River of House River, we have decided to close down House River,” he continues and you gasp, springing from your seat and asking, “What does that mean?” 

“Your house is not in the pattern,” he states and you let out a confused noise, “What is the pattern?” you ask.

“House Blue Jay, House Blue Gecko,” he said, “House Blue is the pattern and you are House River, just river,”

“What about House Creek? April!” you said, pointing at your friend and she shakes her head, “No babe, I am House Blue Morpho, it was changed last year,” 

“Pay some attention to your friend would you,” she said, tying her arms and you scoff, “This is unbelievable,”

“Anyway, since House River won by one point and it is no longer, this year’s winner and yet again, HOUSE BLUE HERON!” the C.D announces and you scream, snapping your neck towards the cup and rushing to it. “No, this is mine!” you retaliate and Taeyong watches amusedly, hiding his grin behind his hands.

He always knew you were impulsively prone to embarrass yourself and two days from now, you would regret everything that happened in camp this year. You always did. He knows because while you might not see him outside the camp. He always does. In your natural habitat, with the widest smile, enjoying the presence of your friends and being helpful, less spiteful towards him and your guard down. He knew you past your camp persona and maybe that was why he gave his affection to you with a second guess because still, it was you.

“Fuck you Taeyong, I absolutely hate you. There is no way you are getting that date after we leave here,”

____________________________

The first thing he heard when he landed at the airport was the sound of the cicadas. They were everywhere and it was deafening. But it was so south of France and exotic and he loved it already, his heart busting with excitement. He met the supervisors who told him and the kids who shared the same flight that other participants were to be expected on another flight in a few hours and, in the meantime, they would be taken to their host family. Kurt couldn’t wait to meet them.

His host family lived in a typical south of France house, with ocher roof and light-colored walls, on the hill overlooking the city. They were a middle-aged couple, Marie and Laurent, who had two children, Enzo and Léa, and were very friendly, welcoming Kurt warmly. Their house even had a swimming pool, something Kurt rarely saw in Ohio, with a splendid view on the Mediterranean Sea. Kurt thought he was living a dream.

The mother, Marie, told him he was going to share his bedroom with another boy in his study group and Kurt was both excited and anxious to meet him. What if he was a complete homophobe? Kurt wasn’t planning on divulging anything too personal but his bullying in high school when he wasn’t even out was still a fresh memory in his mind.

He didn’t have to wait for long. Laurent went to pick his roommate up at the airport and he came back forty minutes later, while Marie and the children were getting to know Kurt, asking him several questions, all in French. They spoke a bit of English but Kurt wanted his trip to be as immersive as possible and, he had to admit it, he took pride in his accent when Marie and the children complimented him on it. Laurent joined them on the terrace with the boy and Kurt froze when he saw him.

It was none other than Sebastian Smythe, his former show choir rival and ex-boyfriend.

He must have committed a horrible crime in his past life to have such bad karma. Out of all the participants in the camp and out of all the summer camps offered to young Americans, he had to be travelling with the same agency, at the same dates and to the same destination and have his ex as a roommate? Kurt wanted to cry. He might have been dating Blaine for a few months now, but he was not over Sebastian. Sebastian who was his first everything, his first boyfriend, his first love, his first heartbreak. Things with him had ended quite badly when Sebastian made it clear he wasn’t into long, exclusive and romantic relationship by cheating on him with some name-less guy he hooked up with at Scandals during their junior year. Kurt had since been trying to avoid him at all costs, even transferring back from Dalton to McKinley while Karofsky was still there. The heartbreak was too much and thank god for Rachel and Mercedes who were there to pick up his shattered heart.

He was as handsome as ever, all slender, tanned freckled skin and green eyes, in a striped short-sleeved polo shirt with a popped collar and chino beige shorts, and it made Kurt’s heart ache. Oh, he was so not over him.

Sebastian’s eyes widened and he stood still when he recognized Kurt as well, and awkwardness settled between them. Their host family must had sensed something, because everyone fell silent while Kurt and Sebastian entered a starring contest. It was Marie who broke the silence first after a few tensed seconds.

“Bienvenue, Sebastian!” she said, standing up from her chair to greet him. “Did you have a good trip?”

She went to give him la bise, kissing him in the air once on each cheek and pulling Sebastian out of his trance. Kurt had been taken aback by the familiarity of the gesture but Sebastian kissed Marie like he had made French greetings all his life — and he probably had, he lived in France for a few years, Kurt remembered, and he wondered suddenly why Sebastian would go on a French study vacation if he was already fluent.

After greeting the children, Sebastian went up to Kurt and smirked at him and, god helped him, Kurt wanted nothing more but to rip that smirk off his face.

“Hey, Kurt,” he said. “Long time no see.”

Kurt couldn’t process what he was saying in French and stared dumbfounded at him. No way he was going to spend three weeks of his dream vacation with his ex-boyfriend.

“This can’t be real. I feel like I’m having a fever dream,” he said, his voice shaky.

Sebastian’s smile only widened and Kurt didn’t understand how he could pretend to be so casual about their unexpected reunion. Laurent came up to them and tried to make small talk to break the awkwardness.

“Do you guys know each other?” he asked.

“You could say that,” Sebastian answered, still looking at Kurt with his everlasting smugness.

Kurt finally pulled himself together and shot his best bitch look to Sebastian, not wanting for him to see how much he wrecked him in the past — and still did today — even though he just spent the last minute looking at Sebastian incredulously.

“Yeah, we have a slight history, we went to the same high school at some point,” Kurt said, crossing his arms on his chest.

“Well, that’s great!” Laurent said. “Your supervisors told us you have a group meeting at the beach tonight so that you could get to know the others traveling with you, but you two already know each other! You can share some high school memory!”

Kurt was certain he didn’t want to share some high school memory with Sebastian but didn’t say anything. His dream had suddenly turned into a nightmare. ____________________________

The supervisors had lit a portable barbecue on the beach and provided marshmallows for everyone. Kurt was a bit sad they were not allowed to light a bonfire on the beach but it made sense: causing a wildfire would be a terrible start for the holiday. They were thirty or so kids who decided to ditch the traditional summer camp for a more studious one, and Kurt made small talk with almost everyone, coming from all over the USA.

When he went up to the barbecue to roast his marshmallows, Sebastian chose this moment to talk to him. Kurt had tried to ignore him as best as he could back at the house, given the fact that they were going to share a room for three weeks, but Sebastian was intended on speaking with him.

“You won’t be able to avoid me for the whole trip, Kurt,” he said, roasting his marshmallows next to him.

“What are you even doing here, Sebastian?” he snapped, refusing to look at him. “You are fluent in French.”

“My mom wanted me to do something for the summer before college,” Sebastian answered. “And since sleeping in a tent with no bathroom and doing outdoors stuff is not my cup of tea, I thought, why not go back to France? Nice has awesome gay clubs and they allow you to drink at 18. Wanna come?”

“No, thanks,” Kurt said though gritted teeth.

He didn’t need to see his ex-boyfriend hitting on some handsome French boys. Clearly, unlike him, Sebastian had closure on their relationship.

“Your loss,” Sebastian smirked. “Though I have to admit, I’m quite sad we ended it up last year. You aged like a fine wine. Makes me wonder why I ended it. Heard you’re with Blaine now.”

He had only said five sentences to Kurt since they met again and, yet, he was already on his nerves. Kurt lost it and turned to him, his eyes glazing with anger.

“I ended it because you are a selfish little bitch who thinks with his dick!” he shouted, not caring if someone might hear him. “How could you do that to me?”

“Sorry, babe,” Sebastian said, and he didn’t seem sorry in the least. “But you knew what you were getting into with me. I don’t do romance, remember? I want to know what the world has to offer before I settle.”

“You didn’t have to rub it in my face! I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall in love with you!” Kurt spat.

His confession stopped Sebastian dead in his tracks and he looked at Kurt like he was seeing him for the first time.

“W-what?” he stuttered. “You were in love with me?”

“Like you didn’t know! You’re such an ass, you know that? You haven’t changed a bit, you’re still as irritating, selfish and obnoxious as ever!”

Kurt shot him his best glare but his expression softened when he saw the look of utter shock on Sebastian’s face. He really looked like he was clueless about Kurt’s feelings for him and too caught out by his confession to snark back at him. Kurt prided himself on being able to make Sebastian Smythe shut up every now and then.

“Seriously, Kurt. I didn’t know,” he said, astonished.

“Well, that wouldn’t have changed anything, right?” Kurt mumbled, anger leaving his voice. “Your cold heart wouldn’t care.”

Sebastian seemed hurt, but he didn’t say anything. Kurt huffed and took his marshmallow stick and went off, leaving Sebastian alone by the fire. He rejoined two girls he sympathized with and sat next to them, staring at the sea to forget about Sebastian.