#hourniteweek

Just outside of Blue Valley, apparently this was the go-to place for small town children to be sent for the summer. When Mrs. Woods told him that he should apply, and that it would be good for experience, Rick was sceptical.See the above reasons, obviously. But she was persuasive. That, and she said it paid relatively well. Rick needed to get some more parts for his car, and selling kegs wasn't cutting it. The pay, paired with the idea that he could miraculously escape his not-so-friendly Uncle Matt for an entire summer sold him on the idea. 

So, he went ahead and took the job. And all his worries be damned, he actually somehow managed to have a good time. Sure, there were a few incidents regarding homesick children, as well as Rick’s barely contained urge to strangle some of his fellow counsellors, but all in all it had been a good experience. He spent his days taking his cabin’s kids kayaking, hiking, and his personal favourite, rock climbing. The camp had become his own little paradise away from his hellish home life. He’d made some solid friendships too. Courtney was alright, even if she was a little too annoyingly chatty. And Yolanda had taught him some pretty solid rock climbing and boxing tips. He didn’t care much for Cameron, or Cindy, or Artemis… But that’s alright, he thinks he did pretty well to avoid them anyway. Then there was Beth. 

Rick knows Beth. Much like the rest of the other counsellors, they've gone to school together for years, and whenever he actually bothers to show up to the caf for lunch he always sits at her table. She spends her lunch breaks video chatting with her parents, and is by every definition of the word, a total nerd. Another (less important, in Rick's opinion) fact about Beth Chapel is that Rick has an embarrassingly large crush on her. He's not sure when it developed. Probably somewhere around the time she offered to lend him her English notes because he'd skipped class again, and when he offhandedly told her she'd made a small grammar mistake she called him her “new best friend!”

 Rick wasn't sure how many 'new best friends' Beth had, but he did know that as soon as she said that he felt a flutter in his chest that meant something bad. It meant he was feeling things, and the last thing he needed was to feel things. See, Beth is everything Rick isn't. She's sweet, and kind, and smart, and a goody two shoes. 

She's perfect. 

Which is why spending an entire summer with her wasn’t ideal. He couldn’t have Beth finding out how much of a self-proclaimed asshole he was when he wasn’t around her. Being around kids helped him reign in any temperamental issues, but he still worried that one misstep would lead to disaster. What if he accidentally swore around a kid, or broke a canoe paddle, or not-so-accidentally tripped Cindy when she was walking by his cabin… The list went on and on. Yeah, he was glad to be free of this place. 

Except, as per usual, there was another problem. Apparently he had been informed at the start of camp (he stands by the apparently because he had no memory of being told this) that there was an end-of-summer tradition. 

Yesterday evening Cameron marched into their shared cabin and said:

“Hey Rick, excited for the counsellor day tomorrow?” In that stupid deep monotonous voice of his, as if it made the most sense in the world. 

Of course, Rick had no idea what he was talking about. He said as much. Cameron stared at him for a few seconds, followed by,

“Don’t you remember from the debriefing? After the kids are gone  we get one day to ourselves to chill at the camp alone. They do it every year. It’s pretty dope.”

To Rick that really sounded the opposite of dope. Despite his enjoyment of the previous days of summer, this sounded like a nightmare. Rick didn’t like most of the other counsellors. He didn’t want to spend a day chilling with them. He wanted to take his newly earned cash, go home, fix his car, and go back to his life of avoiding Matt and skipping school. That was what sounded dope to Rick. 

Given the situation, Rick decided he had to take matters into his own hands. He absolutely would not be taking part in this ‘counsellor’ day, so he had to come up with a way to dodge it. He was relatively good at skipping school, so surely this would be a breeze. His solution to the problem was as follows: Simply stay inside all day until nightfall, and then go to sleep and in the morning he could wake up and this would all be over. The plan was foolproof, at least in Rick’s eyes. 

Unfortunately he didn’t account for the fact that every single person at camp knew where his cabin was. So, as he’s reclining in his bunk, taking that moment to breathe, he’s unceremoniously interrupted by a knock on the door. He jolts up, eyeing the window. It’s fine. As long as he stays quiet, they won’t know he’s in here.

Another knock, followed by the sound of Courtney’s voice yelling;

“Rick, we know you’re in there!”

Ah. Shit. 

“Leave me alone. I’m uh, napping.”

“It’s 12 P.M. You don’t need to nap. We know you’re avoiding us. Get out here!”

So much for a day of quiet avoidance and relaxation. 

Reluctantly Rick makes his way over to the door, opening it slowly to peer out at his assailants. Courtney, Yolanda, and Artemis all wait expectantly. Thankfully Beth isn’t present, so he doesn’t feel too bad about saying:

“Leave me alone. They said we had a day of camp to ourselves. I’ve selected my day as a day of relaxing alone away from everyone else. Is that too much to ask for?”

“Yes.” Courtney says, and Yolanda and Artemis both nod as if to further prove her point.

“C’mon Rick, don’t you wanna hang out with everyone? I mean we spent so much time with the kids we don’t even know each other! You don’t wanna join in on a bonding experience?” Yolanda offers.

“Respectfully, no.” Rick huffs, beginning to close the door.

Artemis chimes in, “We’re about to go on a group hike!”

“Sounds like a chance to get bitten by even more mosquitos.” 

The door closes a little more.

The girls all seem to debate for a moment, glancing at one another, before Courtney finally says, 

“There’s gonna be truth or dare at the campfire tonight. It could be your chance to finally kiss Beth!” 

Rick debates for a moment between slamming the door, ripping his eyes from his skull in utter embarrassment, or yelling at Courtney. He decides on the latter.

“I told you already, I don’t have a crush on her!” 

That just makes the opposing trio laugh, much to Rick’s annoyance.

“Everyone knows you two like each other, Rick. If me and Cam can get together over summer camp, why can’t you and Beth?” Courtney tries, gesturing to herself with a smile.

Yes it’s true. Apparently being counsellors together had kindled something between Cameron and Courtney, and by week three of camp they were the talk-of-the-camp couple. It was annoyingly sweet to see them taking care of campers hand in hand like parents of a very large crowd of unruly children. But that was them. Rick was a strictly no-relationship, live-alone-until-I-die kind of person. He didn’t do summer romance. He didn’t do romance at all. Which is why, instead of saying anything to Courtney, his next course of action was to close the door. 

“I’m staying inside. I’ve had enough camp activities over the last two months to last me a lifetime, so go off on your hike and leave me be.”

“You can’t stay in there forever you know!” Yolanda shouts, to which Rick responds

“Not forever! Just until tomorrow morning when the bus comes to take us home!” before flopping back onto his bunk with a contented sigh. 

Yes, he thinks to himself. I handled that perfectly.

For the majority of the rest of the day Rick is uninterrupted. He has no signal, so he spends his time playing stupid offline games on his phone, listening to music, and boredly colouring in a book that one of the campers left behind. Was his ideal day listening to The Black Keys while colouring in pictures of puppies and kittens? No, absolutely not, but it was better than social interaction. He had to do something to keep his mind busy or else it would wander. He’d wonder where Beth was, if she was having fun without him, if he was missing out on something important, or if anyone even noticed he was missing. He shakes his head and reaches for the box of pencil crayons. No, he was supposed to want to stay here alone and away from everyone else, and not have any stupid fear of missing out. They were fine without Rick, and he was fine with that because he’s a loner. Always has been. But then, as he sits, boredly scribbling orange onto a picture of a cartoon cat in a flower field, there’s another knock on the door. 

It seems the forces that be want to disprove Rick’s loner philosophy. He makes the executive decision that won’t let them win. 

“I already told you, I’m spending the day alone here Courtney. Let me colour in my Lisa Frank in peace!” He shouts, refusing to even bother opening the door.

There’s a long pause, and he thinks he’s scared Courtney off. Just as he settles in to return to his bored colouring, a voice pipes up.

“I’m sorry, what?”

It’s Beth.

It’s Beth.

Oh no.

Rick takes a moment to bury his head in his hands in complete and utter despair, as he realises what he’s just said. Slowly he stands, and like a walk of shame makes his way to the door. He opens it to see Beth standing there, smiling like today is the greatest day ever, which it clearly is not.

“Did you just say you were colouring in a Lisa Frank colouring book?” She asks, attempting to peer behind him to catch a glimpse of his colouring masterpiece. “If I say yes, will you promise not to say anything to Cindy? Because if she knows then the whole school will know when we get back and I’ll never live it down.”

“Why would I tell her? She likes me just about as much as she likes you, even though I’ve tried to be her friend a million times over.”

“Solid point.” 

There’s a moment of silence which Rick can’t quite decide is awkward, or if it’s just Beth being amused.

“So, uh, why are you here?” Rick breaks the silence, rocking on his heels. “Oh! Courtney told me that you were staying in here, which I totally get, a whole summer of interaction is a lot… But it’s getting late and I don’t know if you had lunch? They’re starting dinner on the campfire so I thought I should check in and see if you needed me to grab you something to eat. I didn’t want you to starve.”

Rick just about melts at Beth’s concern. She went out of her way to worry about him. He thinks his heart is about to explode.

“It’s alright, I guess I can head down there to go grab something. I don’t know if I’ll stay though.” Beth’s eyes light up instantly.

“Yeah! We should probably head down soon, you know how quickly Artemis can eat fire-roasted hotdogs. If she gets her hands on them there probably won’t be any left for us.”

Rick laughs at that, closing his door behind him. She’s right. When it comes to campfire food, Artemis is an unstoppable force, and he would really like to eat something. He hadn’t realised how hungry he’d been feeling until now. 

“We can go now, don’t worry. I’m sure Lisa Frank can wait.” He assures Beth, and she grins. With that they both head down the path towards the fire together, making a variety of stupid Lisa Frank enduced jokes as they go.

Rick hears the fire before he sees it, the dull chatter of his fellow counsellors paired with the crackling of burning wood giving away that it was just around the bend. As he and Beth turn the corner, the entire group looks at them. It really is just the counsellors. He had expected the camp leader, Sylvester, to be at least supervising them. Then again, he wasn’t the most responsible camp owner in the first place.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Cindy crows from her spot beside Artemis.

Courtney and Yolanda wave, Cameron vaguely nods in their direction, and Artemis doesn’t look up from where she’s busy cooking hotdogs over the fire. Rick shoots them a vague peace sign instead of a wave, as he and Beth settle onto one of the log seats around the fire. He tells himself that he’s just going to stay for food and then leave, but he knows that’s not true. Beth is already chatting with Courtney excitedly, and he can’t help but listen and chime into the conversation where he can. It’s not because he enjoys being around these people, it’s just because he’s trying not to seem awkward. At least that’s what he keeps telling himself.

The evening wears on, and Rick keeps desperately searching for a reason to leave. Every time he tries, Beth starts a new conversation with him, or glances over to him in a way that makes his heart feel a way it has no right to feel. He knows that this is so stupid, that he should just go, but he can’t bring himself to. Instead he keeps chatting idly, eating hot dogs and marshmallows, and refusing to admit that he’s actually enjoying himself. The campfires with kids had been fun, but spending your time making sure campers didn’t throw themselves into a firepit is a completely different experience compared to being at a campfire with people you (mostly) actually enjoy. He’s onto his third marshmallow when Artemis yells over the group chatter to ask,

“You guys want me to tell a scary story?”

There’s a resounding chorus of No’s, nope’s, and no thank you’s. Artemis’ scary stories are notoriously bad, despite the fact that she seems to believe they’re the best thing since sliced bread. The one time Rick was put on Campfire duty with her and she told a story, it hadn’t been about ghosts, or ghouls, or monsters. It was about her losing a football game. Horrific to her, sure, but entirely boring for the rest of the camp who had been expecting something more supernatural in nature. 

“How about, instead of scary stories, we get around to that game of truth or dare?” Cindy asks, eyes alight with mischief. Cindy is Rick’s least favourite of all the other counsellors. He’s about 90% sure all the others, bar Artemis, feel the same way as he does. How she got a summer job dealing with children is truly beyond him. She’s self-centred, conniving, and all around just the worst person( (In his personal opinion at least). So, upon hearing her offer to start the game of truth or dare, Rick makes the executive decision to leave. He shuffles on the bench, getting ready to stand. Stupid party games were never his thing anyway, so he wouldn’t miss out on much. 

Then he looks over to Beth. She seems just as unsure, glancing around as if looking for an escape route. With a deep breath, he decides to act.

“You wanna head out? Truth or dare isn’t really my thing.” He asks Beth quietly, leaning over to her so that the others don’t hear. She looks over to him in surprise, but her features are laced with a look of gratitude.

“Yeah, I’m not the biggest fan of it either. I’d rather skip out.” She whispers back, and Rick nods at the confirmation.

“Right well, you guys go ahead with your games. Beth and I are going.” Rick tells the others, already standing, and offering Beth a hand to help her up.

“Oh c’mon! We’re just getting to the fun bit!” Courtney cries out.

Yolanda elbows her with a look Rick can’t quite decipher, but whatever it is, it shuts Courtney up as she returns to whatever quiet talk she’d been having with Cameron. Rick glares around the fire, looking for anyone else who might dispute, but nobody says a word. Artemis throws him a thumbs up, which worries him slightly, but otherwise the group seems preoccupied. Cindy shoots him a glance that looks somewhere between malice and almost… like she’s proud of him? But he shelves that for later as he leads Beth away from the fire.

As the noise from the campfire fades into the distance, Rick finds himself wondering what to do now. He’s alone with Beth, navigating a trail in the dimming light. It’s not fully dark yet, but it’s getting pretty close, so he grabs his phone and turns on the flashlight. 

“So where to?” He asks, and Beth glances over his way.

“I’m not sure, actually. I just didn’t feel like watching Artemis light herself on fire again.”

“Again?”

“Oh! I forgot you weren’t here last year. Last year, it was the same deal. We did truth or dare, and Artemis tried to jump the firepit. She tripped over a rock and lit her hair on fire.” Beth explains, glancing back nervously towards the fire.

“That explains that weird start of school haircut she got last year. I wish I was there to see that, it sounds like something else.” Rick chuckles to himself.

“Meh, it wasn’t as grand as it sounds. Just a lot of screaming and jumping into the lake. Funny looking back at it, but stressful in the moment.” Beth explains with a shrug.

They walk a little further, just sort of enjoying each other's company as the sounds of crickets fill the silence. 

“Do you wanna go to the Star Field? It’s kinda my favourite place to go, I’d like to visit one last time before we leave.” Beth blurts out suddenly, startling Rick a little. 

The Star Field is the place for stargazing at the camp. Campers get to bring out telescopes, set them up, and watch the constellations. It’s one of the more isolated and peaceful locations at camp, and Rick totally understands why Beth likes it so much.

“Yeah, sure. That sounds nice.” That sounds nice?? What kind of stupid answer is that?? Rick cringes at his response, but he tries his best not to show it. They chat idly the rest of the walk, as Rick tries desperately not to think too hard about the fact that he’s alone with Beth, going to what may possibly be the most romantic spot at camp.

It takes them a while, but finally they reach the top of the hill that leads them to the Star Field. Tonight the field is aglow with fireflies, flitting around the grass in the dim light. The telescope shed is locked, so the pair decide just to relax for a while. Neither of them are keen to lay on the grass, so Rick takes off his jacket and places it down like a blanket. It’s a small space so they have to lay close, arms pressed against each other as they stare at the night sky. 

“I don’t think I ever want to leave here.” Beth sighs, eyes scanning the stars.

“I wish I could say the same, but I think I’m ready to go home. Despite everything, I just want to eat a pizza pocket and sleep on a semi comfortable mattress. No offence.” Rick admits, his arms crossed across his chest in an attempt to stay warm in the cooling air.

“None taken, it’s alright, I totally get it. I haven’t had a pizza pocket in years though, so I don’t know about that one.”

“In years!? What kind of life have you been living Beth?” He gasps in feigned surprise.

“A healthy one.” Beth retorts and they both laugh, glancing at each other, their faces plastered with grins. Rick immediately notices how close they are, and he quickly returns to looking at the stars to avoid the awkwardness of the close proximity. 

“So, once you’re out of camp what’s the plan? I mean I know we go back to school in like a week, but is there anything else? Any big plans?” Beth asks as she points to the sky, tracking constellations with her fingers.

“Not really. I’m just using the money from camp to fix my car. That’s all I got.” Rick explains with as much of a shrug as he can give while laying down. Beth lowers her arms, and he sees her glance over at him from his peripheral vision.

“Your family doesn’t help you pay for that?” She asks as Rick bitterly laughs, shaking his head.

“I live with my uncle. He couldn’t care less about what happens to me, much less my car. I’m kinda on my own.”

“Is that why you took the job at the camp?”

“More or less. I get money and get away from him. It’s a win win.”

Beth goes quiet for a moment, then says;

“I’m sorry.”

Now it’s Rick’s turn to glance her way, shooting her a quizzical look.

“For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“I don’t know, not ever talking to you I guess. I mean, I know you from school but I never really got to know you. Being at camp with you has really let me understand you better. You’re a really good person. I’m just happy that this camp gave us the chance to get closer.” She admits.

“Oh.” Rick says, unable to muster anything else

“Oh?” Beth parrots back, tipping her head in a way that Rick thinks is absolutely too adorable.

“I don’t know. Nobody’s really ever said anything like that to me before. Oh is the best response I’ve got.” He explains, rubbing at his arms nervously.

That makes Beth laugh, and she rolls onto her side so she can face him. Rick takes a moment to debate before doing the same. 

They’re inches away from each other, eyes locked.

“I really like you, you know.” She admits.

“Yeah, I mean you kinda already said that, with the whole ‘you’re a good person’ thing”

He doesn’t want to assume.

“No I mean… Like you. Like, over the summer I’ve seen a side of you that I haven’t really seen before, and it made me fall a little bit in love.”

Love. That’s a big word.

“Oh.”

“Would you stop saying oh!” She pokes him playfully, but he can tell there’s worry in her eyes. Concern that he doesn’t feel the same. 

“I’m sorry! It’s just… are you sure? That you feel uh, that way about me, I mean.” He tries, but Beth immediately cuts off his train of self-doubt.

“Yes Rick, I’m sure. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same but-”

“NO! No, I do! I do feel the same. I just don’t understand how someone like you, the perfect camp counsellor role model could like me, the guy who’s just here ‘cause he kinda has to be.” Rick says, running a hand through his hair.

Beth looks at him like she’s genuinely offended, wrinkling her nose and shaking her head.

“Rick, have you seen yourself at this camp? The kids loved you! You were the ‘cool guy’ counsellor. You have no idea how many of those kids wanted a male counsellor they could actually hold a conversation with. Cam is great but he’s also got the conversational ability of a wet sponge.”

“And I don’t?” Rick retorts, though he’s half joking.

“No! I didn't even know you didn’t want to be here. It was like watching you become an instant big brother to the entire camp. I’d never seen you like that before. Did you know Nathan wouldn’t even touch the high ropes course last year? The kid was terrified of heights as far as we could all tell.” Beth tells him, and Rick is genuinely shocked.

“Are we thinking of the same Nathan? Because the kid I’m thinking of was a whiz at rock climbing, and the high ropes.” He asks, just to make sure. “Yes, because you inspired him! He saw you teaching the other kids on the rock climbing wall, and decided he wanted to be as cool as you.”

“Well clearly he doesn’t know me. I’m not that cool.”

“Maybe you think that, but to everyone else you’re incredible, Rick.”

“Beth, I was hiding in a cabin colouring in pictures of small animals like, four hours ago. Your definition of incredible may be skewed.”

“I think that just gives you more character.” Beth counters.

Rick sighs, but he can’t help but smile. Beth really does see the best in everyone. 

There’s a pause as they lay there, faces close, both smiling softly. Rick can feel his heart beating in his throat as he looks at her, and at that moment he knows that she’s the most beautiful thing in the world. And then Beth’s hands are on his face, and she’s kissing him. It’s so careful, like she’s trying not to scare him away. She doesn’t know it, but she could never scare Rick, no matter how hard she tries.

They lay like that for a while. Under the stars, Beth snuggled into his side and his arm around her as she talks to him about what constellations they can see. Rick listens, taking in as much information as he can. The other half of his brain is completely in shock, however. Had he not gone to this camp, had he not tried his stupid cabin plan, had he not asked Beth if she wanted to leave the campfire, had he not done any of that, he wouldn’t be here. It was so viscerally strange to him, and yet it all made sense. It was like a puzzle all coming together in his mind to tell him yes, you took all the right steps, you made all the right choices, and now you get to be happy. You get to feel at home. 

Even when they hear the shouting from the campfire that indicates, yes indeed Artemis has set herself on fire again, Rick can’t stop smiling. He’s also rightfully concerned of course, but that’s not what’s important. What’s important is that he’s holding Beth’s hand as they try not to laugh, rushing down the trail to the fire to see what’s happened.