Vanessa

The day of the camping trip had arrived. I sprung out of bed as soon as the clock flashed seven o'clock and the buzz that I used to find so annoying resounded in my ears. Now, it just sounded like a symphony playing the ballad of love.

Barely able to contain my excitement, I rushed through my morning routine. I hopped around in the front hall struggling to get my boots on before flying out the door, not even bothering to stop for breakfast much to my mother's disapproval as she chided me about needing to eat plenty of eggs if I wanted to be strong and healthy. I was too nervous to eat anyways. I was determined to win Matt back this weekend and no amount of omelets would convince him to give me another chance.

Outside on the sidewalk, I shifted from foot to foot as I waited for Addison to come to pick me up. I would kill her if her notoriety for being late caused us to miss the busses that would take us to the campground. No sooner had her silver jeep come racing up the quiet, early morning street to the thumping sounds of BTS drifting from the open roof, did I whip open the passenger side door and slide in.

Feeling giddy, I sang along to the songs with her throwing my hands up in the air and laughing as the wind caressed my fingers.

She slid a sideways glance at me, pushing up her sunglasses to keep her wild strands of wind-blown hair from getting into her eyes. "You're in a good mood today."

Smiling, I reached over and booped her on the nose. "And why shouldn't I be? The sun's shining, today is senior class trip, and tonight Matt and I are finally going to make out beneath the stars."

Addison made no effort to hide her exaggerated eye roll. "Here we go again," she muttered under her breath. "V, you always say that and then you do something to make it super awkward for all of us. I'm either going to need you to keep good on your word this time or move on."

Ignoring her, I gathered my hair up into a high ponytail and resumed my singing. Not even Addison's negativity could rain on my parade today.

When we finally arrived at the school, the senior class was milling about on the sidewalks and lawn waiting for the buses to come pick us up. Matt hadn't arrived yet and Addison's boyfriend Jeff had gone to use the bathroom so it was just the two of us bidding our time on the curb.

"Are you ok sitting with Matt?" Addison had her eyes closed and her head tilted up towards the sun, enjoying the last rays of summer. She cracked one eye open and looked over at me. "Because I could totally ditch Jeff and sit with you instead if you aren't."

I grinned. "I appreciate that Addie but don't cause trouble with your boyfriend just for me." She began to open her mouth but I held up my hand, cutting her off. "Besides, I'm kind of looking forward to getting Matt alone again."

She arched an eyebrow at me. "You're still on that nonsense? V, you're not going to do anything with him and you know it."

I ran my fingers down my legs wincing at my second day prickles. Note to self; don't let Matt's hands wander past the waist when hooking up later tonight. "Ah, Addie but that's where you are wrong. This time will be different. I figured out why I could never make a move before. It was because I didn't have a plan but now I do."

Addison smirked as she rubbed her hands together. "This is going to be good. Do tell what this no doubt fool proof plan of yours is."

Smiling, I continued. "Oh, you mean the one where I get him alone down at the lake and seduce him beneath the stars?"

My so-called best friend actually had the audacity to immediately burst out laughing but at least had the good sense to abruptly clamp her mouth shut when she saw I wasn't joking. "Oh. You're serious. Now see V, I would like to believe you but you don't even have the guts to seduce a potato. No way are you going to have the courage to just throw yourself at the sexiest guy in the senior class. "

"Have a little faith in me, Addie" I said pouting my lips and crossing my arms. "I've matured and am no longer the timid child I used to be." I straightened out my back, sticking out my chest and lifting my chin. "I'm a woman now," I continued, making my voice sound deeper.

Addison stood as the buses began to pull into the parking lot. She reached for both my hands, helping me up. "Well, you can start charming him with your womanly wiles right now because here he comes." She nodded in the direction of Matt jogging up the sidewalk.

I followed her gaze and then immediately turned back, giving her a panicked look and shrinking into the grass. She was right. I was all talk. I couldn't do this. To think, I had actually almost convinced myself that I could be that bold.

Addison gave me a thumbs-up as Matt approached and not so gently nudged me towards him causing me to nearly stumble into him. "Sup?" She asked nodding at him.

"I overslept and almost missed the bus, that's what's up," he replied panting.

"Well, I hope you're good and rested now because you're probably going to be up all night." Addison grabbed her bag off the ground, throwing a wink in my direction.

I elbowed her in the side. "She just means there's supposed to be a really beautiful meteor shower tonight." God, could Addison be any more embarrassing and obvious?

"Cool. Maybe we can all go check it out," he replied getting in line with us for the bus.

"Yea, totally." I grabbed my sunglasses off my head, attempting to put them on nonchalantly but instead missed and poked myself in the eye with the earpiece. "Ow."

Matt tried to stifle a laugh. "You ok? Careful, now. You're going to need those eyes if you want to see the stars. Here, let me help you with that." He gently took the sunglasses from my hands placing them on my face.

"There. That should do it." He grinned at me, his gaze lingering for just a second too long. His steel grey irises were so beautiful I could have banged my head repeatedly against the wall for ever rejecting him.

Addison rolled her eyes. "Will you two stop making eyes at each other and get on the bus already?" She turned around and marched up the steps casually calling over her shoulder, "By the way, I'm sitting with Jeff so you two are stuck with each other but that shouldn't be a problem since you can't seem to stop staring at one another anyways."

Matt and I both flushed a deep shade of crimson at that one. Leave it to Addison to always make things ten times more awkward than they already were. We both started up the stairs at the same time, bumping into each other.

"Oof." Matt let out a nervous laugh. "After you," he said holding his hand out to let me pass.

"Thanks." I made my way down the aisle plopping myself into the first available seat. Things were off to a rocky start. How was I supposed to seduce Matt if I couldn't stop acting like a bumbling idiot?

***

Matt

I felt the tension inside of me slowly melt away as the bus neared the campground. I was worried that Vanessa would be rigid and distant towards me during the ride, especially after our uncomfortable morning but as the minutes ticked away, she became more and more relaxed and chatty.

I even found myself smiling as she spoke. I missed having her around and even though she rejected me, it felt like old times with her sitting here right next to me. She was talking about a book she had been reading, animatedly gesturing as she got to her favorite part.

"So then, she came back to her hometown and realized that he had actually built her dream house. Isn't that so romantic?" She sighed dreamily.

It was. But I could think of something more romantic; her lying on a blanket on the sandy shores of the lake, her hair splayed all around her. She would be looking up at me with those big brown eyes of hers. As I hovered my body over her I would whisper "Are you sure?" She would nod her consent and we would give ourselves to each other right then and there beneath the glow of the moon.

I shook my head, clearing the image from my mind and coming back to reality. That's not going to happen, Matt and you know it. She had made sure of it. I could feel the tension returning to my shoulders. Maybe this weekend wasn't going to be as care-free and fun as I had originally thought.

***