Glowy POV

I wake up to a shrill whistle, again. God, it's so annoying. I can also hear Daniel talking. That, too, is annoying.

I get up and don't need to get dressed. Unfortunately, I still only have my summer dress, and it's nearing November. My birthday would be soon enough. Clove's birthday was yesterday. I think of all the birthdays I had at home. I made it so long...

I stumble out of the barn with everyone else. Daniel decides that this is a good time to talk to me.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"You're pretty, that's all."

"I'm not telling you."

"Okay, I'll just find out at role call today. I'm Daniel," he says.

"You told me," I reply, "Six times."

I walk ahead. I see Clove's barn, and Layla's house. I think of them, how much chemistry they had last night. I don't hate her anymore. Because I saw how much Clove loved her. I saw how much they cared about each other.

"Oh, hey," says a mysterious figure, "Ya dropped this."

"Oh, thanks," I say, taking back my notebook.

"No problem," they say.

"Uh, what's your name?"

"I'm Valen," they reply.

"Glowianna," I was far enough out of Daniel's earshot to say it, "Glowy for short."

"You're the first person I've talked to in a while, Glowy."

"Hey," says Daniel suddenly. Had he caught up to us?

"Valen," he says, "Are you a boy or a girl?"

"Even though I've said this several times, fine. Gender's dumb," Valen replies, "I'm neither."

I suddenly thought Valen would really like Clove.

"You'd like my volunteer friend," I say.

"I would?"

"Yeah. Her name's Clove. She likes Layla, the farm girl. They were together at the dance a few weeks back, did you see?"

"I did see," Valen replies, "It's nice to know they weren't faking it. I didn't know who she was."

"Yeah," I say.

"That dude over there, he's annoying. I'm sorry for you," says Valen.

"Totally. And thank you."

Did I just make my first redhead friend?

Layla POV

I can't sleep.

Not that I don't want to, I totally do..

I just can't seem to do it.

It might be because of Clove.

I mean. I do think of her every 4 seconds, ever since the dance. I'm just glad that school's on break for now, otherwise I'd never be able to possibly pay attention.

Unless she went with me. I don't want to put her in danger though. Plus, I think she already did.

My 9:00 alarm rings. I pretend I've been asleep all this time. I put on my most real fake yawn I possibly can.

My parents seem to believe it.

"Hey Layla, I didn't see you at all these few weeks, been too busy with business," says my dad, "How was the dance?"

"She had a date," my mom says.

"With who?!"

I look at my mom, she nods, then I lie, "Just some guy. He asked me."

I eat my cereal and watch as my parents discuss the daily news.

"It's nothing special, really," says my mom.

"Layla, you should go boss around the other redhead children," says dad, "speaking of not special."

I didn't bother to tell him that I befriended a redhead.

I leave to go take roll.

Roll is basically only taken because of the fact that some could have died, or sick. We have to do it with the volunteers too. I'm in charge of both.

I go to the redheads last, not knowing I'd regret it...

Clove POV

"Good morning, volunteers, now let's take attendance!"

Layla was taking roll as usual. No offense, but it's dull, even if I liked Layla as much as my mind chose to.

"Clove Hardich-Bradwell!" She says this name with extra cheer.

I raise my hand.

"It's just Hardich," I say.

"Alright, sorry, Clove Hardich." She crosses off 'Bradwell'.

"Here."

I talk to Rikari. I then look over at the redheads, hoping for a glimpse of Glowy, and I see her.

With another redhead.

I was happy she made friends with someone else. I hope her friend would sit with us at lunch.

I continue to talk to Rikari. She was all I wanted to talk to, as attendance droned on and on.

Then Layla walks over to the redheads, and excuse my language, but all hell broke loose.

"Did you hear she's gay, she danced with a girl at the dance a few weeks back," says Chase, laughing, "And that Clove girl is too."

"Leave her alone," Rikari mumbles.

"What'd you say," says Chase, "She's too scared to say it, what a baby.."

"LEAVE. HER. ALONE," she says louder. She then punches Chase in the face.

"Ow! What'd you do that for, you little punk," says Chase. His nose is bleeding.

They fight after that, Rikari clearly having the upper hand while Chase was struggling.

The head farmer walks up. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

"To the kitchens, right now," he orders, "Chase Maslin and Rikari Thompson, if this happens again I will deem you worthless."

I wasn't supposed to hear that. Everyone is ahead of me.

"You can't do that," I speak up.

"You'd be surprised by the things I can do, little girl," he says.

"Don't call me a little girl," I say.

"Say a word, and you will be, too."

Not a single soul spoke. Not even the birds were singing. Not even the redheads spoke. I swear to God, I'd never heard silence like this ever, and the meeting with Layla wasn't even that long ago.

"All of you may go," he says.

We all exhale. I run over to Rikari.

"That was terrifying," I say, "Thank you for defending me."

"It was nothing," she says, "Anything for a friend, right?"

We walk over to the dinner hall to begin cooking. Rikari's in charge of the green beans (again) but this time, I was able to help her, so they wouldn't stink!

"This time, let's not make them disgusting," I say.

Rikari laughs for the first time this morning. We make the green beans and enjoy ourselves. I sense Layla at the window. She gets special food, since she's the farmer's daughter. No matter how much I liked her, that still irks me.

She sees me and waves. I nonchalantly wave back.. not knowing what was about to happen.

Daniel POV

I was always treated rough as a child, and I'm still treated rough now. The one girl, who I have figured out is named Glowy Kitsworth, is especially not fond of me. You can keep it hidden, but I'll still know.

I just continue working. This time I'm not the one with the hose, Glowy is. I keep hoping she'll look up at me, but no go. She is focused on watering the grass.

I look over at Glowy's new friend, Valen. Valen isn't a girl or a guy apparently, which is kinda weird. She has red short curly hair. It's pretty.

Glowy is very beautiful. I think I have a crush on her, but like every other person, she will reject me. I don't seem to know how to leave people alone. I feel like that's why I'm so lonely all the time...

I continue to scrape the rake and rake the leaves. When all of a sudden I hit Glowy!

"Ow," she says, "OW! WHY'D YOU HIT ME??"

She already has ugly marks all over her beautiful head. And I can't help but to hang my head and cry.

Glowy POV

Well, I mean, if I did benefit from Daniel's accident with the rake at all, I am now completely awake. But I probably would be for the next 5 days on end.

I run away— and I find myself running toward Valen.

"Girl, you okay," they ask, "You look like you just ran into something."

"Daniel hit me with the rake," I say, wincing.

"Oh, ouch," they say, "I'll take you to the main station. The medic office is way too far."

Valen walks me over to the main hall—which is also part nurses office, and also where we eat our food. Layla greets me.

"Oh my god what happened," Layla asks, "And what's your name?"

She pointed that at Valen.

Valen replies, "Valen Davis. Glowy here got hit with the rake."

"I'm gonna kill him," I mutter.

Valen POV

I study Layla— the girl fixing up the only person that's talked to me in years. I wonder if I'll sit with Glowy at lunch. I hoped so, but secretly.

"She should be at least a little better," she says, handing her off to me.

"Thank you," I reply.

"Hey, do you wanna sit with us at lunch today? Of course, if it's OK with everyone," Glowy asks.

"Of course," I say, "What, did you think I'd say no?"

"Maybe," she says, and we both laugh.

"So what are the people you sit with like," I ask. I wanted her to start talking.

She replies, "Okay, so Clove. She's kinda mean, but nice once she gets to know you. Rikari has a lot of energy but is super weird, nice and funny. And Layla is super nice.. just bossy and rich as well. I'm sure you know her."

"They sound like interesting people," I say.

Truth is, I wasn't too good at this friends thing. I just told her she was the first person to talk to me at camp. Really, she's the first person outside my house to talk to me for 10 years.. and considering I've been at this camp for 8, that says a lot.

Rikari POV

I sit down at the table with Clove as we patiently wait for Glowy and Layla. All of a sudden Clove jolts up. It wasn't Layla she was so nervous about seeing, and it definitely wasn't Glowy.

I saw Layla's mother. And she had an announcement to make. I gulp, and I see Glowy walk in with another person, both redheads and both confused.

"It has been brought into my attention that Rikari Thompson is fighting people, and that there are also couples around here. Layla is the only one allowed to date anyone here, and Rikari, please come with me."

She didn't even pronounce my name right.

Where was I going?

Why was I being pulled away?

"Fighting is a crime here, miss Rikari," she says, "So we are going to move you to a different barn."

She stops at a barn that's abandoned.

"Welcome to jail, you'll be here for a week," she says.

"A week," I panic, "But I was defending someone!"

"Defending who," she asks, alert.

"Clove," I breathe, "Clove Hardich."

"Your stay has been reduced to 2 days," she says.

That was a little better.

I was thrown into a dark cell, and locked inside.

"This is what must be done, Rikari," her mom explains, "While I would like to let you free, my husband has expressed I cannot do everything for Layla."

I knew what she was talking about.

"I know your friend that you defended is dating, or close to at least, my Layla," she says, "And I'm sorry you can't be free."

She was on my side in this?

Then, she leaves me in the cold, hard cell. With only myself and my thoughts. How I hated it the most.

Clove POV

It's been a while since Rikari left.

"Where do you think she is," I ask worriedly to Glowy. We'd already gotten our food, but Layla and Glowy's new friend were still in line.

"I've heard rumors about a jail here," Glowy admits to me.

"Oh god, Rikari would be thrown in instantly," I say, "I hope those rumors aren't true.."

Glowy's new friend sits down next to her.

"Hello," her friend says, "I'm Valen. You're Clove, yes? Or are you Rikari?"

"No, I am Clove, Rikari just got taken," I reply, "Nice to meet you, Valen."

"Thank you," she says, "Also, I don't identify as a boy or a girl."

"Oh, I'm sorry for assuming so," I reply.

Mental note.

Layla walks to the table.

"Hey, after you eat, I need you to meet me near the lake," she says to me, and then walks off.

Huh. Strange.

I eat and talk to Valen and Glowy, laughing about dumb things. Apparently some boy hit Glowy with a rake, and now her face was all bruised.

Then, all of a sudden the conversation hits a new light because I tell everyone about Rikari sticking up for me, and fighting Chase.

"Oh my god," Glowy says.

"So that's why she's been gone," Valen says.

"Yeah," I say, "I'm really worried about her."

"I'm worried about Layla asking you to meet her at the lake," Glowy admits, "She seems sketchy."

"She's the farmers daughter," Valen comments, "She's not gonna murder Clove. That's sketchy."

I laugh at that comment, and then Glowy laughs, and finally, Valen laughs. I finish all my food and throw my plate in the sink.

"I'm gonna go see what's up with Layla," I say.

"Good luck," they say in unison.

I nervously walk over to the lake. I wondered about Rikari, still on edge about her sudden disappearance.

I see Layla at the lake, and I walk over a little faster. I wanted to see what she wanted.

I was never going to forget that moment.

Layla POV

Oh god, I'm so nervous. Clove's here.

Well, can't back out now. She walks over to me, and smiles.

"Hi," she says.

"Hi," I say back, "Uh, I was actually going to ask you something."

"Okay," she says.

"Clove, I've liked you for a bit," I say, "And I'm seizing this chance now, so will you be my girlfriend?"

She looks stunned for a while. Oh no, is she gonna say no? I just made this awkward.

"Layla," she says, "Of course I will."

And then she leans in and kisses me. It felt amazing, and so I kiss back. I can't believe Clove's finally mine, and now nobody else can steal her away.

I love her.