The tents were already set up as we reached the place. I wonder if this trip was as instantaneous as Edward had deemed it to be. Tristan was setting up the bonfire which he clearly seemed to be struggling with. I wanted to lend a hand to him, but I also wanted to have some time alone by the river while they finished prepping up. Yes, I was always the one who did nothing on group projects and got away with it. There is a thin line that runs for me. I either do all the work, or none at all and seeing everyone getting involved, I decided to go with the latter.

"Getting away easy, are we?" Edward broke my reverie as we walked towards me and halted next to me. Still soaking in the calmness of the river in darkness, I continued to look into the night not turning towards him. I could see him from the corner of my eye. His eyes were also fixed on the river. I wondered if he could also make out the snowcapped mountain top beyond the bend of the river that my eyes were fixated on. 

"Not really in the mood to indulge in conversations really, plus I had made my mind to go to bed by this hour. My brain still needs to process this."

"Exactly what I tell people about surprising me, it always ends up me being grumpy." He paused and I saw him tilting his head towards me. "Is it one of those times for you?" he asked meekly.

"Not really like that. I do love surprises." I nodded my head towards him, stealing a glance to find his eyes glittering in the darkness. "Its you." I shrugged "Mostly."

"I told you it was the last time."

"I don't get it."

"Get what?" He asks, and I sense that he has fully turned towards me, and I do the same. 

"Why are you all trying to go all the way with me?" I finally ask what has been bothering me for a long time.

"I mean, I get Franco and me. We are two big nerds, who happened to be outcasts and crossed our ways because of you trying to bully the shit out of both of us. Come to think of it, we wouldn't even have seen each other. But we did and now we are thick. But I don't get it with any of you. Why the sudden interest in friendships? Except Rebbecca of course, she's kind of a dick. Tried to threaten me and what not. And Marzia is my roommate so I get Caspar and I get Joseph by association of these two. But I don't get me being here--with the group."

Edward stared blankly at me almost as if he had no idea about what I was on to. I took this as an opportunity to continue.

"I don't get you coming around, I don't get Tristan trying to make conversations and inviting me to your table and parties or races, or whatever you like to call it. Half of the lot doesn't want me here. Why am I here Edward? Why are you here and not there?" I say, tilting my head in the direction of the gang who was still struggling with putting on the fire.

Instead of replying to me, Edward turned again to face the river and I could see that it was the snowcapped mountain top that had fascinated him too. My eyes must have miraculously adjusted to the darkness because I could notice his jaw clenching before he spoke.

"Rebbecca is not half the group, Stella." He said, slowly. He always talked pretty slow, taking all his time to articulate what he had to say. I wondered then, if he intended to come across as a dick, given how much thought he would put to the words he spoke.

"We come in a pack." He continued, still gazing at the far end of the bend of the river. "We have been thick as thieves--atleast we were before I has to transfer to Orion High. All I'm saying is--its almost a family--the family we never really had. That's why we are all almost always there together. Anyone who had ever joined in had to bear with us all. I'm sorry you have to put up with the lot of us." He looked down, staring at his feet. "Me."

"I don't mean you particularly."

"And we don't need to beat around the bush."

"Meaning?"

"I know I'm a dick sometimes. I'm sorry for that. It doesn't give me the excuse to be a pain in the ass but I just like to put out the harshest image. It's easier to keep people away and I don't seem to do well with people. But the more time I spend around the new ones, the faster I get over it."

"That's the story of every other kid, if you ask me."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm glad I didn't then." He looked at me, the moonlight hitting his shining eyes perfectly. "You're a part of this now. Even if me and Rebbecca are major assholes at times."

"You are." I agreed and Edward seemed to sniffle under his breath.

"You guys done being unhelpful?" I heard Tristan shouting out to us and we rushed to get back to the tents.