𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆
we'll never be those kids again

A FIRE CRACKLED in the corner of their campsite, projecting long shadows on the surrounding area. The light cast by the flames danced across the dark trunks of the trees, twisting and curling in obscure shapes and providing a small radius of light. The fire itself was pulsating. The glowing embers seemed to move in rhythm with the flames, matching every dip and sweep. It was mesmerizing to watch, colours of orange and red giving way to the yellow and white near the centre where the emanating heat was the greatest.

"Hope, a little help here?"

The girl in question turned around from where she was roasting marshmallows to see Stiles and Scott struggling with the tent. She laughed, grabbed her phone, and took a picture of the the hilarious sight. Stiles was stuck in the tent, the flaps wrapped around him like a blanket.

Hope shook her head and held out her hand. The flaps that were wrapped around him started undoing themselves, letting Stiles stumble free. She twisted her hand, and in less than ten seconds, the tent was up and made.

"Thanks, sis!" Scott beamed at his slightly younger sister.

She sent him a smile and turned to Lydia, Malia, and Kira who had already made their tent.

"At least you guys know how to do something right," Hope mused, smiling at them. This was the first time that Scott, Stiles, and Her had anyone else with them when they went camping.

"It was all Lydia. I sat back and ate chips." Malia pointed to Lydia through a mouthful of chips.

Hope nodded, chuckling. "Of course. Anyone want marshmallows?" She grabbed the plastic bag that was full of marshmallows. "I can grab the Nutella and we can have smores."

"What is a marshmallow?" Malia asked, her face scrunching up in confusion.

"Are you telling me that neither Scott or Stiles have let you try marshmallows before?" She shook her head, her short brown hair swishing side to side. The blonde groaned, sending a glare towards the guilty boys. "That's it, we're having smores so you can taste the whole ordeal."

Quickly, Hope grabbed the Nutella jar, some graham crackers, and a marshmallow. She put the marshmallow on the graham cracker, smeared the Nutella on top of it with a plastic spoon, and then squashed the entire thing together and held it out to Malia who sniffed it cautiously.

"It smells good, so that means it's good." She grabbed it from Hope's hand and shoved the entire sugar creation in her mouth, humming in satisfaction. She sent the blonde a thumbs up, mumbling through a mouthful. "It's good."

Hope chuckled at her before making more for everyone else to enjoy. Once she was done with the smores, she began roasting some hotdogs, making sure that everyone would go to bed with full stomaches.

The voices of her friends faded away as she thought about everything that happened this summer when she was with Sam and Dean.

There were these creatures - Laviathans, and they could make themselves look like anybody, just like a shapeshifter would. The only difference is that they eat people. To identify them, Borox is the best bet because it burns their skin, just like holy water does to demons.

The leader of the Laviathans, Dick Roman, was the downfall of Bobby Singer.

Hope sighed and bit her lip. Bobby was like a father to her. He always took care of her whenever Sam and Dean went on a hunt that was too dangerous for a child.

The first time Bobby and Hope met was rather funny and interesting. When she walked through the door, he thought she was Dean's long lost child. Of course, Dean fumbled around and stuttered, trying his best to explain things. Bobby just called him an 'idjit' before greeting the young girl.

Ever since that day, Hope knew that Bobby was going to be her ultimate best friend, and he was.

Hope's eyes watered as flashes of Bobby's body invaded her mind like a vicious tornado. Dick Roman had shot him, and it was on the side of his head, a very close call, but then he lapsed into a coma and died.

Although, later on, Bobby did come back as a ghost, but that just gave them another opportunity to lose him all over again.

"Hope?" She looked up abruptly, wiping away the tears that had the opportunity to fall from her blue eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." She trailed off, nodding. "Just thinking, that's all."

"Are you sure?" Both Scott and Stiles sat on either side of her, each taking one of her hands in theirs.

"I'm fine." She gave them a smile, hoping they would believe it. Looking at their suspicious frowns, She sighed and decided to tell them the truth. "I do everything for everyone - everything to be the perfect daughter, sister, friend, student, hunter... but why does the world keep throwing obstacles at me?"

"Hope?"

Seeing her drink shaking, she inhaled and exhaled slowly, calming herself down. The blonde closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. Her drink had stopped shaking.

"Bobby died," She blurted out. "And I don't know what to do without him. He was always there for me with great advice no matter what I was having trouble with. It's just that... I miss him so much."

"Bobby died?" Scott asked in disbelief.

"Yes." Hope bit down on her bottom lip harshly.

"Hey," Stiles whispered, and she turned to look at him. "Just think of this - he's in a better place now. He won't feel anymore pain."

Hope looked down at their combined hands, watching as his thumb trailed over her knuckles. "Yeah..."

"Hope." She looked up again, her eyes connecting with his. "He did go to Heaven, right?"

"Yeah." Hope nodded. "Sam, Dean, and I made sure of that."

"Then, yeah, Stiles is right. Bobby's in a better place now. He's happy, content, and probably watching you right now. And you know what? He's probably muttering to himself about how you should live your life and to stop being an idjit." Scott wiped away a tear that had escaped her eye. "It'll be okay."

"Maybe." Hope forced a smile. "Okay." She stood up, pulling the boys up with her. "Let's stop ruining the mood, yeah? Okay. Let me finish with the hotdogs and then we can turn music on, so we can dance around the fire like a bunch of idiots."

"Yes!" Stiles cheered, jumping up and tripping over the log they were sitting on.

Quickly, She swiped her hand and replaced the hard ground with a soft, white mattress in less than a second.

"Oof." Stiles looked up at Hope with wide eyes and a dorky smile. "Thanks, Hope!"

"You're welcome, Stiles." She shook her head, sending him a small smile as she tried to force myself out of her depressing thoughts. She was back with her friends, family, her pack, She has to be brave and happy or else, she will bring everyone down with her and she did not want that.

Looking around at her friends, Hope desperately hoped that this school year was going to be a good year.