Three tents stood before us, larger than the ones you can get from a shop that make you have to fight with material and poles for the best part of an afternoon. These were clearly static, the type you put up and then never really touch again. So even though they were still just waterproof canvas pitched up in a triangular fashion, they felt more sturdy and safe. My nerves were instantly settled. 

This was clearly a nicer part of the park, which surprised me. Considering we had messed the staff around and been difficult, I had assumed we were going to be swapped to accommodation of the same or less value- the tents that no one really wanted, situated by the toilets or the loud camp centre. But we seemed to have landed on our feet, with luxurious looking tents surrounding us, as well as plots with yurts and shining static caravans just a short distance away.

"Okay guys," Klaus said once the lady had left us to settle in, "We thought, for some extra fun, we would do the whole picking names at random thing again, to decide who stays with wh-"

"Oh save us the speech," Violet interjected with a mischievous grin, "If you two want to stay together just do it. You don't need to hide behind a game that's clearly rigged."

"Huh? That's not..." I let myself trail off, knowing there was nothing I could say- nothing that wouldn't give our plan away- that would make her change her mind. 

Violet gestured to the first tent, a satisfied smile on her face, as though she had us all figured out. "Come on Quigley, this is us."

And at that they walked in together, taking their luggage with them. Duncan had the audacity to wink before backing into the next tent, followed obediently by Liam, and it wasn't lost on me that he took the snack bag with him, but I was too frozen with shock at what had just happened to bring myself to protest.  Then it was just Klaus and I left staring at the third tent, neither of us making the first move. 

After an agonising few seconds of silence, Klaus laughed. "Literally what is she on about?"

"I know," I agreed quickly, trying to laugh off the awkward feeling. "At least we got them in together pretty easily."

"That's true. No planning required."

"Maybe that just shows our plan is working then," I said, lowering my voice just to guarantee they wouldn't overhear us. "If they're already all too happy to stay together, no arguments or anything, then maybe they're so used to each other's company that it just makes sense."

Klaus clicked his fingers. "You're right. Wow, we're so good at this."

"Literally. We should set up a dating agency."

Klaus gestured to the last tent. "Should we go in then?"

I answered by picking up my bag and Klaus quickly followed suit. Then I unzipped the canvas and took the first step inside, excited to see our sleeping arrangements for the weekend. But when I gazed into the single room I froze, making Klaus crash into my back as he failed to stop in time to avoid me.

Our luck had been so good since we'd got to the camp, suspiciously so, but now it seemed to have run out. Why? Because where we guaranteed our original tents were fitted with two single beds in each, this one had a double- the probable "Slight difference" the lady behind the desk had specified. Before I could stop myself, I cursed under my breath. 

Klaus stepped around me, putting his bag down on the floor and assessing the situation. He didn't say anything, as if he was processing things and coming to the same awkward conclusions that I had come to just a millisecond before, and for a moment I worried that we were going to be stuck in another weird silence again like we were outside. 

I rushed to say something, just to dissipate the unexpected feeling of shyness that had suddenly come over me. 

"It's fine," I said hurriedly, "friends share beds all the time." Klaus stayed silent so I kept going. "Violet and I do it all the time when we have sleepovers, it's completely nor-"

"It's fine," Klaus repeated, cutting off my rambling, "It's no big deal, is it?"

I shook my head. "Nope, not a big deal at all."

"So it's fine then," Klaus concluded.

"It's fine," I agreed.

We both looked at each other for a long moment, as though one of us was going to call the other one's bluff. Then Klaus said suddenly, "Should we check out the pool?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Oh definitely."

At that, we both departed the tent at speed. The air outside felt fresh and cold, despite it being summer, and I almost gasped at how nice it felt against my skin. I hadn't realised how hot it was in the tent, nor how flushed my face was. But once I was outside, I couldn't imagine how I hadn't noticed before. 

The others were already by the pool when we got there, and they had been smart enough to change into their swimming things before heading down. Klaus sat down on a lounger, seemingly not bothered about getting in, but where I would usually join him, today I felt like I needed some space. 

Usually, given we were both such close friends, nothing could faze us. We'd got the whole "are you guys dating?" thing a million times before and had been able to just laugh it off. But after what had happened today, I wondered if we would be able to laugh about that,  or if we'd both just go silent and awkward again. 

I took the opportunity to go back to the tent to change, wanting the walk to just think. However, as I got closer to our accommodation, I heard an unearthly squeal, as though someone was putting a wild animal through emotional trauma.

Carmelita Spats stood by a yurt just a few metres away from our three tents, alternating between singing songs she'd made up and screaming at people to carry her bags inside quicker. There had to be at least twenty matching, zebra print, mini suitcases, filled with god knows what. Why she needed that much stuff to just go camping was beyond me. But at a second glance at the yurt, I noticed the faux fur rugs and cushions scattered around the entrance and came to the conclusion that she must be glamping- because of course she was. 

Luckily, she seemed too distracted by making sure her belongings were handled correctly to notice me, and I reached my tent without her catching me and causing drama. Once I was inside, I almost sighed with relief. But then, as my eyes drifted over to the singular double bed again, a new type of stress overcame me. 

It was fine. Klaus and I had both agreed it was fine. But still, the idea that we would both be laying there, side by side, in a matter of hours made me feel flushed and, frankly, confused. 

I forced myself to tear my eyes away, busying myself with locating my swimsuit and putting it on. The weather was hot, swelteringly so, and I wanted to make the most of the extravagant pool instead of standing in the tent overthinking everything. Sneaking back past Carmelita, I made my way to the pool again, not hesitating to join Violet and Quigley in the water. Duncan and Liam were laughing about something with Klaus, sitting on loungers together, but I noticed he seemed more reserved than normal, as if he was holding back. That just added another thing to the growing list of confusing occurrences that had happened today, and it was starting to frustrate me that I couldn't seem to get a grasp on what was happening. And what had changed. 

A splash of water stole my attention, and I looked to my friends just in time to get another one in the face. 

"Quigley!" I exclaimed, wiping water from my eyes unsuccessfully. He just laughed and turned his attack on Violet this time, swiping the surface of the pool to send a wave cascading at her. 

The three of us fought back and forth for a bit and I was thankful for the distraction. It was nice to just let go and enjoy myself, without my brain going ten to the dozen, trying to analyse and plan and make sense of everything around me. 

Quigley announced he was hungry and hopped out of the pool, heading to the others and instantly saying something that made Duncan laugh. I watched for Klaus' reaction, to see if he was still acting differently, when Violet sidled up to me in the water, following my gaze. 

"It's okay, you know," she told me quietly, "to just let things happen."

And before I could ask her what she meant, she pulled herself out of the pool as well, leaving me treading water and repeating her words over and over in my head. 

A/N: Something I noticed today is that I love writing things set in summer, like I have stacks of WIPs about summer camps, summer holidays and just general stories set in the summertime. But IRL I hate summer hahah I personally can't deal with hot weather. I like spring, autumn and winter when the weather is mild or cold, summer just isn't my vibe. 

But anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for reading :)) ❤