The camp incident

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and a huge wooden sign stood at the entrance of Camp Pinewood.

“WELCOME TO CAMP PINEWOOD! BEST SUMMER EVER!”

A black SUV pulled up in front of the cabins, and five friends climbed out, carrying suitcases, pillows, sleeping bags, and bags full of snacks.

There was Ava, the blonde girl who was always making jokes; Brielle, her brunette best friend who loved taking pictures; Mason, the funny one who never took anything seriously; Jake, the confident one who loved teasing everyone; and Noah, the quiet but charming one who always seemed to know what everyone was thinking.

They had been talking about this camping trip for months.

And now, their summer together was finally beginning.

☀️ The Goodbyes

“Okay, guys, last chance to change your minds!” Ava's mom called from the driver's seat.

“Absolutely not!” Ava laughed, pulling her suitcase out of the trunk. “I'm ready to get away from home!”

“Give it two days,” her mom teased. “You'll be begging to come back.”

“Mommm!”

Everyone laughed.

Brielle's parents helped her unload her things while Mason's dad handed him a giant bag.

“What is this?” Mason asked, looking inside.

“Food.”

Mason stared at him. “Dad, this is enough food to feed the entire camp.”

“Exactly. Make friends.”

Jake burst out laughing. “Bro's parents had to bribe people to like him.”

“Keep talking, and you're not getting any of my snacks,” Mason warned.

Jake immediately held up his hands. “I respect you. You're my favorite person here.”

Noah shook his head, smiling.

After a few hugs, reminders to call home, and about a hundred pictures, the parents finally drove away.

The five friends stood together in the parking lot, watching the cars disappear down the long gravel road.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Ava threw both arms into the air.

“WE'RE FREE!”

“PLEASE DON'T YELL THAT,” Brielle shouted, laughing.

Mason grabbed his bags. “Come on! I want the best tent spot!”

And just like that, they ran toward the campsite.

⛺ Setting Up the Tents

Their campsite was tucked between tall pine trees, with a beautiful lake a short walk away. There was a firepit in the middle, a wooden picnic table, and enough space for two large tents.

They had decided to share the campsite, with the girls in one tent and the boys in the other.

Easy enough, right?

Wrong.

“Why are there so many poles?” Brielle asked, staring at the tent instructions.

Ava turned the paper upside down.

“Maybe it's in another language.”

“It's English.”

“Oh.”

Across the campsite, the boys weren't doing much better.

“Jake, hold that corner!” Noah called.

“I AM HOLDING IT!”

“That's the wrong corner!”

“How can a corner be wrong?!”

Mason was sitting on a cooler, eating chips while watching them struggle.

Jake slowly turned his head.

“Mason.”

“Yeah, bro?”

“GET UP AND HELP.”

“I'm supervising.”

“You're eating!”

“Supervisors need energy.”

Meanwhile, Ava had somehow gotten the tent fabric wrapped around her entire body.

“GUYS? LITTLE HELP?”

Brielle started laughing so hard she had to sit down.

“I CAN'T BREATHE,” she managed to say.

“BRIELLE! THIS IS NOT FUNNY!”

“It kind of is!”

Noah finally walked over and helped Ava untangle herself. When she emerged, her hair was a mess and a leaf was stuck to her forehead.

Noah looked at her for a second before laughing.

“What?” Ava demanded.

He gently plucked the leaf from her hair.

“Nothing. You just look like you fought a tree and lost.”

Ava gasped dramatically.

“I HATE YOU.”

“No, you don't.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but for some reason, she couldn't think of anything to say.

Brielle noticed.

And she immediately raised an eyebrow.

Ava shot her a warning look.

Don't even think about it.

Brielle grinned.

Oh, I definitely am.

After nearly an hour of arguing, laughing, and almost giving up, both tents were finally standing.

The girls decorated their tent with fairy lights and fluffy blankets. Brielle hung a little photo string along the side, while Ava arranged their pillows and snacks.

The boys' tent was considerably less organized.

Mason threw his sleeping bag onto the floor.

“Perfect. Five-star hotel.”

Jake looked around. “There are bugs everywhere.”

“Complimentary room service,” Noah joked, pointing at a mosquito.

“I'm sleeping in the car,” Jake announced.

“There is no car,” Mason reminded him.

Jake stared at him.

“Then I'm sleeping with you guys under protest.”

🌅 Their First Evening

By the time they finished unpacking, the sky had turned orange and pink.

The five friends carried their snacks to the picnic table and sat around it, watching the sun sink behind the trees.

For the first time all day, everything was quiet.

Brielle pulled out her phone.

“Okay, everyone, first camp picture!”

Mason immediately made a ridiculous face. Jake threw an arm around Noah's shoulders, Ava leaned against Brielle, and Noah smiled at the camera.

Click.

Their first memory of the summer was captured.

“Send that to the group chat!” Jake said.

Brielle typed quickly.

GROUP CHAT: THE CAMP CREW 🏕️

Brielle: FIRST NIGHTTTT ❤️

Mason: I already miss my bed.

Ava: WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THREE HOURS.

Jake: Mason is going to be the first one to cry.

Mason: I'll cry on your pillow.

Noah: Can we survive one night first?

Ava: NO PROMISES 😂

Suddenly, a bell rang from somewhere near the main lodge.

A camp counselor appeared between the trees.

“Hey, campers! Campfire starts in ten minutes! Everyone's welcome!”

Ava jumped up.

“CAMPFIRE! COME ON!”

She grabbed Brielle's hand and pulled her toward the trail.

Jake followed, with Mason close behind.

Noah stayed back for a moment, looking at their tents, the lake, and the glowing lights strung between the trees.

Then Ava called from farther down the path.

“NOAH! ARE YOU COMING OR WHAT?”

He smiled.

“Yeah, yeah! I'm coming!”

He jogged to catch up with them.

None of them knew what the next few weeks would bring. They didn't know about the secrets they'd share, the arguments they'd have, the friendships that would grow stronger, or the feelings that might change everything.

All they knew was that they had an entire summer ahead of them.

And this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 1.