buzzing with energy and excitement. We were told that the Camp will officially start tonight. Until then, we had to set our tents. We could look around if we wanted to. The boys and girls were separated. So, Auden and Theo had to go to the other side of the river which flowed from a huge waterfall in the middle of the clearing. There was a bridge connecting both sides. It looked pretty cool.

When Auden left, he had kissed my hand and left which led to the women around me to go 'aww' at the sight. I couldn't help but feel like he was letting everyone know that I was his. He was practically showing me off every chance he could get. Shira noticed the new necklace hanging around my neck when we were setting up our tents. She squealed in happiness for me like a five-year-old.

All the females present were around our age. There were no old ones which I was glad for. I didn't need those cranky and judgmental ass ladies spoiling and ruining my Camp. There were blondes, brunettes, redheads and colourful heads like Shira. Some were short, some were tall and some were average. They all seemed to have a clique though. There was a girl with dark black hair named Archie who was giving tattoos to a lady.

Who brings a fucking tattoo machine to camp? What the fuck?

Anyway, let's get back to business.

Don't even get me started about the tent.

My tent was a nasty ass bitch that just wouldn't work with me. I almost gave up after an hour of trying. Shira offered help but I refused in the beginning, challenging her that I could do it. She smiled deviously before drinking the carton of orange juice they were giving around. Then, I desperately needed help and I didn't know what to do. A kind redhead named Tessa helped me set up the tent while Shira laughed knowingly. After the tent was set up, I placed all the things comfortably inside and spread out my sleeping bag.

Our tents were on the edge of the area that was made for the female species. The back of mine and Shira's tents were facing the forest. We hung a hammock between two trees behind us. There was a fire pit in the middle of the area and I couldn't wait to see the Campfire.

The thought of sleeping in a tent tonight excited me all the more. I told Shira about the deer that we had seen on the road and she got pissed off for not waking her up.

"You could have just pulled my leg or something," Shira complained again, before taking off her shoes and changing them to slippers. She was wearing shorts that I was incredibly jealous of. She had tied a red plaid shirt around her stomach, giving her the ready-to-camp look. All the females here were wearing shorts, and I bet they were comfortable. I looked down at my legs to see my black sweatpants and shrugged.

They were comfortable. But, in a forest, nope, they were not.

I hope something crawls up into all of their asses.

Bad Katherine. I mentally scolded myself. Auden tried convincing me, saying that it was completely fine and that I should never feel insecure about my skin. But, I didn't hear any of it. Auden had kissed my forehead, unhappy with my decision but respected it nonetheless. He did force me to keep some shorts, just in case. I shrugged and kept some for him, although deep down I know that I am never going to wear them.

"Just stop complaining! I'm sure we will meet another deer somewhere." I rolled my eyes at the grumpy Shira. She huffed.

"Oh, fuck you—"

"Shira!"

I turned around at the sound of an older woman standing in front of us, with her hands on her hips. She looked angry but her eyes held warmth and longing. I recognised her immediately as Shira's Mother. Shira shrugged, pursing her lips before saying, "Hi Mama."

Immediately, the woman's features softened before she pulled Shira into a tight hug. "Still crazy and naughty, I see?" Her mother asked with a smile on her face. Shira tried to shrug away from the hug but I could see that she was loving the care her Mother was showing to her. A mother's love for her daughter is like nothing else in the world. It knows no laws. It is pure and it will always be there no matter how much her child irritates her.

"Mama, I'm suffocating," Shira muttered. Her Mother pulled away before, looking at me curiously. "Come on, introduce me to your friend."

"She's more like a sister," Shira said, causing my heart to swell in love for her. She gave me a warm smile but I could see the sadness in them. I narrowed my eyes at her curiously. "Kath, this is my Mama, Mila and Mama, this is my Friend, Kath."

Mila looked at me, "Shira has told me a lot about you, Katherine." She smiled warmly, before holding her hands out for a warm hug. It suddenly reminded me of the time my Mom used to hold her hands out when I run to her after school. She would kiss the top of my forehead and ask me about my day. The sudden memory shook me a little. I stood there, baffled a little before shrugging my thoughts away. I took two steps forward and hugged her.

She kissed the top of my forehead.

My heart cracked a little at her actions. "Any friend of my wayward daughter is a daughter of mine." I laughed and I could hear Shira groaning. I pulled away and saw the warmth in Mila's eyes. I immediately liked her. I saw her as a Mother, as a caring woman for me. She narrowed her eyes at my dress. "Aren't you feeling a little hot? You could change to some shorts." She suggested and I felt my body tense. I know she was only saying it kindly.

"Mama," Shira said in a warning tone. Mila frowned before her eyes became wide with realisation. "Kath, I told Mama." I looked over at her, giving her an assuring smile. I was fine with it and I looked over at Mila who gave me a look of sympathy before tucking a piece of strand hair behind my ear in affection.

"Scars are tattoos with better stories. Scars mean you survived. Wear your scars with pride." She smiled at me. "A really strong woman accepts the war she went through and wears her scars like diamonds. And, I can see that you are a strong woman Katherine." Mila smiled at me before brushing some dust off my shoulder. She held my shoulder and gave me a tight assuring squeeze. I smiled at her back, reflecting on her words.

"Mila, get your ass back there. People are looking for you." I heard a grumpy male voice from behind her. Mila groaned before turning around. "Ok ok. I'm on it, I just wanted to see the girls." Mila gave me and Shira an assuring gaze before walking away.

The man was standing there with a clipboard and a pen stuck behind his ear. He looked like a fun Uncle. His slightly bald head contained spots of pepper and salt hair here and there. He was fit and muscular too. "Uncle West!" Shira threw herself around him and the man, Uncle West groaned.

"Get off me, goblin." The man groaned. I chuckled at the nickname. Shira pulled away and looked at me. "Kath, this is Theo's dad. Uncle West, the coolest Uncle in the world."

"No, I am not." Uncle West said grumpily and I couldn't help but smile.

"I'm West. West Alfonso. And, you must be the famous Katherine Auden has been going all crazy about. Good. I like a girl who can make a man go crazy." West offered me his hand for me to shake it and I did, as I laughed at his statement. He gave me a small smile.

"That little fucker had so much ego and you toned it down which I am grateful for. He looks like a sappy little ass now. Just met my two boys before coming here. Auden sends his love to you." West said calmly before rolling his eyes. I laughed at his choice of words. He said, 'my two boys' and that made my heart swell. He considered Auden as his own Son. It was heartwarming and I felt happy as Auden had lost his Father. He has another Father figure in his life now and I felt elated for him. I immediately liked this man.

The thought of Auden being an egotistical asshole was new to me. I couldn't even think of him that way. It was impossible and just absurd. I wonder how he behaved before he met me.

"Believe me, he was a dick back then," Shira muttered to me and I tilted my head curiously before shrugging my shoulders.

West moved in front of us and stood on top of a rock causing all the attention of the girls to fall on him.

"Camp starts in an hour. You girls won't get sleep tonight. Make sure you are prepared because the first activity is going to be a tough-ass one. I hope you girls know your animals." My eyes widened at his last statement. He gave everyone a smug smile as all the girls looked at him curiously and eagerly. Whispers filled the air. Excitement filled me at the thought of what we would do tonight. My belly tingled and I couldn't help but want to squeal and jump up and down like a child.

"Are you girls ready for camping?" West hollered. Shira and I squealed a 'yes' along with a few other girls. West shook his head in disapproval. "The boys were better than ya!" West teased, earning groans of disapproval before asking again. "Are you girls ready for camping?" He hollered louder.

"Hell yeah!" All of us screamed and jumped in excitement and laughter with our fists in the air.

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