CHAPTER 25: I can become a cloth donor to many boys

"Huh, so you don't have a knack for downing booze whenever you can?" A covered-up Noel asks me as we move our hands on top of the bonfire to gather some warmth.

"What makes you think that? My alcoholic brothers, who are on the verge of stripping right now?" I turn my head toward the set up tables where everyone is drinking at right now. There is really no surprise about the fact that all the boys bought crazy amounts of alcohol for the miserable two days we were to spend here. Despite that, Noel and I were away from them all - near the bonfire, busy enjoying the sparks that enlightened the dark and diminished the cold around us.

"Perhaps."

"Well, no. Though, I do have a knack for drinking up wine." I grin at him, my insides yearning more and more for my wine. I wish I sneaked in a bottle or two.

"Wine? You? You like wine?" Noel gets his head out of the blanket he is wrapped in and looks at me as if I'm one of R.L Stine's imagination-turned-real creature.

"Nope. I love wine." I click my tongue and bob my head to a familiar song blasting through Austin's speakers set near the tables. It's like a full-on party there, I think, one that is neither appealing to me nor Noel.

"I'm actually gobsmacked. I never expected you to be, I don't know, liking any kind of alcoholic drink." Noel states after a few seconds of silence.

"I'm not a goody-two-shoes, Noel. You may be more than surprised." I look at him, raising my eyebrows and pulling my thin blanket around myself.

"I am. I am surprised." He mumbles and gazes at me with a weird look. His onyx eyes hold a spark – the fire, yes, I reckon – but there is something else. I know. The fire's reflection dances in his eyes and we are left staring into each other's eyes, a sort of daydream.

Well, not entirely day at 8 pm.

His black locks aren't fully visible considering he's wrapped himself up like a baby. The ends of his hair peek out from the top of the blanket, framing his brows and forehead. His eyes quickly move, down to back up in my eyes.

Did he just look at my lips?

A quizzical air forms around us until our trance is broken by very, very, loud hollering. I turn around to see Aaron and Shawn heavily wasted, jumping on the tables.

Noel and I chuckle and shake our heads.

"So, wine lover, you would settle comfortably at one of Caleb's parties." I whip my head around at Noel's shocking words and stare at him, dumbfounded.

"What?" How can he think I can settle with Caleb?

"Calm down, woman. I just said that because the parties at his house usually have lots and lots of wine." Noel holds his hands up as if he's guilty and has been caught.

I sigh in relief as I realize that I'm the one who heard the whole thing wrong. I was probably too caught up with the stupidity Aaron and Shawn are offering to their little audience over there.

"Oh, no, no, sorry. Uh...I wasn't listening. My bad." I shake my head and look at the fire.

What the fuck am I thinking? Settling with Caleb? Really?

"That's fine. I was just saying, Caleb's dad holds these awesome parties every month, as far as I know. You know, those proper and affluent parties for the wealthy. Caleb always invites me so he doesn't get bored. Bonus for me, I love the wine and food they offer." He smiles and states. I nod my head, thinking about how I would down all the bottles of wine there. But...it's Caleb's house.

Why am I even thinking about it? Ugh.

"Why would Caleb get bored in his own party? Girls, booze, music. He's got everything." I ask Noel, rolling my eyes at the thought of what Caleb must be gaining from all those parties.

Gaining all the female company, first and foremost.

"Trust me, he's not really got everything." Noel whispers and I look at him. Uh...what? His features twist and portray a hidden sadness. He sucks his lips in and clenches his fists...but not in anger...strangely. It's like he feels...defeated.

"What's wrong?" I ask, placing a hand on his shoulder. He looks at me and as quickly as the sad look settled on his face, it vanishes just as quickly.

"Summer! Come on, let's go swim." A pair of arms wrap around me from behind and I'm taken aback. I sigh when I realize it's just Maddie.

"Maddie, you mad or what? It's night time, hello!" I say while chuckling. No doubt she's drunk.

"So?! Everyone's going. Get your fat but sexy ass up!" She shouts as I face her with a stern look. Shawn comes up from behind but is quickly pulled back by Blake who drags him toward the lake.

"Let's go!" Maddie pulls me toward our tent and I groan as I try to make her understand it's late.

After finally settling at the camp at around 3, we all dispersed into our tents. Everyone was within their own group and we even had a few snacks here and there but then suddenly, as soon as the music was blasted, they all took it as an opportunity to start their little party.

Any excuse to drink, no?

"Okay, um...your swimsuit..." Maddie zips open my bag and rummages through it. My eyes widen at what she said and I hold her hand.

"You packed my swimsuit? I don't even have one..." I furrow my eyebrows and think of my wardrobe. I didn't own a single pair of dress, swimsuit or anything normal girls wear. All that was odd in my closet was the one pair of jeans Maddie gifted me.

I'm telling you, I can become a cloth donor to many boys.

"You're wrong there. Last year, I gifted you a beautiful swimsuit just because you wouldn't bother to keep one. Who doesn't keep a swimsuit?"

"Me. And yes, I do have a swimsuit. And no, I don't remember when you gifted me one." I say as I pull my bag away from her hands.

"I know better, Summer. And hello, a sports bra and shorts don't count as a swimsuit." She mutters and snatches the bag away from me, again, and starts throwing my clothes out. Again.

"It does. For me. Besides, I have no interest in dressing up in that imaginary swimsuit you talk of." I cross my arms and sit down Indian style.

"This...imaginary swimsuit?" Maddie says while holding up a one-piece black swimsuit.

What the fuckety fuck?

"Yeah, I know it's gorgeous. Put it on." She says in a no-nonsense tone. I lift it up and all I see is...strings, strings, strings!

"I can't wear this string monster! Pure atrocity, Maddie." I throw it off as if it is acid in my hands.

"It's not as revealing as it looks. Save those dramatic dialogues for your movies, okay?" Maddie says as she smiles and finally takes out her very revealing, blue swimsuit.

I scoff and say, "I'll swim in my clothes. I have no intention of exposing my body in front of a bunch of stupid boys, wearing that skimpy little thing. You know how I hate all this."

"Summer, stop acting stubborn."

"I don't want to wear this shit. You can roam around in it if you want. I'm way done with this stupid swimsuit, this stupid camp trip, and...ugh everything!" I shout and vigorously open the zip of the tent, rushing out in anger. I look back and regret shouting at Maddie. With an equal amount of anger, I turn around and before I know it, I bump into someone.

"Fuck!" I hear the stranger mutter the same word I did and I look up to a pair of grey eyes. Grey eyes that are somehow similar. Grey eyes that have been haunting my imagination for the past few days. Grey eyes that have been taunting me ever since I came here today.

Grey eyes assessing me right now.

I look at Caleb angrily while breathing heavily. My hands are on his bare chest, as I see. I jump back, looking to my sides to see if anyone saw that. I push my hair back and huff in annoyance. The unnecessary shouting at Maddie fills me with indignation immediately and I step away from Caleb and continue walking to god-knows-where.

I don't hear him calling my name or anything of that sort and I'm confused on my reaction – am I supposed to be relieved by that or...irritated? Like I already am.

I find a few benches near the lake, away from the bridge, and I take a seat there. It's cold but I don't give a fuck right now. I close my eyes and groan loudly. I hate this. I absolutely hate this feeling. I know I'm wrong to get angry at such a trivial matter but I can't help myself. This is how I've managed to handle myself over the past few years. I give quick reactions and most of them involve anger.

What am I doing?

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And take my advice, just do nothing." I look up and see Caleb's silhouette sitting right next to me, maintaining some distance though.

He stares off into space and despite all my might refusing, I still continue gazing at him. He brings his eyes back to me and I turn away, my cheeks starting to burn.

"You angry?"

"What does it look like to you, goofus?" I shoot back.

"Hey, I'm trying to help here."

"Well, I didn't ask for any, did I?"

"You're ungrateful."

"Thank you. And you're a liar." I stand up and walk to the other side of the bench.

"What makes you say that?" Caleb shouts while standing up again.

"You lied to me, Caleb! Just tell me already if you're playing along with Veronica all this time!" I point at him and I find myself seething. When did I become so violent?

I'm taken aback by Caleb suddenly gripping my finger harshly and pushing my hand behind my back, twisting it in the process. He pulls me toward him and I'm flush against him, our faces inches away. Him being shirtless makes my crimson cheeks even darker than they already are and I gasp at the way he is holding me.

"Let me go! Caleb, are you out of your mind?" I ask and struggle within his hold but he is way too strong for me.

Duh. I'm no sumo wrestler as Aaron calls me.

"You're out of your damn fucking mind, Summer Jones! I told you everything that day, everything that I wouldn't tell anyone else even. Why are you blaming me again, huh?" With every word that escapes his mouth, he pulls me even impossibly closer to him. His words disconcert me and catch me off guard.

Things that he wouldn't tell anyone else? Then why...me?

I quit struggling and calm down for a moment. I look into his eyes as I couldn't look anywhere else since that just made him pull me even more. There is a storm brewing in those eyes. Black specks dance around in the vast grey of his eyes, holding some significant pain and anger. Anger directed toward me, no doubt.

I believe what he says. Again.

Suddenly, he lets me go and looks at me with solicitude as if he what he did just a few seconds ago didn't classify as torture.

"Don't be scared. Hey, uh..." Caleb trails off and I furrow my brows.

"Why the fuck would I be scared of you?" I ask as I pull my T-shirt down due to Caleb's uncontrollable hands. I glare at him as he looks away probably due to embarrassment.

"Right." He mutters and scratches the back of his head. I hold back a smile because he really resembled a monkey this moment. Walking backward slowly because I had nothing to say, I give him a tight-lipped smile and continue walking.

"You should believe me when I say I didn't lie to you. Anytime!" Caleb puts his hands around his mouth and shouts.

"I know, Anderson. You're scared of my wrath." I shout back and smirk, deciding to go back to Maddie. He shakes his head and even from a distance, I don't miss the twitch of his lips. A smile takes over my lips and I laugh at my stupidity just before I reach the tent.

"Hi." I smile innocently and say.

"You're back! I thought you ran off." Maddie turns and says and I notice she's changed into her swimsuit. I let out a wolf whistle and wink at her.

"You hang out with way too many boys." She chuckles and shakes her head, zipping up her bag.

"Not my fault you're hot."

"Uh...sorry for before. I shouldn't try to impose my style on you even if I know you hate it." She looks down, her brunette hair falling into waves, framing her face.

"No, it was my fault. I let my anger take the best of me. I over-reacted. Sorry." I take the swimsuit and look at it warily. How the fuck am I wearing this?

Maddie takes the black piece from my hand and throws it on the beddings near the pillows. I look at her surprisingly until she points to my t-shirt.

"Fifty bucks on that you have a sports bra underneath." I laugh and take off my tee-shirt, revealing my Nike sports bra.

What...I hate the other bras.

"Now come on, change fast and let's go swim," Maddie mutters excitedly and gets out of the tent.

After I change into the extra shorts I brought with me, I get out, tying my hair into a bun, and walk off towards where everyone else is. Most of the boys were already in the water together with Veronica and her little group. Some were outside, laughing and chatting with their towels hanging around their neck.

"Summer, give me a piggyback ride!" Shawn jumps on me suddenly and I yelp in surprise. I kick him off my back and slap his arm. Blake continues teasing Shawn about being drunk and he keeps flirting with either Maddie or me. As I turn around, I see Caleb talking to two other guys, but as prodigious as it is, his eyes are stuck on me. Zoning out on everyone else's conversation, I look down at my bare feet and shake my head at the blush that is undoubtedly forming on my cheeks.

Traitorous blush.