THE AWAKENING OF THE AZURA

ysia?" Damien aske

but only if my best fri

"You have a best frie

happened so s

... A boy or a girl"he

girl" I replie

house you haven't given me my response" h

hat... I can't c

asked as he searched

nterrupted us. "Elysia! Where have you bee

I exc

for you" she said and continued "hmmmm... Elly, w

e me that look.

t ivy.... My

ds and exchang

ivy" Damien sa

n't know Damien we are the gemma g

t's t

name " I replie

cute" he sai

rolled her eyes playfu

ression on his face. "Elysia said s

only reason I'd even consider going. If sh

ingness to join the trip just for me was u

n said revealing his white teeth

like there's a love affair going on betwee

hing going on betwe

ight... We are jus

scoffed and

n the courtyard. Just then,

le school looking for you" Jake

exaggeration" Mia grinned

nd mia , this ivy and elysia

ends to Ivy and me, and w

oup are you in for th

et," Damien admitted

o," Iv

ed in, and we all

. "Well, it looks like we

*

CAMP T

nticipation of the school camp trip bubbling inside me. I spotted Damien,

adventure?" Damien greeted, his

also a bit nervous," I admitted, tu

tually nothing to be n

time camping " I

camping too," Ivy sai

er face a mix of excit

er," Jake said confidently, slin

ready... We should

t a bag of chips from her backpack. "I packe

n exclaimed, grabbin

?" Jake asked, a mischi

ulling out a bag of gummy b

ent palpable as other students boarded. The hum of conversati

ward to the most?" I asked, tryi

initely," Ivy said, her ey

y marshmallow-roasting skills," Da

, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Thou

e out for you," J

inued to flow. We shared stories about past vacations, debated the best campin

make a campfire?" Mia ask

comes home during summer to see his family. He dad is the owner of the biggest software company

ied we'd end up eating cold

in charge of meals?" Jake

kfast," I offered.

Damien said, ra

o," Iv

d conversation. We played word games, shared more snack

list for tonight," Damien said, pul

s? Like 'Kumbaya' or 'She'll Be Comin

ed. "We should also add some

ome Taylor Swift or Ed S

er Billie" I said and

wave of excitement washed over us. The fresh scent of pine trees greeted