Sweet 16

Writing Prompt:

Rules given: 16 year old self meets the person you most needed at that age. Must start and end with the same sentence. Reference 3 items of your choosing that bring you comfort. Shoot for around 1000 words. 

Band camp is a place for making amazing memories. This will be my third time and I found myself excited to be around all of my friends and away from the stress of home.

"Earth to Shari, you with us?" Chris gently taps my forehead.

I bat his hand away, "Yes, sorry"

"I can’t believe you're spending your birthday at band camp. Also, I was asking who you're rooming with this year?"

I shrug, "I don’t mind being here. I like camp. I am not sure who I’m rooming with since Jenny was too sick to come."

"What? Not bunking with Jenny? What will you do?" He wiggles his eyebrows, making me blush at his implications.

I look around, making sure no one else is paying attention and I wave him off. "I’m not worried, might be nice to meet someone new."

The bus arrives at the camp. As I step off, I take a few steps towards the woods boarding the parking lot. I close my eyes for a moment, breathing in the smell of fresh pine, it fills my nose and I smile.

Barhite, the assistant director is shouting out room assignments. "Gilbert, you're in bunk eight with ... Jones"

I open my eyes and frown, not recognizing the name, "Who's Jones?"

"Oh! That must be the new girl" Chris points to a tall brunette with a purple streak in her hair.

"She looks...cool...." Chris raises an eyebrow at me. "I think her name is Andi. Just transferred here. Better go say hi." He gives me a gentle push. I stumble and turn back to glare at him. He just winks.

.

"Hi." I turn around and Andi is standing in front of me, head tilted slightly. "Are you Gilbert?" She smiles and something seems to radiate from her. Confidence? Kindness?

I feel my heart rate pick up and realize I need to answer. "Um, yes...I’m Shari" I put out my hand to shake hers. She laughs and goes in for a hug. I tense but she is soft and something about her puts me at ease. I relax into the hug. She smells nice, like lilacs.

"There you go" She pulls back, one hand still on my arm. "Sorry, I'm a hugger."

"It-t's okay." I stammer a little.

Her hand slides down my arm to my hand. She gives it a gentle squeeze and smiles again. This time I know my heart is beating loud enough for every person to hear. "We better go find our room." She gently pulls me towards the dorm like building. I look back at Chris. His eyes are wide, he seems as surprised as I feel, but when we make eye contact, he smiles and gives me a thumbs up.

As we make our way across the camp towards the bunk area I cannot help but stare at my hand. Part of me is exploding with joy. This cute girl is holding my hand. The other part cannot help but be worried. There are a lot of people around. What if they see? What if they know? I shake it off, this is silly, no one knows or will think anything of it. Just two girls excited for camp.

When we reach number 8, she has to let go of my hand to unlock the door. I look down at it, a hand that no longer feels like mine. I look up again as Andi bounds into the room excitement and joy clear on her face. I can't help but smile as I follow her into the room.

There isn't much to the room, two twin beds with a night stand in between them and door that leads to a tiny bathroom that has a sink, toilet, and shower. I guess they figured campers in and out all the time didn't care about decorations because the only thing on any of the walls is a painting of a cabin. There is one nice feature to the room though. A window that looks right out onto the mountains. I move to the bed closest to the window and set down my backpack and my trumpet. I move around the bed sitting on the edge, I look out the window, the mountains putting me at ease.

I feel Andi sit next to me, but I keep looking out the window, not trusting myself to look at her or talk to her. This girl was having some effect on me and I needed to be careful. "Sure is pretty." I nod and risk a look at her. She isn't looking out the window but is looking at me, her head tilted just a little again. Like she is commiting my face to memory.

The blush that rises up my neck is a new feeling. I stand up quickly but realize that I have nowhere to go. With the window on one side and the bed on the other my only path is being blocked by this girl. I feel a pang of panic. It must show on my face because Andi moves quickly backwards. "I'm sorry. Are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you."

I take a deep breath, moving out of the cove I was in, now feeling embarrassed for overreacting. "No need to be sorry. Just a tiny bit claustrophobic." I smile to reassure her.

She takes a step closer, “Good. I was a little worried you didn’t like me. I thought maybe you were like me.” She takes another step closer. “Also, I heard your friend say today was your birthday.”

“L-like you?” I want to take a step back, but the pull of this girl is crazy.

She smiles, it is soft and patient. “You’re really cute. Thought so the moment I saw you. Can I give you a birthday present?” She takes the last small step leaving no space between us. Her hand reaches out and takes mine again.

“Y-yes…” Is all I can manage.

She leans in and places a soft kiss to my cheek. “It is okay to be you Shari.” I feel a tear roll down my cheek. She gently brushes it away with her thumb, smiling at me.

I look into her eyes, searching for a motive or malice and finding only...hope. I return her smile and this time I lean in placing a kiss on her lips. “Thank you.” I laugh a tiny bit as I lean back to look at her again. “Best birthday ever.”

A knock on the door and shout of, “Ten minutes be down at the field!” makes Andi jump back in surprise as we both collapse into laugher.

“This is going to be a fun camp.” Andi looks at me her smile knowing and bright.

I nod, because she is right. Band camp is a place for making amazing memories.   

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hope you liked this little short. It was really fun to write. It was a daydream that 16 year old me had often. It was not until much later I met anyone close to Andi, but thats okay. Better late than never.

All my best,
Sharebear