Chapter 10

Mel's POV

We kept on playing the game for about ten more minutes (more or less).

It was fun, Chloe dared me to strip one of my clothes off every time I ask, and when someone asks me a question.

I had already taken off the beanie and scarf Tristan gave me, along with my boots and socks.

We were interrupted by cheers outside. They were all laughing and hooting, we all peeked out the tent to check what's happening.

James with his other goons had hung ropes on the tree branches, and practically everyone was swinging and diving into the lake. They were also playing some upbeat music that I can't quite tell if it's pop or rock. All I know is that it's ear-shattering.

If dryads do exist, we're all probably tied to the trees and gagged with leaves for messing with quietness.

Despite the awful music, my intoxicated self turned away from me.

Next thing I know, we were all running towards the lake, leaving a trail of our clothes.

"Y'all, I'm beat," Ollie exhales while laying on his side of the tent.

"Me either," I sigh, folding my dirty clothes along with the wet towel I used earlier to dry myself after swimming in the lake.

No one mentioned swimming or anything, but I still brought extra clothes and underwear.

I'm always ready. 

Chloe's still out there, probably with Ace.

I'm glad that they get along somehow. It's a sign I should play matchmaker more often.

It was nearly midnight, all of us are tired of swimming and partying. Some decided to go home, while some decided to spend the night here and sleep in their tents.

The awful music's toned down, you can only hear the subtle talking of the students outside.

"It's quiet," I comment.

"Wait 'til you hear moans in the middle of the night." Ollie says with a scandalous tone and I roll my eyes.

I kept on organizing my stuff when my mind drifts back to Ace and Chloe once again.

Ace is practically one of my friends now. I kept on teasing him earlier about being a wuss since he keeps on picking truth.

Chloe's a sweet person. She just says the wrong things sometimes. But I hope Ace will see more than that.

I really should play matchmaker more often.

I finished fixing my stuff and put them all in the corner of the tent, ready to sleep.

Just in time for Chloe to enter the tent, sobbing.

Ace's POV

"Ace, you're not gonna come swim with us?" Chloe asks, already in her underwear, ready to jump into the lake.

"No, you guys go ahead," I tell her and she nods giving me a small smile.

"Wuss!" Mel shouts from the tree, she's holding onto the rope and swung herself before letting go, hugging both her legs to her chest and landing in the lake. She goes back to the surface, laughing, exchanging high-fives with Tristan.

"Come on man, don't be such a killjoy!" Tristan says, and I raise my middle finger up at him.

"Yeah!" Paul and Zeke shout in unison.

"Fine, fine!" I exclaimed, raising both of my hands in surrender.

I took my shirt off, backed up a bit, and quickly ran towards the tree, grabbed the rope, swung and landed into the lake.

I swam to the surface and they were all cheering.

"He's not a wuss anymore!" Mel shouts and they cheer louder.

I shake my head, smiling before I did an exaggerated bow, and they all laugh.

After a few more hours of swimming, eating, and drinking, Tristan, Paul, Zeke, and I went back to our tents and changed clothes. We expected something like this so we brought extras.

I wore a white shirt and a hoodie, black casual beach shorts, and flip flops.

I went out for some air and sat on the logs. Chloe sat beside me, after a short while she asked,

"You wanna go for a walk?"

"Sure,"

We both stood up and started walking in a random direction.

I tried to put my interest and attention to her, but I always get side-tracked and distracted by something else.

You mean someone else.

Wuss!

"You don't like me, do you?" Chloe suddenly asks.

Of course, I was surprised by her question.

Other than that, I didn't know what to tell her.

I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

"I see nothing more of you as a friend, Chloe,"

"So you don't like me?"

"No, I don't like you, not in that way." I simply say.

"If you're not attracted to me whatsoever, then why did you pretend to be interested in me in the first place?" She asks, her voice breaking, avoiding eye contact.

"Mel told me to."

She looks at me.

"What?"

"She was sure that I might end up liking you because you're you, but-"

"But she's wrong." She finishes my sentence.

"Don't be mad at Mel," I plead.

"I won't," She gives me a sad smile.

Chloe's a nice person, don't get me wrong. I'm just not attracted to her. 

"I hope we can stay friends, though," I say, turning to her.

"Yeah, friends," She takes in a deep breath and gives me a small smile.

"I'm gonna go," She says, looking down and quickly walks back to their tent. 

Mel's POV

"What happened, Chloe?" I ask, putting my hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Ollie asks, sitting up.

"I don't wanna talk about it," She shakes her head.

"We're here if you wanna talk," Ollie says, lightly combing her hair.

"Just rest for now," I tell her as she lies down.

I know who to ask.

"Stay here," I whisper to Ollie and quickly went outside, leaving him confused.

I'm supposed to be resting since I'm a hundred percent intoxicated from the amount of gin I consumed earlier, my head hurts, and I'm cold.

I'm only wearing a tank top and summer shorts for crying out loud.

I looked around, searching for a certain face and he was there, right by the fire, sitting on the logs.

I sat beside him and asked,

"What happened?"

"I'm sorry Mel," He says.

"What do you mean? What are you apologizing for?"

"I told her that I don't like her," He says.

What?

"If you didn't like her, then why did you said 'Fine' to me back at my house?"

"You had hope in your eyes," He answers.

"I didn't want to disappoint you," He adds.

Great, now I feel bad.

"I'm sorry too," I say.

"For?" He looks at me with furrowed brows.

"I forced you guys," I answer.

"You should have told me, Ace," I tell him.

He takes in a deep breath and sighs.

Oh shit, I'm so cold right now. 

"Are you okay?" He asks me.

I nod.

"You're shivering." He says.

"I'm gonna go back," I say, standing up,

"Here, take this with you," He takes off his hoodie and gives it to me.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Ace," I tell him, slowly shaking my head.

"Why not? You wanna catch a cold or something?"

"Chloe," I frown.

"I insist, Melannie."

I sigh and I take the hoodie from him and put it on.

"Thanks," I give him a small smile and walk away.