prologue

The thrill of rebellion pulsed through my veins as we sprinted across the campgrounds, skipping the last class of summer camp. It wasn’t just any class, it was the final gathering before everything came to an end. But that didn’t matter now.

“Miss Benita needs to get laid,” Jacob, my best friend, grumbled, his breath heavy from running. He pulled out a cigar, lighting it with a flick of his wrist before offering it to me.

“Nooo, Remember that I don't smoke,” I smirked, remembering him, for like a hundred times since we started coming into this abandoned closet to stay and have some fresh air devoid of Miss Benita and her serious vibes that follow her.

He chuckled, giving me a teasing look. “Come on, Alex. Live a little. It’s our last day of freedom.” His green eyes sparkled mischievously, and despite myself, I found it hard to resist.

Okay, but just this once,” I sighed, taking the “nutrient cigar” as he calls it hesitantly. As soon as I inhaled, a violent cough ripped through my chest, and Jacob’s laughter echoed through the abandoned closet we always snuck into.

“Little short Alex, don't worry, you will soon grow," he said, messing my hair. Doing that one thing, I always hated people doing that to my hair.

“I am not short”, I stomp my foot in anger, “I am 5.6 foot, and that's the last I checked."

“That still makes you short, see” he comes close to me, measuring our height, which he was taller. I can't help sniffing a little of his cologne. It always smells like lavender, and a mixture of his cigars he always insists that can't be found elsewhere.

I tried not to show it, but I was attracted to him. To guys in general. It wasn’t something I flaunted, but I didn’t hide it either. At my old school, I was bullied for my height, for my dad, for everything, really, making me withdraw to myself often.

My mom had sent me to this camp to help me cope with myself, but I think she just wants to get rid of me; she is not always at home, and sometimes she stays a few days away before coming back.

“Hey, hey, are you okay?” Green eyes filled my vision, and I jerked in the realization that I had blacked out.

“You did it again,” Jacob said, smiling, "Come, let's not waste our last… hours thinking of the past,” he said; I couldn't help noticing his hesitation in saying “last.”

The atmosphere became unnatural, sad, and gloomy. Today was the last we will see each other. Sometimes his bright smile made me forget that we would soon return to our homes, back to my miserable life.

“About that….” i was saying but he cut me off, catching me off guard and caging me to the wall.

“No time for that,” he said softly, coming closer to me. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

He was standing close to me, much closer than how friends were supposed to be. “Ja…cob, what's the problem? what are you doing?” I stammered,

“The problem is today is the last day of our stay in this hell hole, and probably the last we see of each other,” he said, his voice dark and husky.

“I…we can call, or maybe visit…” I was saying when his lips crashed on mine, everything else melted away.

*********end of prologue******