The night was perfect. I couldn't have hoped for more, really. I was flying all the way through and when we had all finally ended up in the tent I couldn't keep myself from grinning in the darkness. It was so bad of me, but I made sure that I ended up laid down next to him, and even though there was enough space for another person to lie between us, I was completely content.
It wasn't as though any of us brought up topics like 'who do we all like' but something definitely changed that night. There were just subtle little sentences here and there that coaxed my hopes up from the depths and I had to fight hard against my racing heart to keep them down.
"We should camp near my house, there's an old quarry which would be quite good," he suggested randomly.
"A quarry? Isn't that dangerous?" I asked, though it took some work to disguise the eagerness in my voice as concern. I tilted my head up to look at him. He lay on his back, staring at the roof of the tent. His light auburn hair was pushed away from his face and his dark eyes gazed at me every now and then, though he tried not to make it obvious.
"Nah, it's only dangerous if you go close to the edge but you could just stay down the bottom anyway. There's a big ditch that collects rain water, kind of nice really." Ryan replied, folding his arms behind his head.
"Of course it's dangerous if you go to the edge!" laughed Jake from his compartment.
"Well obviously. You know what I mean." Ryan replied.
"We should go, it sounds good," I tried to make my voice sound sleepy and unimpressed but inside I knew that I desperately hoped it would actually happen.
A short silence followed before the boys took up the previous conversation about graphics engines and new video games. I threw in my opinion here and there, and acted insulted when they teased me about the games I liked.
It was funny how when Ryan asked if anyone was going to go to sleep I said I was wide awake even though my eyes were tired and my bones completely relaxed. I didn't want to waste a moment with him.
To my disappointment the hours brought the sun up from the horizon, casting a dim blue glow on us all from outside the tent walls. I checked my phone for the time and reminded myself that there were still a few hours left.
***
"Lily fails!" I grinned as my best friend almost fell over a stone.
"Your face fails," she grumbled as she caught up with me.
I laughed a little then turned back to the view before me. The sky was a dark aqua colour, with shots of bright white cloud here and there. The sun was high in the sky making everything seem surreal. Beyond the fence was the old quarry itself, a mass of dark grey rock. The floor was a lighter shade with a somewhat warm pigment. We strode forwards and soon could see the 'lake' that Ryan had once described. The water was dark but still reflected the sky and it glittered dimly in the afternoon sun.
I turned around to the others, "When do you want to put the tent up?"
"I can't be bothered yet, we could just explore?" suggested Matthew.
"Yeah, just put the blankets out so if we can sit down if we want then Ryan can give us the grand tour" I smiled.
Ryan looked at me when he heard his name, though he didn't say anything. He'd liven up later, I told myself.
We jumped over the broken fence one by one and Ryan then lead the way to a good camping spot. There was a little climbing involved but eventually Ryan lead us to a huge flat rock that overlooked the 'lake'.
Lily and I rolled out the blankets while Jake and Matt rough-housed a few metres away. I rolled my eyes and laughed out loud before sitting cross legged on one of the blankets and looking out at the views.
The quarry was surrounded by trees although I could just make out the academy in the distance. The summer was almost over and the trees were already starting to turn a little red. Soon life would be back to normal. We'd return to our old dorms, take our usual classes and speak to the same people.
I guess I was growing a little tired of the usual.
***
The boys had managed to get a fire going. They wouldn't stop bragging actually. We all sat around its roaring flames, too tired and content to make lengthy conversation. The day had turned out as I had imagined really. It was fun, splashing each other with the 'lake' water, playing hide-and-seek amongst the rocks and somehow setting up Jake's new tent (which was easier said than done). And all this time Ryan barely registered my existence.
"Hey, have you heard that there's supposed to be night classes available at the academy now?" asked Lily.
I pulled my eyes away from the sunset and turned to shake my head at her, "Are the classes for extra-help or something?"
Lily shook her head, "It's for people who just can't make it into school in the day apparently. They're staying in the old buildings…"
"But they're horrible!" exclaimed Jake, "No one's stayed in the old dorms for years,"
"True, but they've been renovated. They're supposed to be really nice now,"
"Heh, maybe we can get ourselves a place, eh Matt?" grinned Jake, nudging Matt with his elbow.
"No-can-do. All of the places have been filled already." laughed Lily.
"Hmm…I had no idea," I muttered.