Night had fallen like the winter snow. Tonight Cabin 12 had access to the camp fire, which was a really good starting point. Packs of marshmallows were yearning to be opened for the first time.

Evan, Rose, Johnny, Abigail, Dan, and Phil all gathered around staring at the flame as if they'd never seen anything like it prior.

"So.. Do we sing?" Abigail asked.

"Please... Of course not! We tell scary stories!" Evan teased.

"I don't know.. maybe we can just make some s'mores and go back to our room." Johnny suggested.

Phil laughed.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"We could play would you rather." Rose stated.

"I'll one up you, Truth or Dare." Evan tried.

Last summer when they'd all played truth or dare it hadn't ended well. Bugs were everywhere.

"Fine.. but no bug dares this time!" Dan said.

"No bug dares." Evan agreed.

Everyone looked around the circle waiting for someone to start. The silence was broken when Rose opened up one of the bags of marshmallows.

"I'll go first.." Abigail offered.

She searched the circle for her first victim of the game.

"Evan, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to confess your love for miss Lily over the Camp radio tomorrow."

"What? That's sick and impossible!" Evan argued.

"Jeremy will let you, and don't tell me you think you actually have a chance with Lily who, might I remind you, is a counselor not a camper."

"Fine." He settled. He too, took his time allowing his eyes to roam the circle in search for who would go next. "Johnny, truth or dare."

Dan could feel the tension in his chest rising. He hoped to god he wouldn't be picked by Johnny. Despite being the most reserved in the group, Johnny was the most perverted.

"Truth."

"Do you really have a girl back at home or was that a lie?"

Johnny looked offended.

"Olivia is real!"

"Are you sure buddy? This is your one out."

"She's fucking real man."

Dan took a breath as he awaited Johnny's decision.

"Phil, truth or dare."

Relief washed over Dan's body.

"Dare."

"I dare you to skinny dip in the lake with Dan."

Rose and Evan began giggling while visible shock portrayed itself on Phil's face, freezing him as he was.

'Shit.'

Dan's gaze snapped over to Johnny agitated.

"That's not fair! It's not my dare!" He argued.

"Well how about no one picks Dan for another round if he does this. That equals to two missed rounds of potential secret spilling or sexual acts."

He thought it over for a second before agreeing. Phil remained silent but stood up, ready to go.

The group walked together to the pond nearby that was neatly covered by a small forest like area. Evan carried a lantern to guide the group and to make sure Dan and Phil actually did it.

Luckily, the air was rather warm, meaning that the pond was probably warm as well.

"Okay you two, strippy strippy!" Abigail called out.

Dan shot Phil a look of panic. Phil shrugged and pulled off his shirt as if it were no big deal. It was true that they had seen each other naked before, but now it was different. Puberty had changed things and being naked in front of your friend was awkward.

Dan tugged off his shirt and quickly undid his pants, sliding them off of his body. He wanted this to be over as soon as possible. He stole a glance at Phil and for a moment allowed the thought of how hot Phil looked slip into his mind before he quickly kicked it away.

"Ready?" Phil mumbled.

"I guess." Dan said, struggling to not look at Phil or down.

Together, they slowly inched their bodies into the water that was colder than previously expected.

"My toes are going numb." Phil laughed.

"Mine too."

"Give me your hand."

"What?" Dan shivered.

"It's cold... body heat man." Phil explained.

"Oh. Yeah."

Dan took Phil's hand that was shaking almost as bad as his own. If he weren't so cold, Dan might have found that peaceful moment to be more than it was.

The pair heard the roaring laughter from the land and decided that the dare was done and it was time to head back.

Unfortunately for Dan, that had been the last dare before a counselor came by and shouted at the group for leaving a campfire unattended. It was a blessing she didn't notice how drenched some of the campers were, and if she did notice, she didn't mention it.

Back in the cabin, while the others whispered of funny tales and debated stupid topics, Dan remained quiet. He couldn't help but think about how Phil looked and sounded. The touch of their hands.

It was normal to think about your friends, but like this? This almost felt like a crush. But on his best friend? On Phil Lester, queen bee, the ultimate socialite of camp? No.

The talking had ceased and that was enough of an indicated for Dan to know it was late. Far too late to be thinking about such absurd things like having a crush on your friend.

"Is anyone still up?" Dan asked, not really expecting an answer.

His expectations were met with the everlasting silence of sleeping people. Dan tried to get to sleep, closing his eyes and listening to the sounds of night. He could hear everyone breathing and some snoring. He'd wished he'd gone to sleep while they were whispering. Snoring was the most annoying thing.

"You can't." A raspy voice spoke.

Dan's eyes snapped back open.

"Hello?"

There was no answer. Dan waited another minute and was rewarded with another short phrase.

"I won't."

It was coming from above him. He came to the conclusion that Phil was sleep talking. He did that sometimes at sleepovers and Dan liked to use it to his advantage. He realized that whatever questions he asked Phil, he would be 100% truthful and it was a great way of finding out information he needed to know or get advice from his best friend without the fear of being judged.

"You won't what Phil?" Dan whispered to his sleeping friend.

"I can't."

Dan laughed quietly at the thought of whatever dream Phil was having. He'd have to ask him in the morning.

"Dan." Phil muttered.

"What?" He asked, wondering if Phil had woken up.

"You know we can't."

Confusion washed over Dan's body. Phil's dream was intriguing him.

"We can't do what?"

"Shhhh." Phil hushed, falling silent for the night.

The room became quiet aside from the breathing of five other people. The snoring had ceased. However perplexed he was, Dan was still incredibly tired and allowed the darkness to steal his consciousness for the night.

The trumpet sounded at 7am Tuesday morning. An hour later than the previous morning thanks to there being no class.

Even with the hour difference, Dan still felt like he was waking up from a decade long nap. He crawled out of bed, thanking his past self that he'd chosen the bottom bunk.

The activity for today was to go canoeing. Dan wasn't really excited for this, as he really didn't want to get wet, but it was better than playing football. Really it was better than playing any sport.

Everyone else seemed to be following in Dan's steps as he dragged himself out of bed and dressed in a swimsuit and t-shirt. Rose and Abigail, however, insisted on changing in the bathrooms, causing the rest of the group to wait outside for the two to be dressed.

"This is why they don't usually have co-ed cabins." Evan complained.

"Shut up, you love us." Abigail sang.

By the time the gang had reached the boats, most of them were taken.

"Do you have three two personers?" Rose asked one of the counselors in charge.

"Um, sorry.. I have two of the two person boats and a one person canoe that you could probably squeeze two people into if you promise to paddle safely."

The counselor flashed an apologetic smile. Dan felt himself about to object and request they wait for another two person canoe when Johnny stepped up before he had the chance.

"We'll take it."

The six of them took the canoes down to the river and prepared to leave for the time allowed with the boats.

"Wait, who's sharing the one personer?" Rose questioned.

"I think you and Abigail should.. Don't girls like to do that kind of stuff?" Evan teased.

She punched his shoulder lightly.

"What about you and Johnny?"

"Johnny has a girlfriend. Who knows what she'll get jealous of." Evan retorted.

"Well Phil is best friends with Dan. Maybe they should go together.. I mean they share everything anyways, why not a canoe?" Rose joked.

Somehow this suggestion based on teasing became the only choice Dan and Phil were given.

Dan slipped in first, hoping this wouldn't be as bad as the others made it out to be. He felt the boat tip slightly as Phil stepped inside as well, adjusting his legs around Dan to make for a tight fit.

He could feel Phil's breath on his neck as he used his paddle to push off of the sandy area the canoe had been docked.

"I don't know what to do with my hands." Phil admitted.

Dan laughed.

"You can do whatever you want Phil.. I don't care. At this point any public dignity I have is already in the wind. I mean for real, your crotch is right at my rear Phil."

He could practically sense the eye roll that was behind him.

"I can't help it.. do you know how small this thing is?" Phil defended.

"Are you talking about your crotch region or the boat?"

"Obviously the boat, Dan."

The tone in Phil's voice was deeper than usual. There was no denying that it gave Dan a tingling sensation in his stomach.

"Did you dream about me last night?" Dan asked, realizing it sounded suggestive only after he'd said it.

"What?"

"I heard you say my name while you were asleep. You also said some things like 'you can't' and some other stuff." Dan elaborated.

"I really don't know... I'm sorry." Phil said.

He was lying. They had been friends long enough for Dan to be able to tell if Phil was telling the truth or not and this was without a doubt a 'not' situation. The faint waver in his voice was especially easy to point out with Phil's face right behind his head.

Dan didn't point it out. If Phil wasn't telling him something, it must be for a good reason.

Like how Dan wasn't telling Phil that he wasn't quite sure of if he liked cheerleaders or girls in general. He did feel bad about it though. They would share everything, but with secrets being kept, this friendship would fall apart, and Dan knew that he couldn't keep quiet for much longer.