Chapter 20

JPOV

"Awww," I whispered. "That is so cute!"

Shane's jaw was down to the floor. We had been searching for Nate, and heard him and Caitlyn arguing. We'd crept up and peered inside the cabin, and to our surprise…we saw them. Close. Like half an inch close.

And guess what else??

They were kissing.

"Are you freaking serious?" Shane hissed. "I haven't even kissed a girl before. How is this fair?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, still watching them. By now, we were hidden safely in the bushes, and watching the two thirteen-year-olds with more curiosity than a cat.

"I'm almost sixteen! He's thirteen, and he's already kissed someone. Ugh. That is just not cool." Shane's face was set in a stubborn pout that was quite amusing.

"Shush," I hissed. "I want to hear what they're saying."

What do you say after your first kiss? I know in all the movies they either, a) kiss again, b) stand there quite embarrassed, c) go and talk somewhere or something or, my personal favorite, d) the dude gets slapped in the face.

At the moment, it looked like a tie between B and D…I hoped for Nate's sake Caitlyn went for A, but right now, they were just kind of staring at each other.

"Wow, they are so exciting," Shane whispered sarcastically.

"Shut up."

"What, I'm just saying?"

"Will you shut your mouth before I hurt you?" I shot back.

"Oh I'd like to see that happening," Shane retorted.

"Oh, you will," I announced.

"Bring it, bird boy!"

"Uh…guys?"

We slowly looked up to see Nate and Caitlyn looking out the window at us, expressions amused. At the same moment, Shane and I got sheepish grins on our faces.

"Oh, um, hello," I said brightly. "Did you hear us?"

"The entire time," Nate said simply. My heart sank. Dammit, I'd never make a good spy!

"Oh," Shane said.

"Oh," Caitlyn agreed, nodding.

"Well, we'll…we're just gonna…" I stuttered.

"Go…now…" Shane said slowly. We backed out of the bushes. Nate was nodding.

"Yeah, that might be a great idea," he agreed. His eyes were screaming murder at us, but the rest of his face was amused. I didn't blame him. This whole situation was like something out of a comedy movie.

"Yep," I said. "Just…gonna…go…and…get some food."

"Yeah," Nate agreed.

"Um…bye," Shane said, then grabbed my arm and pulled me away from them faster than a bullet from a gun.

"GO," he hissed. We ran all the way to the Mess Hall. Nate and Caitlyn laughed, and then we were inside.

"Wow," I said. "We just ruined the dude's first kiss."

"No we didn't," Shane said, panting slightly. "…did we?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But, wow…what a rush!" My heart was still pounding. "I mean, running in pure terror from thirteen-year-olds can give you quite an adrenaline rush, huh?"

Shane looked at me like I was crazy. I don't know why, though.

NPOV

"Wow," I said, watching my cabin mates run away. "Do they think we're deaf or something?"

"Maybe," Caitlyn said quietly. I glanced at her. Her face was red again.

"You okay?" I asked. My heart was still pounding from that kiss, my soul still singing. Caitlyn nodded.

"Yeah, fine," she said. "But…will you please, please, please tell me what's wrong?"

Damn! She hadn't forgotten.

I sighed. "Caitlyn…really, I am okay. It's really nothing. I…I don't want to burden you." I wanted to jump out the window and break my neck.

"Please?" she whispered.

I looked into her eyes and she looked back. I wanted to kiss her again, but something held me back. I knew that I should just tell her, everything, but my instincts were screaming at me to shut the hell up before I did something I regretted.

Somehow…somehow, the other part of me was begging me to tell Caitlyn. She was someone whom I could trust, I think.

"Okay," I sighed, motioning for her to sit down. "I'll tell you. But…please, don't over-react or anything. Please?"

"Okay," she said slowly, and I could see different ideas running through her mind. I knew she was jumping to worst-case scenarios, but I ignored them.

I took a deep breath…and told her everything. Every little detail, starting with my dad's death and my mother's depression. I told her about everything I went through, told her the story of Todd's dog and the bat, and showed her a bruise on my stomach. Her eyes were wide and horror filled. Yet, never once did she interrupt. I went on to tell her why I'd been sick, why I had run away a while ago, and why I didn't want to eat. I told her everything. About Mike, Todd, everything.

After I was done, almost half an hour later, she instantly grabbed me into a gentle hug, trembling.

"Oh, Nate, I'm so, so, so sorry," she gasped. "I had no idea…Parents Weekend and…you...and oh, my God I'm so sorry!" She kissed my cheek. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. I'll watch over you when they get here. And….and you know what else? You're…you're going to live with me!"

"What?" I asked, not really thinking I'd hear her right.

"Yeah, yeah, you can come live with me and my family!" she said, her eyes (if possible) growing larger. Her mouth parted in an excited smile. "We have room! You can bunk with my brothers! Oh, it'll be fun!"

She yanked me to my feet. "Please?"

"That does sound cool," I murmured, caressing her cheek with my hand. "But…I don't know, Cait. I… I feel like I can't leave my mom. Somehow…I think she needs me."

"Oh, Nate, come on!" Caitlyn exclaimed. "You can't go back there! You're treated like bullshit."

"I'll be fine," I lied. "Come on, you want to get something to eat?"

Caitlyn glowered at me, then turned and walked away. I followed.

SPOV

How…how…How the hell does Nate somehow manage to get a girl, when I've never even kissed on? Is that fair? I don't think so.

"Hey, Shane," Jason said. I didn't hear him. I was too busy in my world.

"Shane…Shane…SHANE!"

I jumped a mile, my hand landing in the cup of apple sauce. "Ugh!" I growled. "Dang it, Jason!" I wiped my hand on my napkin. "What is it?"

"I think Nate pissed Caitlyn off," Jason said, looking out the window. I looked, too, and saw Caitlyn and Nate seeming to be having a heated argument. Caitlyn stopped and crossed her arms. Nate seemed to be defending something. Caitlyn rolled her eyes and started walking. Nate sighed and followed, whispering something in her ear. She turned and he spoke again.

Finally, she smiled and hugged him. Then, they both came inside the Mess Hall.

I sighed. "Wow. I wonder what's up with them."

"I have no idea," Jason said.

The two thirteen-year-olds approached the table and sat down.

"So, I heard the song you guys wrote," Caitlyn blurted out. "I…I like it."

"Thanks," I said. "It doesn't have a name, though."

"Why not Six Minutes?"

All three of us stopped and looked at each other. I thought back to the lyrics and bit my lip.

"Hmm…" Jason said theatrically. "I like that name…"

"So do I," Nate agreed. "I had something like it in my mind, but I like hers better."

"Yeah," I agreed.

And so, our song was officially titled 6 Minutes.

"All right, camp rockers!" Uncle Brown called suddenly. "Parents Weekend is officially begun!"

All of us looked at Nate, who had gone deathly pale.

All right, another chapter. Its more of a filler and I apologize.

But I have an announcement: I am seriously considering stopping this story. It hasn't got much publicity and I'm just not sure about it anymore. If you really, truly, and honestly want me to contiune, review to tell me so, but otherwise, I think this story is going to be disbanded.

Rock 'N Roll

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-Alyssa