I found this chapter pretty easy to write. This has been my intention since well...just read...and you'll see...but anyways a lot of this is going to be important in some way later on. So there is a reason I'm making a big deal about it.

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Chapter 26

The rest of the camping trip went pretty smoothly. We had some light rain on the third day and it made everything very muddy. The last two days was spent doing a lot of hiking and fishing. We even did a little canoeing down the river into the valley. It didn't look like the same valley I saw the sun rise from. Though, nevertheless it was still beautiful. I must have taken a thousand pictures. I was so pleased with the scenery. Though all the sleeping on the ground was killing my back. By the fourth day I couldn't even move. I was so sore from the sleeping mixed with all the hiking. I hadn't realized I was that out of shape. I swore I would have to start jogging or something regularly when we got back home. We spent the last night sleeping outside the tents under the stars. The sky was so clear, I swore I could see galaxies. I didn't want to go home. I never wanted to leave this place. I wanted to move here, in a house of course, and watch the sunrise from the cliff every morning. We took our time packing on that Monday. We had everything packed and loaded into the van by noon and we were off home. According to Dylan it was my turn to sit in the front seat with Mr. Michalchuk. I didn't mind though. We spent the entire ride home talking about the trip and how wonderful it was.

"I am definitely looking forward to next year." Mr. Michalchuk said, "Are you?"

I hadn't even thought about next year, though I was looking forward to it, "I'm excited." I replied.

It was a long drive and we didn't get home until well into the evening. I was so tired. Mr. Michalchuk, Dylan, and I all agreed to unload the van in the morning after we all had a full eight hour sleep. I didn't have class until the afternoon the next day and neither did Dylan. He would leave back for University first thing in the morning. It felt to so good to just crash on a bad again. It was so comfy and comparing it my sleep on the forest floor, that night was the best sleep I had ever had.

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The next two months, to my surprise, went by fairly quickly. I was surprised to find myself in early May. My classes had been going fairly well and Ellie and I were still doing okay. We pretty much hung whenever we could. We would be constantly doing homework or just talking about nothing. I had been thinking a lot lately about my conversation with Dylan and about going for it with Ellie. I had been thinking about kissing her a lot lately too. I wondered what she would feel like and taste like. It had really been the first time I had actually tried to picture myself with Ellie. Kind of like the same way I would picture myself with Paige when I had been crushing on her back in high school. My feelings for Ellie still weren't anywhere near as strong as my feelings for Paige had been. I wasn't even unsure of my feelings for Paige at the moment.

I had developed all my pictures from the camping trip and was extremely pleased with all of them. I picked my ten top favorites and added them to my portfolio for my photography class. During one session Eve had slipped me a note in my portfolio to meet with her after class. I wasn't sure why and was a little antsy. After class was let out I stayed behind in my seat waiting for everyone to clear out. I was a little nervous and I wasn't sure why. Eve was at her desk looking over some papers. I sat in silence. I didn't want to interrupt her. I waited for her to notice me. She finally looked up as if she had expected me to be there all along.

"Such a shy one, Alex." She smiled, "Come and bring your portfolio."

I did as she said walking to her desk with my portfolio in hand.

"Take a seat." She said pointing to an empty chair close to her desk.

"Alex, I normally don't do this with my beginning students but I have watched your work over this semester and you really are an amazing photographer. Every semester I usually select a few students from my advanced class to come and intern for me at my studio. We do a lot of photo shoots and such, be we also do landscape as well."

I was hanging on to every word she was saying. I was slowly beginning to see where she was going with this.

"And your work is honestly phenomenal. I was looking through these photos of the sun rise over the mountains and the deer. Alex, these are just really amazing."

I could see she was at a loss for words and it completely flattered me. I didn't even know what to think. My work had actually made Eve speechless.

"Alex, what I'm trying to say," She finally decided to get to the point, "I'm offering you a chance to be an intern. Do you want it?" She said bluntly.

I was speechless. My mind raced with thoughts but they moved so fast I couldn't understand any of them.

"Yes." I finally said. It was blunt and my voice was full of disbelief. "Yes, I want to." I said again nodding my head eagerly. I felt like a child but a very happy one.

I could see the smile on her face widen, "Wonderful."

I returned the smile. I was so excited to be offered this, no one had every offered me anything before.

"So, it will basically be like a class next semester. Plus you get units for it." She said running over the process.

"Great." I said, I was trying not to sound like a bumbling excited idiot. But that's how I felt. Eve was still looking through my portfolio.

"You know Alex, you really have some talent my friend." She said, "These pictures are wonderful. I was showing them to my girlfriend last night and she just loved them."

"Your girlfriend?" I said suddenly. Eve's face went blank. I could she was quickly trying to gage the situation.

"Alex, I'm a lesbian." She seemed to be admitting it as if I had caught her. Eve's voice sounded concerned as if I might scold her, "Is that a problem?" She asked

"No." I said looking at my feet, "So am I." My voice was suddenly cocky. I usually didn't have to admit to being gay, most people just kind figured it out when I started dating Paige.

Eve gave off a smile of disbelief. "Really?" She questioned. She seemed extremely intrigued and I suddenly felt as if I would have to explain myself.

"Boys suck." I joked and she sighed.

"Confused?" She asked eyeing me closely now.

"I'm sure." I tried to smile back. Eve nodded.

"I hadn't expected that." She said folding her arms across her chest and leaning back in her chair, "Well Alex, if you ever have any questions or need someone to talk to who will understand. I'm here for you."

"I like this girl." I suddenly spat out. I didn't know why. I just needed to talk to someone who didn't already have an inside perspective in this situation. Eve seemed to be listening to me intensely. I continued.

"But she's completely straight." Eve sighed at my remark like she had been there before. "Were like best friends but lately my feelings for her are..." I was looking for the word, "Intensifying." The only word I could think of that could remotely describe how I felt. Eve looked like she was about to say something, but I decided I hadn't finished yet.

"But there is this other girl...that I have feelings for. I've liked her for a long time now. I can't seem to get over her." I finished.

Eve gave off a small laugh, "I like your word choice. You like one girl but you have feelings for the other." I couldn't help but chuckle at her observation.

"Is this other girl...?" She didn't have to finish the sentence.

"She's my ex." I answered.

"So you were in a relationship with her."

"Yes." I replied.

"Are you two still friends?"

"I dunno." I said. Eve looked confused.

"She's away at University and I'm living with her parents right now." Eve's facial expression didn't change, "Long story." I said.

Eve seemed to accept this answer.

"Okay, and this other girl?" She asked gesturing her hand for me to continue.

"I dunno. I just like her. Like, like her like her. But I know we will never actually be..." I didn't finish. I couldn't, "But that doesn't bother me. I just...I guess...I'm not exactly sure of my feelings for her or the other girl."

"Well, understanding your feelings are hard. I think deep down we are never really know exactly how we feel. I think we spend to much time labeling out feelings and ourselves. My advice to you is, don't try to understand your feelings, let your feelings lead you. I promise, they will lead you in the right direction."

I smiled at her. Eve really was wonderful.

"You know Alex," She said with a huge smile on her face, "If only I were fifteen years younger, not your teacher, and single." She laughed. I knew she was kidding and I couldn't help but laughed too.

"Thanks for the advice." I replied, I had really meant it. I got up to leave when Eve spoke.

"So, this girl you have feelings for?" I turned to look at her, "What kind of girl is she?" I could see Eve was very interested in what my type was and I found it amusing.

"Oh, you know, the usual, the blonde head cheerleader, most popular girl in school type." I said rolling my eyes playfully.

"Seriously?" She demanded.

My eyes opened wide and my voice got stern, "Seriously."

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Okay, so this chapter wasn't hugely important...but important nevertheless...anyways..I'm getting extremely close to brining Paige back now. The next chapter or two will be a build up for her...I just haven't decided how I'm going to break the next few things down...but she should be making her way into the story in no less than 3 chapters.