Three days later….

It was the last day of camp, and Katie was feeling good. Good, but emotional. She was looking forward to seeing her family again, but she was going to miss Camp Lilia, the lessons she'd learned and the friends she'd made. As she walked through camp for the last time, hugging friends and thanking counselors and coaches, she knew that memories of the last two weeks would linger for a very long time.

Carmen walked up to her and gave her a warm hug. 'So your brother's really not coming?' she teased.

Katie laughed. 'You just don't give up, do you?'

'No, I don't. And now you owe me – we have to get together again so that I can meet the amazing Jack.'

'Just so you can meet Jack?' Katie teased.

'Oh okay, it'll be nice to see you again too,' Carmen retorted, 'you're not so bad, Katya.'

'Neither are you, Carmen. Text me when you get home.'

'I will.'

As Carmen moved on to talk to another friend, Katie spotted Shane, the drama coach. She thought about the silly fantasy she'd entertained of him confessing his romantic feelings to her on the last day of camp. She knew it wasn't going to happen, and she had come to realize over the past week that what she felt for Shane really was just a crush, one that would fade with time. She still thought he was great-looking, and smart and charismatic, but the personal attachment she had formed in her head was already fading away.

'Hi Shane,' she said, as she approached him, holding out her hand.

He took it and shook it. 'Good luck, Katya. You have natural talent – keep working at it.'

'Thanks Shane, I will.'

Later, she would wonder if was a moment of madness, or the newly-discovered courage that the incident with her tormentors had brought to the fore, or maybe just the fact that she knew she probably would not see Shane again. Whatever it was, after standing there silently for a moment, she went for it. 'You know something, Shane? I really liked you,' she asked.

'Thanks,' Shane replied, looking slightly uncomfortable, 'I like you too. I like all of you kids.'

Katie shook her head. 'No, I mean, I liked you liked you.'

Shane paused. 'Okay… what's with the past tense? Did I do something wrong?'

'No, I guess I just… wised up and realized there wasn't really a future there.'

'Uh, Katya…'

'Don't say anything,' she cut in quickly, 'Forget I said any of that. Anyway, I've got to go. My folks will be here any minute.'

She started to back away, thinking to herself that she must've completely lost her mind, when Shane spoke up again. 'Hey Katya, you're really talented and beautiful and someday –'

'And someday I'm going to meet the right guy and he'll make me very happy, blah blah,' Katie completed, rolling her eyes. 'I know the drill, Shane – I just… I guess I just wanted you to know.'

'That's not what I was going to say. I was going to say that someday you'll be incredibly accomplished and respected, and I'll be very proud to have witnessed some small part of your growth.'

Katie looked down at her feet. 'Thanks.' Impulsively, she went on, 'You know, my big sister Mattie met her husband at camp.'

Shane grinned. 'I'll bet she wasn't fifteen when that happened.'

Katie smiled back. 'I'm sixteen. But yeah, I get your point. I just – well, I want you know that I won't forget you.'

'Yes you will,' Shane negated softly, with a rueful smile.

'Wait and see,' Katie replied, 'I'm going to mention you in an interview someday. "The drama coach I had a secret crush on" – or at least it was secret until I told you about it'. A smile spread across her face as she saw a familiar vehicle enter the campsite. 'Anyway, my mom and dad are here. Bye Shane.'

'Goodbye Katya. Listen, maybe we should exchange email addresses or something. I mean, you never know – '

Katie thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. Some things were better left alone. 'I have to go.'

As she backed away, waving, Shane hastily said, 'Well, at least take mine, it's - '

Katie missed the rest as she ran towards her parents' car, pretending not to hear Shane. Something about the idea of maintaining contact with him, even if it was just harmless emails, made her uneasy. She exchanged long hugs with her parents as they stepped out on to the campsite. Questions and answers ran into one another as they talked.

'Who's that guy you were talking to?' Harm asked, as soon as the usual enquiries were out of the way.

Katie rolled her eyes. 'Don't start, Daddy. That was just the drama coach. You and Mom met him on the first day, remember? The Australian guy.'

Harm's eyes narrowed. 'Yeah, but I don't recall him being quite so young.'

Katie laughed. 'Daddy! Let's get out of here, you guys. I've missed you so much, and I have so much to tell you.'

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. This is the end of the story, but there will be a short epilogue.