I looked at Jacob differently the next day, and for the rest of band camp. It was a routine, the rest of the week and next. We rose early, worked all day, went to bed too late, and again rose too early to continue the cycle.

The night before our last day of band camp, we had a dance. It was held in Building E, just like the Talent Show, and our photographer played DJ. Every year, this was probably one of the crowning things at the end of band camp. Well, the dance and our performance the next day, to show off how much you could learn in 2 weeks.

Night practice was slightly out of hand, since everyone was excited to go to the dance. We ended a little early, at 7:45 instead of 8 so we could all go to shower and change, and then go to the dance at 8:15.

I took a shower, pulled my hair back and twisted it up along my head, then put on jeans and a red shirt. My personal opinion was that I looked good in red, since it went well with my black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. No one had ever told me I looked good in it, but wasn't a girl aloud to think things like that once in a while?

When I arrived at the dance, half the band was already there. Megan came the same time as I did so we could be sure to lock the room up, and off we went. It was always fun, and this year they put strobe lights on instead of just a disco ball in the center of the dance floor. They played the recent hits, from One Direction, Train, and Maroon5, and some older ones by Michael Jackson. With those blasting our ear drums off, we all danced the night away. Somebody put on 'Call Me Maybe', and I pulled Matt with me to the dance floor. Grudgingly, he let me pull him onto the floor and we danced again. This time, people whipped phones out. Matt grimaced, but there was a banner with the sole rule of band camp written on it across the stage. 'What happens at band camp stays at band camp.' They were filming it, true, but they wouldn't post it, at least probably not. If they did, I wouldn't be there when Matt hunted them down for punishment.

Jacob and Courtney started grinding each other in the center of the floor, where the chaperones couldn't see. Envious, I looked away. Matt was conveniently in the corner by himself, so I scuttled over and bumped into his arm.

"Hey," was all I said, and he glanced at me. For once, I was glad that this shirt was a little shorter in the front. I leaned back against the wall, and a bit of my abdomen peeked out.

"Oh, um, hey Nicole." His eyes wandered just like I wanted them to. They trailed down, paused for a second near my hips, and then slowly climbed back up. I grinned at him.

"You want to dance?" He cocked his head at me, as if judging my meaning. My smile remained, becoming slightly suggestive.

Pulling me on to the dance floor, he almost instantly put his hands on my hips and turned me around. Then he grabbed my rear and pulled it into him. I'd never grinded anybody before, but did that really matter? He seemed to be an expert, and his breath was hot on my ear as he guided my hips to push back into him, hands under my shirt and chin resting on my shoulder next to my face.

When the song ended, we parted ways. Thankful that he wasn't the type of boy to get too attached over physical things, we both just walked away. The silent agreement was that this probably wouldn't be brought up again.

The dance ended a little bit after that, and I conveniently avoided Jacob until then. If he'd seen, he might be upset. I thought we'd gotten over our fighting thing. Especially since he had promised that we'd be together, just not right away. Which gave me no right to do what I had just done with Matt.

A few minutes after I'd gotten back into my room, my phone buzzed. I didn't even have to look at the name to know who it was from.

Jacob: WTF!?

Nicole: dont curse; you know i don't like it.

Jacob: shut up! i knew u & matt were 2gether. u didnt have 2 lie about it

Nicole: we rnt 2gether

Jacob: so wut was that 2nite?

Nicole: 'envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation...'- Elizabeth O'Conner

Jacob: R u saying i don't appreciate u

Nicole: i saw u & courtney

Jacob: were dating; u & matt rnt

Nicole: ur point

Jacob: pple r gonna say ur a slut

Nicole: IS IT WRONG TO WANT TO FEEL LOVED?

After that I turned my phone off. It was true, I just wanted to feel like someone cared for me the way Jacob cared for Courtney. Yeah, it was wrong to go to Matt and use him, even though he didn't mind. It was wrong to hurt Jacob and myself in the process of trying to get back at him for dating someone else. Tomorrow, the ride home was going to be horribly awkward. That was the last thing I thought before I drifted off to sleep.

We had to wake up even earlier for our last day. Because our parents were coming to watch us, we had to eat, stretch, warm up, run the show, and then get to the main stadium by nine. This meant waking up a half hour early. It was the one day I didn't go running, although I wish I could have, so I could have had some private time to think.

Even though no one wanted to be awake, we dutifully ran through everything. Breakfast, today, was last. They gave us a snack beforehand, then gave us breakfast before we marched the show for the audience. So at our final meal of band camp, Jacob hunted me down while Courtney was in the bathroom.

"So are you and Matt going to be an item or what?" Well that's a great way to start off a conversation. I glanced up from my plate and swallowed loudly before answering.

"No, it was more of a one-time thing. How about we just forget about it?" Shrugging, he nodded. After our rather interesting conversation last night, he seemed to be trying to be a bit more passive with me. Still, I felt guilty, and I put down my fork and looked him square in the eye. My voice lowered so no one would hear but him.

"Listen, I'm sorry okay? I just got really jealous. And I know it was wrong, because you promised and everything, but... I got upset." He wrapped his hand around mine and smiled, and in that moment, all was forgiven. Hopefully this would be the final argument and final apology of the season. I wouldn't be able to deal with all of this drama once school started. Keeping my grades up, doing jazz band on Mondays and pep band on Wednesdays was not going to be easy, plus band practice on Tuesday and Thursday with football games on Friday. But somehow, hopefully, I'd be able to work this entire thing out.

When we performed, I didn't bother scanning the crowd to look for my parents. I knew they wouldn't be there, which was expected but still disappointing. They'd never come, and just because I was drum major didn't mean they would come this time. I saw Megan's parents though, and they waved at me just like they waved at her. What I would give to switch families.

Matt conducted 'Ruslan and Ludmilla' and 'CS', which were the opener and closer songs. I got the middle song, 'Nessun Dorma'. This meant we had to change podiums twice, which was rather annoying, but it would be okay. Since he was head drum major, he got to pick which songs he conducted anyway. If he wanted the opener and closer, who was I to object?

All things considered, it didn't go terribly. There were plenty of lines and diagonals that weren't dressed, and dots that weren't hit. I messed up at the end of 'CS', which was a little embarrassing. But we were all human, and prone to mistakes.

Jacob and I packed up and left after that. Megan kissed my cheek and we promised the same thing we always did: that we'd room together the next year. Like one of us would, could, live with someone else for two weeks.

Although I had planned to talk with Jacob on the ride back, I ended up falling asleep. He didn't seem to mind though. If I could sleep on a band bus, I could sleep easily in a car, especially a quite one.

He woke me up when we pulled into my house in North Royalton. His house was about 15 minutes from mine in Strongsville, and both of us were twenty minutes from the school. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, so my parents were home. They smiled when I opened the door and my Dad got my bag from Jacob's car.

"Nicole, you're back! How was camp?" My mother gave me a short hug and nodded to Jacob, who was standing in the doorway.

"It was great. I wish you could have come to the show today, it went pretty well for our first performance." She smiled tightly at me, and luckily my dad came in the door.

"We're glad your back, Nikki. The house is too quiet when you're gone." I made a face at my nickname and shrugged. Dad turned to Jacob.

"It was nice of you to drive her there and back, thanks so much. Here's some money for gas." He pulled a $100 bill from his pocket, and Jacob looking at it for a second before giving me a hug and leaving. It got too awkward with my parents and us in the room.

I went to my room as soon as I could pull away from my parents. They were Skyping with my grandparents in China anyway. Unpacking went pretty quickly since I just put everything in the washing machine, poured some detergent in, put everything with warm water, and hit start.

Even though I slept in the car for two hours, I was still tired, and went to take a nap. My mom had come in and cleaned while I was gone, which was annoying. But at least I wouldn't have to do it now. Either way, I was tired. And even though my sheets smelled like detergent, at least it didn't smell the floor wax from Allegheny.