It didn't take too long for Matthew to put all his luggage in place. His hands worked while his mind was elsewhere. He wasn't thinking about anything in particular, he just wasn't there. By habit, he retreated into the back of his mind when he needed to recharge.
He pushed his bags under the bed and pushed himself off of the floor and flopped bonelessly on the bed. He stared up, watching the dust particles dance in the golden glow streaking across the room.
The push on his neck ached a little as he strained his head up. Where was his phone again? Matthew lazily reached his hand behind in and felt along the window where Kuma and other essentials were sitting. He felt his phone and snagged it. From his lazy position on the bed, he angled his camera to fit in the cabin and the golden hour glow. It was pretty. And when Papa asked him to describe every little detail Matthew would be able to show him the picture and complain about the heat and it would be like Papa was there with him.
He let his arm fall down and he passed his phone to Kuma. He was content to just rest there and listen to the sounds of summer. Bugs buzzing and humming in the trees surrounding. Distant and occasional shouts from other campers far away. The shower running in the other room.
Matthew decided he'd stay like this until the shower was free. Cringing at the way his shirt stuck to him in some places, he knew he needed it. Oh great, he really hoped that no one else had noticed. He really really hoped there weren't any massive dark patches and hoped above anything he didn't smell.
When the water had been shut off, Yao certainly took his time. Matthew supposed it was because he didn't know someone was out here waiting, but he wasn't in any hurry to tell him. He was content to watch the particles sway in the air above him while zoning out. This peace surely wouldn't last long once curfew rolled around and the other excited teens were confined in this cabin for the night.
Eventually, the bathroom door clicked and Yao stepped out. No doubt he took so long on account of his hair, which was plastered onto his neck and shirt. It looked uncomfortable but at least the heat would take care of it in minutes.
Yao didn't seem to notice he wasn't alone. Matthew felt awkward knowing that if he moved he'd have to socialise again -stressful to think about with so many unknowns, but he couldn't stay still and just lay there.
Or maybe he could. All he had to do was stay perfectly still and he wouldn't draw attention to himself. And if Yao did spot him, he could just close his eyes and pretend to be sleeping- which would be the only socially acceptable way to be there and not interact like expected.
But he knew he couldn't do that. It felt too cowardly and Matthew didn't have a reputation here yet.
One thing at a time. He pushed himself up on the bed like he had just been snapped into motion by Yao suddenly coming into the room or maybe he was sleeping and woke up.
Yao grabbed his phone but almost dropped it from shock and let out a startled noise.
"Ah, I didn't mean to fall asleep," Matthew explained, hoping his delivery would pass as normal dialogue and a reasonable thing to say.
"Sorry I woke you up," Yao replied sounding genuinely sorry. Matthew tried not to feel guilty.
"Well, I just spooked you so I guess we're even and neither of us should be sorry..." he forced himself to trail off before he started rambling. He felt obliged to keep talking and keep the conversation going but he was tired and wanted to shower.
"If anything I should thank you for waking me up because I wanted the shower."
As Matthew grabbed his stuff and made a beeline to the bathroom.
"Is that bear yours?"
Matthew, in his haste to leave before he made things worse, almost asked 'what bear'?
"Yeah?" he said apprehensively and cringed how it came out more as a question.
"It's very cute," Yao said sincerely, catching Matthew by surprise.
"Thanks."
He risked a look at Yao to see him with his arms above his head and holding fistfuls of hair with a hair tie in his mouth as he alternated what side he was plaiting. Matthew moved to ask if he needed assistance but stopped himself.
If someone offered help to Matthew and they weren't friends he knew he'd turn them down. But maybe that was just him, and maybe offering would help him make friends. At least he could ask?
"Did you want some help with that?" Matthew tried to gesture with his arms full and felt awkward. "My Papa has long hair and sometimes I do it up for him and I'm just okay at it not really amazing or anything but if you're just putting it up for the night then I guess it'd do?"
Maybe he shouldn't have asked. His face was burning and he just felt like an idiot.
"Yes please," Yao groaned and dropped his hands, causing the second plait to fall out. "I can never get them even and it's stupid but so annoying."
"Oh yeah, I can be a bit of a perfectionist and it bothers me when I can't get my Papa's hair right. Not that it bothers him though." Matthew dumped his load on Yao's bed and crawled behind him. He carefully took Yao's mostly dry hair and tried his best to make it match the other plait.
"How long is your Papa's hair?" Yao inquired as he fiddled with a hair tie.
"It reaches his shoulders. Nowhere near as long as yours though." Matthew was glad he said something right when Yao laughed.
"I don't think anyone's is."
Matthew finished off the plait and tied it off contently. Yao reached back and thanked him while comparing it to the other one. He tried not to be awkward when he told him he did a good job. After saying 'you're welcome' a couple of times when Yao kept insisting the plaits were perfect and not knowing what else to say, Matthew excused himself to take a shower.
He locked the door behind him and spread his stuff out on the counter as he replayed what just happened in his head. As far as he knew he didn't make any mistakes in that interaction, and hopefully he and Yao were on good terms. Maybe on the road to being friends? Matthew resolved to not think about it right now. He was both physically and mentally tired from the long, socially taxing day and taking a nice cool shower was the only thing he wanted to do. After a moment to get the water temperature just right, he stood under the spray and got to work. He didn't want to take too long, just in case someone else wanted to shower or someone thought he was hogging the bathroom. So he went through the motions of doing everything he needed to do. It wasn't long before he was stepping out and turning the water off.
Stuffing his gross clothes in a plastic bag -he remembered seeing a laundry on the map and presumably he'd wash his clothes there- he put on some fresh clothes and checked his appearance in the mirror.
His hair, while not as long as Papa's and definitely not Yao's, was slightly darkened from where it was still damp and curling around his chin. He really liked his hair and in his opinion, it was the perfect length to look good and take care of. There was a really long strand that never sat down bouncing around in front of him, reminding him of Papa calling it endearing. But sometimes Matthew found it annoying so he tucked it behind his ear.
After rubbing moisturiser and facial creams on his face, he laid deodorant on thick just to make sure he really didn't stink. But not to thick that he would suffocate his cabinmates, hopefully. The air inside the bathroom was becoming a bit too stuffy so Matthew tidied his stuff and stepped outside.
He was grateful for the empty cabin. The sun had gone down outside but the sky was still vibrant with pink and orange. The air was still warm, but not overbearingly so like during the day. A pleasant kind of warm, warm enough to dry the rest of his hair for him.
He packed away his supplies and kicked the plastic bag under the bed before flopping down and smooshing his face into the covers. He knew better than to fall asleep when his cabin mates would come back soon and wake him, but everything was perfect and the post-shower comfort soothed his skin, leaving him refreshed and relaxed. Closing his eyes for a little bit wouldn't hurt.
His whole body jolted in shock as his ringtone started unexpectedly. His heart was hammering as he jumped up and quickly located the source. He already knew who it was before the even saw the screen.
"Hello Papa."
"Hello Matthieu~!"
His Papa's voice was full of endearment as his greeting quickly got off track and dissolved into sweet objectives and terms of endearment in both English and French. Matthew was used to this and just let him get it out of his system. After all, it had been a whole day since and they both missed each other.
"Matthieu! You must tell me everything! How was the drive over? Roderich will not stop complaining about his back- But that's old news, tell me about the camp. Is it as pretty as the photos? Is the food nice? I bet it's nothing compared to my cooking! Where are you staying? Did you talk to someone? Have you made any friends?"
His brain locked up with all the overwhelming interrogating and all that came out was a stutter. It took a couple of moments for his Papa to calm down and ask one question at a time, a random assortment of questions and Matthew did his best to answer in detailed descriptions.
When his Papa asked if he managed to introduce himself to his cabin mates, Matthew had to hold the phone away as his Papa's overjoyed shriek made him flinch.
"I'm so proud of you Matthieu! I know it's scary but you can do it! Just keep being friendly and you'll make friends soon enough! Oh, is the camp just as beautiful as the photos? It looked so picturesque, I'm sure it's much better in person."
"Yeah, it um, looks much nicer in person...I can send you photos?"
"Yes, send me them all- non! Only send the best ones I wouldn't want you to use all of your data. Non -save them all and make a slideshow! We can watch it when you get back and you can give commentr-"
Matthew flinched again when the cabin door burst open and his cabin mates strode in with Steve behind them.
"Just in time Mattie! Send your goodnight texts now cus we're losing phone privileges."
"Thanks Alfred." Steve rolled his eyes and smiled at Matthew. "I'll give you a minute to wrap up your call."
Matthew nodded. He quickly relayed the message to his Papa who apparently heard the initial door slam.
"I hope you can sleep well with how loud your new friends are. I'll hang up now, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble. At least not on the first day! I love you, I'll call tomorrow Matthieu and the day after that and the day after that an-"
Okay, he knew his Papa was teasing and trying to be embarrassing despite the lack of audience. He did that a lot.
"Love you too Papa," Matthew answered in French as he turned to try and shield the phone from some of the noise assault and maintain some level of privacy.
Matthew offered up his phone as Yao and Toris handed over theirs. On the other side of the room, Alfred was digging through his bag and pulled his out with an 'aha'. He held a hand to his chest as he offered it to Steve.
"Take good care of her," he fake sniffled.
"Worry not Alfred," Steve chuckled, "you'll get this back in the mornin' just hang tight."
"Aye aye captain," Alfred saluted having apparently gotten over his sadness.
"Right, well I'm glad that's over. G'night all!" Steve turned around with a sweeping wave.
"Wait!" Alfred cried, then stretched his arms above his head as he demonstrated the biggest fake yawn he could. "Aren't you going to tuck us in?"
"Nah. You're a big boy now." Steve smirked.
"Not even a goodnight kiss?"
"You can kiss your phone goodbye."
Alfred snorted. "Dude, cold."
Matthew watched the exchange with amusement as Steve finally managed to give Alfred the slip and escape from their cabin. The minute the door was shut Alfred spun around and and glared at everyone suspiciously.
"Okay, first I need everyone to pinky promise to keep this a secret."
"What are you talking about?" Yao groaned.
"I'm not going to tell you until you all promise, alright?"
"You know I won't care." Toris sounded defeated.
"Fine. Now just tell us," Yao demanded.
"Okay, good. Mattie?"
"I can keep a secret." Matthew reassured. Even if he was going to do something really bad he wouldn't have the guts to snitch anyways.
Alfred smirked and started pulling apart his luggage, making a big deal about searching. Everyone knew when he found it, yelling 'voila' and pulling out another phone.
"I gave Steve a decoy! Now I proooomise that I won't be on it all night. I won't annoy y'all with it and give y'all a reason to snitch, okay. Powers and responsibility and all that. But we can't have a party without music right?"
Yao sighed.
"Aru, I'm not even surprised. You can't even part with your phone for a night. This is why you need glasses."
"Hey! No actually I didn't make myself defected. I was born defected just an fyi." Alfred squawked as he kept digging and pulled out a speaker and some games.
"Anyways, who's ready to ruuuumble!?"
