CHAPTER 4:

After a few hours, night had fallen. And the gang had gathered themselves around a large open campfire.

They started to talk, and then Andre played his guitar and they all sang.

"That was fun," Leah admitted afterwards, with a sigh and a smile.

"Yeah, it was!" Tori added.

"You guys were good," Trina said.

"Oh, please. I was even better," Jade groaned.

"Andre, where did you say your grandma was again?" Robbie asked him.

"Like I said, she's back in the RV," Andre said, facepalming. "She thinks the shadows are out to get her." After an awkward moment of silence, he spoke again. "You know; these last few years with you guys have been some of the best ever. I hate to admit, but I'm really going to miss you all when I head to New York."

"Even me?" Cat asked.

"Yes, Cat, of course," Andre admitted.

"Thing is, you and I will be super far apart from each other," Tori said, looking at Andre with obvious disappointment.

"You could come to New York too, you know," Andre suggested.

"Well, if I were, I'd need a reason to stay there," Tori clarified. "And a way to make a living."

"You have an amazing voice, Tori; you could audition to be on Broadway," Andre pointed out.

"I'll think about it," Tori promised. "Just thinking about what my Mom and Dad would say."

The group sat quietly for a moment, and then Leah spoke up. "Tori – meeting you has been one of the best things that happened to me in my life," she said. "You and your parents have been amazing, and I'm happy. Still, though," she added, pausing. "I just hope that when I start my freshman year at Hollywood Arts this fall maybe I'll find a steady girlfriend," she admitted. "I miss being in a relationship."

"Why don't you and Valerie get back together?" Jade suggested.

"It's complicated. I'm actually bi. And my parents aren't real accepting. So, until the day I go off to college, I'll only tell my parents if I date a guy," Valerie admitted.

"Trust me, Val; it's for the best…especially after what I went through," Leah chimed in.

"So, what do you think we should do now?" Valerie asked with a sigh, once things had fallen silent.

"Well…" Jade started with a cunning smile. "The fun's already begun. This is Govern's Creek after all."

"Wait, so what's up with the Govern's Creek?" Tori asked her confusedly. "This is the second time you've brought that up. Like, what do all you guys know about it that I don't?"

"I mean – it's like something everyone talks about," Cat said simply.

"Well, I don't know about it," Leah said.

"Neither do I," Valerie added.

"Jade, maybe now it's not the best time to talk about that," Beck said, trying to stop her before she scared Leah.

"Yeah, alright," Jade shrugged. "I mean if Tori doesn't want to know what happened here, that's alright by me."

"Jade, just tell me already!" Tori almost exclaimed.

"Getting eager?" Jade joked. She grinned, happy to be the center of attention, and then grew serious. "Alright, so the story has it that one night a group of five teens went night swimming in the creek. Just as they attempted to climb out afterwards, they heard the sound of the night. They thought it meant nothing, but then some algae men emerged out of the water and grabbed them, and pulled them down under the surface. And do you know what happened next?" She paused for a second for effect. "They were NEVER seen again."

Leah and Cat gasped. "Well that's horrible," Leah said with a tremble. "It isn't true is it?"

"I don't know," Cat said. "But it gets me every single time, she says it!" Robbie put an arm around Cat, who shuddered.

"Leah, rumor has it that it's true," Jade said. "People say that they can still hear the teenagers crying for help." She paused, with a mischievous look on her face. "You know, I could prove to you that the story really happened."

"Jade, what are you planning?" Beck asked, suspicious.

Jade quickly shushed him. "Did you know those five teens were related to the founder of the Govern's Creek?" she asked the group. "Story also has it, that there's a cabin around here in the forest, where the teens used to hang out during summer."

"Where did you even hear this story?" Tori asked, half amused.

"You don't think it's true?" Jade asked Tori back.

"You can fool everyone else, Jade," Tori stated. "But you can't scare me so easily."

Jade glared at her silently for a moment, and Tori backed away. "Alright, but I just meant about this ghost story business," Tori added.

"Who's gonna be laughing if a creature grabs your hand in the middle of the night?" Jade asked, laughing.

"It's not funny," Leah frowned.

"No it's not," Tori backed her up.

"Well, I'm pretty tired now," Cat said, keeping her head against Robbie's shoulder.

"Let's get some shut-eye then," Andre suggested, and Cat nodded her head. They both sat up following Robbie.

"Jade, Beck, you coming?" Cat asked.

"In a bit," Beck replied.

"Yeah, you go on," Jade added as the two of them walked off.

"You wanna go back to the camp?" Tori asked Leah.

"Yeah, sure," Leah answered, and soon they were off too.

"Aren't you going back as well?" Jade asked Valerie.

"I don't feel tired," Valerie admitted. "Jade, I gotta hand it to you, you got Leah really scared. That was quite a good story. Had me fooled for a second too."

"Who said it was just a story?" Jade asked her seriously. "Who said that cabin doesn't exist?"

Valerie turned serious too. "Well, Jade, if you can prove it, be my guest," she replied as she got up.

"Don't worry, I will," Jade called out after Valerie had left. She started to kindle the fire.

"You're not serious, are you?" Beck asked Jade.

Jade turned to him. "When have I ever not been?" she asked him back. "You know I get easily fascinated by stories like this. And I know it's real."

She got up from the ground and Beck followed her up. She started to walk away. "That's not the direction to the camp," Beck said, puzzled.

"I know," Jade muttered.

"But then again, you're not going to the camp, are you?" Beck asked, starting to catch on.

"Nope," Jade answered simply again.

"You're going to find the cabin, right?" Beck questioned.

"Spot on," Jade replied and then she came to a halt. "You can head back to the RV."

"I'd rather come with you," Beck replied.

"I'll be fine," Jade said, waving him off. "Afraid that some monster from the lake will gobble me up? Now, you'd better go before Andre's grandma tears the RV apart."

"Good point," Beck admitted. "Don't stay out too late though."

"Can't promise you anything," Jade said as she walked off.

Beck updated his status on TheSlap which read: "If Jade has made her mind up on something, she's really made her mind up - MOOD = Tired".