By the time we rolled into camp, Brian already knew two things: one, Shin's chaos could be classified as a natural disaster, and two, the camp itself seemed like a magnet for chaos.
The buses dumped everyone in a swirl of luggage, yelling, and the occasional counselor trying to regain control. Shin immediately ran off, glitter spilling from her backpack like some kind of sparkly trail of destruction. Georgia muttered something about "civilization ending," and I just sighed, dragging my backpack behind me.
Tent assignments were posted, and my stomach did that weird, nervous thing it always did around… Tyler.
Tent 14: Brian… Tyler.
Great. Perfect. Lucky me. Tyler leaned against a tree, calm and cool, observing the chaos around him like it was a Netflix documentary. His smirk didn't help my nerves.
"Uh… hey," I said, trying to sound casual, "looks like we're tent mates."
"Seems like it," he said, voice quiet but somehow perfectly teasing. "Lucky you."
I blinked. Lucky me? Totally normal response. Definitely not making my stomach somersault.
Shin was already snapping photos from the side, muttering about "tent-mate vibes" and "pure comedy gold." Georgia was in the back, eyeing the scene like she'd already made a mental list of insults she'd deliver at dinner.
Tent setup was… chaotic, obviously. Tyler unpacked with precision and calm that made my own stuffing-and-throwing method feel like amateur hour.
"You don't… plan much?" Tyler asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Not really," I said, trying not to drop my bag on his neatly folded shirts. "Organization isn't my thing."
He smirked. "Yeah, I can tell."
Shin, of course, captured every second on camera. "First awkward moments preserved! History will thank me!"
I gasp and said "can you stop for a moment shin?!" Shin murmured and left.
After the tent was "set," Tyler and I wandered outside, curiosity tugging us toward the darkened woods. Fireflies. The counselors had mentioned them. We wanted to see them, but all we found were… well, nothing. Not a flicker. Not even a hint of glowing magic.
"Maybe they heard about your coordination and ran away," Tyler said dryly.
I shot him a look. "Very funny. Very helpful."
A few steps further, the woods opened into a small lake. Moonlight shimmered across the surface, perfectly still and serene. No chaos. No glitter. Just… calm.
We sat on a fallen log, shoulders almost touching, and for the first time that day, camp felt… normal. Tyler glanced at me. "It's nice here."
"Yeah," I said softly. Quiet. Peaceful. For a moment, nothing else mattered. Just the stars, the water, and that weird, unexpected calm.
Meanwhile, back at camp, Shin had gone off to find Fiona after I scolded her about being too… well, Shin. She needed a moment, which meant I could finally breathe.
And then Georgia, already annoyed by the forest, decided the bus was her personal sanctuary.
Brian POV – Lake Moment
The lake was calm, and for once, the world felt… quiet. Tyler and I sat on a fallen log, shoulders brushing by accident. I kept my hands in my lap, trying not to overthink how close that accidental brushing felt.
"You know," I started, kicking a pebble into the water, "I didn't expect camp to have… a place like this."
Tyler shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Sometimes the quiet spots are the best ones. No chaos, no glitter, no screaming."
I laughed softly. "Yeah. Not exactly the camp I imagined, but… I don't mind."
We watched the stars reflect on the water, silence stretching comfortably between us. I noticed Tyler glancing at me now and then, but he didn't say anything, and I didn't either. For the first time that day, it felt like… just us.
---
Shin POV – The Calm Before the Storm
Meanwhile, my chaotic energy had been momentarily paused—not a lot, just enough for me to think. My feet carried me to Fiona, who was sitting on a log by the cabins, quietly sketching something in her notebook. I plopped down beside her, glitter spilling from my backpack.
"Fiona… I messed up, didn't I?" I asked, twirling a pen like it could spin the world back into order.
She looked at me with that patient smile she always had. "Shin… what now?"
"I—" I hesitated. "I keep… making everything crazy. I scolded Brian earlier. And now… I feel like I'm annoying everyone."
Fiona tilted her head. "Shin, you're… you. That's not annoying. Just… chaotic. But people love you for it. And Brian? He'll survive. Maybe not gracefully, but he will."
I huffed, crossing my arms. "I just… I hate feeling like I ruin stuff. Like, today—everything feels like it's spiraling."
Fiona reached out, nudging my shoulder lightly. "You don't ruin stuff. You… add color. Even if it's glitter and yelling. You care about people. That counts."
I blinked at her, feeling some of the tension in my chest loosen. "You're too calm. And too… perfect," I muttered.
"Maybe," she teased, "but that's why we balance each other out. You're the hurricane. I'm the… tiny umbrella."
I laughed, nearly spilling glitter everywhere. "Fine. Tiny umbrella, huh? I can work with that."
We fell silent for a moment, just enjoying the quiet, until my phone buzzed.
A message from Georgia appeared: a photo of Benjamin, looking way too cozy with someone, and the caption: "You might want to see this…"
My stomach dropped. "Fiona… look at this."
Her eyes widened, scanning the image. "No… no way."
"I told you, it's catastrophic," I said dramatically, clutching my notebook like a shield.
Fiona groaned. "Okay, okay… we need to see this in person. Maybe it's just…" She trailed off, unsure, but already standing.
I jumped to my feet. "No! This is exactly the kind of thing that needs immediate… tactical chaos deployment."
We whispered, planned, and argued softly as we made our way toward the bus. "Maybe, it's just a miss understanding Fiona" I said. She replied "I don't know Shin" Every step was careful, measured—but my heart was racing. We weren't rushing, but tension built naturally.
---
When we finally reached inside the bus, heads turned. Benjamin froze, caught mid-surprise, while Yanna lingered outside the group, awkward but not involved. Fiona stepped forward, glare sharp as knives.
"Benjamin!" she shouted, pointing.
Benjamin's mouth opened, then closed. He was frozen, caught in the hurricane we had become.
I stayed slightly behind her, muttering chaotic commentary under my breath. "Oh… oh this is gonna be good. Pure chaos." Then, Georgia revealed herself behind yanna and Benjamin.
"So your the one who told them" Benjamin said
Fiona replied "Don't blame her for this, I can't even imagine this, what kind of human you are, are you even a human?"
I laugh, they all looked at me. then I realize that it's not a joke. "Uhh sorry- yeah. What a snake"
Words flew. Arguments bounced across the cramped bus. And then—Fiona's hand connected with Benjamin's face in a slap loud enough to silence a few campers nearby.
"Yep," I whispered, covering my mouth, "definitely chaos."
Fiona spun, storming out, her fury radiating in waves. I didn't even think—I just followed, notebook in hand, glitter probably spilling like confetti in our wake. Somebody had to make sure my best friend didn't combust entirely.
Georgia POV:
"I'm sorry Ben, I know you trusted me a lot but this isn't right."
Her animal said "your bestfriend betrayed you, that will make her a beast friend."
I replied "We'll at least I'm not slimmy. Gross"