Chapter 6

"That was amazing! What you pulled off back there was the craziest shit ever! I love you Ash" Luna exclaimed.

"Oh that? That was nothing. You should have a bunch of questions already, like how I got that piece of paper, and how I managed to say the right things at the right time?" Ashley assumed.

"Well, yeah. Actually, I don't give a fuck. I'm just so glad I have you as a friend"

"A best friend" Ashley corrected.

"Right. My best friend in the whole wide world"

"But, I think you should know" Ashley said.

"Okay, I'm all ears"

Ashley leaned back, resting on her seat comfortably, because she was about to blab her mouth off.

"When I saw that your mom was not moved after we did that cheerleader thingy, I just knew nothing or no one could change her mind. You know me more than anyone could ever know, so you should know how much of a great thinker I am. I left your house that evening, strategizing, playing various scenarios in my head, trying to think of a solution. It came to my mind that you could try to run away, so I made plans for that. If, however, you didn't run away, I also had a different plan for that. I knew they would need a parent's signature before letting you go, so I came up with this. I scanned your mom's signature from a document of yours in my possession, and made copies of it, and here we are!"

Luna was impressed by Ashley's critical thinking. So many things amazed her about Ash - the kind of clothes she put on, her make up, her physique, her garrulous nature, basically, her whole life.

"Wow Ash. I'm... I dunno...You're an awesome best friend, and I'm glad to have you"

"Awwn, me too. So what's next? We're on the School bus, heading to camp. What's waiting for us over there?" Ashley asked.

"Fun...boys...life without our parents for a month" Luna suggested.

(Attention students!) A teacher shouted.

Everyone kept their mouths shut, expecting some major announcement from the young man in front of them.

"First, I'd like to say, Welcome y'all to the 2022/2023 Hampton high camp programme. You're in for a fun ride. We would be in Moore's creek in a few moments, so don't fall asleep, get yourself together, and be psyched, because this camping promises to be fun and full of activities..I'd continue this speech when we get to Moore's creek if I'm the one in charge. It seems the students rep. wants to say a few things. Give it up for Tristin Martinez!" He wrapped up.

Tristin Martinez was a 12th grade senior student in Hampton high, and was also the students representative.

"Hello Hampton! As y'all know, I'm Tristin" He said, showing off his charming voice.

"I love you Tristin!" a girl from the front seat screamed.

Tristin gave a small grin, showing part of his dentition.

"So, I wouldn't want to spend so much time talking. I'm just here to tell y'all about the activities that would be done on camp"

"Well, get on with it already" Carlos, another 12th grader said out loud.

"Shut up Carlos" Tristin laughed. It was obvious they were both teasing each other.

"As I was saying before cute Carlos interfered. Camp fires would be lit every night, where all students of Hampton high would form a circle around, and have some personal group discussion. Since we're about 400 students, we would be divided into groups. There would be 40 camp fires, and 10 students for each. You'd have no power to decide which group you would fall under, its going to be based on random selections from the School database. What I mean is, the Computer would decide which group a student should fall under. Shit. I've said so much already. I'd explain more when we get there" Tristin uttered.

All this while, Luna gaped at Tristin Martinez, admiring all his features. His hunky body, smooth skin, cute face, awesome dentition, his height, tight fitting clothes, literally everything!

"Don't worry Luna. You'd get him to notice you someday" Ashley assured her.

Luna laughed, doubting every word of Ashley.

"I don't just want him to notice me. I want him to be my first boyfriend, and we both know how impossible that is"

"You are cute Luna. Believe more in yourself. Besides, you never know what could happen in camp"

"What could happen? I have this fear that, nothing would change" Luna revealed.

"Just put yourself out there, okay? And who knows, Tristin Martinez could be yours"

***(Luna's house)***

Nicole Jenkins, which was Luna's elder sister, had prepared breakfast.

"Aren't you going to tell Luna breakfast is ready?" Mrs Jenkins asked Nicole.

"She could sleep all she wants mom, I don't mind eating her food" Shane interfered.

"I wasn't talking to you Shane. Nicole, go to your sister's room, and inform her that breakfast is ready" Mrs Jenkins said.

Nicole finished chewing the food in her mouth, before speaking up.

"I dunno mom. She needs to rest, get over the fact that she's not going for camp" Nicole said.

"Just go, okay. It's not healthy to miss breakfast"

Nicole hesitantly left her food, to Luna's room, where she banged her hands off, with no one replying.

"Luna? Luna. I made your favorite. Luna? Come on. My food is getting cold already" Nicole yelled, banging Luna's door.

It was locked, so she could not open it. She had no other options but to go back downstairs, and inform her mom.

"Mom, Luna doesn't want to open up" Nicole said, arriving downstairs.

"That's strange. I haven't had any sound from Luna's room either since this morning" Mrs Jenkins hurried to Luna's room, opening the door with her spare key.

She gasped at the sight of the empty room. Luna Jenkins wasn't on her bed, nor in the toilet, nor the closet. One wouldn't need a soothsayer to figure out that Luna had escaped for camp.

"What the actual fuck!" Mrs Jenkins screamed, running down the stairs.

"Mom, did you just use the f-word. Ha ha" Shane pointed out.

"Your little sister Luna is not in her room. That little punk! She just had to go to Moore's creek!" Mrs Jenkins exclaimed in anger.

"So what do we do now mom?" Nicole asked.

"Shane"

"What? Shane what" Shane inquired of his mom.

"You have to go to Moore's creek, and look after your sister. She's in danger"

"No no mom. I can't. I said, I'm not going for camping this year. Little Luna can't ruin my plans"

"Please Shane, you have to. For Luna. She's your little sister, my little girl. I can't let her be all on her own. Please Shane"

"No way in hell mom! Luna could go get herself killed" Shane blurted out.

"Don't you dare speak in that manner ever again, boy. I am your mother, and you would do as I say. I tried reasoning with you thinking you were a young adult, but then, I realised, how much of a self centered kid you still are. You would go to Moore's creek right this moment. Pack your bags, have your bath, and get out of my sight now!"

Shane dragged his feet across the floor, doing as his mom said.