Forest stayed close to Cindy and Robert as they entered one of the large cabins at the edge of the forest. Tide had been ushered over to three other bored looking seniors acting as chaperones and was currently checking something off of a clipboard.

The cabin itself was single storey with a massive lounge area and a huge yellowed map of the forest trails stuck up on one wall. There was a basic kitchenette and several tables and ratty old couches.

“This is Lark Cabin,” a blonde, female senior called Molly announced as she walked in behind them. “The other ones are Owl and Finch.”

Forest’s heart sank when she began reading off the groupings and he discovered that he hadn’t been put with either Cindy or Robert. Even worse, Trev and Jason were allocated to Lark Cabin along with Forest. He caught their eyes briefly as they pulled disgusted faces at each other. Forest stared at the ground nervously, maybe this trip hadn’t been such a good idea after all?

“As for the senior chaperones, Simon is Owl, along with Mr. Milano, I’m Finch with Miss Brown and Leo is Lark,” Molly continued. “Tide, you weren’t originally scheduled for this trip so I guess you can just pick your group?”

Forest looked up to where Tide shrugged nonchalantly and dumped his bag on the floor. “Might as well stay here,” Tide replied as Forest’s heart leapt. At least there would be one friendly, familiar face in the cabin.

They were all shown to their dorm rooms a few minutes later. Everyone rushed forwards, laughing and screeching trying to bag the bed they wanted. Tide and Leo were given their own separate small room. Forest walked slowly up to the last bed to be claimed.

“Shouldn’t you be in the girls’ dorm?” Jason huffed dramatically as he starting unpacking on the bed opposite Forest’s. “It would probably be safer for everyone. I mean what happens when we need to change?”

Forest sat down miserably on the bed, trying his best to drown out the laughs of the other boys. He pulled out some clothes to change into after the long coach ride. The staff had told them to choose something comfortable for the rest of the afternoon’s activities.

___

Forest stared in horror at the adventure course comprised of wooden structures and thick ropes.

“Bracing!” Mr. Milano announced cheerfully as he slapped Forest on the back and handed him his helmet. Everyone was wearing either a red, blue or green helmet denoting their group.

Cindy shuffled over wearing a green one and an indignant expression. “I can’t believe they’re tricking us into doing sport on a trip that was meant to be fun,” she exclaimed.

“Yeah,” Forest frowned up at a huge triangular prism of wooden slats and a knotted rope that you were apparently meant to use to pull yourself to the top.

“How about we have someone set a time first? See if we can beat it?” Molly asked them all enthusiastically. “Tide has volunteered!”

Forest watched, wide eyed as Tide stepped forwards, stretching with a grin as he eyed up the assault course.

“Ready?” Molly called out holding up her phone with the timer app open.

“Yeah!” Tide yelled back, he sounded like he was having the time of his life.

“Go!” Molly shouted as Tide sprung forwards and mounted the climbing ramp. Appreciative gasps went up around the group as he scaled the obstacle with powerful ease, reaching the top and sliding down the other side, landing in a crouch.

“Jesus, look at Tarzan go,” Cindy laughed, nudging Forest and waggling her eyebrows as Tide conquered the rest of the course in a similarly easy fashion.

Forest stared intently at Tide’s arms as the other boy swung across the climbing bars to finish the course.

“That’s the time to beat kids!” Molly laughed as she help up the phone display for everyone to see.

A group of pretty girls had clustered around Tide, who was smiling widely and unbuckling his helmet. His light brown hair seemed unfairly unaffected. Whereas Forest was sure he was going to end up with a plastered down, sweaty mess at the end of this.

The juniors started getting on with trying different parts of the course. Forest, Cindy and Robert chose the least crowded area, which was a series of wooden tree trunks, varying in size that one had to balance on and hop between, they were quite high off the ground, despite it being springy matting below.

“Ah-“ Forest yelped, his arms pin wheeling as he felt himself leaning too far left. A moment later strong hands gripped his waist and steadied him in place. Forest looked down in surprise to see Tide looking up at him.

“Hey,” Tide said, “you alright there?”

“I,” Forest swallowed, feeling a little embarrassed, “I’d like to get down.”

“Sure,” Tide nodded earnestly, moving to outstretch both of his arms up as if he expected Forest to jump into them. Forest stared dumbly at him for a moment before Tide cocked his head in bemusement. “I won’t drop you if that’s what you’re worried about?”

Forest blinked then jumped. Tide’s arms wrapped around him immediately, suspending him the air before lowering Forest ever so gently to the floor.

“Um Forest?” Tide sounded like he was laughing, “You can open your eyes now.”

“Right,” Forest gasped, he hadn’t realised his eyes were still tightly squeezed shut. His face must look ridiculous.

“Cute,” Tide laughed, reaching out to smooth Forest’s forehead. The other boy seemed to freeze in panic a moment later as he realised what he was doing.

“Serrano!”

Both boys jumped apart as if burned as Mr. Milano approached them. “I need you to go help set up the fires for the S’mores later.”

“Yes Sir,” Tide nodded, “um, could I maybe ask a junior to come help?”

Mr. Milano frowned at him. “Seems a bit unfair, dragging them away from the adventure course but I guess if you find one willing to go, sure.”

“Thanks Sir,” Tide grinned, winking at Forest. Mr. Milano left them alone again a moment later. “So,” Tide asked, “would you like to-“

“Absolutely,” Forest garbled, already fumbling with his helmet in an attempt to unbuckle it. Tide laughed and reached out to help him.

“Okay, good, I figured you weren’t really enjoying the climbing,” Tide’s eyes sparkled with mirth.

“Yeah,” Forest smiled sheepishly as Tide pulled his helmet off, “not so much.”

“Helmet hair,” Tide grinned as he ruffled his fingers through Forest’s hair. Forest bit his lip and closed his eyes again, focussing on the touch.

___

That evening, the groups gathered round the fires, excited but tired faces illuminated in the pale orange glow of the flames. Molten S’mores were being passed around along with laughter and talking. Cindy and Robert were showing each other something on their phones as Forest smiled contentedly into the fire, remembering the warmth of Tide’s touch against his scalp.

“Tide Serrano is literally the hottest guy at our school,” a girl with an intricate French braid was whispering to her two friends as they licked marshmallow from their fingers. “Did you see his muscles today?”

“There’s a whole load of hot seniors at Deerview,” a black haired girl with shiny ringlets nodded in agreement. “Shame about our year though.”

Her friends snorted and giggled, elbowing each other to be quieter. “I don’t know,” the third girl grinned, “Jason Cole is kind of hot.”

“Agreed,” one of the girls replied, “plus he’s actually single whereas most the seniors have girlfriends already.”

“Does Tide?” the black haired girl asked. “He’s normally hanging out with the cheerleaders but I don’t know if he’s dating one of them?”

Forest cursed himself for leaning instinctually closer.

“I heard he’s dating Kristina Hill,” the first girl declared knowledgeably.

“Oh that makes sense,” the girls sighed disappointedly, “she’s crazy pretty.”

Forest felt like he’d been doused in cold water, he shuffled back towards his friends before shaking his head decisively. He was not going to feel upset, that was ridiculous. As if he had even had a chance with a boy like Tide. No, Forest was going to be grateful for what he had. It was a hell of a lot better than his previous school.