Please run out soon. I'm shocked as Jennifer chooses to continue the conversation.

“I figured out who I’m camping with.”

“Really? Who?” Jesus, it finally stopped. I take what doesn’t seem to be a poisonous leaf and…ya know.

“The boys.” Ahh, Trent, Matt, Liam, Butch, Dawson and Caleb. Unsurprised. “And Kendall, Abigail." Duh. 

"Oh, and Grace.” Figures. Grace isn’t in with that group necessarily, but she has been dating Butch for the last few months. The boys loved her because of how chill she was. His ‘best friend’ Abby, and her goon…not so much. We’ll see how long that lasts.

“Nice,” I congratulated, pulling up my leggings.

“Yeah, hopefully….I-I’m not really close with Micah and the harem.”

I had to let out a snort. “Who is?” 

Micah has guy friends, but he’s constantly surrounded by Elizabeth, Meredith, Daisy, and Georgia. They aren’t all together as far as we heard, but we all know Micah is in love with Daisy. But he started dating Georgia, Daisy’s best friend, last year. And they all were so chill about the whole thing. Too chill.

"Mhmm."

“But what about Mason?”

Jennifer had a look that said everything that needed to be said. Mason was…special. Different. Like the kid in class, you brace yourself for when they reach into their book bag. He apparently hates everyone. Has anger issues and a concerning infatuation with military history. Word has it that this was the reason he got kicked out of the private school he previously attended. According to the rumors, he made a hit list with the names of his former peers…us. Well, not me. I’m happy to say I wasn’t on the list. 

“Wouldn’t it be better to have him with a group to keep an eye on him,” I question further.

“The only thing I’m keeping my eye out is for Selener and a rescue team.”

“Fair nuff.”

She’s still squatting, so I’m gonna assume she’s pooping.

“Alright, um, see you later.”

“Byyyye.”

I hauled ass back to my camp, where I immediately went for my hand sanitizer. I should've conserved, but was the only thing that made me feel human right then.

I glanced around to see Krys stretching out like a cat. Inès slumped over like there was no tomorrow while Octavia squinted around…the girl still had several more minutes until she fully booted up. Zahra faced what I guess is East because she’s praying. Quinn is wasting ink on her daily journal entries. I couldn't spot Anthony. But lastly, Reyya sat by the water.

She doesn’t move, but I know she hears me approaching. In order to watch her face, I sit slightly diagonal. She reminds me of a painting. Her inky cloud of hair ripples against the wind as she faces the water. I can’t tell what she's thinking or feeling. Everything about her is still. From her hands to her oddly socked feet, she could become a free statue if she stayed like that.

“If you’re going to try to say something...don’t. I’m not in the mood.”

I nodded silently and waited a few beats before moving from her. I returned to camp only to get my wide-tooth comb and some rubber bands from her book bag. Not wanting to trigger her, I held the plastic comb up in silence, my way of asking for permission, but she only shrugged.

Ok, then. It wasn't exactly a no.

I started at the end of the course. Reyya's hair, in its natural state, reaches just below her shoulders. As I had guessed, when I stretched it with every pass of the comb, it extended down to her tail bone.

I worked through her in sections for several minutes before parting her hair into half. Sensing her becoming less indulgent, I wrap up the moment with two simple cornrows. 

She didn't say anything, yet right as I was about to leave, I felt her grab my wrist. It was an almost missable brush of her thumb across the back of my hand, but I felt it. 

"No problem."

Walking back to the camp, I see everyone is missing except Zahra. I guess they wanted to get her privacy, meaning they were all awake. Good. Grabbing my notes, I turned towards the sketch I had started last night of possible shelters we could make. I also thought about some other things we didn’t address yesterday….

Dashing over to my backpack, I nearly cried out in relief. When I picked up mine, I realized the heaviest one I'd carried had been mine and Quinn’s, and for good reason. I couldn’t believe it slipped my mind.

“What’s on the docket for today, Captain,” Zahra asked, plopping down next to me. Her skin is paler than usual, freckles in sharper contrast, and the bags under her eyes are more profound than normal, but I’d be more concerned if they weren't. Her hair pulled back, and her pants legs rolled up. From the glint in her eye, I can tell she’s ready to work. This is why I love Zahra; she gets me.

“Too much. Is everyone nearby?”

“Yep.” She waved over our friends as I made my last scribbles. Reyya drifted over too.

“Alright, my chickadees, we are nesting today.”