“What are you listening to?” Kai asked as the bus started rolling.

    Rowan typed into his phone:

    A little playlist I put together. 

    “What type of music do you have on there?”

    Rowan offered an earbud to Kai. Kai took it and pushed it into his ear.

    Rowan’s heart pumped in his chest, and he suddenly thought the song sounded weird. Maybe the song was cringy or stupid? He bit his lip and looked down at his phone. As he looked back up, he saw Kai bobbing his head to the beat.

    “Is this JUN-E? I love their music!” Kai exclaimed.

    Rowan beamed as he nodded. He was a huge fan of JUN-E. He was happy to see that Kai was a fan too. He sighed in relief and rested his head back against the seat. The hum of the bus and the flow of the music eventually lulled him to sleep.

    Rowan opened his eyes, looking out the window at a bunch of tall trees swaying in the wind. His heart skipped a beat; he realized they had already arrived. He looked over and saw Kai sleeping on his shoulder. He puffed a laugh through his nose. He looked over at his other friends and saw them all sleeping too, all except for Asher. He was hunched over, very invested in a game he was playing on his phone. 

    “Attention students!” The teacher sitting next to Asher stood up from her seat. “After gathering your belongings, please stay in a single file line as you exit the bus! Group up with your grade's chaperone to hear further instructions!”

    Rowan gently shook Kai until he was awake, pointing to the line of students trying to get out of the bus.

    "Were already here? Sweet!" Kai jumped out of his seat energetically, but his face still looked groggy.

    Once everyone made it out of the bus, they grabbed their luggage and headed to their assigned campground. Rowan was giddy that he got to share a cabin with Kai and Asher, though it was with 5 others he didn't know. He had hoped it would turn out this way.

    "There's a snack bar right next to our cabin, and apparently, they have really good food there. We should visit tonight to get some midnight snacks." Kai rubbed his palms together.

    Asher excitedly nodded in agreement, "We're all agreed to stay up late tonight, right?" he said.

    "I don't know..." Kai looked over at Rowan, "What do you think? yay or nay?"

    Rowan shrugged.

    "Come on! This is our first camping trip together! We have to enjoy it to the full!"

    Rowan and Kai exchanged glances before finally nodding.

    Asher clenched his fist and pulled it down with a quiet “Yes!” 

    "Well, would you look at that," A voice called from the distance.

    They all looked over to see a group of three tall boys headed in their direction.

    "If it isn't Crybaby Kai and his little friend Ash-tray." The tall kid at the front chortled, scratching his unevenly cut, blonde hair.

    "You really have to stop with the nicknames, Roy. It's immature." Kai stepped forward, hardening his expression.

    "Why should I listen to you? You're the one who cried when I took your place on the baseball team." Roy gasped and covered his mouth, "Oh no! Sensitive topic." He smirked while the two behind him snickered.

    Kai furrowed his brows and looked to the ground. 

    "Cry, little baby, cry!" a kid to the left of Roy sneered.

    Asher crossed his arms, glaring. “Why don’t you find someone else to bother?”

   "Oh, relax, Ash-tray. We're just saying hi." Roy frowned before his eyes flicked over to Rowan. "I didn't know you guys picked up an orphan. What was it again? Roman? Ronny?" Roy squinted, snapping his fingers like he was trying to remember. "Oh yeah- Rowan. That's it."

    Rowan's eyes shot around nervously; his heart raced so fast he could barely swallow.

    "What, don't you speak? Oh, wait, you don't. That's right!" Roy slowly stepped closer to Rowan.

    Kai came in between them and raised his chin, "Leave him alone."

    "Move, Crybaby." Roy grimaced. "Move, or I'll move you myself." 

    Kai didn't budge, so Roy angrily pushed him to the ground. Kai immediately stood, but Roy's two friends came over to block him and Asher. 

    Roy stepped closer to Rowan, setting a hand on his shoulder. But before he could speak, Rowan turned around, grabbed Roy's hand, and flipped him over his shoulder. Roy hit the ground with a thud, his eyes wide.

   Rowan stood with his mouth agape; he'd never done that before.

    Kai and Asher pushed past the two guys and stood in front of Rowan, grinning widely.

    "That was awesome!" Asher slapped Rowan on the shoulder.

    "You're gonna regret that!" Roy snapped, warily getting up, holding a hand onto his stomach.

    "Run!" Kai exclaimed as they sprinted away.

    Roy and his buddies were in tow, not too far behind.

    "Come back here!" one of them yelled.