The group met Lee as soon as they entered the camp. They grabbed Cal and the two headed into the meditent. Haley and Christa went to set up the instruments. Thya grabbed Amelia’s hand and dragged her over to help make dinner.

Amelia and Thya were put in charge of chopping vegetables. Other members of the camp forced them both to sit down as they were unconvinced the girls were at their best. Amelia chopped quickly and efficiently but Thya was stopped constantly. Men and women stopped to shake her hand. They whispered praise and thanks for relieving them of their pain. Thya was overwhelmed and tried to force a smile. Amelia grabbed her vegetables and began making quick work of them. After a few moments, she noticed Thya looking even more uncomfortable. Amelia watched as her breath quickened and color drain from her face. More people came to her all reaching and trying to shake her hand.

Amelia grabbed her hand and waved off the people. She pulled Thya gently into the cover of the forest. Thya sat at the base of a tree.

“Breathe with me, okay?” Amelia said softly. Thya’s tear filled eyes frantically met her own. Amelia over exaggerated her deep slow breaths. After a few minutes, Thya’s breathing finally started to match her own. Amelia gasped as Thya’s arms wound around her waist.

“They just kept asking how I did it and I didn’t even know I had done it! I don’t know if I could do it again! What if it just prolongs their suffering and I didn’t help at all?” Thya gushed.

Amelia calmly ran her fingers through Thya’s hair. She said nothing and just let Thya get everything out. The sun started it’s decent and Thya looked up.

“We should get back.”

“We don’t have to until you feel ready,” Amelia said softly.

“Just stay close, please?” Thya whispered.

Amelia nodded and grabbed Thya’s hand, easily slotting their fingers together. They lightly jogged through the shrubbery into camp. A fire was lit in the middle and kids were already starting to dance to the music the Grand’s created. They weren’t there for more than a minute before two little boys ran up to them. Darwin and Lance dragged the two girls into the group of kids dancing. The stubborn children refused to let the girls leave. Amelia grabbed a little girl named Yani and started to spin her around in circles. Yani screamed happily before Amelia put her down. Thya was tossing a toddler in the air. Darwin and Lance were spinning in circles completely out of time with the music.

Cal was hanging in a group of adults, refusing to admit he was hiding. Amelia spotted him and sent little Hannah and Yani after him. The two terrifying girls chased him into the circle of kids. Darwin and Lance had abandoned their spinning and were now pushing a protesting and stubborn Opus into the fray. The song quickly changed to a different and the three old friends groaned. The rest of camp started clapping and cheering the children and Thya backed up. The trio sighed.

Cal grabbed his two friends hands and started to do their swing. Amelia reluctantly took Opus’ hand and the three began to do a dance they had memorized the first time the Grands had ever visited. As the music picked up Amelia and Cal dropped hands and began spinning Opus around a few times before the three gathered closer and began doing a clapping beat in time with the music. The music went faster as their hands continued to rhythmically move and clap. The camp clapped along and the three prepared for the end. Cal backed up still clapping and Amelia and Opus clasped their hands together. The music peaked and Cal ran towards them jumping and back flipping in the air as Camryn held a note out. As Cal landed on his feet majestically the rest of the band and camp joined in. The three friends grabbed Thya and managed to escape.

“Holy pigs left arse cheek, it’s been awhile since I’ve done that.” Cal groaned.

“I always think you’re going to die,” Amelia remarks.

“Thanks for the enthusiasm,” Cal said sarcastically.

Lee came over with a plate of pastries balanced on top of four drinks. “You all know how to dance.”

The three sore friends groaned. Amelia sighed and looked at her arms. “It hurts so much, every time!”

Thya giggled and relieved Lee of the pastries, setting the tray in the middle of the semicircle the group of friends had formed. Thank you’s chorused through the friends. Cal tried to casually sit next to Lee. The two siblings started chatting softly. Thya saw Cal smile and she figured things were going well. Amelia and Opus were still sitting as far away as possible.

The music played in the background as the group occasionally chatted about random things. The music slowed to a stop and Haley stepped up to the front.

“Can we get Thya up here for just a minute?”

Thya swore softly and began to try to crawl away before Amelia and Lee grabbed her and playfully shoved her closer to the Grands. She awkwardly walked through the crowd of people to the front where Haley and Lance were standing.

“Your little brother tells us you used to play the violin for your old camp,” Haley says with a smile.

“Possibly.”

Haley held out Camryn’s violin. “One song? We need a break.” The Grands smiled and feigned tiredness. Thya glared at her brother who looked immensely proud of himself. She reluctantly took the violin to scattered cheers, the largest coming from Amelia who had roped everyone else into getting up and dancing.

Thya sighed and slowly dragged the bow across the strings. It had been over a year but her fingers immediately fell into place and her arm held the proper angle. She began to play a slow and relaxing song. As her eyes closed and she got swept into the gentle music, couples across camp grabbed each other's hands and slowly began to dance. Amelia grabbed Cal just before Opus reached him and the two best friends began dancing. Lee saved Opus from embarrassment and came to dance with him. It was a beautiful mess of couples and duos spinning slowly. Elders held each other close and moved slowly from side to side. Younger couples swung each other around in different patterns. Some parents were dancing with their children. Some kids were dancing with each other in a mess of falling, giggles, and squashed toes. Haley and Christa were taking turns spinning each other and doing exaggerated bows. Thya didn’t see but Amelia swore looking at her, that even the plants in the woods were slowly swaying with her music. Cal rolled his eyes as his dancing partner paid him no mind. Haley, Christa, and Danny joined on their respective instruments. Camryn took the Violin from Thya and she slowly walked away from the family. Cal pushed Amelia in the girl's direction and Amelia shot him a thankful look. Amelia slowly made her way to the brunette.

“Might I have this dance?” She asked with a soft bow. Thya cracked a smile at the girl's antics but took her hand.

The two began to slowly dance. Music and fellow dancers faded into the background. Thya and Amelia stared into each other's eyes and both had soft smiles on their faces. The moon above them, the fire beside them, and the gentle music in the background it was a perfectly carved moment. The two girls weren’t in fantastic ball gowns. Thya’s hair was frizzy and there was dirt beneath her nails. It wasn’t a moment in the fairy tales they had heard as children. It was a moment in reality and for once reality looked better than fantasy.

A moment must come to an end though. The two entranced girls had not noticed the change in music and most certainly hadn’t noticed the two children sneaking up behind them. Lance and Darwin pushed the two girls backs causing their heads to knock together painfully. The two girls broke apart and grabbed their respective heads. Darwin’s father came over and apologized profusely before dragging away both boys.

“Do you want to go sit down?” Thya asked and Amelia nodded grabbing Thya’s hand.