C9 He Came For Me

The camping trip hadn't been planned for long.

Peter had suggested it that morning, Chris immediately liked the idea, and somehow everyone had agreed before Sierra had even fully understood what was happening.

By late morning, they were on their way.

Sierra sat by the window, watching the scenery change as they drove farther away from the city.

The campsite was surrounded by trees, with a wide clearing for the tents and a small stream not too far away.

As soon as they arrived, everyone started unloading their things.

Sierra looked around.

“I actually like this place.”

Peter smiled.

“I told you.”

“You didn't tell me anything.”

“I knew you'd like it.”

Samantha walked past them with a bag.

“Don't encourage him.”

Peter laughed.

The group split up to set up the tents.

Sierra and Samantha worked on theirs while Chris and Elizabeth handled another. Peter and Alex took care of the larger tent.

Sierra struggled with one of the tent poles.

She tried fitting it into place.

It slipped.

She tried again.

It slipped again.

She stared at it.

“Why is this thing fighting me?”

Samantha glanced over.

“Maybe it's because you're doing it wrong.”

“Very helpful.”

Samantha laughed and went back to her own tent.

Sierra tried again.

The pole slipped from her hand.

Before she could pick it up, Alex reached down and grabbed it.

“Here.”

She stepped aside.

“Do you know what you're doing?”

“I've done this before.”

“Of course you have.”

He fixed the pole and secured the side of the tent.

Sierra watched him.

“You make that look easy.”

“It is.”

She gave him a look.

“Don't ruin the moment.”

Alex smiled.

She handed him another piece.

“So what else are you secretly good at?”

“Secretly?”

“You don't exactly advertise yourself.”

“Maybe there's nothing to advertise.”

Sierra smiled.

“I don't believe that.”

He didn't answer, but there was a small smile on his face.

---

By afternoon, everything was set up.

They explored the area, walked along the stream, took pictures, and spent most of the day talking and joking around.

Sierra found herself enjoying the trip more than she had expected.

Alex wasn't as quiet as she had first thought.

He didn't talk constantly, but whenever he did, he usually had something amusing to say.

And Sierra noticed she had started looking forward to hearing him speak.

By evening, everyone gathered around the campfire.

Peter kept the conversation going while Samantha occasionally interrupted him whenever she thought he was exaggerating.

Chris and Elizabeth sat beside each other, laughing.

Sierra sat near the fire, listening.

Every now and then, she glanced toward Alex.

He caught her looking once.

Neither of them said anything.

Later, as the night grew colder, everyone started getting tired.

One by one, they headed to their tents.

“Goodnight,” Elizabeth called.

“Goodnight,” Sierra replied.

Sierra went into her tent and settled down.

She pulled the blanket over herself and closed her eyes.

A few minutes passed.

She turned over.

Then again.

Still nothing.

She sighed.

Sleep wasn't coming.

Eventually, she gave up and stepped outside.

The campsite was almost completely dark.

She looked around.

Then she noticed a faint light coming from one of the tents.

Alex's.

She walked over.

“Alex?”

There was a pause.

“Yeah?”

“Are you awake?”

“Unfortunately.”

Sierra smiled.

“Come outside.”

“Why?”

“Because I can't sleep.”

“That sounds like a personal problem.”

She stared at the tent.

“Wow. And here I was thinking you were nice.”

A quiet laugh came from inside.

A moment later, Alex stepped outside.

“You really couldn't sleep?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I don't know. My brain just decided it wasn't tired.”

“That sounds inconvenient.”

“It is.”

They sat down on one of the logs near the campsite.

For a while, they talked about ordinary things.

Places they wanted to visit.

Things they liked.

Things they couldn't stand.

Childhood memories.

Small habits.

The conversation moved easily from one subject to another.

Sierra looked at him after a while.

“You're actually funny.”

Alex raised an eyebrow.

“Actually?”

“I didn't expect it.”

“That's insulting.”

She laughed.

“You'll survive.”

“I'll try.”

Sierra smiled.

She liked this version of him.

Less guarded.

More relaxed.

After a short silence, she looked at him again.

“I like you.”

Alex went quiet.

She watched his expression change.

“You've said that before.”

“I know.”

“And you're saying it again?”

“Yes.”

He gave a nervous little laugh.

“You really don't make things easy.”

“I wasn't trying to.”

Alex looked at her for a long moment.

Then, before he could overthink it, he leaned toward her and kissed her.

It was brief.

But as soon as he pulled away, he looked nervous.

“I'm sorry.”

Sierra looked at him.

“I shouldn't have done that,” he continued. “I just—”

“Alex.”

He stopped.

She smiled.

“I'm actually fine.”

He looked at her, still uncertain.

“You are?”

“Yeah.”

She wasn't embarrassed or nervous.

Just a little surprised.

Alex nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

Sierra looked at him for another second.

Then she leaned toward him and kissed him back.

When she pulled away, she smiled.

“Now we're even.”

Alex let out a quiet, nervous laugh.

“Okay.”

Sierra smiled.

“You're still nervous.”

“I think you've already established that.”

She laughed softly.

The campsite became quiet again.

Sierra's eyes began to grow heavy.

She shifted slightly and rested her head against Alex's shoulder.

Alex looked down at her.

“You're falling asleep.”

“I know.”

“You should go back to your tent.”

“In a minute.”

A few minutes passed.

Sierra didn't move.

She had fallen asleep.

Alex stayed completely still.

He looked down at her, and for a moment, a small smile appeared on his face.

Then it faded.

He hadn't planned for any of this.

He hadn't planned on kissing her.

He hadn't planned on letting himself get this close.

And now she was asleep beside him, completely comfortable.

Alex looked toward the dark trees.

A quiet feeling of regret settled over him.

Whatever this was between them, he hoped it wouldn't last.