Garrett wasn't the only one from his cabin to get lucky that night with a kiss, but he was the only one to get anyone to undress at all. Keith liked to think that he would have gotten the same result was he not interrupted, but Garrett's thoughts about make-out point being raided frequently turned out to be very well thought out.
Keith had been working on the beautiful Verona and trying to get her to come up there the past several nights. It had taken him lying and saying it was just a good silent place to talk to get her up there, and then a lot of backpedaling and flattering to get her to even consider kissing him. By the end of it, he wondered if it was worth all the ridiculous effort he was putting into it. With each kiss of Verona's small soft lips, the dreamy look in her eyes, and the soft feel of her silver hair in his hands though he felt more and more self assured in his decision. Verona wasn't just the most beautiful girl in their age group, she was the oldest at fourteen and that alone was a badge of honor for a thirteen year old like him.
That and she was perpetually cold to everyone, previously including him. Verona never meant to be cold, but she was raised to respect herself aggressively in an uptight family. She didn't like mindless flattery, and she wasn't about to just be with anyone. She had come to the camp with the intentions of loosening up and lowering her guard, making a romantic memory or two, but the idea turned out too hard in practice. Even with all of Keith's smooth talk, all of his kindness, she a huge pang of wrongness with every kiss.
She knew what he was expecting, she thought she wanted it too, but every word her parents had told her about saving herself and not being a slut resounded in her mind. Giving up on all those things she was taught that she had begun believing in herself was harder than she ever expected it to be.
But she kissed him regardless, and she enjoyed it. She enjoyed the feel of his short spiky hair in her hand, the way his smallest hint of stubble scratched her delicate skin, and the feel of muscles that Keith had developed rather early. She liked to imagine that she had picked out the most rugged and dangerous one of the bunch, but her mind wouldn't even let her believe that fully. He had hit puberty first, he was more rugged because of that, and just because he was muscular with an athletic build didn't make him dangerous.
She was a logical thinker through and through, and right now she felt like it was killing everything fun in her life. She'd blame her mothers similar attitudes during moments of weakness, but even that release was ruined by the incessant thought that it was no excuse.
But no time for that, she thought internally, I really shouldn't be thinking about my mother when I have a handsome man to kiss.
A handsome man who very much wanted to take the kiss to the next level. His hand was already on her hip, and she had already intercepted another to hold in her own when he was obviously going to try and grope her. She grabbed it almost by reflex, and she shared in his frustration with the moment. Why couldn't she just let go and enjoy it?
Neither of them would have the chance
though, as their counselor Jacob made a surprise appearance just as
they parted lips to stare into each others eyes. His own brown eyes
shifted between their eyes, lingering perhaps a bit longer on the
light greyish blue ones that belonged to Verona.
Verona was
far too lost in the moment to immediately panic, but Keith was
present enough to know how fucked they were. “Fuck.” He said as
he let go of Verona's hand. She let it drop to her side, and before
she could add her own commentary the older counselor had yanked her
from the bench to a standing position.
“I didn't know you were the type of girl to do something like this Verona.” Jacob said with disappointment dripping from his tone. He only spared Keith a small glare, there was no doubt in his mind even before that Keith was likely to be found here. “I already found out Keith snuck away, I'm surprised you were the one we found with him. Do either of you know where Garrett is?”
“The red haired one?” Verona asked drowsily, trying to shake off his hand on her arm. She hated being touched forcefully, but a sense of guilt kept her from forcing him to let go.
“He's back in the cabin, far as I know.” Said Keith. “He's a loner, kind of hard to notice, so you probably just missed him.”
“Yeah.” Jacob sneered. “Right. We'll find him next. I trust you'll be fine going back to your cabin on your own? I need to escort Verona here back to her own cabin.”
“What? I can get back on my own.” Verona protested, not wanting to be alone with the counselor.
“I'll walk her.” Keith tried to insist, but Jacob shut them both down immediately.
“Yeah, so you two can sneak off
again? Not a chance. I'll be checking into your cabin right after so
you better go straight back.” Jacob grinned triumphantly at both of
them. Keith shot a glare his direction followed by a worried look at
Verona, but then began walking away.
“I'll see you soon.”
He said, knowing that Jacob couldn't do anything weird with Verona if
he had to check in on Keith afterward. All the boys had already been
talking about it, how Jacob had as much of an eye for the girls as
the rest of them. Some had even become friendly with Jacob, but Keith
thought the guy was a giant creep.
Regardless, he couldn't risk getting his parents called. He backed off, and shortly after Verona forced herself from Jacob's hand. “I can walk on my own.” She insisted, beginning to regain some of her nerve.
“Fine fine.” Jacob growled, not wasting any time in leading the way back. “You do know I'll have to contact your mother about this. She was very insistent that you be watched closely.”
Verona felt a shiver of fear run through her. The last thing she wanted to do was have to explain her actions to her mother. “Please don't. She'll kill me.”
Jacob raised an eyebrow to Verona. “Surely that isn't literal.”
“No....” Verona groaned. “But she'll never understand. I just wanted to make some memories, since everyone is always watching over me when I'm at home.”
Jacob was silent for a little while. “Maybe you shouldn't have let that jock coerce you into meeting him.” Jacob growled at her.
“H-He didn't coerce me!” Verona quickly insisted. “He was actually nice! Nicer than you are.”
“Hmph.” Jacob chuckled. “I'll be sure to pass that on to your mother too.”
Verona rushed in front of him and stopped him, knowing that soon her entire cabin would be in earshot. “Please don't, whatever you do, don't do that.”
Jacob's eyes glared down at her mischievously for a few moments. Verona felt a horrible premonition of what was going through Jacob's eyes, but they looked away innocently enough moments later. “I'll talk to Keith tonight, I can't promise anything, but meet me in my office tomorrow okay? Right after the breakfast hour.”
Allowing herself to feel hopeful, Verona nodded. She trusted Keith, and had no doubts Keith would keep Jacob out of trouble if it meant she would too. Maybe they'd get another chance to go out after a few more nights passed too....
“Thank you.” She said to Jacob. “I really won't sneak out again, so you can go talk to Keith.”
“You better not.” Jacob grinned with a proud look on his face. He waved at her and watched her retreat into her cabin, then marched onwards to Keith. “Fucking slut.”