Sobs rack my body as I curl into the sleeping bag, my hands clinging to the fabric for comfort when I feel somebody touching my shoulder. I look up and into dark worried eyes, it is night and the fire has almost died down, in it's fading shine I see bodies huddled into blankets lying sleeping.
"Mel, what's wrong, why are you crying?" Jack asks me as he is pulling me closer to his chest.

I have never been more happy to be here, this other world is nothing but scary and sad, so I just shake my head and bury my face deeper into his chest, finding comfort in his warmth and his caring touch.

He doesn't push the subject further but just holds me, swaying us both slightly while kissing my head and stroking my hair to calm me down. Eventually I fall asleep again, my arm wrapped around his waist with my head resting on top of his chest.
.....

I wake up because the sun shines in my face and I find I am still cuddled into Jacks side, my head resting on his shoulder, I look up and see he is awake too, apparently he has been watching me sleep which I find a bit creepy. I smile at him rubbing my eyes but make no effort getting up, I just want to enjoy lying here with him a little bit longer.

He pulls me a little closer and I hum in contentment, that is until I see someone standing beside us with the sun in his back, casting a shadow onto our faces.

"So are you happy, now that you found a FRIEND." Alex talks to us stressing his last word and sounding angry.

"Uhm, are you talking to me or to Jack?" I ask him a bit confused because I can't really see what I did wrong here.

"Urgh, to the both of you, whatever." He grumbles and walks away to pack his stuff.

I get up and look after him as he angrily kicks a couple of pebbles away mumbling to himself, his hands buried in the pockets of his shorts.

I shake my head and sit down at the fire beside Alan who is roasting marshmallows on his stick. "What is getting him so pissed off this morning?" I more or less just say out loud not expecting a reply but Alan just shrugs and tells me.

"I guess he has a crush on you, probably even both of you. Alex is weird you know."

"What?" I can't believe what he just said there, that's absurd, or isn't it?

"Alan, you should stop eating marshmallows all the time, it'll make you fat." I joke just to change the subject because Alan is anything else but fat.

He pouts and holds up an empty pack. "That was the last one anyway. Man, I love that stuff." He looks so upset that I have to chuckle and I dig deep in my backpack to retrieve another bag of 'emergency' marshmallows.

When he sees it he jumps me and we crash to the ground and he plants kisses all over my face while tugging at the bag because I won't let go.
"Aw, I love you Mel, now let the fuck go of it, so I can have some for breakfast." He tickles me until I squirm and can't hold onto the pack any longer as he jumps up holding up the marshmallows victoriously and making his way over to the fire again.

I look over to Alex who had watched us and I can see a smile tugging on his lips although he tries to look grumpy when he notices me staring and turns away.

Oh so he isn't really that mad, I try to take a chance and get up and run over to him, he doesn't turn around although he clearly hears me coming so I just jump his back and as I guessed he instantly holds my legs to keep me up.

So I hug him from behind and whisper in his ear. " Hey Mr Grumpy pants, don't be mad, you know I like you." I nudge his neck with my nose and he sighs dramatically and let's my legs fall which has me slide down his back. As soon as my feet reach the ground he turns around and pulls me in for a hug, resting his face on my head. "Stupid girl." He scolds me.

"Oy, watch it Ally-pally! When I said I liked you that doesn't mean I won't hit you." I threaten.
He has to laugh now and pushes me away. "Shut up, Mel and pack your things, we have to get going."

When I walk back to get my sleeping bag I see Jack grinning at me, clearly he has been uncomfortable with Alex being mad at him as well. I sigh, things here seem far more easy than on the other side. It is like nothing is serious and everything is just a game. I think I like that.

We pack up and I have to confiscate the marshmallows or Alan would have eaten them all, then we are on our way. As the path gets narrow we walk in pairs but I make sure to switch around so everyone walks with everyone. I don't want another confrontation and I actually enjoy being able to talk to each of the guys alone for a while so I can get to know them better.

Alan is really funny although most of the time he doesn't intend to be, he tells random stories about things happening to him but most of them are so weird I believe only half of what he says. When we both walk in front he takes my hand and swings it while walking and I glance behind us to see how Alex and Jack are doing.

At first they just walk beside each other silently. Both looking a bit uncomfortable. I get Alan to try out funny walks with me and as we fool around I hear the boys behind me giggling and snorting. I look around and wink at them and they smile back and seem a lot more relaxed and when I check after a while they have started a conversation and obviously enjoy each other's company.

A couple of hours later I let myself fall back and take Alex hand and motion for Jack to walk with Alan. He rolls his eyes but walks up to Alan and I'm happy that they immediately start to talk.

"Hey Mel." Alex smiles at me and entwines our fingers, "Hey, Ally." I tease him back. "Are we good?" I ask and he simply nods.

Notes

Mhm, been not really up to it lately, I want to finish this story though, despite the fact it doesn't get recognised a lot. But I hate reading fics and getting into it only to hear the author telling me she doesn't feel the story anymore and is giving up on it. So that is nothing I want you guys to go through. :(