Chapter 25 - I Wanna See You Be Brave

"Everybody's been there

Everybody's been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing

Bowed down to the mighty

Don't run

Stop holding your tongue"

I didn't sleep very well that night. I wasn't used to camping, and hearing the noises of the forest was not a very good thing for someone who had such a big imagination like me. But most of all, I couldn't stop thinking about Matthew's revelations about his past and his true personality.

Finally, and fortunately, the morning came and people started waking up. I was one of the firsts to go to one of the wooden houses and after taking a shower, getting dressed, and brushing my teeth, I got out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. There were people here and there but none that I knew. I had left Ellie sleeping in the tent and Dylan was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey." I heard a hesitant voice behind me and turned on my heels to find Rayla staring attentively at me. She was one of the girls I shared the tent with, the one who was an expert on camping and had helped us setting the tent up.

"Hi." I greeted.

"I know this is going to sound strange, especially because we don't really know each other..." She continued. I noticed how her voice was low and cautious as if she was somehow afraid of me. I remembered how Dylan used to say that I intimidated people. I enjoyed that when it was applied to popular and mean people, but with this girl that seemed so shy and fragile, I didn't like it as much. "But you're Dylan's friend, right?"

"Yes." I said in a soft voice, but nonetheless narrowed my eyes, trying to understand what this girl wanted.

"Do you know what is going on between him and Ellie?" She asked bluntly, taking me aback, making me gasp, not only because I wasn't expecting this girl to ask me that kind of things in such a direct way, but also because of what she was referring to. I should have known by now, though, that I shouldn't have expectations on people. They could always suprise us. Besides, I shouldn't have been stunned: the truth was that Dylan and Ellie had been hanging out a lot lately.

"What do you mean?"

Rayla shrugged.

"Well, it's just that before Ellie, Dylan was always around you and I never had the courage to speak with him because I was kinda... hum... intimidated by you and I didn't know what you two exactly were." There we were. She had admitted. I intimidated her, though I had never really talked to her before. I wondered how many people in school would think about me that way. Did I scare them like popular people did? Why did I scare them, though? I wasn't mean like the others, I was simply secluded, and independent, but I didn't treat people wrong.

"We were – and are – best friends." I responded. I daunted Rayla, but Ellie didn't. That's why she only came to talk to me now.

"And then there was Janice and they had some kind of fling that made me start thinking Dylan was like all the other guys but then I realized he was only doing that to make you jealous and now he seems to be paying more attention to Ellie, and—"

"Wait, what?" I interrupted her, recalling Dylan and Janice before and during Lia's birthday party, some time ago. "Dylan did not make out with Janice to make me jealous! And he definitely isn't like the other guys!"

"You don't have to be that defensive, Kiara, I know he's not like the others." Rayla stated, her voice more determined now. "But I do believe he was trying to make you jealous or something like that. But now that you are so keen on Matthew and Aiden, I think Ellie's starting to grow on him—"

"W-what... do you... what do you want exactly, Rayla?" I was so surprised that I couldn't even form words.

"I... it's just... Dylan seems like such a sweet and polite guy who knows he doesn't need to show off because he's sure about who he is and I just really like that about him." That makes two of us, I thought. "I'm not telling you I like him or anything like that, but I would like to know him better, yes. But as I told you, I was – and still am – a little afraid of what you'll say and now I'm slightly afraid of Ellie as well."

"Well, first of all you should never let another girl stop you from knowing a guy. Even if that guy has a girlfriend, that doesn't stop you from being his friend, as long as you don't go on stealing him, of course. What I'm trying to say is... if you think the guy is worth knowing and being friends with, then don't let any girl intimidate you. It's not a right of them. Speak up your mind, say what you gotta say, and be brave. That's how you'll conquer the world." I declared in a strong voice. Maybe this was what intimidated others. My confidence. "I'm going to be honest with you, Rayla, and tell you that if you started hanging out with Dylan overnight I would get a little jealous but only because he's my best friend and we're very close to each other. But I would also understand you have all the right to meet him and to know him and if he liked you I wouldn't be the one to prohibit you from being together, of course."

Rayla widened her eyes a bit at my words, seeming speechless. "What about Ellie?" She finally asked, andI could hear the relief in her voice. See? I'm not that bad!,I wanted to say.

"I don't know." I asnwered honestly. "I don't know what is going on between them or if they like each other in a romantic way but if they do—"

"You'll feel jealous?" Rayla questioned, maybe voicing her own thoughts.

"Strangely... no." I confessed. "A few weeks ago maybe... but now... I'd feel happy for them. But that doesn't mean you can't be his friend. And you said it yourself, you don't like him, but you want to meet him. So meet him."

Rayla's cheeks heated up.

"Don't really know if I have the courage to."

"Then I'll introduce you myself."

Rayla's face opened up in a warm smile.

"Really?"

"Of course. But only if you promise not to let yourself be intimidated by me, Ellie or anyone else."

"I promise I'll try." She smiled again. "And you know what, Kiara?"

"What?"

"You're a good adviser. Thanks."

"No problem." I smiled.

-------------------------

Rayla and I saw Ellie and Dylan talking to each other outside one of the wooden houses so we made our way towards them. Rayla was a bit hesitant but I was determined to show to that girl she had nothing to be afraid of.

"Hey, guys." I greeted.

"Morning. Where have you been?" Ellie asked, staring at me and then at Rayla.

"Woke up early and went to the wooden house. By the way, this is Rayla." I introduced.

"Yeah, I already know her..." Ellie said but she stopped when she saw me looking at Dylan. He smiled at Rayla and I knew she was melting on the inside. I mean, who wouldn't? It was impossible not to melt when Dylan smiled liked that. Even his eyes shined. I wondered by his grin if he had already noticed Rayla before.

"Hi." He said.

"H-Hi." She stuttered.

"I noticed you yesterday setting up the tent." Dylan said to Rayla and she blushed. There was my answer.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you're an expert on it!"

Ellie grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.

"I think we should let them alone." There was no jealous tone in her voice and her expression was calm and cool, which took me by surprise.

"Really?"

Ellie smiled.

"Yeah, they seemed pretty entertained."

"And you don't mind?"

Ellie frowned.

"Why would I?"

"I don't know... but I thought you were going to be mad at me for introducing Rayla to Dylan." I frankly told her.

"Kiara! Dylan's my friend and I like him as a friend, only. What made you think there was something else?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know..." I repeated. "But I noticed how you hug him and tease him and you're always so bright and funny when you're around him."

"But it's not just with him. That's just the way I am. In fact, I'm relaxed when I'm comfortable, when I'm hanging out with my friends. But in love... well, let's just say I'm very clumsy and shy."

I frowned, remembering how shy Ellie was when she met Matthew and Aiden for the first time.

"So you don't like Dylan that way?"

"No! I mean... He's a very sweet guy who I love to have as a friend, but that's it. He's not my type of guy when it comes to love..." Ellie's eyes darted to a boy in a leather jacket and black jeans leaning on a tree not very far away from us.

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't tell me Aiden's your type."

"I... yes, Kiara, bad boys are my type." She openly stated.

I opted for not speaking my mind. She already knew what I thought about Aiden, and even though he was a player, I couldn't tell her to stop liking him, if she actually did. I had warned her already but I couldn't prohibit her from talking to him and from fancying him. Of course I didn't want her to be involved with him because he was nothing but trouble and I didn't want to see her getting hurt, but at least I had the certain that for now he wasn't going to hurt her because he was more focused on me.

I just hoped he wouldn't take advantage of her once I rejected him.

I saw Aiden's eyes wandering through people until they landed on me and Ellie. I didn't even know he had come camping because it was something that seemed way out of Aiden's comfort zone. With his hands on his front pockets and a smirk plastered in his face, he made our way to us.

"Hello, girls."

Ellie immediately changed from relaxed to shy as she had told me and I wondered why I never noticed how different she was with boys she could romantically possibly like and with boys that she only considered as friends.

If Aiden noticed Ellie was being shy around him, he would tease her about that, which would result in making her even more nervous.

"Hi." Ellie and I said in unison, but while her voice was shaky and timid, mine was strong and defiant.

"I wonder why I didn't think about sneaking into your tent last night." His smirk grew wilder. "But I might just do that tonight."

From the corner of my eye I noticed Ellie blushing. This day was being full of surprises to me, with Rayla's and Ellie's revelations.

I crossed my arms over my chest and growled at Aiden.

"A barking dog seldom bites." I responded. Aiden chuckled at me. It frustrated me not knowing what he found so amusing about my persona. 

"Well, good thing that I'm not a dog then." He answered. I rolled my eyes once again. I noticed Mr. Jones preparing the megaphone to talk.

"Good morning, guys! I hope you're all ready to start walking because we're going to walk through the mountain and observe some wildlife, and then we'll do a picnic for lunch. In the afternoon we have a special surprise for you guys."

Everyone started talking about what the special surprise could be but I was more worried about Aiden's eyes on me and Ellie's eyes on him.

"Say, what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly

I want to see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly

I want to see you be brave!"

The picture in this chapter is Rayla, played by the wonderful Crystal Reed, and the music is "Brave" by Sara Bareilles!