In the Time of Stars#3

The Camp has officially started!! What will it bring for Myra- excitement or regret? Wait!

As Myra sat in the corner, her face burned with embarrassment from her earlier fumbled introduction. The memory of all those eyes on her, silently judging, made her want to vanish into thin air. She hugged her knees lightly, wishing she could become invisible, her thoughts spiraling into the familiar cycle of self-doubt.

“Mind if I sit here?” a voice cut through her internal whirlwind.

Startled, Myra looked up and saw a boy standing nearby. He had an easy-going air about him, a cup of soda in one hand. His tall frame cast a slight shadow, but his calm demeanour and soft smile made him seem approachable.

“Uh… sure,” Myra said, shifting slightly to make space.
As he sat down, he offered her a hand. “I’m Cove, by the way.”
Myra hesitated for a second before shaking it. “Yeah… I remember. From earlier.”
Cove chuckled softly, his smile widening. “Ah, so I made an impression, huh? Guess that’s one thing I’ve got going for me.”

That drew a small smile from Myra despite herself. His laid-back tone was unexpectedly disarming.

“I saw you sitting here and thought, ‘Maybe I should rescue her before she actually vanishes.’ Groups like this can be a lot.”
“That obvious?” Myra muttered, her cheeks still warm.
“Nah, just something I’ve seen before.” He leaned back, casually sipping his soda. “Trust me, though, most people here are too busy wondering what others think of them to notice much.”
Myra blinked, caught off guard by the truth in his words. “I guess… that makes sense.”
“Of course, it does.” Cove glanced at her with an easy grin. “Also, don’t stress too much about the intro thing. Half the people here probably didn’t even hear it.”

This time, Myra’s laugh came unbidden, light and real. After that, Cove didn’t push her to say more. He just sat there with her, sipping his soda and letting the silence settle comfortably between them. Myra, who moments ago had wanted to disappear, now found herself wanting to stay. For the first time since Joie, someone had made her feel truly assured.

As the bus rumbled along, Myra kept stealing glances at Cove. She worried if her quiet presence was boring him, but he didn’t seem to mind. He sat back, his head tilted slightly against the seat, eyes closed, a faint smile playing on his lips.
It was as though he was lost in his own thoughts, completely at ease, and that ease was contagious. Myra felt her own shoulders loosen. She leaned her head against the window again, her gaze trailing over the passing hills, her thoughts no longer swirling with anxiety.

For once, silence didn’t feel awkward. It felt… peaceful.
The bus came to a halt, and the group began to pour out into the crisp mountain air. Myra stepped down the stairs, her breath catching as she took in the scene. The camp sprawled out before her—rows of neatly set-up tents, a crackling fire pit surrounded by wooden benches, and towering mountains framing it all. The chilled but refreshing air filled her lungs, carrying with it a sense of freedom that was rare for her.

For a brief moment, it felt like heaven, far removed from the noise and clutter of city life. But before she could fully lose herself in the tranquillity, Joie bounded down after her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward the gathering group.

“Myra, are you okay?” Joie asked, her tone suddenly worried. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to push you so hard. It’s my fault—just forgive me, please?” The usual playfulness in Joie’s voice had been replaced with genuine concern.
Myra hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. She wanted to tell Joie it was fine, but the truth was that it had been overwhelming. Still, Joie’s intentions had been good, and the apology was sincere.
“Ah… it’s okay,” Myra said softly, her voice steadying as she added, “You were just doing it for me.”
Thanks to someone : This part she didn’t say aloud. Her thoughts lingered on a quiet conversation from earlier, and a faint smile touched her lips as they walked toward the others.

All the students gathered around the fire pit, the lively hum of chatter filling the crisp mountain air. Myra and Joie joined in last, Myra sticking close to Joie like a shadow.
In the centre stood a woman in her early 40s, radiating energy and confidence. Her sharp posture and easy authority made it clear she was the camp instructor. She clapped her hands together, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Alright, everyone! Welcome to camp!” she began, her voice sharp and energised. “Pleased to meet you all, I’m Frieda. Frieda, the motivator, as some like to call me.” Her smile widened, and a few chuckles broke out in the group. “ Your instructor and guide for the weekend. Before we jump into the fun stuff, we need to break the ice and get to know each other better.”

Myra tensed at the word icebreaker. Joie noticed her expression and leaned closer. “Relax, Myra—it’s not actual ice,” she teased.
“You think this is funny?” Myra muttered, but Joie’s grin only grew.
Frieda continued, “Here’s how it’s going to work. You’ll pair up with someone, and together, you’ll tackle tasks—setting up tents, gathering firewood, and so on. Think of it as a team test. Teams make the dream, after all!”

The group buzzed with murmurs of curiosity, but Myra’s unease only grew. She shifted nervously, her eyes flitting around the crowd.

Joie elbowed her lightly. “Come on, this could be fun.”
“Fun? Unlikely,” Myra muttered. “Stressful? Guaranteed.”
“Listen up, everyone!” Frieda called. “To make things simple, I’ll pair you all myself. Remember, stepping out of your comfort zone is how you grow!”
Joie leaned closer to Myra, her voice low. “Maybe you’ll end up with someone who’s fun.”
“For you, maybe,” Myra shot back.
Mira began calling out pairs. “Sam and Billy. Ravi and Hellen. Patrick with Joie. So, Myra will team up with Cove!”
Myra froze. Joie’s grin widened as she gave her a quick nudge forward.
“Well, off you go!” Frieda clapped her hands again.
Cove, who had been standing a few steps away, met Myra’s gaze and walked over, his easy-going smile intact. “Looks like we’re working together,” he said lightly. Joie didn’t miss a beat, nudging Myra forward. “She’s all yours!”

Joie winked at Myra as she skipped off to her own partner. Myra swallowed hard and nodded, barely able to meet Cove’s eyes. “I… guess so.”
“Don’t worry—I promise I’m a pro at setting up tents and carrying heavy stuff.”
Myra couldn’t help a small laugh slipping out. “Well, that’s good. I’m more of a… ‘watch and learn’ type.”
“Great,” Cove said, his tone light. “I’ll set it up, and you can supervise.”
It was simple, but something in his calm, laid-back demeanour chipped away at her nerves, just a little.

Frieda clapped her hands again to gather attention. “Alright, everyone! The first task is setting up tents! Each pair will be assigned a tent to assemble. Make sure it’s done properly—your comfort depends on it! Go ahead, pick up your gear, and let’s get started!”

Myra and Cove made their way to the tent that had been set aside for them. The materials were laid out in a disorganized heap, and Myra looked at the poles and canvas, wondering how it was all going to come together.
Cove grinned and grabbed a couple of poles. “Let’s start with the frame. I’ll show you the basics, then you can take over.”
Myra, feeling slightly out of place, nodded hesitantly. “Sure. I’ve never actually set up a tent before, so…”
“No worries,” Cove said, his voice calm. “First, we get the frame up. Just follow my lead.”

As Cove expertly pieced together the metal poles and started setting up the tent frame, Myra observed quietly, trying to remember the steps. She wasn’t used to relying on others, and certainly not in such a direct, hands-on way. Her comfort zone was more about solitude and observing from a distance.
“Your turn,” Cove said, handing her a pole.
Myra hesitated before taking it. “Are you sure I’m doing this right?” she asked, eyeing the frame skeptically.
“Just slot it in,” Cove replied with a grin. “Don’t overthink it. I promise it’s easier than it looks.”

As they worked, Myra’s initial nervousness began to fade. Cove was patient and didn’t rush her, offering tips here and there, making sure she felt included. She found herself smiling more than she expected, surprised at how easy it was to follow his lead.
Before long, the frame was up, and it was time to unfold the canvas and secure it in place. Myra stood back, letting Cove do the heavy lifting as he hoisted the tent cover into position.

Once the tent was set up, Cove stepped back, eyeing their work. “Not bad, right?”
Myra glanced at their finished tent and nodded. “Yeah, actually… this doesn’t look too bad.”
“Great teamwork,” Cove said with a nod, before looking over at the other pairs. “Let’s see how everyone else is doing.”
As Myra and Cove settled into the chairs beside the tent, they watched as other pairs were still fumbling with their tents, caught up in their own disagreements. The sun was high, and the camp was alive with activity, but the two of them found a quiet moment in their corner.

Myra shifted in her seat, feeling the weight of her thoughts. She looked down at her hands for a moment, then finally turned to Cove, speaking in a quiet, almost shy voice.
“Hey, um… thanks,” Myra mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cove, who had been leaning back with his arms crossed, gave her a puzzled look. “For the tent?” he asked, glancing over at their work, which was standing perfectly erected beside them.

Myra shook her head, her cheeks slightly flushed. “No, not just for the tent…” She hesitated for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. “I meant… for back on the bus. You know, when I… felt like I was making it awkward… but you didn’t make me feel bad. It… it really helped.”
Cove blinked, surprised by her admission, but then smiled warmly. “Oh, no problem. You don’t have to thank me for that. I mean, everyone feels awkward sometimes. Besides, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Myra nodded, feeling a little lighter. “Yeah, I guess… but still. It’s just… I don’t usually talk much, so when you let me just… be quiet, it felt nice.”
Cove leaned back, a soft grin spreading across his face. “I get it. To tell you the truth, it was actually kind of peaceful.”

Myra smiled shyly, her gaze softening. The moment lingered in the air, the conversation was soft and natural, just like the space they had found between them. No pressure. Just the simple ease of two people understanding each other, without words needing to be too much.
“So… now that we’re here, what’s next on your mind? Something about this trip catching your attention, or are you just hoping it goes by without too much chaos?”
Myra gave a soft laugh, feeling a bit more at ease with the playful tone. She glanced at the camp around them, then looked back at Cove. “Honestly,” she started, her voice still a bit shy but more confident now, “I’m just hoping to make it through without completely embarrassing myself.”

She shifted slightly in her seat, looking out at the group still bustling around, setting up the rest of their camp. “I don’t really do well in big groups… but I guess I’m kind of hoping to enjoy the peace here, away from the noise, you know?” She smiled faintly, almost as if she was admitting something she didn’t often say aloud.
Cove nodded, his gaze softening as he understood. “I get that,” he said, leaning back in his chair, his voice calm. “It’s easy to get lost in all the noise. But sometimes, a bit of quiet is all you need to recharge.”

He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. “It’s okay to take your time, you know. You don’t have to dive into everything all at once. You’re allowed to be here for yourself.” His words were genuine, carrying a sense of reassurance that Myra found surprisingly comforting.
She glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if processing what he said. “Thanks, Cove,” she replied, her voice soft, but there was a warmth In it. “I guess… I’m just trying to find a balance. It’s hard for me to be around so many new faces.”
Cove smiled, not pushing her further. “You’ll figure it out. But hey, we’ve got time. Let’s just enjoy this moment.” He gestured to the peaceful surroundings, the calm before the next activity. “There’s no rush.”