Sweet, Melah.

As I slowly open my eyes I hear the sound of birds chirping and the slow movement of water flowing outside my window. I’ve lived on the outer skirts of a wild forest my entire life, it was quite beautiful living out here. My room was filled with the sun coming up into my room. I was very fond of my families house and the cosiness it brought me. It was an old cottage house in a 2-story layout. All old timber but beautifully decorated in a boho aesthetic. I slowly make my way out of bed, my hair a mess and my pj’s crumpled, to get ready for school. I get dressed in my normal clothes of tight black jeans and loose grey sweater. As I braided my hair, it seemed to have really brightened up naturally over the warmer months into a natural bleach blonde, making my blue eyes pop a little bit more. I felt cute today.    ‘Good morning Mum, Dad’ I say cheerfully. It’s the last day of school before my winter break so I’m extra cheerful. Winter is my favourite time of year.    ‘Good morning sweet Melah. Don’t forget the Beckets and their boy are coming to stay with us for the winter break.’ My mother said.    I groaned. The Beckets were really nice people, Anna and Finn. They grew up in the same small town as my parents as children and have been friends their whole lives. They live in another state and every 2 years we spend an entire school break with them. Their son, Ben, I never really gave much thought into him. He was quiet and never really had much to say. The last time I seen him, I was 13 and he was 16. We were kind of forced into playing together as children, but not really having anything in common as we come into our teenage years. Two years have gone past so I’m hoping I’ll be able to actually have a conversation with him and he can have the confidence in responding properly. He was always so strange and weirdly shy to me.    ‘I’m leaving, I’ll see you this afternoon!’ I say, walking out the front door putting my worn vans on, to start my small walk to school.    ‘Have a nice day.’ My parents said in unison.    I've always been quite fortunate with my popularity at school. Never had any issues of being bullied or a shortage of boys wanting my attention. I just was never really interested. I would flirt and give a wink, but I never had any interest in wanting to give my full attention to the boys that I know will just waste my time.    The day seemed to drag on. With it being the last day there wasn’t much school work to do so the entire day just consisted of socialising and making plans for the winter break. Even the teachers were eager to leave.    I was sitting under a tree for my second lunch break eating my apple when I hear…   ‘Are you finally going to take me up on my offer of taking you out or are you still playing hard to get Melah?’ I hear Levi whisper in my ear as he plonks himself next to me giving me a playful wink. Levi is very large in the masculine sense. He never use to be. Him and his older brother have been hitting the gym and he definitely has filled out his tall length with some muscle. He’s actually handsome with sandy blonde short hair and smile lines around his hazel eyes.    ‘In your dreams Levi’ I roll my eyes. Levi has been one of my closest friends since the beginning of high school. He has had a crush on me the entire time and he knows I’m just not interested but points to him for trying.    ‘Ok fine. But we definitely have to plan a camping trip or a weekend away with everyone!’ The thought did sound nice. Going away for the weekend with my 3 closest friends, Levi, Rebecca and Mitchell, having a fire, cooking delicious food and sneaking alcohol and partying a little too hard. But then I remembered Ben.    ‘We can definitely plan a weekend away, but I have the becket’s staying with me, so I’ll most probs have to bring Ben along. My mother would skin me if I left him behind.’    ‘That’s the weird kid hey? The one that refuses to look people in the eye and can’t get 3 words out of him that stays with you every couple years?’ I hear Mitchell say sitting next to me. Mitchell is more of the rustic version of Levi. His hair light brown, brushing along his collar bones with some loose waves. He wasn’t as muscular as Levi but he still stood his own being over 6foot tall.     ‘That’s the one.’ I groan again.    ‘Oh, stop it. Leave the guy alone. It’s been 2 years he’s probably hit puberty and finally learnt how to talk to women.’ Rebecca said strutting up to us. She is always so positive and would stand up for anyone, even someone who she barely even knows. Rebecca was quite beautiful. Dark brown down to her waist, slim figure and delicate freckles on her cheeks.    ‘Well, while everyone is here, Melah and I have decided that we all are going to camp for a weekend.’ Levi announces. As the conversation falls to the back of my mind, I find myself day dreaming about how dreadful it’s going to be having to entertain Ben. What if he doesn’t like camping? Would my mother mind if I did leave him behind?    I was interrupted by the bell going off, so we all went our separate ways to class.