Just his follower

Chapter 2: Ten years ago

After eight hours cramped on a bus with the other campers, we finally arrived at the summer college camp. My legs were sore, but the sight of towering pine trees and the smell of wood smoke in the air had me excited for the week ahead. I spotted my mom right away, busy in the camp’s outdoor kitchen with her signature apron and a smile that only seemed to get wider when she saw me.

“Mom?” I called, waving through the crowd of campers. She grinned, waving me over.

“Moriah! Come here!” she said, pulling me into a hug. “So, what do you think? Not bad for a camp site, huh?”

“Not bad at all,” I laughed, glancing around. “And you kept this a surprise!”

Mom chuckled. “Had to keep you on your toes! Plus, I’ve got more surprises lined up for you.” She gave me a knowing look and led me over to meet some of her friends working at the camp. They all welcomed me like I was part of their team, and it felt like family right away.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Mom added, lowering her voice a bit as if we were sharing a secret. “I know how much you love to sing…so I signed you up with the camp band for some evening jams.”

My eyes widened. “You did what?”

She winked. “C’mon, you’ll love it. Five nights of you on stage, getting the whole camp in the groove. You’ll have a blast!”

By that evening, I found myself backstage with the band, guitar riffs and drum beats echoing through the trees as the first few campers gathered in front of us. I took a deep breath, grabbing the mic, and gave Mom a thumbs-up from across the crowd.

“Ready?” one of the guitarists asked, a big smile on his face.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, feeling that familiar rush of excitement.

As the music started and I began to sing, I caught sight of some of my schoolmates and classmates cheering me on. The crowd was warming up, singing along with every verse, and the energy was contagious. By the second chorus, I could see a group of students dancing together, laughing and jumping in rhythm.

“You got them hyped, Moriah!” someone from the band called over the music, and I grinned, giving it even more.

After the last song, as the applause died down, I looked out at the smiling faces, feeling the energy still buzzing in the air. Mom was standing in the back, giving me a proud nod, and a few classmates were high-fiving each other, looking almost as thrilled as I felt.

“So…you ready for tomorrow’s set?” my drummer asked as we packed up.

I grinned, glancing back at the still-cheering crowd. “Absolutely. Let’s make these five days unforgettable.”

As the warm days at camp passed, each night I sang with the band, the crisp, cool evening air and glowing campfire making every song feel alive. I’d spent my days working with everyone in the camp band, helping set up, rehearsing, even singing along to wake up the camp with mellow morning tunes. Friendships bloomed so naturally, and by my last night, I was determined to make it unforgettable. My mom had insisted I look my best—she even made sure I packed an extra shirt and kept reminding me to take pictures with everyone. I couldn’t leave without memories.

That night, after taking some pictures with my co-campers, I was about to head out from the dormitory to get ready and join my fellow bandmates, but as soon I opened the door infront of me, my gaze caught immediately this one person standing outside, deep in conversation with the other campers, a guy I hadn’t seen before. He stood out, not just because of his height and strong build, but because of how relaxed and comfortable he seemed, laughing easily with everyone around him. The way his smile lit up his face practically made me lose my breath. I slipped back inside, shutting the door softly, just needing a second to pull myself together, my heart racing.

“Alright, Moriah. Just breathe,” I told myself, but my heart didn’t exactly get the memo.

When I finally stepped out, I tried to keep my head down, hoping to just skirt by. But of course, my friends noticed him, and before I knew it, they were introducing themselves. And just like that, he turned to me, and suddenly, he was right there, smiling and leaning in.

“Hey there,” he said smoothly, planting a quick kiss on my cheek that sent my heart into a tailspin. “What’s your name?”

“M-Moriah,” I stammered, trying to sound like I wasn’t completely thrown off.

He gave a warm smile. “Nice to meet you, Moriah.”

And just like that, he was off, greeting other campers, and I was left standing there, feeling like I was on cloud nine.

Later that night, after my final performance, I was walking back under the star-studded sky when I noticed him again—Evan, as I’d learned his name was—outside the dorm, chatting with a couple of other guys. One of them was playfully riding around on a tiny bike, and Evan was sitting at the corner of the sidewalk infront of the female's door, his laptop open on his lap, as he typed and laughed along with them.

I paused by some bushes, trying not to look too obvious, but he must’ve caught sight of me because, to my surprise, he looked up and smiled.

“Hey, Moriah,” he called, waving me over.

I didn’t even think twice. I wandered over, trying to play it cool as he motioned me to sit beside him. “I was just working on something here,” he said, tilting his laptop toward me. I wasn’t too familiar with tech, but I could see he had some kind of music editing software open.

“You produce music?” I asked, fascinated.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “just some beats here and there. I love working on tracks when I get the chance.”

We started talking, diving into music and to my surprise he also mentioned he likes reading books.

"Oh really? I do love reading too!" I exclaimed with excitement.

"Who's your favorite Author then?" he asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

“My favorites are Charles stanley, Joenna, Rick Warren .. ” I started listing my favorite authors with a grin. Suddenly, he cut in with another question.

"Do you know.. C.S Lewis?" His eyes focused intently on me.

"Yes! I do." I replied, nearly bouncing with excitement. I couldn’t believe he just mentioned my all-time favorite.

He held my gaze, his own eyes lighting up, and at the exact same moment, we both said, “Narnia.”

For a second, we just stared at each other before breaking into laughter.

"My Mom have the complete collection of it." He added with a smil. I was amazed to hear his Mom have a complete edition books of Narnia, knowing he got access to all those worlds of series. As he continue talking, I cant help but to just feel mesmerized and I don't know if he knew, but he got the best smile I've ever seen in my whole life.

“Narnia really is unbeatable,” he went on, shaking his head, still smiling. “There’s something about that world—every time I read it, it’s like going back to this familiar, magical place.”

"I just feel sad the movie adaptations never finished the whole series," I sighed, thinking about the stories that had yet to make it to the screen.

"Probably because the characters grew up faster than the story could keep up," he replied, his gaze drifting to the campers in the distance.

I nodded, feeling like I’d just uncovered a understanding between us. “It was one of the first stories that made me believe there’s something beyond just...life, you know? Like there’s magic just around the corner.” I added, my eyes returning to him, both of us now lost in our shared love for those books.

As we continue the conversation, he mentioned a few of his favorite songs as I did too, and we swapped social media accounts as well, laughing as we realized we had similar tastes in artists.

Just when I thought we’d have the whole night to chat, a few more campers noticed him and called him over, I just stayed as to where I am sitting and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him walk to greet other people who just called him, his laughter blending with the night air, and I realize that it wasn't just the camp or my performances that will stay with me, but also this feeling right here, this unexpected connection- with him. I don't want it to end.

As the night was winding down, one of my friends grinned, holding my camera. “Hey, Moriah, how about a picture with Evan?” she teased, waving him over before I could even reply. I laughed nervously, glancing at Evan, who just smile and step closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we both face the camera. My friend snap the shot, laughing as she promised to send it to me later. It was such a small moment, yet it felt like time stopped, just for a second.

That night, I couldn't get him out of my mind. His smile, the way we shared stories, even that moment when we both blurted out “Narnia” at the same time. Feeling a little bold, I sent him a message on social media, just to thank him for the conversation. To my surprise, he replied quickly.

“Hey! It was great talking to you too tonight. I had a lot of fun,” he wrote.

“Same here! I can’t believe we both said ‘Narnia’ at the same time." I replied, grinning to myself.

“Haha! Maybe we should plan a trip there. I can show you around,” he joked.

“Ha! I’ll bring the popcorn for our adventure. What’s next on the agenda? ‘Meeting Prince Caspian?”

“Only if you promise to sing the soundtrack! You have a killer voice.” he shot back, making my cheeks warm.

I felt my heart race. “Thanks! I’ll have to think of a good song to perform for you next time.”

“I’ll hold you to that! Maybe we can work on making cover song?”

Before I knew it, we were chatting back and forth like old friends, laughing and sharing snippets of our lives.

But the next day, my last day at camp, I couldn’t find him anywhere. I knew his family is the one whose mainly managing the whole campsite, but with how big and busy it was, it seems like I missed my chance to see him again for last time. I tried to focus on enjoying the last moments with friends, even as a part of me felt a little heartbroken, knowing I might never cross paths with him again because of the distance.

When the bus finally left, I glanced down at my phone and saw his last message, which somehow made me smile the entire way home as we chatted off and on throughout the day.

The moment I got home, curiosity got the best of me. I searched through his profile, hoping to learn a bit more about him. But he wasn’t one to overshare; his posts were mostly about music, family, and little things that hinted at a life so different from mine. Seeing how polished and comfortable his life seem, it hit me—I was just a girl he met at camp, nothing special. He seemed so far out of reach, like someone from a whole other world.

Months went by, and though we’d touch base from time to time—birthday wishes here, a holiday greeting there—I felt the gap between us grow wider. I saw pictures of him living his life, tagged in moments with people who seemed to belong in his world. Meanwhile, I poured myself into my photography, each click of the camera a reminder of the dream I was building for myself. And even if thoughts of Evan would sneak up on me, especially during quiet nights, I buried them, telling myself that someone like him could never truly fit into my life.