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granolabird · 2 years

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Beth Chapel Doesn’t get Jealous

Hournite week day 4: Jealousy

(We’re already on day 4?? This is so weird to me it feels like we’re still on day 2)

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Beth Chapel doesn’t get jealous. It’s not something she does. When she lost the 4th grade spelling bee, she didn’t cry or fight over the trophy. She went to go talk to the winner and learn how they’d learned how to spell charcuterie (A word she didn’t even know at the time, hence her loss.) The eighth grade debate team loss had a similar outcome, as did her loss at the talent show. Beth didn’t get jealous in any of those situations. In fact she was always happier for whoever did win. So what was so different now?

Well, a lot of things were different if she thought about it technically. This wasn't her losing some stupid school competition, this was her losing Rick. Okay, maybe losing was a little too dramatic of a term, but really that’s how she felt. Ever since Cindy had decided to start sitting at the not-losers table, things had changed. Namely, Cindy’s ex-best friend Jenny Williams had started coming around again.

Nobody on the team had quite figured out whether she was trying to make her way back into Cindy’s life to cause havoc, or was trying to win her back over, but either way she had apparently set her sights on Rick. For Rick’s part, he really was oblivious to the situation. Every time Jenny passes by the table, or his desk in class, she makes sure to wave to Rick. He usually tries his best to give her a small wave back, but it’s clear that he has no idea why she would bother waving to him. Beth knows though. She can tell when someone has a crush (As someone who has one herself) and she knows that Jenny has a crush on Rick. Or maybe she’s just pretending to, to get close to Cindy or maybe- Beth always tries to stop her thought train when it goes too far. She should be fine with this, she shouldn’t be upset, Jenny isn’t doing any harm, but Beth can’t help it. She finally felt like things were moving forward with Rick, like they might actually become something more than friends, and then Jenny had to go ahead and throw a wrench in the plans. So, Beth has made the decision to figure it out. She has to know why Jenny was so interested in Rick.

Which is what has led Beth to where she is now. Sitting across from Jakeem at the Pit Stop, huddled over a table like they’re planning some sort of heist. The rest of the team isn’t here yet, but it’s supposed to be a full team meeting so everyone is going to show up soon. They have to be quick.

Jakeem is looking around terrified, like he’s done something wrong, and Beth realises really she just pulled him aside and said “I need to talk to you.”

He has no idea what’s going on.

“Is this about the whole incident with the library couch blowing up? Because that wasn’t me, that was Mike.” He asks, looking guiltily at the floor.

“The what? You know what, I probably don’t even want to know. No, Jakeem, I just wanted to ask about your sister.” Beth explains with a shake of her head, deciding she should probably mention something about that to Pat later.

“Jenny? What about her, is she in trouble?” Jakeem’s demeanour changes instantly as he becomes more concerned.

“No, I mean, not yet-”

“What?”

“It’s not a superhero problem, don't worry. At least, I don’t think it’s a superhero problem.”

“Is she doing drugs? Did you see her-”

“No! Jakeem, calm down, please. It’s just that… I think she has a crush on Rick.”

Jakeem makes a face of confusion, blinking a few times while he tries to process what Beth’s just said. “On Rick? Like, our team Rick? Like, the grumpy, everyone in town hates him, always looks like he wants to rip someone’s head off Rick?”

“Well, I wouldn’t attest to that description, but yeah, that’s the one.”

“There’s no way! He’s not her type!”

“That’s what I was thinking!” Beth feels at least a little bit better that Jakeem is having the same train of thought as her.

“How do you know she likes him?”

As Beth describes Jenny’s strange behaviour around her best friend to Jakeem, a look slowly crosses his face. He grows seemingly more puzzled as her explanation continues, clearly putting thought into what Beth is saying.

“She’s definitely up to something.” He confirms, resting his head on his hand as he tries to think about what this could all mean.

“I was thinking that, but I wasn’t sure.” Beth agrees.

“But what? Jenny doesn’t flirt like that. In all the years I’ve known her, which is all my years, she’s had a few boyfriends, and never has she been so vague in her flirting.”

“How do you even know how she flirts?”

Jakeem looks around the room to make sure nobody is listening before he explains;

“Oh! She used to practice asking guys out with her teddy bear. Actually she probably still does, but that’s besides the point. She’s gotta be planning something. Do you think she knows about the JSA?”

“To Cindy? But she hates Cindy!” Jakeem exclaims, accidentally knocking a piece of paper off the table and sending it floating across the room.

Beth decides to willingly ignore the start of that sentence, and focus on the latter half.

“Maybe. I thought she was trying to use him to get closer to Cindy.”

“Exactly. She gets close to Rick, uses him to take away all Cindy’s friends, and then Cindy is left all alone. It’s the perfect plot.” Beth explains, but Jakeem shakes his head in response.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so, Jenny isn’t that mean. If anything she’s probably just using him to get closer to Cindy to make amends. That’s more her speed.”

“But does she even want to make amends?” Beth asks, and once again she’s met with a head shake.

“No. She said to me once that she ‘never wanted to go near that bad influence bitch ever again.’ Sorry for swearing. It was a quote.”

“I don’t care if you- nevermind. Obviously there’s something more at play.”

“Do you think she’s being mind controlled? Mike said there was a guy who could mind control.”

Beth sighs. Of course Mike would bring up Brainwave.

“That guy was Brainwave, and he’s dead. So is his son. It’s not either of them.”

Jakeem gives a defeated huff. “Then what’s going on?”

“That’s what we have to find out.”Beth tells him.

Jakeem looks at her and gives a grim nod, sealing their fate. They were going to have to go on their own secret mission to figure out exactly what was going on.

The next day at school sets their plan into action. It’s lunch, and the JSA group is all sitting at their table. Mike and Jakeem are only a few tables away, and Jakeem is watching the table like a hawk, waiting for his sister’s inevitable arrival. Beth is chatting with Rick idly about their math homework, while Courtney and Yolanda talk about some new show they’d both started watching. Just as Cindy arrives, her chair scraping across the cafeteria floor, Beth spots Jenny. She’s just exited the food line, and is now, as per usual, headed past their table. She walks by with a grin, and looks right at Rick.

“Hey!” she says with a smile and a wave.

Beth and Rick glance at each other, then back to Jenny.

“Hey Jenny. How are you?” Beth asks, and instantly Jenny looks over to her with a smile.

“I’m doing alright, thank you! Just thought I’d pop over and say hi, and see how you guys were doing.”

And then Jenny walks away like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Beth shoots a glance over to Jakeem who looks just as confused as she feels, as he shrugs at her. The entire group has gone quiet now, all looking between each other with looks of varying befuddlement. Cindy is the first to break the silence.

“Why does she keep doing that?” She asks, looking disdainfully towards where Jenny has now sat down with her friends.

“I don’t know. Maybe she’s trying to just… be nice?” Courtney offers, but Cindy shakes her head.

“No. She’s definitely up to something.”

For once, somehow, Cindy and Beth are on the same page. Beth isn’t sure how she feels about that.

“People are allowed to be nice, Cindy.” Yolanda snaps, shooting Cindy a glare.

“Yes, but not Jenny. Not to me at least. She hates me.”

“That doesn’t mean she hates all of us. The world doesn’t revolve around you, Cindy” Rick grunts in response, and Cindy sighs, putting one hand on her forehead.

“Yeah yeah. Listen, someone at least talk to her, because it’s starting to freak me out a little. She doesn’t say hi to anyone elses tables so there’s clearly something going on here.” Cindy pauses for a moment, before she turns to Rick.

“You. Do you have any classes with Jenny?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Because she looked at you first out of everyone at the table. My bet is that she likes you.”

Rick gives a face of confusion, and spares another quick glance over to Beth.

“Me? She’s never even talked to me.”

“She does say hi to you in english every day.” Courtney offers, to which Rick responds with a side eye.

Cindy snaps her fingers with a smug smile.

“Exactly. There we go. She’s interested.”

The group all glance at each other in turn, then back to Cindy.

“Maybe you should talk to her. She’s actually nice you know, despite abandoning me in my time of need.” Cindy says with a self-satisfied nod, as if she’s solved every problem in the world.

In Beth’s world, she’s created even more.

“Maybe she wouldn’t have abandoned you, if you had been a better friend?” Yolanda says to Cindy, who just scoffs and shakes her head. Rick doesn’t say anything, seemingly becoming very interested in his ham sandwich. Beth decides that the situation is officially dire.

After lunch, Beth walks with Rick to their next class. He’s quiet as they walk so Beth does most of the talking, but she knows that something’s wrong. She takes a deep breath, and makes the executive decision to ask about the elephant in the room. In the hallway? It didn’t really matter.

“So, the whole thing with Jenny…” Beth starts, but Rick immediately shakes his head.

“I don’t really wanna talk about it.” He grumbles, looking away.

Beth forces a grin, as she bumps him jokingly.

“Why not? I think it’s great that someone has a crush on you. Soon everyone in the school will be interested I’m sure.”

She’s just trying to lighten the situation despite all her feelings, but Rick doesn’t seem to get the memo. He just sends her an exasperated look.

“I don’t want everyone to be interested. I’d rather just be left alone.” He huffs, crossing his arms.

“Oh. I’m sorry. “ Beth says, and immediately Rick looks over to her with some concern, realising he’s been a bit too blunt with the situation.

“No, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to get upset, It’s just… I’m not… I just don’t want to have to let her down. She’s a really nice girl, I’m just not into her. Uh, that’s all.”

This is Beth’s chance.

“I can talk to her for you! I mean, if you’re not comfortable. I can just ask at first, and then if she says she likes you I’ll break the news. That way, you’re only tangentially related to the situation.” She offers, and Rick’s gaze softens as he gives her a smile.

“I can tell you’re serious because you’re bringing out the scrabble words.” He jokes, as they turn to walk into their shared math class.

“But yeah, honestly if you did that I’d probably forever be in your debt. Seriously. I’m just not good with people, I’d have no idea what to say.”

“Don’t even worry about it. I’m always happy to help.” Beth says with a shrug, as if this wasn’t the ideal outcome of the situation.

They settle at their desks, and Rick glances Beth’s way with a look of genuine appreciation, and something else that Beth can’t quite put her finger on, but it makes her heart flutter.

“Thanks, Beth.” He mutters softly, and then the bell rings and class begins.

Beth meets with Jakeem after school. Jenny usually drives him home, so he offered for Beth to come wait with him so that they could talk to her. Rick was supposed to drive Beth home, but he was busy doing some printing in the library, which bought her a little time.

“So? What’s the plan?” Jakeem whispers, glancing around as if Jenny could appear from around any corner.

“There’s no plan Jakeem, this isn’t a mission. We just ask Jenny if she likes Rick, and see where to go from there.” Beth explains.

“What if she says yes!?” Jakeem asks, eyes wide with concern.

“Then we tell her he doesn’t feel the same.”

“But then she’ll sit and mope the entire ride home.”

“Jakeem, you said before that you were almost certain she didn’t even like him.”

“Yeah, but on the off chance she does, then she’ll get mopey. I hate mopey Jenny. She’s always mean.” Jakeem sighs with a defeated look.

Beth is in the middle of trying to formulate a response to that, when she sees Jenny walking down the sidewalk towards them.

“Oh! Hey Beth!” Jenny says with a wave. “My little brother bothering you?”

“No, not at all, we were just talking.” Beth laughs, though it comes out as an awkward chuckle.

If Jenny notices, she doesn’t say anything.

“I didn’t know you two knew each other!”

“Yeah, we uh, um, met through Courtney. Mike is Courtney’s brother.” Jakeem interrupts, and Jenny shoots him a disdainful glance as she turns to start walking away.

“Right well, we have to be getting home so-”

Beth has to act fast.

“Wait! Sorry, just, I had a question.”

“Um, okay? What’s up?” Jenny says as she turns back around, looking at Beth, and then Jakeem.

Beth and Jakeem glance at each other, a silent conversation about who should ask the question happening between them. Beth decides to take the bullet.

“Why do you keep saying hi to us?”

“I’m sorry?”

Beth sighs,

“Every time you walk by Rick and I, or our table at lunch you always say hi to him. He thinks it’s because you like him, so does Cindy, but I just wanted to ask.”

Jenny looks genuinely baffled.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, very.”

“Beth, I wouldn’t try to take your boyfriend from you. If that’s the impression I gave, I’m so sorry!”

Beth’s jaw drops a little. Did Jenny just say Rick was her boyfriend? She’s about to correct Jenny, tell her that Rick isn’t her boyfriend, just her best friend, but Jenny just keeps talking.

“I was just worried about you guys. I wasn’t the kindest to you when I was friends with Cindy, so I felt bad. Now that you seem to be hanging out with her I just got worried. I didn’t know if she was manipulating you, or like… holding you hostage or something. So I thought I’d walk by and check in on you whenever I could. I never meant any harm.”

Beth relaxes instantly, and tries her best to not start laughing.

“You were just worried about us being in with Cindy?”

“Yes!”

“Told ya.” Jakeem says proudly, as if he hadn’t doubted the situation at all. Beth shoots him a look but doesn’t say anything.

“Well thanks for clearing that up Jenny. And uh, Me and Rick we aren’t-”

Out of the corner of her eye she sees Rick leave the front doors of the school.

“Look, there’s your boyfriend now! Do you need me to go explain the situation to him, or…?”

“Oh! No, no, that’s alright thanks. We drive home together anyway, I’ll just explain it to him on the way home.”

A smile breaks across Jenny’s face as she lets out a small squeal of delight.

“You two are so cute. Seriously.” She looks between them one last time before continuing. “Well, I guess we should both get going. See you around Beth!”

Jenny gives her a small wave, then waves to Rick in the distance before gesturing for Jakeem to follow her.

Jakeem for his part, glances at his sister, then glances a Beth, then whispers

“Do I tell her that you two aren’t dating?”

“I think that would probably break her heart more than being rejected.” Beth says with a small laugh, already backing up towards Rick.

“Thanks for the help Jakeem!” She says louder, waving to both Jakeem and Jenny, as Rick finally reaches her side. Jakeem keeps looking between Rick and Beth and Jenny, clearly conflicted, until Jenny shouts

“Come on Jakeem! You have to do the dishes tonight, and you know how mom gets if they aren’t done on time!”

“Right! I’m on the way! Uh, bye guys!” He looks over to Beth and Rick one last time, before rushing over to Jenny’s car.

“So what was that?” Rick asks, and Beth tries her best not to smile, knowing the story she has to tell.

“You’re telling me she was just worried about us?”

They’re halfway to Beth’s house, and Rick is still trying to wrap his head around the situation as they pull up to a stop sign.

“Yeah. She didn’t know why Cindy was hanging around with us, so she just had to check in and make sure we were alright. It was entirely harmless.”

“Huh.” Rick chuckles with a smile.

Beth takes a moment to debate what to say next, but she knows she has to tell Rick the whole truth of the story, so she takes a deep breath and braces herself.

“There was something else, too. It was actually kind of funny.”

“You can’t just say that and not tell me what she said, c’mon Beth.”

Here we go.

“She thought we were dating. That’s part of why she was so apologetic.” Beth tells him.

Rick whips his head over to look at Beth so fast she’s scared he might give himself a concussion. He just keeps staring at Beth, eyes wide, but not saying a word.

“Rick, the road?” She points to the road ahead with mild concern.

“Oh, yeah sorry.” He turns back to the road ahead, fingers drumming on the steering wheel anxiously. “She really thought we were dating? Did you tell her we weren’t?” He asks, only glancing at Beth this time.

“Yeah, she really thought we were dating. She kept calling you my boyfriend. I didn’t get the chance to tell her we weren’t, she kept cutting me off and then she just left. I figured she was so amused with us being a couple I might as well just leave it by that point.” Beth shrugs, but Rick seems to be deep in thought about the matter.

“So Jenny Williams thinks we’re a couple. Probably her entire friend group too.” He says in a tone Beth can’t quite decipher.

“I’m sorry Rick, if that’s something that bothers you, we can tell them the truth or…”

“No! It’s just funny, is all.”

“Funny?” Beth asks.

“Yeah. They think we’re dating, and I didn’t even get the chance to ask you out yet.”

Now it’s Beth’s turn to stare at Rick with wide eyes.

“You were gonna ask me out?”

“Eventually! I wasn’t really sure how, is all. This just sorta fast tracked it.”

“I thought you said you just wanted to be left alone?”

“Alone is a space that consists of me, and you. You should know that by this point.”

Beth’s heart feels like it’s about to burst.

“So… You were asking me out?” Beth half-jokes, poking at Rick’s arm playfully.

“Yes! I mean, yeah, yep. If you wanna go to Richie’s tonight? My treat?” Rick asks, tapping his thumbs together worriedly as if he doesn’t already know that Beth is obviously going to say yes.

He’s clearly unsure of himself, and Beth finds it so endearing that despite everything he still isn’t sure if she wants to go out on a date with him. She decides to definitively make up his mind by leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

“It sounds like a date.” She says softly, and Rick ducks his head with a soft huff of a laugh. He can’t stop smiling, and neither can Beth.

Alright, so maybe Jenny saying hi every day wasn’t such a bad thing, if it led to more moments like this. She knows now that her first instinct was correct anyway, Beth Chapel doesn’t get jealous. It’s not something she does. She just gets a little reasonably concerned when other girls flirt with her crush-now-boyfriend. That’s all.

#hourniteweek22 #hournite #The show doesn't let Jakeem interact with the rest of the JSA so I took matters into my own hands #Stargirl #Hournite fic #Stargirl fic #beth chapel #rick tyler #hourman #dr. mid nite #jakeem williams #Jakeem thunder #beth chapel x rick tyler #hournite week

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granolabird · 2 years

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Summer days drifting away

My fic for Hournite week day 2: Summer Camp. I’ve been to a summer camp only twice, once as a camper, once as a counselor, but I’ve also played The Quarry a whole lot so most of my camp knowledge is from there, so if you see any similarities that’s why. Oops.

It’s finally over. Rick reclines on his bunk, taking a moment to breathe. He had never wanted to work at a summer camp. He hated being out in the sun, he hated bugs, and most importantly, he hated kids. They were loud, didn't respect boundaries, and he could never figure out what to do when they were crying. In retrospect it really seemed like the words ‘summer camp’ were really just a translated term for ‘hellscape’ to him. Yet here he was, in the ‘Grizzly Bear’ cabin of ’Star Light Summer Camp', at the end of a summer spent being a counsellor.

Just outside of Blue Valley, apparently this was the go-to place for small town children to be sent for the summer. When Mrs. Woods told him that he should apply, and that it would be good for experience, Rick was sceptical.See the above reasons, obviously. But she was persuasive. That, and she said it paid relatively well. Rick needed to get some more parts for his car, and selling kegs wasn't cutting it. The pay, paired with the idea that he could miraculously escape his not-so-friendly Uncle Matt for an entire summer sold him on the idea.

So, he went ahead and took the job. And all his worries be damned, he actually somehow managed to have a good time. Sure, there were a few incidents regarding homesick children, as well as Rick’s barely contained urge to strangle some of his fellow counsellors, but all in all it had been a good experience. He spent his days taking his cabin’s kids kayaking, hiking, and his personal favourite, rock climbing. The camp had become his own little paradise away from his hellish home life. He’d made some solid friendships too. Courtney was alright, even if she was a little too annoyingly chatty. And Yolanda had taught him some pretty solid rock climbing and boxing tips. He didn’t care much for Cameron, or Cindy, or Artemis… But that’s alright, he thinks he did pretty well to avoid them anyway. Then there was Beth.

Rick knows Beth. Much like the rest of the other counsellors, they've gone to school together for years, and whenever he actually bothers to show up to the caf for lunch he always sits at her table. She spends her lunch breaks video chatting with her parents, and is by every definition of the word, a total nerd. Another (less important, in Rick's opinion) fact about Beth Chapel is that Rick has an embarrassingly large crush on her. He's not sure when it developed. Probably somewhere around the time she offered to lend him her English notes because he'd skipped class again, and when he offhandedly told her she'd made a small grammar mistake she called him her “new best friend!”

Rick wasn't sure how many 'new best friends' Beth had, but he did know that as soon as she said that he felt a flutter in his chest that meant something bad. It meant he was feeling things, and the last thing he needed was to feel things. See, Beth is everything Rick isn't. She's sweet, and kind, and smart, and a goody two shoes.

She's perfect.

Which is why spending an entire summer with her wasn’t ideal. He couldn’t have Beth finding out how much of a self-proclaimed asshole he was when he wasn’t around her. Being around kids helped him reign in any temperamental issues, but he still worried that one misstep would lead to disaster. What if he accidentally swore around a kid, or broke a canoe paddle, or not-so-accidentally tripped Cindy when she was walking by his cabin… The list went on and on. Yeah, he was glad to be free of this place.

Except, as per usual, there was another problem. Apparently he had been informed at the start of camp (he stands by the apparently because he had no memory of being told this) that there was an end-of-summer tradition.

Yesterday evening Cameron marched into their shared cabin and said:

“Hey Rick, excited for the counsellor day tomorrow?” In that stupid deep monotonous voice of his, as if it made the most sense in the world.

Of course, Rick had no idea what he was talking about. He said as much. Cameron stared at him for a few seconds, followed by,

“Don’t you remember from the debriefing? After the kids are gone we get one day to ourselves to chill at the camp alone. They do it every year. It’s pretty dope.”

To Rick that really sounded the opposite of dope. Despite his enjoyment of the previous days of summer, this sounded like a nightmare. Rick didn’t like most of the other counsellors. He didn’t want to spend a day chilling with them. He wanted to take his newly earned cash, go home, fix his car, and go back to his life of avoiding Matt and skipping school. That was what sounded dope to Rick.

Given the situation, Rick decided he had to take matters into his own hands. He absolutely would not be taking part in this ‘counsellor’ day, so he had to come up with a way to dodge it. He was relatively good at skipping school, so surely this would be a breeze. His solution to the problem was as follows: Simply stay inside all day until nightfall, and then go to sleep and in the morning he could wake up and this would all be over. The plan was foolproof, at least in Rick’s eyes.

Unfortunately he didn’t account for the fact that every single person at camp knew where his cabin was. So, as he’s reclining in his bunk, taking that moment to breathe, he’s unceremoniously interrupted by a knock on the door. He jolts up, eyeing the window. It’s fine. As long as he stays quiet, they won’t know he’s in here.

Another knock, followed by the sound of Courtney’s voice yelling;

“Rick, we know you’re in there!”

Ah. Shit.

“Leave me alone. I’m uh, napping.”

“It’s 12 P.M. You don’t need to nap. We know you’re avoiding us. Get out here!”

So much for a day of quiet avoidance and relaxation.

Reluctantly Rick makes his way over to the door, opening it slowly to peer out at his assailants. Courtney, Yolanda, and Artemis all wait expectantly. Thankfully Beth isn’t present, so he doesn’t feel too bad about saying:

“Leave me alone. They said we had a day of camp to ourselves. I’ve selected my day as a day of relaxing alone away from everyone else. Is that too much to ask for?”

“Yes.” Courtney says, and Yolanda and Artemis both nod as if to further prove her point.

“C’mon Rick, don’t you wanna hang out with everyone? I mean we spent so much time with the kids we don’t even know each other! You don’t wanna join in on a bonding experience?” Yolanda offers.

“Respectfully, no.” Rick huffs, beginning to close the door.

Artemis chimes in, “We’re about to go on a group hike!”

“Sounds like a chance to get bitten by even more mosquitos.”

The door closes a little more.

The girls all seem to debate for a moment, glancing at one another, before Courtney finally says,

“There’s gonna be truth or dare at the campfire tonight. It could be your chance to finally kiss Beth!”

Rick debates for a moment between slamming the door, ripping his eyes from his skull in utter embarrassment, or yelling at Courtney. He decides on the latter.

“I told you already, I don’t have a crush on her!”

That just makes the opposing trio laugh, much to Rick’s annoyance.

“Everyone knows you two like each other, Rick. If me and Cam can get together over summer camp, why can’t you and Beth?” Courtney tries, gesturing to herself with a smile.

Yes it’s true. Apparently being counsellors together had kindled something between Cameron and Courtney, and by week three of camp they were the talk-of-the-camp couple. It was annoyingly sweet to see them taking care of campers hand in hand like parents of a very large crowd of unruly children. But that was them. Rick was a strictly no-relationship, live-alone-until-I-die kind of person. He didn’t do summer romance. He didn’t do romance at all. Which is why, instead of saying anything to Courtney, his next course of action was to close the door.

“I’m staying inside. I’ve had enough camp activities over the last two months to last me a lifetime, so go off on your hike and leave me be.”

“You can’t stay in there forever you know!” Yolanda shouts, to which Rick responds

“Not forever! Just until tomorrow morning when the bus comes to take us home!” before flopping back onto his bunk with a contented sigh.

Yes, he thinks to himself. I handled that perfectly.

For the majority of the rest of the day Rick is uninterrupted. He has no signal, so he spends his time playing stupid offline games on his phone, listening to music, and boredly colouring in a book that one of the campers left behind. Was his ideal day listening to The Black Keys while colouring in pictures of puppies and kittens? No, absolutely not, but it was better than social interaction. He had to do something to keep his mind busy or else it would wander. He’d wonder where Beth was, if she was having fun without him, if he was missing out on something important, or if anyone even noticed he was missing. He shakes his head and reaches for the box of pencil crayons. No, he was supposed to want to stay here alone and away from everyone else, and not have any stupid fear of missing out. They were fine without Rick, and he was fine with that because he’s a loner. Always has been. But then, as he sits, boredly scribbling orange onto a picture of a cartoon cat in a flower field, there’s another knock on the door.

It seems the forces that be want to disprove Rick’s loner philosophy. He makes the executive decision that won’t let them win.

“I already told you, I’m spending the day alone here Courtney. Let me colour in my Lisa Frank in peace!” He shouts, refusing to even bother opening the door.

There’s a long pause, and he thinks he’s scared Courtney off. Just as he settles in to return to his bored colouring, a voice pipes up.

“I’m sorry, what?”

It’s Beth.

Oh no.

Rick takes a moment to bury his head in his hands in complete and utter despair, as he realises what he’s just said. Slowly he stands, and like a walk of shame makes his way to the door. He opens it to see Beth standing there, smiling like today is the greatest day ever, which it clearly is not.

“Did you just say you were colouring in a Lisa Frank colouring book?” She asks, attempting to peer behind him to catch a glimpse of his colouring masterpiece. “If I say yes, will you promise not to say anything to Cindy? Because if she knows then the whole school will know when we get back and I’ll never live it down.”

“Why would I tell her? She likes me just about as much as she likes you, even though I’ve tried to be her friend a million times over.”

“Solid point.”

There’s a moment of silence which Rick can’t quite decide is awkward, or if it’s just Beth being amused.

“So, uh, why are you here?” Rick breaks the silence, rocking on his heels. “Oh! Courtney told me that you were staying in here, which I totally get, a whole summer of interaction is a lot… But it’s getting late and I don’t know if you had lunch? They’re starting dinner on the campfire so I thought I should check in and see if you needed me to grab you something to eat. I didn’t want you to starve.”

Rick just about melts at Beth’s concern. She went out of her way to worry about him. He thinks his heart is about to explode.

“It’s alright, I guess I can head down there to go grab something. I don’t know if I’ll stay though.” Beth’s eyes light up instantly.

“Yeah! We should probably head down soon, you know how quickly Artemis can eat fire-roasted hotdogs. If she gets her hands on them there probably won’t be any left for us.”

Rick laughs at that, closing his door behind him. She’s right. When it comes to campfire food, Artemis is an unstoppable force, and he would really like to eat something. He hadn’t realised how hungry he’d been feeling until now.

“We can go now, don’t worry. I’m sure Lisa Frank can wait.” He assures Beth, and she grins. With that they both head down the path towards the fire together, making a variety of stupid Lisa Frank enduced jokes as they go.

Rick hears the fire before he sees it, the dull chatter of his fellow counsellors paired with the crackling of burning wood giving away that it was just around the bend. As he and Beth turn the corner, the entire group looks at them. It really is just the counsellors. He had expected the camp leader, Sylvester, to be at least supervising them. Then again, he wasn’t the most responsible camp owner in the first place.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Cindy crows from her spot beside Artemis.

Courtney and Yolanda wave, Cameron vaguely nods in their direction, and Artemis doesn’t look up from where she’s busy cooking hotdogs over the fire. Rick shoots them a vague peace sign instead of a wave, as he and Beth settle onto one of the log seats around the fire. He tells himself that he’s just going to stay for food and then leave, but he knows that’s not true. Beth is already chatting with Courtney excitedly, and he can’t help but listen and chime into the conversation where he can. It’s not because he enjoys being around these people, it’s just because he’s trying not to seem awkward. At least that’s what he keeps telling himself.

The evening wears on, and Rick keeps desperately searching for a reason to leave. Every time he tries, Beth starts a new conversation with him, or glances over to him in a way that makes his heart feel a way it has no right to feel. He knows that this is so stupid, that he should just go, but he can’t bring himself to. Instead he keeps chatting idly, eating hot dogs and marshmallows, and refusing to admit that he’s actually enjoying himself. The campfires with kids had been fun, but spending your time making sure campers didn’t throw themselves into a firepit is a completely different experience compared to being at a campfire with people you (mostly) actually enjoy. He’s onto his third marshmallow when Artemis yells over the group chatter to ask,

“You guys want me to tell a scary story?”

There’s a resounding chorus of No’s, nope’s, and no thank you’s. Artemis’ scary stories are notoriously bad, despite the fact that she seems to believe they’re the best thing since sliced bread. The one time Rick was put on Campfire duty with her and she told a story, it hadn’t been about ghosts, or ghouls, or monsters. It was about her losing a football game. Horrific to her, sure, but entirely boring for the rest of the camp who had been expecting something more supernatural in nature.

“How about, instead of scary stories, we get around to that game of truth or dare?” Cindy asks, eyes alight with mischief. Cindy is Rick’s least favourite of all the other counsellors. He’s about 90% sure all the others, bar Artemis, feel the same way as he does. How she got a summer job dealing with children is truly beyond him. She’s self-centred, conniving, and all around just the worst person( (In his personal opinion at least). So, upon hearing her offer to start the game of truth or dare, Rick makes the executive decision to leave. He shuffles on the bench, getting ready to stand. Stupid party games were never his thing anyway, so he wouldn’t miss out on much.

Then he looks over to Beth. She seems just as unsure, glancing around as if looking for an escape route. With a deep breath, he decides to act.

“You wanna head out? Truth or dare isn’t really my thing.” He asks Beth quietly, leaning over to her so that the others don’t hear. She looks over to him in surprise, but her features are laced with a look of gratitude.

“Yeah, I’m not the biggest fan of it either. I’d rather skip out.” She whispers back, and Rick nods at the confirmation.

“Right well, you guys go ahead with your games. Beth and I are going.” Rick tells the others, already standing, and offering Beth a hand to help her up.

“Oh c’mon! We’re just getting to the fun bit!” Courtney cries out.

Yolanda elbows her with a look Rick can’t quite decipher, but whatever it is, it shuts Courtney up as she returns to whatever quiet talk she’d been having with Cameron. Rick glares around the fire, looking for anyone else who might dispute, but nobody says a word. Artemis throws him a thumbs up, which worries him slightly, but otherwise the group seems preoccupied. Cindy shoots him a glance that looks somewhere between malice and almost… like she’s proud of him? But he shelves that for later as he leads Beth away from the fire.

As the noise from the campfire fades into the distance, Rick finds himself wondering what to do now. He’s alone with Beth, navigating a trail in the dimming light. It’s not fully dark yet, but it’s getting pretty close, so he grabs his phone and turns on the flashlight.

“So where to?” He asks, and Beth glances over his way.

“I’m not sure, actually. I just didn’t feel like watching Artemis light herself on fire again.”

“Again?”

“Oh! I forgot you weren’t here last year. Last year, it was the same deal. We did truth or dare, and Artemis tried to jump the firepit. She tripped over a rock and lit her hair on fire.” Beth explains, glancing back nervously towards the fire.

“That explains that weird start of school haircut she got last year. I wish I was there to see that, it sounds like something else.” Rick chuckles to himself.

“Meh, it wasn’t as grand as it sounds. Just a lot of screaming and jumping into the lake. Funny looking back at it, but stressful in the moment.” Beth explains with a shrug.

They walk a little further, just sort of enjoying each other's company as the sounds of crickets fill the silence.

“Do you wanna go to the Star Field? It’s kinda my favourite place to go, I’d like to visit one last time before we leave.” Beth blurts out suddenly, startling Rick a little.

The Star Field is the place for stargazing at the camp. Campers get to bring out telescopes, set them up, and watch the constellations. It’s one of the more isolated and peaceful locations at camp, and Rick totally understands why Beth likes it so much.

“Yeah, sure. That sounds nice.” That sounds nice?? What kind of stupid answer is that?? Rick cringes at his response, but he tries his best not to show it. They chat idly the rest of the walk, as Rick tries desperately not to think too hard about the fact that he’s alone with Beth, going to what may possibly be the most romantic spot at camp.

It takes them a while, but finally they reach the top of the hill that leads them to the Star Field. Tonight the field is aglow with fireflies, flitting around the grass in the dim light. The telescope shed is locked, so the pair decide just to relax for a while. Neither of them are keen to lay on the grass, so Rick takes off his jacket and places it down like a blanket. It’s a small space so they have to lay close, arms pressed against each other as they stare at the night sky.

“I don’t think I ever want to leave here.” Beth sighs, eyes scanning the stars.

“I wish I could say the same, but I think I’m ready to go home. Despite everything, I just want to eat a pizza pocket and sleep on a semi comfortable mattress. No offence.” Rick admits, his arms crossed across his chest in an attempt to stay warm in the cooling air.

“None taken, it’s alright, I totally get it. I haven’t had a pizza pocket in years though, so I don’t know about that one.”

“In years!? What kind of life have you been living Beth?” He gasps in feigned surprise.

“A healthy one.” Beth retorts and they both laugh, glancing at each other, their faces plastered with grins. Rick immediately notices how close they are, and he quickly returns to looking at the stars to avoid the awkwardness of the close proximity.

“So, once you’re out of camp what’s the plan? I mean I know we go back to school in like a week, but is there anything else? Any big plans?” Beth asks as she points to the sky, tracking constellations with her fingers.

“Not really. I’m just using the money from camp to fix my car. That’s all I got.” Rick explains with as much of a shrug as he can give while laying down. Beth lowers her arms, and he sees her glance over at him from his peripheral vision.

“Your family doesn’t help you pay for that?” She asks as Rick bitterly laughs, shaking his head.

“I live with my uncle. He couldn’t care less about what happens to me, much less my car. I’m kinda on my own.”

“Is that why you took the job at the camp?”

“More or less. I get money and get away from him. It’s a win win.”

Beth goes quiet for a moment, then says;

“I’m sorry.”

Now it’s Rick’s turn to glance her way, shooting her a quizzical look.

“For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“I don’t know, not ever talking to you I guess. I mean, I know you from school but I never really got to know you. Being at camp with you has really let me understand you better. You’re a really good person. I’m just happy that this camp gave us the chance to get closer.” She admits.

“Oh.” Rick says, unable to muster anything else

“Oh?” Beth parrots back, tipping her head in a way that Rick thinks is absolutely too adorable.

“I don’t know. Nobody’s really ever said anything like that to me before. Oh is the best response I’ve got.” He explains, rubbing at his arms nervously.

That makes Beth laugh, and she rolls onto her side so she can face him. Rick takes a moment to debate before doing the same.

They’re inches away from each other, eyes locked.

“I really like you, you know.” She admits.

“Yeah, I mean you kinda already said that, with the whole ‘you’re a good person’ thing”

He doesn’t want to assume.

“No I mean… Like you. Like, over the summer I’ve seen a side of you that I haven’t really seen before, and it made me fall a little bit in love.”

Love. That’s a big word.

“Oh.”

“Would you stop saying oh!” She pokes him playfully, but he can tell there’s worry in her eyes. Concern that he doesn’t feel the same.

“I’m sorry! It’s just… are you sure? That you feel uh, that way about me, I mean.” He tries, but Beth immediately cuts off his train of self-doubt.

“Yes Rick, I’m sure. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same but-”

“NO! No, I do! I do feel the same. I just don’t understand how someone like you, the perfect camp counsellor role model could like me, the guy who’s just here ‘cause he kinda has to be.” Rick says, running a hand through his hair.

Beth looks at him like she’s genuinely offended, wrinkling her nose and shaking her head.

“Rick, have you seen yourself at this camp? The kids loved you! You were the ‘cool guy’ counsellor. You have no idea how many of those kids wanted a male counsellor they could actually hold a conversation with. Cam is great but he’s also got the conversational ability of a wet sponge.”

“And I don’t?” Rick retorts, though he’s half joking.

“No! I didn't even know you didn’t want to be here. It was like watching you become an instant big brother to the entire camp. I’d never seen you like that before. Did you know Nathan wouldn’t even touch the high ropes course last year? The kid was terrified of heights as far as we could all tell.” Beth tells him, and Rick is genuinely shocked.

“Are we thinking of the same Nathan? Because the kid I’m thinking of was a whiz at rock climbing, and the high ropes.” He asks, just to make sure. “Yes, because you inspired him! He saw you teaching the other kids on the rock climbing wall, and decided he wanted to be as cool as you.”

“Well clearly he doesn’t know me. I’m not that cool.”

“Maybe you think that, but to everyone else you’re incredible, Rick.”

“Beth, I was hiding in a cabin colouring in pictures of small animals like, four hours ago. Your definition of incredible may be skewed.”

“I think that just gives you more character.” Beth counters.

Rick sighs, but he can’t help but smile. Beth really does see the best in everyone.

There’s a pause as they lay there, faces close, both smiling softly. Rick can feel his heart beating in his throat as he looks at her, and at that moment he knows that she’s the most beautiful thing in the world. And then Beth’s hands are on his face, and she’s kissing him. It’s so careful, like she’s trying not to scare him away. She doesn’t know it, but she could never scare Rick, no matter how hard she tries.

They lay like that for a while. Under the stars, Beth snuggled into his side and his arm around her as she talks to him about what constellations they can see. Rick listens, taking in as much information as he can. The other half of his brain is completely in shock, however. Had he not gone to this camp, had he not tried his stupid cabin plan, had he not asked Beth if she wanted to leave the campfire, had he not done any of that, he wouldn’t be here. It was so viscerally strange to him, and yet it all made sense. It was like a puzzle all coming together in his mind to tell him yes, you took all the right steps, you made all the right choices, and now you get to be happy. You get to feel at home.

Even when they hear the shouting from the campfire that indicates, yes indeed Artemis has set herself on fire again, Rick can’t stop smiling. He’s also rightfully concerned of course, but that’s not what’s important. What’s important is that he’s holding Beth’s hand as they try not to laugh, rushing down the trail to the fire to see what’s happened.

He decides then, that if he gets to spend moments like this with the people he’s learning to care about, it’s all worth it. All the days spent with sunburn, the dealing with bugs, and the screaming, crying children, it’s all worth it. As they all head back to their cabins, Artemis now one-hoodie lighter, and the others all cheering that he and Beth finally did something about their massive crushes on eachother, he doesn’t feel mad. He actually couldn’t care less about all the jeering from his companions, not even the snide comments from Cindy. For the first time in a while he’s not upset, and he doesn’t want to be alone. In fact, here, holding hands with Beth, laughing at some stupid joke Courtney just made, the truth is becoming exceedingly clear to him. These are his friends. Maybe even one day, they’ll be close enough to be family. This is the most fun Rick has had in years, and he finally thinks the one thing he never thought he would. I can’t wait to come back to camp next year.

#hournite #hourniteweek22 #hourniteweek #beth chapel #Rick Tyler #hourman #dr midnite #Stargirl #Hournite fic #summer camp #Yes the title is from grease. Yes I'm a theatre nerd.

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