Pieces of You

Copyright © 2023 Ginger WallsAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproducedor used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner,except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.To request permissions, contact the publisher at [email protected]: 9798374886894Ebook: B0BQPPPM9VFirst paperback edition January 2023.Cover art by Ginger Walls “If things are real, they're there all the time.”C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 1MATTIEThe six of us are parked around the campfire like points on a compass. I’m sandwiched between Huddie and Nick, while Luke is sitting in between Leo and Ace on the opposite side of the fire we expertly started after years of practice. We got here Thursday and have spent the last few days swimming, fishing, hiking, and laying around camp.It’s our tradition to spend the first and last weekend of summer camping by the Rogue River deep in the forests of Oregon. It started when we were kids. Maybe around nine or ten years old.Leo and Luke came out here once with their scout troop. They went on and on about how much fun they had. We were jealous little brats and conned Leo’s dad into taking the five of us back to camp out under the stars and swim in the river just like they got to.Ever since then, it’s become our place. It’s sacred. I come out here as often as I can to escape everything that suffocates me. Hiding out between the trees, I feel like I can breathe and stretch. Life feels limitless out here. I can be myself here.“To senior year.” Ace lifts his cup over the campfire. His dark chocolate eyes brighten from the flames as they lick toward the sky. Ace is serious and stone-cold unless he’s with his girlfriend, Meg.“To senior year!” The rest of us echo. Leo clunks his cup against Luke’s, making the liquid slosh over the edge. Luke’s eyes narrow under his curly blonde hair. He could be my twin. We both have a head full of wild blond curls and dark blue eyes. Luke somehow makes his curls a positive attribute, whereas mine have been nothing short of an eyesore growing up.Huddie helps Ace dig dinner out of the cooler. Another night of charbroiled hot dogs. I can’t complain. It’s probably better than something I would make on my own at home. Especially once I drown it in ranch dressing. Huddie packed my favorite condiment just for me. He’d never admit to it, but I’m the only one who uses it on everything.I still can’t believe this is it. The last trip before school starts. Even with their summer football practice, we’ve managed to spend almost every day together this summer. I know once school starts, that will change. Adding classes, college applications (me), and dating (the guys) into the equation will leave very little time for… well me.My eyes burn and start to gloss over a little. Probably just the smoke from the fire. I’m not crying. I’m not sad we will all be scattered across the country next year. Nope, not sad at all.Nick has been talking about USC since he was eight. Ace is determined to go to Notre Dame. He watched Rudy one time, and that was all it took. Leo and Luke both said they don’t care where they go as long as it’s together.They’ve been neighbors and best friends since birth. They talk without speaking, and when they say actual words, they finish each other’s sentences. It’s only weird the first couple of times they do it.Huddie is the only one who wants to stay in Oregon. I’m not really sure why. I could never leave Oregon either, which surprised me. Every day I dream of getting as far away from my house as possible, but I never dream further than the river and the trees.I blink away the water pooling in my eyes and sigh.“You okay over there, Mattie?” Nick throws his arm around me and velcros me to his side.“Yeah. I just can’t believe school starts on Monday.”“Finally. It’s what we’ve been waiting for, Mattie. We’re the kings this year.” He taps his cup with mine.I’ve been friends with Nick, Ace, Leo, and Luke since elementary school. A kid on my street spent all summer throwing a football through a tire he had hanging off a tree. It looked cool and a lot more fun than etiquette classes and piano lessons. I wanted to do it too.After an obscene amount of begging my parents to let me play, I became the newest member of the local youth flag football team. It didn’t hurt that my sisters suggested it would be better to have me out of their way. How nice of them.Nick was the first to approach me after I dodged his tackle and threw for a touchdown. He didn’t say much. Just a grunt and a trace of a smile. That’s the start of our story. We’ve been best friends ever since.I love being one of the guys. Don’t get me wrong. They are disgusting and have the dirtiest mouths sometimes. But I’ve never felt more accepted and seen than when I’m with them. Especially Nick. We come from similar family backgrounds. Unfortunately. Like Luke and Leo, we don’t have to say words to have a conversation. I can look at him and know if something is wrong or if something happened with his dad. He’s my best friend.I escape Nick’s grip and drop into my camping chair so hard it tips over on the back legs. I whirlwind my arms, trying to keep myself from falling over, but fail. Huddie rushes to my rescue and pushes me back into an upright position. My cheeks flame under the hood of my sweatshirt.“Woah, Mattie. What did the chair do to you? You’re going to break it,” Huddie says as he pulls his chair closer to mine and takes a seat gracefully. Show off.“I’m not going to break