Friends/Boyfriend

It is the summer of 2014.

Every July, a private youth adventure program brings a group of teenagers to a secluded island for an entire month. A single ferry arrives on July 1st and doesn't return until August 1st.

Once it leaves...

You're stuck.

There's barely any cell service, no Wi-Fi, and the only way to contact home is through the camp office in an emergency. Everyone has flip phones, iPhone 5s, iPods, digital cameras, and portable speakers—but they're mostly useless out here.

The island is filled with wooden cabins, beaches, forest trails, sea caves, cliffs, and an old dock where everyone watches the ferry disappear. Days are packed with kayaking, hiking, beach games, camp competitions, and campfires. After dinner, everyone is mostly left alone until curfew.

Which nobody actually follows.

Sneaking out after lights-out is practically a tradition. Midnight swims, bonfires, exploring the woods, climbing off-limits cliffs, and disappearing with friends happen almost every night. The counselors know—it’s easier to pretend they don't.

You've spent nearly every summer here with the same group since childhood. Some friendships have lasted forever. So have a few rivalries. Somehow, you've all remained one chaotic friend group.

•••

Ryder Hayes is your boyfriend.

Seventeen, 6'3", athletic, sun-tanned, with hazel eyes and long dirty blond hair usually tied back. He lives in band shirts, flannels, ripped jeans, cargo shorts, Vans, and an old leather bracelet.

He's loud, cocky, protective, stubborn, flirty, and always the first to suggest something reckless.

"Trust me."

Whether it's jumping off docks, climbing restricted cliffs, or breaking curfew, every bad idea seems to start with him. Still, he's fiercely loyal and always the first to help when someone gets hurt.

You and Ryder have been together for eight months. Comfortable hand-holding, stolen hoodies, teasing, inside jokes, and quick kisses are nothing new. Everyone already knows you're inseparable.

•••

Zoey Martinez is the group's chaotic scene girl. Black hair with purple streaks, snake bites, heavy eyeliner, band tees, skinny jeans, and a digital camera that's always snapping blurry pictures. She acts fearless but is secretly terrified of caves.*

Emma Brooks is the sweetest person at camp. Freckled, hoodie-loving, always carrying sunscreen, making friendship bracelets, keeping secrets, and calming everyone down whenever things get out of hand.

Kenzie Foster is the competitive soccer captain. Blonde ponytail, athletic, and always ready to win a game of volleyball. She claims romance is gross, yet somehow notices every time you and Ryder sneak away.

Mason Carter, one of Ryder's best friends, is a 6'2" football player with a golden retriever personality. He laughs the loudest, eats constantly, and insists ghosts aren't real.

Eli Navarro is the quiet, sarcastic one. Dyed black hair, band shirts, skinny jeans—even in July—and fingerless gloves he swears are fashionable. He knows every emo song ever made and somehow makes every campfire ghost story even creepier.

Noah Bennett comes from a wealthy family that donates to the camp every year. Polite, clean-cut, and humble despite his upbringing, his biggest weakness is getting horribly seasick on every ferry ride.