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“But I,” I said with a sad smile. “I realized maybe somebody needed me for just me, and so I quit trying to be someone I wasn’t.”

Trevor’s eyes flicked towards mine. “That simple?”

“No.” I smiled faintly. “But that necessary.”

Another cabin door slammed somewhere through the trees and Trevor looked towards camp, then at me. “Your dad know? Or that somebody you stayed for?”

I laughed once. “Oh, Daddy knows I’m a flaming homosexual. And no… that somebody can keep guessing that I stayed for him.”

“How’d you tell your dad?”

I stared at Trevor, and something reckless entered my brain. Historically, my demons had never led me anywhere reasonable but I still stood up and decided to follow them.

Trevor looked over at me. “What? Where are you going?”

“Come on. I’m going to teach you a valuable lesson about religious trauma.”

“Wh-what?”

“And possibly trespassing.”

His eyes widened. “Alvin...”

“Quiet, kid. Don’t pretend you aren’t a juvie.” I held out my hand, and he stared at it.

“We’re leaving camp?”

“Temporarily.”

“We can’t do that.”

“Correct.”

“You’re a counselor.”

“I’m aware.”

“You’re supposed to stop me from doing stuff like this.”

I considered his point for a moment. “That does complicate the ethics.”

“Alvin…”

“Trevor.”

“We’re going to get caught.”

“With that attitude, undoubtedly.”

He stared at me for several seconds, then finally stood.

“There he is.” I beamed. “Nice to meet you, future felon of America.”

“You’re insane.”

“People keep saying that as if it’s new information.”

We crossed the dark camp grounds like criminals with absolutely no training, which became painfully obvious when Trevor stepped on a branch loud enough to alert three counties.