Elliot's POV

After a much needed nap, more fishing, swimming, and dinner, the sun is finally setting and the fire is growing. Joe and Rose went out and got enough supplies for s'mores, adding in some recess peanut butter cups just for good measure. These past 24 hours have been overwhelming, coming here with Harry was one of the best decisions I had made. I still can't believe how these last three months have played out, and Harry will be leaving in a few weeks for London.

We won't be celebrating Thanksgiving (even though he doesn't really celebrate it considering he's not American), Christmas, or New Years together. But he promised he'll be back as soon as he can. I'm trying not to think about it because we still have time here together but it's hard not to. I can't believe that Harry likes me. It's just crazy to process, I guess it's good to be friends first. But I would have been heartbroken if he wouldn't have told me he liked me, I'm good at not showing it but eventually it would have gotten to me. I'm trying not to get worked up though, I mean, we're not even anything but friends, we haven't even gone on one date.

“Hey baby sister.” Andrew pats my knee and sits down next to me.

“Hey Andy-roo. How's life?” I ask.

“Going well, just loving life. I see you and Harry are a thing now?” He ask smirking at me.

“I don't know about a thing just yet.” I feel like I'm reminding everyone. “How are things with you and Clara?” I ask trying to change the subject.

“We're good as always. She was working this weekend so she couldn't come, she was upset about it. So you know what you're getting into with Harry?” He asks, guess I can't change the subject.

“Well we're still just friends at the moment. He asked me out on a date but we're not official or anything.” I try to downplay my situation.

“Yeah, but it's kinda weird to see my baby sister in the tabloids. And people aren't very nice to you on twitter. Good thing you don't have it. I just don't want a heartbreak splashed all over the news.” He's always looking out for me.

“I know. I don't like the paparazzi but I like Harry. And I want to be with Harry. The other people don't influence me, and if Harry and I don't work out then we don't work out. I'm not going to stop myself from being with someone just because they come with extra things or baggage as you might call it.”

“Just be careful. That's all I ask. Don't be too open with people, don't expect things from others.” He tells me.

“Guess that lawyer side of you is coming out.” I tease him. “And don't worry about me, I'm a big girl. I'm like 20 and a half.” I laugh trying to make a joke.

“Well you'll always be my baby sister.” He tells me and pulls me in for a side hug.

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“Hey sleepyhead.” I tousle Harry's hair as he sits down.

“Hi.” He rubs his eyes and sits in the free chair next to me.

“Have a good nap?” I ask.

“Yeah, I actually slept, I didn't sleep enough last night, I had to follow this crazy girl to the lake by moonlight.” He stretches his legs out. “So what are the plans for the rest of the night?”

“Well just s'mores and we're leaving tomorrow morning.” Everything is usually pretty chill on our last night.

“No midnight swims? Or fishing? Or body painting?” He asks.

“No sir. Probably just us by the campfire burning marshmallows, telling stories, and singing.”

“Singing?” He asks.

“Yeah, you know some campfire songs and such. You can display your vocal talents.” I elbow him.

'You know...” Harry starts and gets up headed back towards the boys tent leaving me wondering.

A few minutes later he returns and has something hiding behind his back.

“So, don't hate me...” He starts and he pulls my old mandolin out from behind his back.

'What did you do?” I ask as I tilt my head in shock.

“I wanted to hear you play it. So when you were loading stuff in the jeep I snuck this in my bag for you to play.” He sheepishly grins and hands it over to me. “Don't be mad.” He pleads.

“Well, I'll need to tune it.” I tell him as grab it and start I start tightening the strings and strumming a few chords.

“Ah! The mandolin is back!!” Andrew shouts from across the fire.

“I'm making her play.” Harry tells him.

“Don't get too excited you guys, it's been years.” I remind them as I continue to strum it.

“Well we all remember your favorite song!” Lauren teases.

“Yeah! Play for us!” Jazzy chimes in. Great.

“What's your favorite song?” Harry asks. I'm actually surprised we haven't talked about this yet.

“Um, its a song from the 80's, Mandolin Rain. When we would travel to these remote places they never had the latest music playing if anything once popular at all, so my mom had my grandma send her old mixed tapes from high school and we would listen to them. She always loved this song so I made myself like it too so we could listen to it together and eventually I loved it. I sang it so much when I moved here that I made other people like it too, and it had a mandolin in it so I learned how to play it on the mandolin and taught everyone the words.” I say, a rather long explanation of my favorite song but it does the trick. Harry nods and puts his arms to the side to lead the way back to the campfire.

I carefully strum the strings, letting my fingers adjust to the pain of the tightness again. I look up and see everyone's eyes on me waiting. I take a deep breath, “So whose ready to sing?” I smile as my cousins cheer.

The song came and went

Like the times that we spent

Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent

I laughed and she'd smile

It would last for a while

You don't know what you've got till you lose it all again

Listen to the mandolin rain

Listen to the music on the lake

Oh, listen to my heart break, every time she runs away

Oh, listen to the banjo wind

A sad song drifting low

Listen to the tears roll

Down my face as she turns to go

In the middle of the song I turn to Harry whose gaze is locked on mine and I smile at him. I'm not a good singer at all, but with everyone together we don't sound too bad. He keeps his eyes locked on mine and eventually turns his frown into a smile, doesn't help that I make the cheesiest smile ever to try to get a laugh.

After a rousing late night jam session with my cousins, followed by only a few hours of sleep it was already morning. Saying goodbye to my cousins was always hard, Clover and Lynx used to live in LA but moved to Vegas last year so I hardly ever see them. It's only like a four hour drive to see them but I never seem to have the time, and they work weekends so I'd hardly see them if I did come.

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Saying goodbye to my brothers is always the worst. Ethan is finishing up his last year of school while Andrew is busy starting at a law firm, James is always busy working in an office. To me they all have boring jobs being cooped up inside all day but they love it so I can't complain.

Harry and I finish loading up the last of our bags and I know what's next. I try to hid my smile as my brothers come over to say goodbye.

“Well, see you soon baby sis.” Andrew pulls me in for a hug. “You didn't tell him did you?” He whispers in my ear and I wink at him as he pulls away.

I hug the rest of my brothers goodbye and they turn to Harry.

“Be good to our little sister.” Ethan warns and holds his hand out for Harry to shake.

“I will.” He assures him and you can see how uncomfortable he gets when notices Ethan sticking close to him.

It all happens quickly. James grabs Harry from the side before he has time to react and picks him up over his shoulder. He takes off in the direction of the lake with Harry confused and trying to get away. I should have warned him. Andrew and Ethan follow laughing, and as I finally catch up to him its too late. They have him swinging and let him go fully clothed into the water.

He comes up with a gasp of air as my brothers continue to laugh. “Welcome to the family Harry!” Harry has a smile on his face so at least I know he's not mad, he swims to the side of the dock where the ladder is and pulls himself up.

He turns to me dripping wet. “You knew about this?”

“Maybe.” I half admit. “It's a tradition, every time someone brings someone new up to the trip they have to take a fully clothed dip in the lake, usually pushed by someone of the family. Sorry.” I offer up an apology with a worried face.

“It's fine, I have dry clothes. But I'll get you back.” He winks and walks closer to me with an evil grin.

“Harry, no.” I warn him and stick my hands out to protect myself but I'm not fast enough to get away from his grip as we both tumble in the water together. When we come up for air I notice the dock is empty and Harry has let go. I splash his face and try to swim away when Harry catches my arm and pulls me back.

We tread water, looking at each other.

“We should go so we can dry off and get dry clothes.” I tell him.

“We should.” He repeats my words but still doesn't break eye contact. It's an intense feeling. When I finally look down he pulls my chin up with one hand and pulls closer to me, gently laying a kiss on my lips. Noting overpowering, nothing crazy, just a simple kiss. He pulls away and our
foreheads touch.

“Race you back.” He leaves me in the water in shock of what just happened.

Notes

And the camping trip is over! Ohh to spend a whole weekend with just nature. :) And a lake, a weekend trip must have a lake.

Any who, hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.

I shall be updating tomorrow!

As usual, thank you for everything! Love all the comments, votes, and subscriptions, makes me happy!

xo