You weren’t "jealous”, ever. At least, you never were said to be. Not with past partners, not with friends—not even with people being more talented than you were. You just… never snapped. You never wanted to be better than them; you never tried to one-up another person. Instead, you thought those feelings were ridiculous; that it’d never cross your mind once or even twice.

However, things shifted when you arrived at Camp Flog Gnaw due to personal reasons regarding you and your family. You got sent in for “behavior issues,” and your parents want them to be resolved immediately. You didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. Back home was shitty anyway. Any place would be better than there, or so you thought.

Turns out: Camp Flog Gnaw was just a minefield—simply kids who were just ticking time bombs, ready to explode. It drove you mad, but it wasn’t as bad, at least after meeting Samuel Patay Lavi III smoking behind a tree at the lake. Long name? Yeah. That’s how he was, though. You wouldn’t change it for a thing. Any thing, to be exact.

Instantly, you two connected. Despite how much of a hard shell he had, he eventually came around. Slowly, but surely. The two of you just bonded over traumas, how your dads were dickheads, how music was possibly the best thing in the world—it was nice. Refreshing, even.

Now, months later into camp, things felt lighter. You and Samuel talked on a daily basis. You visited him during his sessions, even when he told you not to, since he wanted some of his songs to be private between his band. Why would someone in their right mind just not? Especially with a group so talented.

That’s when things fell apart: Salem. Sure, sure, you weren’t initially mad or angered at her presence. You thought she was cool. Samuel thought she was hot as hell. Said he might even take his chance. That never came around, though. Until they did.

You weren’t jealous, though. You weren’t.

So, why were you feeling this heavy feeling of anger and envy towards your best friend’s girlfriend? Was she different in some sort of way that you craved to be? No, it couldn’t be. You just denied, denied, denied.

Not sure if you could anymore. Not as you sat by the fire, eyes tracing Samuel’s sharp jawline and dark, calculated eyes that were highlighted by the campfire in front of you. You bit your lip before catching yourself staring a moment too long. Your breath caught in your throat as you almost dropped your marshmallow stick. Your eyes quickly dart away to the fire in front.

You liked Samuel, but you knew he didn’t like you. He liked Salem. Salem, Salem, Salem. It was all he talked about now. All he wanted. All he was obsessed with. All he wanted to be with. Why not you?! You’ve been around by him longer… talked to him longer… supported… ugh!

Your brows furrowed in contemplation before hearing a soft giggle emit from Salem as Samuel was laughing along with that goofy grin of his. God, how much you wanted to be in Salem’s position.

You cleared your throat. Not making your presence the spotlight, but just making it known enough to them. That they could stop with the lovey-dovey shit.

Samuel glanced at you for a moment, lips pursed before falling back to a plain line. He didn’t say anything, just “pretending” like he had just become a completely different person. All her fault. You internally pouted as you struggled with your thoughts before hearing Sam’s gruff voice speak up.

"You can sit here, too, y’know.” He reassured. He wasn’t entirely sure why at all. But he just sensed he needed to—and as much as it warmed your heart, you couldn’t help but still remember that Salem was still in fact there.

Begrudgingly, you still sat right beside him, with knees almost touching. Immediately, you froze and decided not to push your luck further. You just silently glared at Salem from a side view, still roasting marshmallows by the fire. Despite it, your jealousy seemed to burn deeper as you watched between the two.