Archive of Our Own

Bradley read the date on her phone as she turned her alarm off. Her heart rate increased as the reality set in that today was their last day at Camp Storyteller. This magnificent blip in time where she somehow fell in love with another woman. Not just any woman, though, no. Laura was an enigma. After two weeks of spending almost every waking hour together, she still had to search to understand what Laura felt when they were together. She wasn’t an easy read. Bradley liked that about her, though. She’s had too many experiences in the past where she could quickly tell how the other person didn’t think much of her other than as a one-night stand. 

Laura wasn’t in her bed when Bradley woke up this morning. However, there was a quick knock at their door after Bradley sat up in bed.

“Good Morning,” Laura softly whispered as she opened the door to enter their cabin. She had been out for a morning walk, but she stopped to pick some flowers along the trail this morning. Bradley’s eyes lit up at the gesture.

“Are these for me?” Bradley asked as she grabbed the handful of lavender from Laura’s hand. 

“Laur, these are so precious,” she inhaled deeply at the comforting scent. The scent reminded her of Laura’s lavender essential oil she liked to apply at her pulse points in the morning. Calming and relaxing.

“I’m glad you approve,” Laura smiled as she leaned in to kiss her, “I thought we could keep them to remember our time here. There was a flower patch right by the waterfall we went to during our first week, and I know how much you love flowers!”

Laura reached over to grab a little book of poems she had brought with her and often read before bed. Poetry has always been a relaxing pastime for Laura, and she loved reading classic poetry. 

“You know how I’ve told you about my slight obsession with poetry?” Laura asked Bradley as she flipped to a page she had bookmarked. 

“Yes, you’re quite the closet romantic,” Bradley teased.

“There’s this poem by Emily Dickenson. It reminded me of us, well, how leaving here doesn’t mean we have to lose each other.” Laura put on her dark-rimmed reading glasses and read the poem.

“Each that we lose takes part of us.

A crescent still abides,

Which, like the moon, some turbid night,

Is summoned by the tides.”

“It means what we’re losing here, these two weeks together, will always be a part of our story. Bits and pieces will remain, and we’ll have memories of this forever, you and me.” Laura warmly smiled as she brushed Bradley’s honey-colored hair behind her ears.

Tears welled up in Bradley’s eyes. She leaned over, kissed the older woman’s flushed cheek, and rested her head on her shoulder. 

“I love it. I love you.” Bradley nervously uttered those words. She knew in her heart she meant it. 

“I love you too.” Laura reached over, lifting Bradley’s chin to kiss her. Laura could feel the sensation of Bradley’s lips throughout her entire body. She loved Bradley. She reflected on those four words in her mind. That’s that! She thought to herself, avoiding any second-guessing. 

When Bradley heard Laura say it back to her, she knew their time here wasn’t the end. It was the beginning. 

The campers and leaders had to be packed up and ready to leave by noon. Before that, there was a final farewell picnic in the meeting hall. 

After Bradley and Laura packed up their belongings and set them on the front porch of their cabin, they made their way to the picnic. 

Alex was keenly aware of the time. She kept checking her watch as if it was a countdown to free her from this two-week-long whirlwind of chaos. 

“Alison! Alison!” Alex called out, flustered as if Alison was an intern rather than her coworker.  

“You called?” Alison sarcastically replied.

“I want you to keep an eye on those two,” Alex pointed to Bradley and Laura, flirting in the corner, “we can’t have the press all over whatever they are when we get back to the city.” She said in an aggravated tone.

“I’m sensing a tone,” Alison joked, “jealousy, perhaps?” Alison mocked. She wasn’t afraid of Alex Levy. She got great pleasure out of teasing her over the two love birds. 

“God, get me out of here!” Alex put her hands in the air as she stormed away. 

Alison walked toward Bradley and Laura.

“You two make quite the couple! If only we all could’ve fallen in love on this trip!” Alison joked as she eyed the two. Her eyes lingered slightly longer on Laura before starting to walk away backward. The three of them laughed.

“I didn’t know you were looking to fall in love!” Laura teasingly fired back. Bradley sensed a deeper meaning with this response. 

Sure, Alison and Laura have crossed paths in the past. Flirtatious banter was shared between the two. At some functions, the lines may have been blurry between flirtation and something more than that. Alison wasn’t quite sure what their playful dance with each other would be called, but she wasn’t opposed to it.

“Is there…is there a history or something I should know about?” Bradley smirked, but she was genuinely curious. 

Laura rolled her eyes. “History? No. Tension? Yes, sometimes.” She nodded her head from side to side in an effort to reply appropriately. She took a sip of water to prevent the words from leaving her mouth. 

“Oh my god,” she smirked, “I had no idea she was...,” Bradley lowered her voice, “into women!?”

Laura let out a loud laugh at the way Bradley whispered her realization. “Yeah, well, neither did she, apparently!” Laura smiled and quickly took another drink of water.

“Stop it!” Bradley laughed and playfully pushed Laura’s shoulder. 

“Well, I guess I fell for your charm too,” said Bradley as she pulled Laura in closer.

“Oh, and I’m so glad you did,” Laura said in a teasing yet seductive tone before grabbing Bradley’s ass to squeeze it playfully. Bradley jolted in shock at Laura’s very public display of affection.

“I don’t think I’ll last until we return to get my hands all over you again,” Bradley whispered in Laura’s ear as she trailed her finger down her back. 

“Miss Peterson!” a younger voice interrupted as a camper walked toward the two. 

“Hey Jenny, what’s up?” Laura quickly snapped back into professional mode. 

“I just wanted to say you inspired me at this camp! I think I know what I want to study in college now. I want to be a journalist just like you! Also, we wanted to give you this before our ride gets here. Thanks again to both of you!” 

“Aw, thank you, Jenny,” they both responded. The young camper handed Laura a card made out of paper before running off to her friends. 

Laura opened the card next to Bradley and read it aloud. 

“Bradley and Laura,

You were such great leaders for our group. We loved spending time with both of you, and we learned so much these past two weeks. Even though we have to return home now, we are so glad our group got you two as our leaders. We had so much fun!

Thanks for everything, and best wishes!

Jess, Amy, Natalie, Kara, Jenny, and Olivia 

(P.S. We all agree that you two make the cutest couple! Please, don’t ever break up!)

Bradley and Laura chuckled at the last part together.

“That’s sweet of them. I guess we make a pretty good team!” Laura shared a smile with Bradley.

“So sweet, and I think we do too.” Bradley grabbed the card and put it in her back pocket.

Noon was quickly approaching. Only a handful of campers were left behind after a rush of parents came to pick up their children, and the rides for the camp leaders began filtering into the campsite. 

Alison and Gayle began saying their goodbyes as she and Gayle got into the large black SUV waiting for them.

“Another year of Camp Storyteller in the books!” Gayle exclaimed with the window down as she waved from inside the car to Alex, Bradley, and Laura. 

“We had so much fun, didn’t we, Alex?” Alison shouted from the car as she waved goodbye. “Laura, Bradley, I’ll see the two of you back in the city that never sleeps! For various reasons!” Alison winked, teasing the couple as the car drove off.

Alex was left standing awkwardly beside the couple. 

“Well, Bradley, I think I see our ride approaching!” Alex said in a formal tone, ignoring the whole reality of their relationship standing next to her. 

“Laura, it’s been a pleasure, as always!” She forced her arms out to hug Laura. 

“Always,” Laura said passive-aggressively.

“Come on, Bradley!” Alex bent down to pick up her bags to walk toward their ride. 

“Uh, Alex, I decided to ride back with Laura. She has some extra room in her car, and well, you know, we’re dating, so…” Bradley nervously informed Alex of this switch up. 

“Oh.” Alex paused. “Right, right, yeah, that makes sense! I’ll be on this long ride by myself, wonderful!” She joked.

“Sorry!” Bradley shrugged. 

“Well, you two have a safe trip then! I better get going!” Alex gave Bradley a quick hug with one arm since she was carrying her duffle bags in the other and walked away.

Bradley and Laura were left alone, standing by each other now. Laura’s driver slowly drove the SUV closer to where they stood.

“I’m glad you decided to ride back with me!” Laura smiled as she reached out to grab Bradley’s hands. 

“Me too. I’m not ready to be without you yet. These two weeks have been incredible.” Bradley said in a soft, sweet tone. Laura leaned forward to kiss Bradley’s forehead. 

“I know. I don’t want to be without you either,” Laura cupped the younger woman’s face before hearing her driver get out of the car to help them load their bags. 

As the two got in the backseat of the SUV, they knew how deeply in love they were with one another. These past two weeks at the camp were just a moment in time before their future together. 

“Are you ready to say goodbye to all of this?” Laura gestured to the campsite as their car took off. 

“It’ll be hard to say goodbye to our time here. But I’m ready to say hello to our future…together.” Bradley shared as she leaned over to kiss Laura. 

As their car took off, this was the end of their story at summer camp. The campsite was quiet once again. 

However, the memories of how their story began will always remain.