• Ash's Outfit •

• Ash •

"Congratulations Woodchucks, Grizzlies, And Weasels!" Gladys exclaimed. "You've made it to the finals of our annual Cabin of the year contest!"

We all cheered. Griff went the extra mile, picking me up off the ground and twirling me around on his arms. It reminded me of the first day of camp, reminding me that the last day of camp was coming soon.

But, I pushed that thought to the back of my mind, letting giggles erupt from my lips as Griff began to set me down. Instead of standing next to me like he previously was, Griff hugged me from behind, letting his hands clasp in front of me as his arms rested around my waist. He was a good head taller than me.

Gladys continued. "The first event is the tug of war over at the potato pool. Grizzlies and Weasels, you're up! Winner plays Woodchucks! Ready, set, tug!"

Griff made his way to the rope, gripping it tightly in his arms as he prepared to tug.

"GO GRIFF!" I screamed, whooping and jumping up and down. "YOU GOT THIS!"

I saw a smile tug at his lips. But, right when they started, the Weasels pulled hard, sending Ravi into the pool of mashed potatoes. We burst out laughing, watching as Ravi lifted his face up to say, "Needs more butter."

"Grizzlies loose!" Gladys said. "Woodchucks, you're next. And hurry up! Gotta get this over with so I can serve these potatoes at lunch."

Griff groaned, walking away from the rope as my cabin walked towards it. I gripped the back of it tightly, feeling a blush creep up on my cheeks as Griff screamed from the sidelines:

"THAT'S MY GIRL!"

•

We laughed heartily, swinging our intertwined hands back and forth as we entered the mess hall.

Emma was on my case in a second, grabbing my upper arm. "Where were you? You were about to miss the game!"

I shrugged. "I was with Griff."

Emma only let out a huff, pulling me away from Griff and forcing me to sit down next to her and Lou.

"Ok! It's time for the second event," Gladys announced. "Are you ready to play the 'Friendship Game'? Now, I've already asked our contestants questions about each other. Match your partner's answer, and you get a point!"

Gladys pointed to Lou. "Lou, What is Emma's favorite word?"

Lou gasped. "Duh!"

"I don't need your attitude, I need the answer," Gladys said.

Emma smiled. "She's right! It's 'duh'!" Emma held up her card, revealing that the word read 'duh'.

We cheered, sharing a hug as Gladys moved on to the Grizzlies. "Ravi. What is Griff's middle name?"

I resisted the urge to call out the answer (Griff's middle name is Andrew, he's not a big fan of it) before Ravi said it. "Andrew!"

Griff nodded with a grin, holding up his card.

•

"Ok!" Gladys called. "Our teams are tied and this is our last round. Lydia, What is Hazel's favorite place to hand out?"

Lydia held her finger up in the air. "Xander's shadow!"

Hazel frowned, holding up her card. "No! The beach!"

Gladys shook her head, marking something on her clipboard before moving over to us. "Ash. What is the name of Lou's favorite farm animal?"

"Easy," I said. "It's Gary the Goat."

"No!" Lou shouted, holding up her card. "It's Gertie the Goat! Gary is my llama! It's like you don't know me at all!"

I clicked my tongue. "It's hard to keep up with all your animals! Your family keeps eating them!"

"Ok, Grizzlies," Gladys continued. "If you get this, you win. Xander, What is the name of Ravi's favorite pet?"

"Mrs. Kipling! Although he doesn't think of her as a pet. She's a companion, best friend, and mother figure. It's complicated," he answered.

Ravi held up his card, and everything that Xander had just said was there word for word. "He is correct!"

"Wow!" Gladys exclaimed. "That's the game! Grizzlies win!"

"Yes!" Xander screamed. "In your face! Ca-Ching! Ca-Ching!"

Lou stood up. "What are you? A cash register? Got em."

Griff smirked. "Hate to break it to ya, Ash, but I think we now know who the better one in our relationship is."

I narrowed my eyes. "Alright then. I think we could take a small break, you know? Maybe—"

Griff cut me off, frantically grabbing my hands. "I was joking!"

I laughed. "Me too."

•

"Guys, I'm really sorry I lost us that game," I apologized. "But we can still win the soapbox derby event."

"How?!" Emma exclaimed, frustrated.

"Ravi will make some super-duper science mobile and nerd his way to the finish line!" Lou added.

"Don't worry," I quipped. "We'll think of something."

Emma's face lit up. She turned to Lou, whispering something in her ear. Lou's face lit up as well as she turned to me. "Well, maybe you could use your personal connections to help win us the race."

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"

Emma smirked. "Someone you know...and love."

I gasped. "Finn Wolfhard? But, isn't he shooting for Stranger Things 3?"

"We meant Griff!" They both told me. "Ask him what the boys are using to power their car, so we can sabotage them."

"Guys," I snapped, laughing nervously. "That's cheating."

Emma shrugged. "No, it's not."

"It's playing to win," Lou added. "Like, stealing signs in baseball."

I tilted my head to the side, showing confusion.

Lou sighed. "It's like when you go to the bookstore and there's only one copy of the book you want. You forgot your money at home so you hide the book while you go get your money so no one else can buy it before you."

I nodded. "Oh. But, I feel weird, ya know? Using Griff like that."

"Come on," Lou scoffed. "Griff's cabin wins every year. You'd make us very happy! Please?"

Emma gave me her puppy eyes, blinking quickly before they lit up as I sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. But I'll feel horrible."

"Let the espionage begin," Lou plotted. "From here on out, we have to be secretive and talk like spies."

"I really don't think—"

Emma cut me off. "Spy talk!"

•

"Hey Griff!" I greeted, approaching Griff and Xander in the mess hall. "I was thinking..."

Griff smiled. "About me?"

Even though I was about to use Griff as a way to win a race, I couldn't help but blush. "Heh. Maybe."

"See?" He adds. "That's what's so great about us! We're always on the same page."

"Yeah, it's like we're one mind," I chuckled. "And what would that mind say the Grizzlies are doing for the soapbox derby?"

"We haven't figured it out yet," Xander replied. He nudged Griff in the shoulder, who nodded and gave me a bright, almost needy grin.

"I'm so glad you brought that up," he mentioned. "The thing is, I have to beat Zuri and Tiffany, and Xander has to beat Emma and Lou."

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because." Griff said it as if it was so obvious, but obviously it wasn't. "I don't want you to date a loser."

"You deserve a winner," Xander told me.

"So, I need you to tell me how Lou and Emma are going to power the Woodchuck car."

"Wait," I croaked. "You want me to cheat on my own team?"

Xander shook his head. "It's not cheating. It's like when you go to the bookstore and there's only one copy of the book you want. You forgot your money at home so you hide the book while you go get your money so no one else can buy it before you."

"That is a good point," I sneered. "But..."

Griff grabbed my hands, kissing my palm. "Please? For me?"

"Ok," I sighed. "I'll do it. But I'm going to feel terrible."

"Works for us!" Xander rejoiced.

"You really are the best girlfriend," Griff chimed, pressing a kiss to my cheek before running off with Xander.

•

I DID IT! i got the chapter out TODAY!
please be happy for me i literally sped read this.

anyway, big announcement!

in case you didn't know, this is the last episode (Without Griff) from season 2. which means this book should be over.

but im not ending it.

i will be doing almost every episode from season 1! im really excited to be doing all 20-something episodes.

im just not really sure if i should make a whole new book (which would officially make my Griff x OC stories a trilogy) or if i should just keep it at two books (which means it'd stay a duology).

let me know!!!

-maya❤️