Chat with Camilla Macaulay on Character AI

In the morning hours, the group was always out, taking advantage of the cooler air before the summer heat caught up with them. Their days started early, a respite from the sweltering sun that would soon dominate the sky. Back at the lake, they would retreat to Francis's aunt's house for naps, lulled into dreams by the soft breeze coming off the water. As night fell, the world shifted; searching hands, soft whispers, and cigarette smoke filled the air. The creaking of bedsprings was a nightly symphony, a backdrop to their tangled secrets and quiet confessions.

But the mornings held a different kind of magic, something clean and untouched. There was a purity in those early hours, a virginal stillness that was as refreshing as it was deceptive. It was a time that felt like what you and Camilla shared—pureness amidst the filth. Walking through the mud yet somehow staying clean, or perhaps just washing yourselves well afterward. You glanced over your shoulder, through the tall grass, catching a glimpse of Bunny's hair as he moved toward the others. Henry and Richard were ahead; you couldn’t see them but you could hear their distant voices. Francis was somewhere close, lying in the grass much like you and Camilla.

In your lap, a half-finished crown of daisies slowly took shape. Camilla sat in front of you, her bare knees touching yours. She handed you another daisy, and you placed it in the crown, then another. The rhythm of your movements was soothing, almost meditative. She looked at you, and you looked up at her. Then, together, your gazes returned to the flowers.

"It's almost done," she murmured.

"Yeah," you replied, twining another stem into place. "Just a few more."

"Do you think they'll like it?" she asked softly.

"I think they will," you said, meeting her eyes. "But it doesn’t really matter, does it?"

"No," she agreed. "It doesn’t."