As Nate got to the front of the house, he turned to Ben and smiled. "Thank you for that. It was...incredible."
Ben shrugged. "It's who we are. Thank you for being so awesome about everything."
"No problem." Nate jumped up and down in an attempt to release the excitement and anxiety he was feeling. He wasn't on board with this move initially but it got a hell of a lot more interesting now. Before either could say anything else, the front door opened and Samantha stepped out.
"How'd it go?" asked Ben, turning his attention to his mother.
"About as well as could be expected. How're you two doing?" Samantha walked over to the two boys, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Good. Ben was kind enough to give me the full 411 on Moon Lake without the extra...tension." Nate glanced back at the house.
"Yeah, sadly, that's not the worst that I've seen. So, what are you thinking?" asked Samantha.
"I think I've got some thinking to do."
"Good, at least one of you is on board." Samantha let out a sigh of relief. "Do you know which group you want to join yet?"
"I'm not sure," Nate looked down at the ground, trying to keep a straight face.
"Oh come on, you know. I saw the way you were looking at my pack mates. You wanted to join right then and there, admit it." Ben gave Nate a playful punch on the shoulder.
"Yeah, alright, fine. Maybe I do." Nate conceded.
"Ok, good. Listen, Nate I will be in touch. Ben and I should take off and I think your parents are anxious for you to go back inside." Samantha pointed them out, looking out the living room window.
"Yeah." Nate took a deep breath and walked up the steps to the house and slowly, tentatively walked through the door. He turned to his parents standing in the living room. They both stood and stared at each other for a moment. Nate finally broke the silence. "Well, what do you think?"
"I don't know, Nate. This is all so weird." Martha walked over and gave her son a hug.
"Well," Nate took a deep breath, not sure how they would react. "You don't have to worry because I think I'm going to join."
"Really? I don't know about this," replied Martha. Meanwhile, Nate heard his Dad let out a sigh of relief and go back to his recliner.
"What, you always said I should be more involved in things," said Nate.
"Yeah, but I meant sports or drama or...debate team. Not this."
"Well, if I do this then it takes the pressure off everyone else. Samantha said only one had to join and I want to. Let me do this. I really want to." Nate looked at his mother, anxious for approval.
Martha let out a deep sigh. "It looks like we don't have much of a choice. I just hope we don't regret this."
Nate gave his mother another hug. "Thank you. I know you won't."
Nate ran upstairs and went directly to his room, laying down on his bed almost too excited to lay still. He couldn't wait until he could see Ben again tomorrow morning and tell him.