Go My Own Way (BOOK THREE OF THE 'DIDN'T KNOW IT BEFORE' SERIES)

As soon as everyone split up and went to their tents, I ducked into EJ's to find him still aggressively highlighting. 

"You haven't highlighted the entire script yet?" I asked, stepping inside and wrapping my arms around myself. 

"Not yet." He mumbled. I walked over, sitting down on his cot. 

"You mind if I join you, or...or you worried a conversation might be a waste of your time?"

He furrowed his eyebrows, looking up at me. 

"Are you mad at me?" He asked. 

"I'm not mad," I clarified, "I'm worried. EJ-"

"AAH!" I jumped as the tent flap opened and Ricky stuck his head in, screaming in an attempt to scare us. EJ just looked up at him, seeming vaguely annoyed. 

"Dude, this legend," Ricky said, coming into the tent, "We found like, a shrine in the woods. Let's go." 

"I can't," He said seriously, "I have to finish this thing before-"

"Wait," Gina stuck her head in too, "What's the thing in the woods?"

"Its literally the spookiest thing I've ever seen and I've seen Hereditary. Megan, tell them. We found it earlier."

"We?" EJ asked looking over at us. His eyes flitted between Ricky and I before falling onto the flannel shirt that I was still wearing. I looked down at it, quickly taking it off and shoving it against Ricky's chest. 

"Aw, come on, let's go, Me-J." Gina tried, trying to lighten the mood. 

"EJ-" I started.

"Don't mind me," Ashlyn said, poking her head in "Just having a teeny tiny identity crisis. EJ, do you remember when I was born? I just need to know if it was 11:37 AM or 11:37 PM." 

"Everyone stop!" EJ shouted, turning around to face us. "It was 11:37 AM, I know that because my mom always tells me how you forever ruined the eggs Benedict. Remember? Eggs Benedict is a strictly morning dish." He turned to Ricky and Gina. "No, I can't come and see the shrine tonight. I have to finish marking up the script before Corbin comes tomorrow. I've got a lot, on my plate and-"

"You gotta focus," Gina finished for him, "We get it...come on guys."

She walked out, dragging Ashlyn with her. Ricky glanced at both of us, still holding his wadded up shirt, but he wasn't far behind, leaving EJ and I alone in the tent. I looked over at him and He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. 

"I'm sorry." He said quietly. I just sat down, not responding as I took the binder out of his hand, flipping it to the end and grabbing a handful of pages. "What are you doing?"

I opened the clips, taking out half of Act Two and closing it again before handing the binder back to him. I pulled his backpack closer to me, grabbing a highlighter and sitting cross legged before pulling the pages into my lap and beginning to highlight. 

"Megan-"

"Why are we still talking?" I asked, looking up at him. "Corbin will be here tomorrow, and we still have an entire Act to mark up so...let's get to work, yeah?" 

"You don't need to help me," He said, "You should go with them. Its Newbie night, have fun, go look at the alter or whatever." 

"Its not going to be fun if I' out there all night worrying about you," I pointed out, "You are focused on the show, and that's great, I love that. But I'm not gonna go goof around with the rest of our friends and leave you in here to stress all by yourself. So shut up and let me help you."