The Hard Life sample extract (my first ever fiction book)

‘I don’t want to be a child! Don’t you get it? I am nearly 16 for god’s sake!’ Joe yelled. I flinched at the force of his outburst, embarrassing tears streaming down my flushed cheeks. I had hoped Joe would have understood, being a close friend. But in my absence he had turned into someone I didn’t know, didn’t like.
I ran back to base, wiping away the tears, trying not to show my anger and sadness. Jared, my best and closest friend, came over. He saw through the façade. He knew about my arguments with Joe, he understood. He hugged me, as we stood in a murky corner or a murky tent, in a murky field of a murky farm called Brek, in a murky county called Norfolk.
I woke up the next morning in my bed, recalling nothing of the night before. My mum leapt up, holding me tight. She told me I had completely broken down in that moment with Jared, and then proceeded to collapse on the floor and pass out. Jared called my mum, explained the situation, and then carried me the long trek home. He then slumped down, exhausted, on the bed next to me and joined me in an endless slumber. He still hadn’t woken up, and I was worried. My mum told me I shouldn’t worry; he was dreaming and just had a slight cold that he was sleeping out. I gazed down at my boyfriend with new found admiration. He was my hero.
‘…mmm…where am I? Oh…my…head…’ he murmured. I sprang up, and gave him a glass of water. I then told him everything, from start to finish, grinning like a demented monkey. I hugged him close and told him I loved him like nothing I could pin down and identify. He grinned and told me to rest, to not come out for the next couple of days, but he would visit. I objected with every bit of anger, but my heart melted at the sight of his deep chocolate brown eyes, and I whispered my surrender. Of course, I didn’t plan to stay; I had a summer camp to go to!