Eventually, when I calmed down enough to think rationally again, I realized I had no idea where I was. Lots of trees, the lake to my left, but no sign of the cabins. Oh, and the sun was starting to set, so there’s that. Wasn’t there a rule about being out after dark? Something like that… so I guess I should try following the lake shore back to camp.
I spent the next hour or so just walking along the lake before I spotted lights. I doubled my speed, lights should mean a cabin. And a cabin means facing the girls… and I don’t know if I can do that right now. That’s twice in one day they watched me getting picked on, and that alone makes me doubt they want to be anywhere near me. Maybe I should just let myself be caught outside after dark, get the punishment over with and get ready to redo last year’s classes. The thoughts stopped my legs; the embarrassment I was would reflect on the girls as long as I was part of their team, right?
But if I had to redo a year, that would mean I wouldn’t be able to see Chelsea in any of my classes. She would be too busy with senior classes and Tommy. She probably wouldn’t want to be seen with me anymore and would stop riding with me. Then what? My one friend, the one person who keeps me around, gone… because I didn’t try.
I trudged the rest of the way to the cabin. It hurt to look at the door; behind it were eight girls who wanted nothing to do with me but were stuck because that jerk coach made me come along. Everything would be better if-
“Jace? Oh, thank god.” Brittany said, opening the door and immediately sweeping me into a hug. “I was so worried. I’m sorry. I should have done something. I was just grabbing my jacket to come look for you. Oh, god. Thank you.”
I felt the tears streaming down her face onto my own. She must have been worried that Chelsea would be upset that she had lost me. Nobody likes losing their pets, and that’s basically all I really was at this point, so it made sense that she would be relieved. Now she didn’t have to come up with an excuse.
I felt myself being pulled into the cabin, and then a bunch of arms all wrapping around me. I couldn’t understand what all was being said, but everyone was there trying to make sure it was really me. Eventually though, one voice got the others to get back to their business. When everyone else dispersed, I was left standing before Kim and Brittany. Brittany was trying to stem the tears overwhelming her, and Kim… well, I’m not certain what was happening.
She looked to be holding in tears of her own, but I could also see that she might be angry. I don’t blame her, coming back at all basically meant I screwed up everything for her if she wanted to win. Girls angry cry, right? She was probably debating hitting me or screaming at me. She moved her arm just a little and I felt myself flinch. She was going to hit me, that’s what she decided. If I brace myself for the hit, it won’t hurt as much.
When she finally moved again, she was quick and firm with her motion. She reached out and pulled my face in close to hers and placed her lips on mine. For a few seconds, I was at a total loss. She was angry, wasn’t she? Then why is she kissing me? Is this a trick so she can get a clear shot to slap me? That’s got to be it. She’s just getting me off guard.
She pulled back, breathing heavily, and started crying. I guess I’m just a bad kisser then, enough to reduce girls to tears. No real surprise, it’s not like I’ve had any practice. Chelsea didn’t have a lack of boys to practice with, but I was never on that list. And it’s not like Brittany was making any moves on me, because who really wants someone that looks like a panda taken human form?
“Don’t you ever scare us like that again.” Kim finally said when she had some control over herself again. “Don’t you dare make me worry like that again or I’ll chain you down.”
Yeah, because losing your ugly ass dog is a real problem. You never know who is going to want to keep it for show and tell when guests come to visit. That must be what she means. Hate to lose the gaudy show piece.
“I think I’m going to go take a shower.” She whispered, pulling herself away from me. “You could join me. They are pretty roomy. I’m sure we could think of a few things to do in there.”
I shook my head. She pouted, putting her hands on her hips. “One of these days, I’m going to get you. You can keep running, but I’ll win.”
I didn’t understand what she meant by that. Did she mean she wanted me to help her get the hard to reach parts? Then why not just take one of the other girls? I wasn’t running right now, so I failed to see what she meant by her winning. I looked over at Brittany as Kim walked off, swaying her hips like she was trying to tempt one of the others to follow her. Brittany seemed at a loss for words, but she also looked really annoyed, and I couldn’t understand why.
“What happened after I left?” I asked, my voice shaky.
Brittany recapped that she got the drone to give the councillors rule sheets, the other girls helped the rest of the students get food, and eventually they came back to the cabin because they thought I had run here to hide in a pillow fort. When they realized I wasn’t there, she and Kim argued about what to do next, apparently. Kim wanted to send everyone on a search, Brittany wasn’t going to risk the possibility that the others might get lost too, and she pointed out that the rule said campers were not allowed out after dark. Kim pointed out that the wording was specifically campers, it said nothing about councillors, and that made Brittany grab her coat and a flashlight from the cabin’s cupboard above the sink. She told the girls to figure out who would be best for each event so she could come looking for me, but then opened the door and there I was.
She at one point paused to go grab something from the sink area and came back with a sandwich wrapped in paper. She passed it to me with a comment about wanting to make sure I didn’t spend the night regretting getting nothing to eat. Unwrapping it, I could immediately smell the juicy bacon and marinara covered meatballs in the half round of sourdough. My favourite. She must have asked Chelsea about it to try and calm me down.
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