I don’t think anyone expected to hear anything like what Tanya said, and even Otto seemed at a loss for words. I turned to Dominiqu and hissed, “Why are you doing this? I know how this ends, it’s not great. You’re just giving him-“
“A taste of his own medicine.” Dominiqu cut me off. “I don’t tolerate bullies, I always root for the underdog, and fighting for the weak is something I do. You just happen to be a nice guy in a bad situation, and I’m all about changing that. It’s a plus that you’re kinda cute on top of all that.”
I shook my head, the word cute wasn’t a descriptor I would ever use for myself. And she said it so effortlessly, like she wasn’t revolted by the sound. Was it possible that… maybe there were people out there who actually thought I was attractive? The voice in the back of my mind laughed and jeered that I had even entertained the idea, but another voice reminded me that Kim had been trying to get me to break out of my shell since that first meeting on the bus, and she didn’t have to.
“OTTO does not understand how Councillor Michael could possibly receive pleasure from the act as described by Councillor Jace. Is the information OTTO has been given inaccurate, camper Tanya?” Otto said loud enough to draw everyone’s attention from the silent stand-off between Tanya and Michael.
“Otto, come here!” I called over to him. “I have to amend what you’ve been informed about the act.”
Otto puttered his way over and I explained what Tanya meant and how it was supposed to be an insult to Michael. Otto’s blue lights glowed a brighter shade for a brief instant. Then he flew back over toward Tanya, hovering just above her shoulder.
“An excellent observation, camper Tanya. I’m certain councillor Michael receives great joy from doing as you have said.” Otto said aloud, adding to Tanya’s jeering.
Tanya held out her hand, “Gimme five, Otto.”
“OTTO does not understand.”
“Ok, just tap your chassis or your fan housing against my hand. It’s like a high five, but with drones.” Tanya said, looking up at Otto, adjusting her hand to accommodate the little bot.
Otto gently smacked his fan housing against the center of Tanya’s palm, and she cheered at the display.
A shiny drone descended to the field from a great height, the casing just short of a mirror sheen.
“I am Judgement AI BAHAMUT. I will witness and affirm the victory in each event. Any who seek to cause harm to me shall receive divine retribution to their team.” The gleaming drone stated in a booming monotone.
Tanya and Otto made their way back to where Dominiqu, Brittany, and I were standing. I was about to ask Otto what this AI meant by “divine retribution,” but thought better of it.
“Today, the campers selected will participate in the events as follows. A test of mental acuity, crafting a snare, will be first. A test of endurance and physical fitness, a foot race, will happen second. A test of dexterity and precision, archery, will be the final event of the day.” BAHAMUT said, floating to the center of the field.
It stopped, spun around, and bright white light emanated from all sides. “First place will receive 10 points per event. Second will receive 5. Third will receive 1. Every two days, the weakest team will be ejected. This is absolute.”
My mind locked up at that rule. A team gets sent home every two days? But this was supposed to be a two week program, wasn’t it? So there could only be 10 event days, right? And that last day would be life or death for the remaining teams… assuming we all make it.
Hold on… didn’t coach say there was only one losing team? But this implies that there’s multiple losing teams? So… was coach lying, or is there something else going on?
“The team with the most points at the end of the day receives a bonus. This bonus will be determined after the last meal of the day. These are the rules, you are now aware of them. One camper and one councillor of each cabin will now make their way to the crafts shelter.” BAHAMUT said and then began floating lazily to the shack with the crafting gear.
Brittany and Jennifer started to walk off, leaving me alone with Tanya and Dominiqu. Otto seemed at a loss for which group to follow.
“Otto, if you want to watch, go ahead. We’ll be here when everything is done, ready for the next event.” Tanya told him, smiling at the little drone. Otto did an excited flip and zoomed off to follow the girls.
Dominiqu turned to Tanya and raised a fist, Tanya responded by knocking her own into it. They then each took an arm and dragged me over towards a seating area off to the side of the field. Dominiqu let go and sat down, stretching her shoulders and neck. Tanya sat down in a more dainty fashion and extended her legs.
“Would you be so kind as to massage my calves? I want to be in tip-top shape, just in case something goes wrong.” Tanya asked, blinking her eyes at me.
I knelt down and took one leg in my hands and rubbed. First I made circular motions with my thumbs, then I moved on to kneading the back of her leg with my fingertips, and then I put a bit more force into rubbing with my palms. I didn’t know what I was really doing, but she seemed to like it. After a minute or two, I switched legs, making every effort to be helpful.
“You know, hands like that make a woman excited.” Dominiqu said, watching as I worked Tanya’s muscles. “You want to give me a rub down before my event too? My back could use a nice deep tissue press. Play your cards right, and I might even ignore if your hand slips.”
The twinkle in her eye said she was just playing around, but the idea was there in my head now, and when I remembered this morning’s incident… well, I turned bright red again. The fact that the girls started to giggle didn’t help. I let go of Tanya’s leg and stepped back, my face getting more and more hot.
“She’s kidding, of course. Get handsy and she might punch you.” Tanya said, a mischievous grin sliding into place on her thin lips.
Dominiqu shook her head, “Nah, I’m very interested in him giving me a rub down. He’s already seen the goods, so it’s not like I can really claim modesty in his company.”
Tanya shook her head and laughed. Dominiqu turned around so I could touch her back and shoulders. “Come on, help a girl out.”
“One condition,” I said, “you girls explain to me why you are all working so hard to make me look… well, like I’m running a harem…”
Dominiqu motioned to her back, and I started with pushing deep circles with my thumbs along her spine and shoulder blades.
“Jasmine wasn’t lying when she said it was her idea. I mean, with all of those romantic summer camp movies teen girls get fed, who hasn’t imagined a summer fling? Some rando you may never see again, going from disinterested to passionately in love, and you claim you’ll keep in touch after but everyone knows that isn’t going to happen… it’s cute when you see it in a movie, and pretending that it’s happening in your own life gives you stories.” Dominiqu started.
I shifted to using my palms to work the muscles in her lower back, kneading them like dough.
“We all saw what happened to you when we got off the bus, and we saw what Kim did to that jackass. I felt ashamed that I didn’t step in sooner, so when I saw everyone else breaking off into teams, I sought her out. She told me that I had to follow your lead, but that she would be happy calling me her sister in arms.” Dominiqu finished her side of things with a groan of pleasure.
Tanya nodded, watching me shift to my fingers needling the more tough muscles that resisted me.
“I didn’t watch what happened, but when I heard about it from the girls already off the bus, I felt something familiar with it. I told you one that I was bullied, and it was guys like Michael that did it. But I heard that you didn’t break down or run that time, and I thought I could learn something from you. Plus it’s fun to make it look like you’re a sex god in the body of Buddha, makes the other guys question their own abilities.” Tanya said, laughing a bit at the end.
I pulled away, stretched, and took a breath. “I guess I should thank you then. I’m sorry I’ve not been the best leader… I had assumed you all were messing with me, trying to set me up to fail. I wish I was as strong as you girls… or at least as brave.”
I turned to look over the field and toward the craft shack. Most of the others had made their way over there to watch, so nobody could eavesdrop on the intimate conversation we were having.
“May I ask a question?” Tanya piped up after a minute or two.
I nodded.
“At the end of the day, are you more into Kim or into Brittany?” Tanya prodded.
I turned to look at her and Dominiqu again, “What does it matter? Brittany is only keeping an eye on me because Chelsea asked, and Kim… I don’t know what her deal is, but I know she can’t be interested in me. They’re both attractive, capable, and from what I saw during the breaks on the bus ride here, popular. The exact opposite of me.”
“Right, but…” Dominiqu followed up, “let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that both of them had feelings for you. Romantically speaking. Like they would kill each other for the privilege of jumping your bones over this two week excursion romantic feelings. Who would you pick?”
I shook my head, “Like that would ever happen. Brittany has seen me at my lowest point. She and Chelsea both showed up in my life at the same time, and since then Brittany has been a stand in whenever Chelsea isn’t around. Chelsea was always the dragon slayer, Brittany was her squire, fighting the battles beneath Chelsea’s notice.”
“But what if, and I’m just spitballing here,” Tanya started, “what if she liked you and was standing up for you because she wanted you to think of her as the knight and not the squire? What if she thought you were the prince of her dreams?”
“Following that up,” Dominiqu broke in, “what if Kim thinks you’re her prince charming stuck in a tree made of self doubt and fears of letting people in? What if these two brave knights would do combat to prove their desires for your hand there, little prince?”
I sighed, and scratched my cheek. “I guess… if this is just a hypothetical, and none of this gets back to either of them… I guess… maybe… I pick…”
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