Unknown (The Secret Life of Cassie Martin #1)(42)

“We were behind going into this week,” I remind him. “Will that help us?”

“Definitely. Someone would have had to complete two bonuses this week. I don’t think anyone finished the one. We should also get some bonus points tonight because the scoring system is the same.” Parker now glows with excitement, and the others are just as amped.

We finish the night with two hundred and sixty-three differences. I worry I’m being too critical, but things were different so we noted them.

At the end of dinner, the staff releases us, and we move to our room to write them all down. Most of the other teams from our dinner service do the same.

After we write everything down, we spend time together hanging out. The guys tell me funny stories about the camp in previous years.

Jay’s hands move through the air as he tells the story. “Two years ago, Kevin, the jerk from the Corral, thought he could sneak into Kelly’s room. That was her first year in charge, so she was still getting used to being the boss. Kevin tried to climb into her bathroom window, but the window came down on him. He got stuck on the way out. As he was reaching for a tree, a spider landed on him. According to Kevin, it was a devil spider the size of his palm.” Jay holds his large hand up to demonstrate. “He was so worked up he peed all over himself, Kelly’s wall, and the electrical outlet there. That shorted out the socket. The breaker blew, which stopped it from catching on fire, but smoke poured from the outlet, making the alarm go off. The fire department, Kelly, most the staff, and about half the kids witnessed him being taken away by an ambulance to be checked out.”

I snicker. “I want to feel sorry for Kevin, but you reap what you sow. You’d think he would have learned better by now. He’ll probably always be an ass.”

Ginning, the guys nod. They obviously don’t feel sorry for Kevin at all.

After we spend about an hour reminiscing, we decide to head back to the cabins. Because of our score, tomorrow can be an off day if we want. Unsure how we’ll feel in the morning, we hold off on making plans until then.

On the way back, Noah and Lucca escort me with Jay and Parker taking up the rear. With a full moon tonight, the lake sparkles, mesmerizing in its beauty. I’m tempted to ask to walk down there, but I don’t want to mess up Lily’s dress and shoes.

We only make it about a hundred yards when loud cracks strike through the peaceful atmosphere. Noah and Lucca pull me down and cover me. Screams echo around us as I try to figure out where the noise came from. I want to check out the boys to make sure none of them were hit, but there’s no time as gunshots fire again.

I’m pushed down again and everything goes black.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN





My eyes peel open as someone lifts my body.

“She’s waking up,” Jay whispers. “Let’s hide over here.”

I glance around and realize Noah holds me while crouching as best he can. Clutching me close, he ducks beside a building that must have been Jay’s focus.

“What happened? Was someone shot?” I manage to get out.

“Shhh…” Noah whispers into my ear. “The five of us aren’t hurt.”

Parker and Jay sneak off behind the building. Alarmed, I try to sit up, but Noah tightens his hold. “There were other people walking back. They’re just going to go check on them.”

“We should help. What if someone was hurt? We need to find Mr. Smyth.” I don’t know the other campers well, but I wouldn’t want to see them get hurt. From our position beside the building, I can’t see the lane anymore.

Lucca leans over to me. “Let me check out your head. Noah and I pulled you down at the same time, so you hit your head on the ground.”

Tentatively, I reach up and touch my hair and find something wet and sticky. “Lucca, I’m bleeding, but I feel all right. We should get back to the auditorium. It’s closer than our cabins.”

“We should wait until Parker and Jay get back. They’ll be upset if we leave without them. We don’t want them wandering around searching for us,” Noah cautions, but I’m anxious to move.

When Lucca and Noah determine that I’m not going to walk away, Lucca checks my head. I wince as he gingerly moves hair to the side. “You’re right. It doesn’t appear too bad.” He pulls off his tie and makes a move to wrap it around my head.

“Lucca. I like that tie. Don’t ruin it. I’ll be fine.” I try to wave him off, but Noah grabs my hands.

“We both feel bad we caused you to get hurt. Let him take care of you,” Noah pleads while rubbing circles with his thumb on my trapped hands.

Begrudgingly, I nod. I’m not used to people taking care of me. Growing up, I was always a tough but careful kid so I didn’t get hurt much. When I did, I walked into wherever I was staying and cleaned myself up. If I waited for someone else to do it, I would have stayed dirty all night.

After Lucca finishes his triage, I try to move away from Noah, but he resists. “I’ve got you. You don’t need to sit on the ground. It will mess up your dress.”

“You’re going to mess up your pants!” I complain to him. “It’s not my dress, though, so I better be careful, as long as you don’t mind. I don’t want your legs to fall asleep in case we have to run.”