Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(4)

“Sort of,” I admitted, which only made her laugh harder.

“I was just messing with you. Everyone’s having their reunion moments and I was feeling like a total dork. I saw you standing by yourself looking like a dork, too, so I thought I’d break the ice.” Kelsey let go of my shoulders and her laughter faded, though the smile was still firmly in place. “You’re really Annie?”

Wow. I’m impressed with this girl’s bravery. I sort of love it. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from her. “Yeah. And you’re really Kelsey?”

“Yep.” She stood taller, which was saying something because the girl was like, twice as tall as me. “How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

“Me, too! That means we’ll probably be in the same cabin. We should share a bunk! What do you prefer? Top or bottom?”

“Um, top?” Normally I’d want the bottom, too afraid I might roll over in my sleep and fall off the top. My grandma always said it looked like I wrestled alligators in my sleep, I tangled up the sheets and comforter so much.

“Perfect. I prefer the bottom. I’m too tall; I’ll knock my head into the ceiling.” She grinned, looking rather pleased with herself. “We’re like long-lost reunited camp friends, together again, right?” Before I could reply, she slung her arm around my shoulders and steered me so we were facing the girl at the flagpole, whose cheery veneer was starting to slip a little. “Bet you ten bucks she’s going to blow that whistle as loud as she can in the next five minutes.”

“Can’t take the bet, since I agree with you,” I said as Kelsey dropped her arm from around my shoulders. “She literally looks ready to blow. Her face is red and everything.”

Kelsey laughed. “You’re funny.”

I thought that was pretty amusing, considering she was the one who forged a fake friendship with me in a matter of minutes. “So are you.”

She tucked a wild strand of deep auburn hair behind her ear. “I think we’re going to get along just fine. Though you’ve been warned—sometimes I act a little crazy.”

No kidding, I wanted to say but didn’t. Instead I told her, “So do I.” It was a lie, but I wanted it to be true.

Kelsey nodded, looking pleased. “We’re going to make a perfect team.”

We waited for Clipboard Girl to blow her whistle, getting jostled again and again by people passing by as we chatted about nothing at all. I couldn’t believe how quickly I’d just made a friend.

Maybe I really could be brave Annie this summer.

“This is our cabin.” Our counselor, Hannah, stood on the front porch with a smile before pushing open the creaky door and waving a hand for us to go inside. “Everyone choose your bunk first! Then we’ll introduce ourselves, put away our stuff real quick, and get ready. We’re going down to the lake in thirty minutes, so we have to hurry!”

Hannah’s words froze me and I couldn’t move, though every other girl assigned to G7A pushed past me, knocking into me with their duffel bags, trying to get their preferred bunk before anyone else. I couldn’t believe it. First day here and we were already expected to go swimming? I thought we’d ease into it. Or they’d give us the option and I’d just never have to make that choice. I didn’t want everyone to know I couldn’t swim on the first day we were here. Talk about humiliating.

“Annie! Come here!” Kelsey waved me over to the bunk she was standing next to, and I went to join her, dropping my heavy bag on the floor beside me. We had to make the trek to our cabin carrying our own bags, and since the senior girls’ cabins were the farthest ones out, we had the longest hike. I was freaking exhausted. Hiking was not my thing. Being outdoors really wasn’t my thing, either.

“This is ours. What do you think? You’re still cool with sleeping on the top bunk?” Kelsey asked hopefully.

I nodded, not sure I had any strength left to climb the short ladder that led up to my bed. And I wanted to lie down more than anything.

“Girls!” Hannah clapped her hands and everyone went quiet. “Please say your name, how long you’ve been coming here, and what you’re looking forward to most while you’re at camp.” She nodded at a tall, dark-haired girl. “You go first.”

They all each said their names: Hailey, Kaycee, Caitie, Presley, Bobbee, and Gwen. And what they were most looking forward to: swimming, spending time with their old friends, and hanging out with cute boys.

Seriously. They all said pretty much the same thing. And as for cute boys? I saw plenty of them, including one with dark hair and a scowl on his face as he helped out the camp director. All the girls talked about him on the hike over to our cabin, going on and on about how cute he was and how he really didn’t talk to them. I could tell they’d known one another for years. They’d all been coming to Camp Pine Ridge for a long time and had a strong bond.

“I’m Kelsey,” my new friend announced, smiling at everyone. “This is my second year here and I’m looking forward to making new friends.” She looked at me. “And going on new adventures.”

I smiled in return. It was like Kelsey spoke my language, I swear.

“And last but not least, let’s hear from our newest member of W7A.” Hannah leaned in closer to me. “We take offense to the G standing for girls. So we substitute it with W for women.”