Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(5)

“Oh, I get it.” I sounded so lame.

They all smiled at me, waiting for my introduction.

Clearing my throat, I said, “My name is Annie, and as Hannah said, this is my first year at Camp Pine Ridge. The things I’m most looking forward to are soaking up the camp experience, meeting new friends, and learning how to make a lanyard.”

They all laughed, which was exactly the reaction I’d been looking for. Blushing, I turned back to my bunk, gazing longingly at the mattress that awaited me. I was so tired, but the afternoon had only just begun.

“Okay everyone, now that’s done, listen up! Put your bags over here.” Hannah pointed to an alcove where there was one solid wall of nothing but cubbies. Everyone was talking so fast and so loudly I didn’t think anyone was really paying any attention to what she was saying. “You’re each assigned cubbies. Your names are already on them, so just stash your bags under the table in the corner when you’re finished unpacking.” Hannah clapped again. “You have about fifteen minutes before we leave, so hurry!”

“We have to unpack and be ready to go to the lake in fifteen minutes?” Kelsey asked me under her breath. “After making that hike? She can keep on dreaming.”

“No kidding,” I muttered. I’d never been a fan of PE. I didn’t play any organized sports. I never really thought I was out of shape, but I guess I never really thought about my shape, period. I bet I wouldn’t have any problem falling asleep tonight, and I’d sort of worried about that.

When it came to going to camp, I worried about pretty much everything once I got on the bus and we pulled out of the parking lot, my parents still standing there watching us drive away. All my adventurous, I’m going to turn myself into a new person plans faded the farther away I got from home. There was no turning back now. All my old insecurities flared up, reminding me of all the things I didn’t like to do. All of the things I was most afraid of.

Like swimming.

And water.

My mom asked me if I was sure about going to a camp that was literally based around a lake. They were even well known for their water activities. But I figured I’d be able to avoid the water and focus on the arts and crafts stuff.

“They’re not going to like, make us swim or anything, are they?”

Kelsey shrugged. “I doubt it. Though who knows? They might just toss us off the dock and tell us to start kicking.” She grinned.

I was secretly horrified. That sounded like a nightmare, like the absolute worst thing that could ever happen to me.

But I returned Kelsey’s smile and told myself I wasn’t going to let anything bother me. I was here. It was my first day at camp.

I was determined to have a good time.

…

JAKE

“The new campers seem all right,” my uncle Bob said as we walked toward the lake together. I didn’t get a chance to go home to my dad’s over the holiday break between sessions. I ended up spending the Fourth of July hanging out with a few other counselors I’d become friends with since I’d been here. We had a barbecue in the afternoon under the hot blazing sun, and Betsy from the dining hall made her famous potato salad. We hung out in the lake, considering it was too hot to do anything else, and later that night we lit fireworks, sending them high into the sky before they landed in the water with a sizzling hiss.

We had fun. I flirted hard-core with Lacey, one of the counselors for the senior girls. She’s cute and she seems sort of into me, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue anything with her, especially when we were stuck together until August. What if we got sick of each other? I didn’t want to take the chance, and while Uncle Bob didn’t necessarily say I couldn’t “date”—his word choice—any of the counselors, I knew he wasn’t big on it, either.

Every other counselor was pairing off with someone, but I felt like I couldn’t. Sucked being related to the guy. Oh, and his knowledge of my rebellious past didn’t help, either.

“Yeah.” I knew he expected me to answer, even though I didn’t really know what to say. Another group of kids had come in, big deal. This meant I’d had to put in real sweat work the last couple of days, cleaning up the grounds, helping paint the dining hall, a project that they never got around to in the spring.

That had been major work. I collapsed into bed every night and slept like the dead. I was still tired and I had to be on my A game, since all those new campers were probably headed straight for the lake, it was so hot.

“There are no activities planned this afternoon, so there’ll be water time instead.” Uncle Bob smiled, resting his hands on his hips. He had on a Camp Pine Ridge T-shirt and I could see tufts of hair sticking up around the neckline. If I still stood a chance of inheriting his hairiness, I’d be investing in wax.

“Right.” I knew I was on water patrol. I’d need to sneak an energy drink before I went out there.

“The big spaghetti feed is tonight, and afterward the kids will be participating in get-to-know-you activities. Bonds all the kids within their cabin groups.” He smiled and nodded. “Never fails, even after all these years.”

“Uh-huh.” He was talking to me like I hadn’t been here so far this summer, but that was just his way. He liked to recite lists, go over everything that was on his mind by saying it out loud. Whatever worked, right? He was quirky, but everyone loved my uncle. They even called him Fozzie Bear because he was so hairy—and our last name was Fazio. I’d even slipped up and called him Fozzie once or twice, though that was strictly a camp nickname. He’d probably kill me if I called him Uncle Fozzie Bear at Thanksgiving.