Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(62)

Kelsey stared at the lake. “I’m sorry if I cut you off. I didn’t mean to. I just, I didn’t know how else to react. I’ve always had a hard time making friends.”

“You didn’t act that way on the first day at camp,” I reminded her. “I thought you were kind of crazy.”

Kelsey grinned. “I pretty much dared myself to approach you. You looked so lost and nervous, exactly how I felt. So I thought we could unite together.”

“Well, let’s try to stay united for the last week while we’re here, okay? I know you want to spend time with Sylvia, but spend time with us at the cabin, too. It’ll be fun.” I smiled. “I promise.”

“What about you and Jake?” she asked.

I glanced down, staring at the ground. “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “He’s probably still mad at me.”

“I bet he wants to talk to you. He’s not leaving, thanks to his dad. I bet he’s looking everywhere for you,” Kelsey said.

“You think so?”

“Definitely.” Kelsey smiled.

I lifted my head, trying to return the smile, but I couldn’t. I should go look for Jake. Tell him I was sorry. Wait for him to tell me he was sorry. Then we could kiss and make up and have the best last week ever.

Could that really happen, though? Or was I being too idealistic?

“I hate that it’s the last week.” Kelsey’s smile faltered. “It went by so fast.”

“Too fast. But we need to make the most of it, right?”

That was my plan, at least.





Chapter Twenty-One


ANNIE

“You have to take this new class with Nancy,” Bobbee practically gushed as she guided me into the bathroom. “It’s going to be so much fun.”

She made me sit on a chair that was brought in from the front porch and I did, glancing around. “Why do I need to take this class? And why did you bring me into the bathroom?”

“Because you love arts and crafts, silly!” Bobbee gave me this face like I was being a total dork. “And I’m going to do your hair.” She wrapped her fingers around the band that was holding my floppy topknot in and tugged it right out, taking a few hairs along with it.

“Ouch!” I batted her hand away. “Why are you bothering doing my hair?”

“Have you looked in a mirror lately? Just because you’re on the outs with your man doesn’t mean you can’t clean yourself up a little bit and look decent,” Bobbee said.

It was only the next day after the big fallout, and I’d been giving Jake some space, secretly hoping he would come and see me first, but he didn’t. I didn’t see him in the dining hall this morning during breakfast when I usually did. I hadn’t seen him all day, period, and it was already after lunch.

“I don’t know if I want to go to the new arts and crafts class,” I mumbled, wincing when Bobbee started brushing my hair. The girl showed no mercy.

“You should. Kelsey told me about it. She’ll be there.”

I liked how Kelsey just inserted herself back into the group. She was making an effort, and I was glad. All of the girls were happy to have her back around.

“If this is Jake’s airplane-making class, I’m not going.”

“It’s not! I swear. It’s similar, though. Some sort of origami class.”

“Is he teaching it?” Did he have other hidden talents I wasn’t aware of?

“No. He hates arts and crafts. He’s out at the lake, like usual. Maybe you want to go swimming?” Bobbee’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

I’d come clean last night about the swimming lessons, about my fears, though I didn’t tell them exactly why I was scared or about my little brother. I wasn’t ready to share all of that yet, but they totally understood. Plus, they thought it was hot, how I’d dared Jake to give me swimming lessons. All the touching and naked skin! they’d all pretty much chorused.

That they could give me grief over the fact that I couldn’t swim said a lot about my confidence level. I was over worrying if they thought I was a loser because I didn’t like the water that much. I’d gotten better, but I still had a long way to go. “You know I hate the lake.” I shivered just thinking of all the critters that lurked in the water.

“I know, I was kidding. But seriously, take this class. I’m doing it, too. It’ll be fun.”

“Fine,” I said with a sigh, feeling melancholy but trying to push past it. This was my last week at camp, after all. I needed to make the most of it.

I let Bobbee do my hair, not wanting anything too over the top, so she just straightened it with her flat iron. Then Gwen came in, a big, fluffy brush in her hand, meaning she wanted to do my makeup. I let her do that, too, thinking they all just wanted to cheer me up.

Once we finally left the cabin, I realized they were acting sort of weird. Like, giving each other goofy looks and giggling for no reason weird.

“What’s going on?” I asked them.

They all went silent. “Nothing,” they chorused.

Uh-huh.

By the time we walked into the arts and crafts building, I saw that the tables were filled with girls. Like, every spot was taken with the exception of a table that sat in the front. There was a tented piece of paper sitting in the middle of the empty table with the word RESERVED written on it in bold black.