You will never guess who's working the cash register.
No, seriously, you won't. But feel free to try (that's an invitation- you should guess!).
It's Parker! The weird dude from Lush!
I guess I must have been staring at him pretty openly because his face flushes, and he turns abruptly away. Okay, so the weird dude from Lush knows Jordan but they can't talk about it and now he works for some kind of camp store? What is he, a… a… a prostitute? Just always posing as a worker while his boss gets ready? Okay, okay, it's a little farfetched.
Maybe he's stalking me. Now that's a scary thought. I'd rather think of him as a hooker. Just as I'm imagining without the green shirt however, Al lightly taps my shoulder and I notice my dad is looking impatiently at me at the base of a staircase. Next to them there is a sign with an arrow upwards, reading 'Camp Counselor.'
I follow him up, trying to keep this really gross image of Parker stripping for some middle aged woman… oh, ew, gross, eww!
There is a small but pleasant looking waiting area in front of a simple black door. A few comfy chairs stand around, with wooden frames, each leg carved with some half-naked dude holding up the chair. The walls are painted with rolling hills, a beach, a farm, woods, and a few odd-looking houses that I presume to be the camp cabins. It doesn't look too bad… just stuck in Ancient times.
"Would you like some food or refreshments?" a voice suddenly asks next to me and I twitch, looking around. Standing there is a guy of about twenty with an unnaturally smooth voice. His dark hair is held back by a golden circlet of sorts, and, apart from a white t shirt and cream colored pants, he's wearing tons of jewelry and stuff.
Just as I'm about to say that yes, I'd like a soda, the door opens and a dude in a wheelchair rolls out.
"Thank you, Ganymede, but that should suffice for today. Z called, he needs you back up there for tonight. Something about the Muses throwing a party or so."
Muse is throwing a party? When? Where? Tonight? He said tonight, right?
Sorry. I just love Muse. And Matthew Bellamy? Totally hot.
Before I know it, the guy, Ganymede, is gone. How can he disappear so quickly? Now the dude in the wheelchair turns to me and smiles.
"Hello, you must be Valerian. It is very nice to finally meet you. I am Mr. Brunner, the camp director. If you don't mind, I will have a small word with your father first and then talk to you, okay?"
I nod- I don't really care. These chairs are really, really comfy. Mr. Brunner smiles and beckons my father into his office. As soon as they're through the door, another guy steps out- probably Mr. Brunner's last interviewee.
I don't pay further attention to him, but when someone says 'Oh my god, no way' fairly loudly in the room when you two are alone (not counting the chauffeur), you do kind of turn around to see what's going on.
And there he is. The guy from the party. The amazingly hot, cute, absolutely gorgeous guy that I spent several hours fooling around with. I automatically smile and stand up, walking over to him. He's smiling too, and right now my life really feels like one of those sappy romance movies where the two who are meant to be together see each other, run at each other and leap into the other's arms, wildly making out.
Hmm… that really doesn't sound like a bad idea right now.
But, instead of doing that, I merely stop in front of him. Thankfully, he's the first one to speak after an awkward pause.
"Okay, sorry, but, well, I kind of forgot your name…" it's a relief, really, because I also have no recollection of his too.
"That's okay. I'm Valerian. Madden. You?"
"Sawyer. Sawyer Hansen."
"Awesome. So… you also going to camp?" I ask, trying to make conversation. His shoulders sag slightly and his eyes glance to the closed door.
"Yeah, first timer. My mom's making me. Something about how there'll be 'people just like me' or so. You?"
"Pretty much the same, 'cept my dad's making me go. He gave me exactly the same explanation. And now I feel like we're in The Parent Trap. Well, I hope we're not, 'cause that would mean we're related, and that would really put a blow on things."
Sawyer laughs, and is about to say something, but a shrill voice sounds from downstairs.
"Sawyer! Time to go!"
Sawyer exhales.
"That's my mom. I should probably get going then. I guess I'll see you at camp… but just in case I don't…" faster than I could have done, he grabs my phone from my back pocket and quickly types something into it. A few seconds later, he's done, and my phone's back in my pocket. I stand there in amazement, shaking my head.
"Damn… you have to teach me that," I remark. Sawyer laughs again (man, I really like his laugh), leans forwards and gives me a small kiss on the cheek.
"See you soon."
Two words: Hot. Damn.
.:.
When I am finally ushered into the office, I can't help but notice the faint smell of horse lingering in the air. Believe me, I know what the smells like- my aunt has a horse farm in Virginia and I spend practically every break there, working in the stables.
Apart from that, it's pretty much pleasant, fashioned like the waiting room, except there's a window to the side, overlooking the busy street.
"Ah, Valerian," Mr… what's his name greets me.
"Hey…" There's a twinkle in the dude's eye as he chuckles and shakes my hand.
"Mr. Brunner. Though I really do prefer to be called Chiron, if I may call you Valerian."
Ookay then….
"Sure…" I trail of, meeting my dad's eyes for only a second. "Chiron."
He smiles and rolls back around his desk, beckoning me to sit on the chair opposite it. My dad's sitting in a replica of the chair, just slightly in the corner, where he can sit and be quiet.
"So, Valerian, tell me about yourself."
"Well… my name's Valerian Madden, I am sixteen years old, and a sophomore…. Uh, I live with my dad and his wife Jacqueline on the Upper West Side and yeah."
Chiron raises his eyebrows slightly but makes no comment about the district I live in, which is really kind of nice.
"You mentioned your father's wife, yet you did not call her your mother. From the way your father talked, it sounded like she practically raised you."
I scoff.
"She bought me a skateboard in attempt to make me more like a 'real boy'" I say, with 'real boy' in mock-quotation marks, not trying to mask the malice in my voice as I speak of Jackie's failed attempt to 'make me straight'. Chiron furrows his brow.
"'Real boy'?"
I sigh.
"Yeah. I'm gay, and Jackie doesn't really approve of it, for the, what, ten months she's known me?"
"Ah, a homophobic step parent. You know, the young man who was here before you had the same problems as you," he states, and I find myself blushing slightly at the thought of Sawyer. His spiky brown hair, the bright yellow hat that matches my jacket… I'm lost in thought for a second, only brought back by Chiron's soft chuckle. "I see you've met Sawyer Hansen then, am I correct?" When I nod my head, he continues. "How, might I ask? Because he must have made quite an impression on you, presuming you two only just met."
"Well…" I begin, but find myself blushing even harder. "We sort of hooked up at this party a few weeks ago, though none of us knew each other's names."
Chiron openly laughs at this, his cheeks slightly red. But it's not from uneasiness about the topic, like it is for most people, it's because apparently, he has quite a good time laughing around me. Sadly, the only thing I can think is 'oh my god is my hair messed up?'
"I assure you, young mister Sawyer was quite smitten by you. When I asked him about any romances in his life, he got caught on that party, and went on for quite a while about an- I quote- 'adorable guy, really easy and fun to be around, but a great kisser and really knows how to turn you on.'"
Okay.
Kill me now.
I'm already dying of shame in here.
Not because of what Sawyer said- that's totally sweet, and I've been thinking pretty much the same thing, but to hear it from Chiron and with my dad in the room? Not so much. My dad clears his throat rather loudly, and Chiron's playful demeanor rapidly fades, leaving a more serious face behind. I turn to my dad and give him a glare and a sarcastic smile.
"I think we're done here, Chiron. My son will be at the shuttle bus to camp at ten a.m. sharp. Good day."
And that's my dad.
Outside the office, Al is standing there, waiting, and as my dad descends the stairs, he presses a small sheet of paper (that I recognize from downstairs- they were selling sticky notes with some weird temple and strawberries logo on them) into my hand and whispers "from the handsome young man from earlier." Except, Al has this kickass accent, so it sounds like "from da han-som young man from ea'lia." I don't know where he's from.
I look at the note.
Hey, it's Sawyer.
I was going to say this earlier, but you had left already.
One, you're cute.
Two, I have this silver ring with a tiny purple stone on it. I'm guessing it's yours….
You seem like the kind of guy who'd skip for an hour or two. Breakfast tomorrow at Starbucks? If you can't, that's totally cool, just give me a call. You have my number now anyway ;)
-Sawyer
Holy shit. That boy doesn't know what he does to me.
Looks like I have a date tomorrow.
Questions, comments?
The actual camp part of this will begin on Monday, if you're lucky, on Saturday or Sunday. Before then is just Val being Val and Sawyer (you'll get to know him better) being Sawyer and Jordan and Parker being awkward.
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