Chapter 2: Burning Glances

I had almost hit Meg Giry with a rock. I felt bad about it, but at the same time not. She was an odd girl, very much a nerd and a bookworm. Nadir had been horrified before laughing so hard that he stopped breathing momentarily. When the bell rang, I went up with him and William. This was a new situation; I was not used to hauling my viola around the camp. And that other girl, what was her name? I had forgotten. I had only met her once; Nadir had introduced us the previous year during a spring concert. She had said hi and the hit Nadir for saying something. I do not remember what. But then she seemed like a bitch, maybe even now she does. Seeing her again for the short point in time hadn't really told me much.

And Raoul. That stupid violist. I had never liked him, he was fairly stuck up and full of himself. He seemed to always get what he wanted. From what Nadir had told me, he wanted Christine, who seemed like she was his girlfriend. I try not to delve in the affairs of others.

Sitting through the head counselor, Ray's speech had been interesting enough. But for Nadir, who had been there multiple times, it had been the same. I found it interesting to learn what the week would be like, but again, this was my first time at Sierra Mountain Music Camp. I recognized some people, like William of course, Henry, a bassist, and several other people.

Glancing around, I found many people staring at my mask, to which I gave a burning glare back. Making enemies was not the point; I wanted people to stop staring. People never can respect my mask, I cannot help that I'm a monster.

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I glanced over at Nadir and his friends. They had no right to throw rocks at us; I wasn't going to let that go. But when Erik gave me a glare, I was surprised. I glared back to show him I was tough, which he took in surprise as well. It served him right.

Ray was droning on about schedules for the choirs and orchestras, to which I paid no attention. When it was finally over, we got up began the walk back down the mountain to be baseball field.

I personally hate pictures, but when I look at those pictures from that year, a feeling of hate and love well up. I remember so much from those pictures.

The photographer was always the same guy every year; he always had to climb up a cliff to see all the campers. We were a mass of yellow, pink, orange, and purple, all standing and laughing at each other. When the adults did finally get our attention, the man took the first photo. During the next however, a Senior Choir boy yelled out, "I'm wearing girl's underwear!" causing everyone to laugh. When I look at the picture, I see all my friends around me, laughing very hard. Raoul and Meg's mouths are gaping open from laughing, and I'm just smiling. One poor girl's hand is blurry, as it was on the way to her mouth.

We had to wait for the judges to call tell us which orchestra we were in before we could take our picture in the correct groups. They were taking a very long time, which made me very nervous. I remembered my audition and how the Intermediate Orchestra director had told me that I had improved so much. I hadn't recognized him. The other judges were simply stony faced and said nothing. Well, Andre, the assistant to Mr. Reyer, had smiled and said hello to me. Mr. Reyer and Mrs. Hawkins had said nothing. Recalling that made me wonder whether I had done well or not.

A shout drew the attention of all the orchestra members. Mr. Reyer, Andre, Mrs. Hawkins, and Stephen (Intermediate Orchestra conductor) rushed up with papers. The auditions and decisions were over.