Chapter 3: Relay Races
I sat on our green log with red Christmas lights around the bottom. I was exhausted from staying up to late but I just stared at the unlit campifre across from me. The rocks were blackened on the inside and I watched the darkened pile of charcoal as they remained unmoving and unlit. I had talked ot Grace yesterday. They let them make one phone call a week now because they had problems with people not coming back because they were away from home too long without seeing or hearing from anyone.
"Hey!" She said brightly. "What's up?"
"Hi," I said. She told me all about camp. The people and mostly the boys. I listened to her in disbelief. Her boyfriend had just cheated on her less than a week before. I barely got a word in outside of "Yeah" or "Mmhmm" but by the time I did I paused. "You seem over... everything."
"What do you mean?" She said.
"I mean, everything that happened with Kenny," I had said. "I heard more about what happened, and I just don't see how you could move on so quickly..."
"Oh, shit," Grace said suddenly. "I only have one more minute, but I'll try calling you next week and I can explain everything. Please don't be mad at me for anything you heard."
"Okay," I said. Was this something she needed to explain to me? I thought it had been so simple. "Are you okay after everything?"
"Yeah," I heard her voice spike a little like it does when she's either lying or really out-of-her-mind excited. "I'm fine, Mands, don't worry. Just have fun doing whatever you do at that camp. I'll call you next week, okay?"
"Uh, yeah, sure," I said. "I'll try."
"Next week you better tell me about everything at the camp, okay," She said. "I heard there were a ton of hot Seniors working there. Anyways my time's up but I'll call you next week for sure."
"Yeah," I said. "Bye,"
"I miss you so much. All the girls here are crazy."
"I miss you too," I said.
"Bye,"
"Bye,"
Click.
I had lunch duty Wednesday's and Friday's. This meant I walked up and down the rows of picnic tables and made sure the food was bring eaten and not thrown, shoved anywhere, on the ground, in someone's nose or being mixed into a mountain of what looked like vomit. I walked by the seven and eight-year-olds and they were just eating and giggling and talking about the most random stuff. The nine and ten year olds were better. They were talking about normal stuff. There was such a difference between the two groups of kids. But the five and six year olds were out of control.
The little asian Ming got up all of a sudden and was standing up as a kid leaned over the table to catch an apple that had been thrown to him. I walked over quickly, seeing Natalie doing the same thing. "Ming!" I looked over and saw Kenny all of a sudden out of nowhere. "What are picnic tables for?" He just looked at Ming and crossed his arms. I slowed but Natalie was B-lining for the game of catch with an apple.
I wanted to hate Kenny. I really did. Grace didn't seem awful but I knew she could hide things. I knew it would have hurt a lot to know my boyfriend was cheating on me. Ming looked down at the table. "Zowwy Kenny..." He said.
"It's cool, dude," He said. "Just don't do it again. If you do you're going into isolation."
Ming's eyes widened in fear. "No Kenny, no!" He yelled.
"Then sit down and eat, you're going to be starving," He said. "What if we get lost on the nature trail? Everyone will be fine because they ate excpet for you."
Ming sat down and Kenny smiled at him. He gave Ming a thumbs up. Ming gave him one to match and Kenny kept walking. My shoulders sagged a little. This wasn't funny anymore. I thought Cameron or Awkward Kyle had lunch duty. This was ridiculous. Kenny was everywhere. I didn't hate him so much anymore, I was just annoyed now. He was impossible to avoid which was my plan for the rest of the week.
Five minutes before lunch was over Natalie and I and the two other guys doing lunch could sit down and eat. I ate keeping my head down because the four of us got the end of the table. Cameron was sitting across from me but Kenny and him talked the entire time. "That stuff was so good," Cameron said softly. "Where did you get it?"
"Ross," Kenny said. "It was pretty good, he ran out yesterday."
"Sucks," Cameron said. I never though Cameron would smoke weed, but I guess you don't have to be like Kenny to smoke sometimes. I got up to throw my plates away and the end of lunch bell rang. Natalie was behind me and we started walking over to our log. Cameron caught up to us. "Are you guys doing anything after the campfire thing on Friday?"
I look over at Natalie who smiles. She and the girls have been discussing her moving in on Cameron for the past two days. Her advances were simple. Batting her eyelashes and smiling and flipping her long straight hair. She is pretty and freshly broke up with her last boyfriend of six months. "I'm not doing anything," She says.
"What about you, Amanda?" Cameron says nodding looking at me.
"Um, nothing too, I guess," I say. I try not to wince. I can hear Grace in my head. Don't say stuff like "Um" and "like" you sould like you have no idea what you're talking about. Nobody will listen to you. They'll be exhausted decoding everything you say and taking out the "Um"s and "like"s.
"Cool," He said. "After the marshmellow thing a few of us are meeting up at the inlet right over there to just hang out and stuff. Have some fun for once..."
"I'd love to," Natalie says. She looks at me. "Do you think you can come?"
I shrug. "Sure," I say. My parents don't usually care. They like when I go out on weekends as long as I'm with someone they know and they know Natalie's parents.
"Alright," Cameron smiles at me. "Cool." We make it over to our log and I sit down next to Natalie. Kenny walks by and Cameron waves at him. "Two more." He says.
Kenny smiles looking at us. "Sweet," He says. "See you Friday, ladies." He salutes us and Natalie laughs quietly. I look at Kenny and see him get over to his log and blow his whistle. His kids coming running at him and flock around him. He seems like the only person who can handle the five and six year olds. I sigh and look ahead at our kids coming over to us.
I wish there was a way to describe how much he annoys me.
At three out kids are lined up on the long dock- Dock 1. They are all in their bathing suits and watching the five and six year olds go. We're doing relay races. The blown-horn goes off and the second-fastest kids jump into the water. I look over and see Kenny's group. He was short a swimmer- the guys always are in charge of the racing stuff- and Ming jumps in swimming relatively slower than the other kids who are trying to gain in the race.
I see him smiling a little. He smiles like he's in on an inside joke. I cross my arms and bite at my nails watching as his jump in gaining slighlt over the slight lag Ming had brought. The other guy conselors are screaming with the kids but Kenny just watches standing and watching smiling a little to himself.
The last kids come up- the fastest. Ming comes up again and Kenny pats his back as George- the slow fat kid tips the dock a little getting up. Ming dives in. I knew what was going to happen. The pale tiny kid goes shooting across beating everyone easily. The guy conselors are astonished. Ming climbs up and Kenny is smiling high-fiving little Ming. The other kids yell and scream in victory.
My team came in last because Tyler was too slow. Nobody talked to him except for me. When everyone was having recreational time he sat next to me silently, his mouth a thin line.
I went to get him a juice-box because I felt bad. When I came back he was crying and talking to Kenny who looked at him softly and nodded as he talked I hung back. I knew I couldn't get to Tyler with a juice box. He just wanted Kenny.
I open the door of the counselor's cabin. "Hey, Amanda," I hear from behind me. I turn and see Natalie coming into the little lobby. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," I say. Me and Natalie have talked more in the last three days than ever. We are all we have in this group and know each other pretty well from when we used to actually be friends.
"Um," She comes up twirling a piece of hair in her finger. "I heard from someone that Cameron might like you, and I was kind of wondering if you liked him back? I mean, I think I'm starting to like him, but if you do I'll give up and whatever. I was just wondering. You can totally trust me."
I shake me head. "No," I say. "I don't like him at all."
She pauses. "Really? You're not just saying that?" She said. "Because if you really like him I will be totally fine with it." She looks at me and waits. I shake me head. "He's not my type," I say.
She smiles a little. "Do you think I have a chance with him?" She asks.
I shrug. "I think so," I say. "You guys would be cute together." Always tell a girl she'd look cute with the guys she likes even if you kind of like the guy, she'll go after him and blow it and then you'll have a better chance. If you don't care about the guy it's just nice to say anyways.
She smiles and blushes. "He's so cute," She says. "I'm hoping Friday will help."
I nod smiling. "Friday's going to be fun, I think," I said. "I heard about conselors doing this last year too." It didn't sound so fun actually, but it was uncool to say it sounded awful. They just got drunk and a few times people ended up skinny dipping. I wasn't into drinking or anything like that. I can't believe I even agreed to go.
"I know," She said. She made a squeaking sound perking up bringing her shoulders up. "I'm so excited." Then she looks at me pointing. "we should ride there together. I could pick you up, I'm so scared of showing up alone or too early."
"Sure," I say. "That sounds fine."
"Do you still live on Peterson?" She asks. I nod. "Perfect," She said. "I'll ask Cameron about the time and I'll pick you up Friday."
I smile a little. "Sounds good." I say. A few girls come in with their stuff and chatter.
"I'll see you tomorrow I guess," I say touching my ponytail.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow." She waved. I turned and walked out to my car. It was blocked in by a trashy Jeep. I had to be home for dinner with my parents and I was already late as it was. I checked my phone.
"Amanda, are you waiting for a ride?" Cameron was walking up behind me with Kenny.
"No," I said. "I'm blocked in."
Kenny looked at it. "Oh, hold on," He started walking towards the counselor cabin. He knocked on the door and out came weird Meredith. She helped him run his group but she didn't speak to any of us in the cabin. She just changed and left without making eye contact or looking at anyone. Maria with frizzy hair mimics her a lot but I try not to pay any attention to her. I just let her storm out like she's pissed off.
She walks over. "Sorry," She says to me. "I had to clear up the equipment shed." She ran to her jeep and started it. It sounded like a wind up car and she went flying backwards just missing Kenny. I had more than enough room now. "Is this good?"
I nodded. "It's more than enough," I smile a little to be nice. "Thanks."
"No problem," She says. "Need a ride, Ken?"
He looks over at her. "Nope," He says. "I'm all set, thanks though."
"See you later tonight?"
"I'm staying in tonight," He said. "I'll order food if you want..."
"Chinese," She said. "And not the good kind, I need some cheap food. I'm not in the mood to shell out fifty bucks."
"Alright," He says.
Cameron looks at me. I didn't know where he came from. He was just a few footsteps away. "Hey," He said scratching behind his ear. "About Friday, I could give you a ride if you want..."
"Oh," I say. Kenny starts walking over as Weird Meredith's jeep speds away. "Um, Natalie is already giving me a ride."
"Oh," He says awkwardly. "Okay."
"I'm sorry," I say. I was shocked. A Boy just asked me out? I've seen this happen a million times to Grace by boys she barely knew. She gave them fake numbers and left agreeing with them but never seeing them again except for the rare few- like Kenny.
"It's okay," He says. He is taking the hit hard and Kenny makes a face looking around. He checks his phone. "Shit, I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah," I say. He starts walking over to his nice SUV. He gets in and starts it.
"Oof," Kenny says. I look at him he makes a face turning his back to where Cameron is. "That was painful."
I nod letting out a sigh of relief. "You're telling me." He laughs. He has a nice laugh. I see Cameron start his car and start driving.
"I'm sorry about that," Kenny says laughing a little. "He asked me if I liked you or Natalie better as people. I didn't know he was going to ask you out." He looks over at Cameron drives away. "Man, guys like Cam can't do anything on their own, huh?"
I shrug. "Natalie really likes him, so..." I say.
He shrugs. "I had no idea he was asking my preference on which girl to ask out," He says. "I'll keep that in mind when he comes to me again."
I nod. It's awkward all of a sudden. I unlock my car door and he looks at me. "Is something up?" He asks.
I shake my head. "No," I say.
He shrugs. "See you tomorrow," He says.
"Bye," I say softly. I get into my car and start it. He walks off a little before looking back at me and waving. I pretend I didn't see him. He always talks to me no matter what. When will he get the hint?
