A/N: Sorry, sorry! I've taken forever, this chapter's not really that long or interesting and I feel terrible about it. I've had writer's block on this story and have been working on some other story concepts lately and Summer Camp sorta slipped my mind. I hope you can forgive me, I'll try to avoid doing this with future stories. Anyway, read on if you're tired of my rant...
Max P.O.V.
Another morning, another rude awakening. This morning, I wake up from my arm itching like crazy. I see that mosquito bites dot my whole right arm. As I wake up more, I realize that I haven't been wearing bug spray for the last couple of days because of the rain. And there's also the fact that I usually sleep with both of my arms under the covers and last night my right arm was over them.
I drag myself into the bathroom, scratching my whole arm. I search through the big basket of makeup and such that Nudge brought but has barley touched since we've been here. Finally, I pull out the anti-itch stuff and put it on all of the bug bites. It takes a while for it to work so I just have to pace and try not to scratch my arm anymore.
Once the itching subsides, I go back into the room and throw some clothes on. Why waste a perfectly good early waking? I throw on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and leave the cabin. Once outside, I spray myself down with bug spray. I cough at the stench but, hey, it's better than getting eaten alive, right?
I just wander around aimlessly for a while, waiting for the day to start. Walking past the pavilion, I notice a weird looking shadow, also known as Fang. He's barely visible, the only reason I saw him is because I'm used to him and I didn't have any preoccupation. Why on earth is he up so early? I doubt he has the same conditions in the morning as I do.
"Fang?" I ask and he moves, becoming easier to see. "Why the heck are you up so early? What time is it, even?"
He glances down at the black watch on his wrist and answers, "Six forty two. Why are you up?"
"I had a bunch of mosquito bites that woke me up," I answer. "Now answer my question; why are you up so early?!"
"I wake up early because Gaz talks and occasionally farts in his sleep and Ig snores like a congested buffalo," he replies. "I get out as soon as possible."
"Ok, I get the whole snoring problem," I say, "but are Gazzy's farts so bad?"
"No, they're worse than bad," he replies, dead serious.
I laugh and say, "So, while we're up early, why don't we do some more detective work on the turquoise lake?"
"Are you still on that?" he asks. I can't tell anything from his expression, it looks like it usually does.
"Yes, I am," I reply. "And you know why?"
"Why?" he asks, possibly just humoring me.
"It's a stupid conspiracy and I want to get to the bottom of it!" I reply.
He shakes his head and produces his laptop from under a table. "You got so lucky this time," he says.
I grin and we begin our daily research. "Search for the camp," I say and he complies.
We scroll through pages and pages on the camp's website and don't find much. That is, until a certain name catches my eye. "Wait," I tell him, "scroll up a bit."
He does and I point out the name in question; Isabelle Martin. "Who's that?" he asks.
"She and her husband work with my father sometimes," I answer. "They're scientists, specializing in genetics research."
"And this is important how?" he asks.
"It's just weird because I know them," I reply. "What page is this on?"
"Top donators," Fang answers. He points it out on the screen. The words "Top Donators" are written a bit obviously in the top right corner.
"OK," I say, trying to make sense of this new information. "How much did they donate?"
Fang checks and his jaw drops. "A. Whole. Freaking. Lot."
"Then how is this camp so run-down and creepy?" I ask. "And why aren't there many counselors or campers?"
"I don't know," he replies. "Whatever it is, we'd better drop my laptop off at my cabin and head to the mess hall. It's eight fifty something and I'm starved."
I sigh. "I'm not really looking forward to talking to Nudge today," I tell him as we walk back to the cabins.
"Why?" he asks as we pass a couple of campers.
"You know when you and Iggy were stalking us yesterday?" I ask.
"Just so you know, that was Ig's idea," he says quickly.
"Don't worry, I wasn't mad about it," I reply. "Nudge is, though. She was telling me about a crush she has and I wasn't being very nice about it. She stopped talking to me after that. I'm just afraid she'll be really grumpy today."
"I doubt it," he replies just as we reach his cabin. I stifle a laugh as I realize it's the same pale pink color as ours is. He shoots me an odd look and I just ignore it.
Fang walks in and I wait in the doorway. Upon glancing in I find that, thankfully, Iggy and Gazzy are fully dressed and arguing about something. Iggy sits on one of the top bunks, his strawberry blonde hair brushing the low ceiling. Gazzy stands below him making kissy faces at him. I decide to leave before someone gets hurt.
-PRETEND THIS IS A LEGIT LINE BREAK-
Upon arriving at the mess hall, I find Nudge, Angel and, somehow, Fang already at the table. I sit next to Nudge who doesn't protest. Actually, she gives a little smile which makes me feel a lot better. I glance across the table into Fang's dark eyes. I almost get lost in them but quickly pull myself out when I realize there's something I was going to ask him.
"How in Hades did you get here faster than me?" I ask.
He smirks. "Shortcut."
"Hades?" Angel asks, looking confused but curious.
"He-" Nudge starts but I cut her off with a look that I hope says 'don't cuss to the little kid.' "H-e-double-hockey-sticks to the Greek people," she says, looking at me for approval.
Then Gazzy and Iggy burst through the doors just as the meal begins and all h-e-double-hockey-sticks breaks loose.
The Gasman sits beside Nudge, forcing Iggy to sit across from me and all the way across the table from him. Then, turning to his sister he says, "Something terrible has happened!"
Angel's eyes grow wide with concern. "What is it?"
"Iggy likes a girl!" her brother shouts, gaining some glances from other kids.
With that said, Nudge grabs my hand and drags me over to the salad bar. I open my mouth to speak but she cuts me off. "Bad, bad, bad! He likes someone?!"
"Maybe it's not so bad," I reply. Nudge's face only shows horror.
"Or maybe he's in love with Fang!" she yells back, throwing a crouton at my face.
I catch the crouton in my mouth and reply, "Gaz said he liked a girl. I'm pretty sure Fang's not a girl."
"Maybe it's Angel!" she replies.
"And maybe it's not someone who's half his age," I reply, heading back to the table.
Once we return to the table, I see two overturned drinks and an angry Iggy. Gazzy looks relatively unharmed and when he sees us he says, "Someone's pissy this morning." He jabs his thumb in Iggy's direction.
"Language," I remind him, just force of habit. One summer, Ella spent the whole break yelling at me every time I even remotely cussed so now every time I hear a curse word, I yell at them.
Nudge grabs Angel's arm this time and starts to drag her over to the salad bar. "But-" the little blonde girl starts to protest but Nudge cuts her off.
"You need croutons," she says. Angel shakes her head but follows without protest.
I tune out the boys and focus my ears on Nudge and Angel's conversation.
"You're close to Iggy, right?" Nudge asks.
"Actually," Angel says, "you're standing closer to him."
"I mean you're close friends?" Nudge asks. Angel nods slowly.
"Good," Nudge says. "Now you can be my spy and find out who Iggy likes."
"Why do you care?" Angel asks. Nudge shrugs and leads her back to the table, a giant plate of croutons in hand.
"Was that your meaningless diversion?" Iggy asks. Angel shakes her head, her blonde curls bouncing up and down.
"I actually do like croutons," she says, popping a bunch into her mouth.
"Wait," says Nudge, "back up. Did you just make a reference to a Demi Lovato song?"
Iggy gives an expression that I can't really figure out then shrugs it off.
The meal is finished in a slightly awkward silence. After everyone is finished, the counselors announce that the kids in my age group get to learn about compasses. Angel and Gazzy's age group probably gets something cool to do but I don't quite catch what it is because I'm too mad about getting a boring activity.
We walk out of the mess hall and form our usual little groups. Brigid walks over to us, that big grin on her face, then leads us to an open field to learn all about the wonders of compasses.
A/N: Ok? I've come up with an idea for the next chapter (featuring more of Angel because I like her) and will begin working on it right away. Hopefully the story will get back to where it was before because I haven't been too proud of some of my recent chapters. Regardless of all of my rambling, thanks for reading!
P.S. I've been a little bit (totally) obsessed with Doctor Who recently so any readers who are Whovians might find some references in future chapters.
