"So what's on your mind?"
I swallowed hard, trying to rehearse in my head what I was going to say. I had it perfectly planned out and now my mind was completely blank.
Way to go, Sherwood.
I couldn't believe how patient he was, waiting for me to talk because we must have sat there for at least fifteen minutes. And finally I knew I had to say something.
"Henry?"
"Yes?"
"I-I'm sorry for the way I treated you. Wh-when I first came here. I was a total... well, anyway. I'm sorry."
He smiled and nudged me a little, the way Spencer did during the rare moments when I got along with my little brother.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure plenty of the kids around here hate me but hey, what can you do?"
The words left my mouth quietly. "I don't hate you. I could never..."
When he hugged me, I felt tears spring to my eyes. "Thank you, Melissa. I appreacite that."
When I sighed, the breath came out broken and I looked away. But not before I felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Is something bothering you? I've never seen you this quiet before."
This made me laugh. "Yeah, I know right? I'm always such a big mouth loser who never-."
"Stop, right now."
I shivered at the touch of his fingers on my mouth. "You're not a loser so stop saying that. You're a kind person whom I've grown very fond of. And if Brett and Bianca and anyone else can't see that, well..."
"I love you, Henry."
He stared at me, stunned at what I had just said. And I could hardly believe that I had said it. But then I said it again.
"I love you. I-I mean... I'm in love with you. I-I can't stop thinking about you and I admit that I didn't like you much when I first got here... I'm so sorry about that... but then you saved me and I guess I just...I-I mean, I know I'm only seventeen and you're... however old you are, but..."
He ran his hand nervously through his hair. Clearly he wasn't expecting some dweeby camper to admit that they were in love with him. How pathetic.
And yet, here we were.
It was a long moment before he spoke; probably the longest of my life.
"Melissa, I... I don't know what to say."
I stared at him and I knew that this moment wasn't going to last forever. And so I did something that I never intended to do. I moved closer and closer to him until our lips touched in a kiss.
But not just any kiss.
I felt him gasp in response and I positioned my hand around his neck, drawing him closer and kissing him the way I'd seen on TV.
But he didn't draw back. He put his hand on my back as we kissed again and again.
Finally, when I was almost completely out of breath, I drew back and smiled, kissing him one last time.
He continued to stare at me but this time I smiled.
"I love you too, Henry."
Before he could respond, I rose to my feet. "I have to go... um... take a nap, but I'll see you later?"
"Melissa..."
"Bye Henry!" I yelled, blowing him a kiss.
I saw him staring at me as I ran back to my cabin, his fingers touching his mouth. I wanted to do something really nice for him, take him out to dinner or something. I know I'm just seventeen and seventeen year olds hardly had any money but I could definitely afford something from the local diner. And it would be just the two of us. I just knew he would love it.
I made a phone call and even arranged for a taxi to come and get us. Kind of pathetic and not very romantic but hey, it was the best I could do.
About an hour later, I had changed clothes yet again. Amazingly enough I had packed a sundress, which is totally weird. Who wears a sundress to summer camp? But it was perfect for a romantic dinner... Well, as romantic as I could get it anyway.
When I was completely ready, I walked out of my cabin in search of the man I loved. I was just about to head over to Henry's cabin when I remembered our special bench.
The sun was setting and it was such a romantic scene. What a perfect place for me to tell him about the surprise I had for him.
I took off in a run, which was totally insane, considering that I was wearing high heels and almost broke my ankle, but I slowed when I neared the dock. I could see him silhouetted against the sun and he looked so beautiful... if men could be called beautiful that is.
"Henry, you'll never guess what I did for..."
I stopped dead in my tracks, unable to believe what I was seeing. For instead of one silhouette there were two.
One was Henry, the other...
Oh God, this wasn't happening...
My chest ached and I wanted to run as far as I could but I could only stare. For not ten feet in front of me, stood the man that I loved... the man that I thought loved me... but he was there with her...
Beth...
That lame camp director. At that moment I'd never hated a person more than I hated her.
And when her arms slid around his neck and they kissed-even more passionately than Henry and I did, I knew I was going to be sick.
But I couldn't make myself leave. Instead I moved closer, trying desperately to keep my trembling mouth from revealing my complete and utter humiliation and hurt.
And then I could hear them talking;
"I love you so much, Beth. You know that right?"
They kissed again.
"Of course I do. I mean I hope so anyway." She said, placing her hand on her stomach. "This kid's going to need a father who loves him."
A sob escaped and my hand flew over my mouth.
Oh God... Oh God...She was pregnant. Which meant that they had...
Suddenly I felt sick... really sick and I took off my shoes and ran as I'd done so many times before. When I reached a cluster of trees, I bent over and got sick, not caring that there was hardly anything in my stomach to begin with.
And then I went back to my cabin and packed my bags. I had to get out of here and fast.