Two

"What do you mean I can't stay here?" You blurt, standing on the middle of Gwen's cabin. You hike up your backpack back onto your shoulder. After your discussion with David you went back to your cabin ruins to salvage anything you could from the wreckage that wasn't burnt to a depressing crisp. You ended up with a phone charger, a small flashlight, a framed picture of you and some of your highschool friends from back home, an empty notebook that you were saving for when you finish your newly destroyed one, and a tin of colorful gel pens along with a few other small trinkets and such. It wasn't much but it was something.

"You just can't. I've," Gwen stopped as if trying to think of a reason to keep you out, "I've got some stuff to do. Paperwork! Tons and tons of paperwork! For Mister Campbell. And I can't have you in my cabin distracting me" She put on a nervous but stern look. You looked at her puzzled.

"Well I can help you with it, I may not be very good at that kind of thing but two heads are better that one right?" You smiled, offering to help. She looked frustrated. Her face sunk and she let out a heavy sigh.

"I just want some alone time this week." She looked almost guilty. "I've just been feeling really drained these past couple weeks and I need to recharge you know? Watch some romcoms, write my stories."

"Well you could have just said that in the first place." You laughed, but your smile quickly faded as you realized something, "I'll just have to stay in David's cabin." Your words slowly trailed off as you muttered those dreadful words. You tried to laugh it off peering back out the still open door to see David talking to a group of campers, his arms gesturing dramatically. His movements were always so animated, It irritated you so much. You lightly kicked the door closed with a loud creak from the rusted hinges. You trudge across the room and stop at the bed against the wall, the back of your calves flush with the side of the mattress, the off-white sheets coming to a stop at your ankles. You let yourself fall back, your body bounces a few times once you reach the blankets. Gwen joins you, settling on the section of bed beside you, legs crossed.

"He's not that bad you know." Brushing away the hair that had fallen over your face during your fall. You were clearly unconvinced judging by your expression. She rolled her eyes, "When I first met David I would never believe it if you had told me that he became a good friend of mine in the future." She shot a reassuring smile, "He'll grow on you." You stare up at the dark mahogany brown ceiling, the wood is old and worn.

"I doubt that." Exhaling deeply you drape your forearm over the front of your tired eyes. "I'll just have to suck it up I guess." You sluggishly dragged your hand down the front of your face. You wondered how long you'd have to stay with him. You assumed it would be how ever long it took Quartermaster to build you a new cabin or at the very least any livable shelter. Maybe you could just crash in the back seat of the old station wagon you three counselors shared. But now that you think about it, there's a handful of problems with that plan. You could sleep in one of the tents with campers, But that's unbelievably unprofessional and has extreme pedophile vibes. Quartermasters place? You shuddered at the thought. David was dejectedly your only viable option at this point. You rolled your body over towards gwen and set your head on her lap, bringing your legs up onto the bed.

"Dude, stop worrying so much about it." You turned your head to look up at her as she spoke, "Trust me, it'll be bearable." Gwen lays a hand on your head and begins to fiddle with your hair. The campers anarchic yelling and laughter could be heard through the stacked log walls, but Gwens lap and warm hands on your scalp felt so fucking nice. "We should probably go back out there and help." Your bliss had come to an end. You nodded in agreement and heaved yourself up and off the bed. You already miss the comfort of Gwen and the warm blankets and pillows.

The door expressed a gruesome screech as you stressed the hinges to open again. Considering how shady and dim Gwen's cabin was the sun was heavy on the eyes, the light burning your retinas. You slowly attempted to focus on the figures moving in the activities field while your eyes got used to the sunlight. You notice Spacekid, face nearly purple and holding his breath, chasing after Nikki who was wearing his prized fishbowl helmet. And of course there was david, running helter-skelter after said children. All the other campers were either watching along with the predicament or off doing their own thing. You felt Gwen nudge her elbow to your upper arm, "I think he needs some help." You roll your eyes and trudge yourself over to the middle of the commotion. You let your eyes follow the kids as the ran past you several times. Once Nikki got close enough you grabbed the back collar of her tee shirt and lifted her up off the ground. She squirmed and growled like a rabid puppy.

"Heel, girl, heel!" You joked. Her movements yielded a bit. You hastily pulled the helmet off her head and quickly shoved it back onto Spacekid who was jumping at your feet. He took a loud and heavy deep breath in.

"Thank you" His nasally voice tired and fighting for oxygen. He turned his focus towards Nikki, "You know I can't breathe without my helmet! You could have killed me!" His face started regaining its usual color gradually.

"Nikki that was not a nice thing to do!" David said trying to catch his breath. His tone was so parental, but lenient. He crossed his arms and gave a disciplinary look to Nikki. "Why would you do something like that to Spacekid?" David shifted his weight onto his left foot.

"Because I'm bored!" She groaned, "And it seemed like fun." You lowered Nikki so her toes could touch the ground and loosened your grip on her shirt to let her fall to her heels.

"Well it wasn't fun for him" Once again David shifted his weight, this time onto his right foot. "I think you need to go on that canoe trip with me and Max. You two have been misbehaving more often lately." David seemed puzzled, as if Max and Nikki hadn't caused so much trouble in the past.

"Go catch your breath, little man." You nudged Spacekid towards the tent grounds urging him to go get some rest. And David started to lead Nikki back to the activities ground, maybe she'll go annoy someone that is less notably fragile. You watched him walk away from where you stood. You felt Gwen punch you lightly in the forearm. You turned your view to her.

"Go ask" Those two simple words made your shoulders slump. She looked at you dully, one eyebrow raised. You respired in complaint and started to trudge to David trying to catch up with him.

"Hey David?" You muttered trying to get his attention. It was a success when he looked over his shoulder to see you. "Can I talk to you?" You reluctantly let those words escape your mouth. He gave Nikki a light push and a smile implying that she kept walking to the activities ground. David did a little jog up to you.

"What can I do for you, Co-Counselor?" He asked, all too happy. His dumb smile plastered across his face. You felt your skin heat up in frustration. Forcing yourself to calm down you let a deep sigh escape from the floor of your lungs.

"I'm gonna have to take you up on that offer." You let out in a mourning tone. His face suddenly lifted to a more joyous expression as he clasped his hands together in excitement.

"I was hoping you would say yes!" He seemed way too thrilled. He was grinning almost ear to ear, literally. "I've always felt that we haven't had enough time to hang out so what a perfect bonding opportunity!" He swung his arm with a fist in front of his chest as an enthusiastic gesture, as he often does. That stupid smile was engraved in your brain. Your stomach dropped. You realized just how horrible this was going to be.