A heat wave had hit Camp Kikiwaka and everyone was miserable. The window units in the cabins were useless and Gladys had cheaped out on the AC system that was connected to the mess hall. Nonetheless, the mess hall offered the most relief, so all campers, CITs and counselors had been moved there for the foreseeable future. They were halfway through a massive game of Simon Says when Gladys remembered there were some old fans in the barn near the meadow. Because she was nearest to Lou and Ravi, she voluntold them to retrieve the fans.

Lou didn't mind and she even asked Adrian, the new counselor, to help. But without giving him a chance to respond, Ravi grabbed Lou's hand and grumbled that Adrian should stay to help pass out ice pops to the campers.

So, Lou and Ravi trudged through the heat alone. Lou pulled an empty wagon. Ravi carried an empty box. Lou noticed that he practically stomped in front of her the entire way to the barn. Anytime she tried to start up some chit chat, he gave a clipped answer. His bad attitude was so painstakingly obvious and, mixed with the heat, it made Lou's blood boil.

She couldn't take it anymore once they got to the barn. As she loaded the wagon with dusty fans, she said angrily, "I don't get why you're being so irritable."

"I don't get why you're throwing yourself at a guy who can't count past ten," Ravi said rudely. He stacked another fan into his box.

"Excuse you?" Lou said, stopping what she was doing to glare at him.

Ravi tossed another fan into the box and then stood up straight. He mockingly fluttered his eyelashes and pressed his hands to his heart. "Oh, Adrian! You're so strong and hot. Why don't you help us get the fans!" He feigned a giggle before frowning at her.

Lou wiped the sweat from her forehead as she clenched her jaw. "First of all, I in no way sound like that. And whatever your problem is, Ravi, I suggest you get over it real quick like. Cause you're about five seconds away from me throwing you into the lake."

"Oh, sure! Threaten me," Ravi huffed angrily. He fanned his face with his hand. "Like I'm the one with the problem!"

"You are the one with the problem!" She growled in frustration as she rolled up the sleeves of her t-shirt. "Boys are so stupid. You know what. I take that back. You're so stupid!"

"I can count past ten," Ravi sassed as he attempted to pick up the box he had packed. He strained as it was too heavy. Embarrassed, he stepped away from the box and crossed his arms. "Go ahead, say it."

Lou smirked. Her face was flush from the heat in the barn, but she still looked smug. "Say what?" she asked, feigning sweetness. "You mean, say that we should've brought Adrian because he could've carried that box while you pulled the wagon and I carried some fans in that crate over there?"

"Whateves," he muttered. He squatted and attempted to use the leverage to lift the box. It worked, but he wasn't able to take more than a few steps towards the barn entrance. He angrily dropped the box to the ground.

Lou loudly clapped her hands as she gave him an annoyed look. "Great job, Ravi. You've successfully proved nothing. And now we have to make two trips in the middle of a freaking heat wave."

"Excellent. Anything to keep you from embarrassing yourself in front of your new boyfriend. If you keep drooling whenever he walks by in that stupid child-sized t-shirt, then you'll make a river for the campers to canoe in."

"I don't drool," Lou stammered as she put her hands on her hips. She knew she drooled. "That's a lie. You take that back!"

"Well, the truth hurts, sister." His eyes searched the dusty barn until he spotted a utility dolly in the corner. As he walked over to it, he said, "And stop biting your lip every time Adrian takes a breath."

Lou narrowed her eyes at him. She scoffed, "I don't do that! I hardly even notice Adrian or his… face." The memory of Adrian's sweaty shirt sticking to him during a game of indoor duck-duck-goose earlier flashed in Lou's mind.

"You're biting your lip now!" Ravi shouted in disbelief. He grumbled as he pushed the dolly over to the box of fans. "And you say I need to be thrown in the lake. You're the one who can't control her hormones."

Lou pressed her hand to her heart and leaned back slightly. "Oh, I know you did not just say that to me. My hormones are none of your business! If Adrian gets me hotter than a fire, then what do you care!"

The angry look fell from Ravi's face. His eyes widened as the tension in his shoulders visibly melted away. He cleared his throat as he looked away from her. He tapped the handle of the dolly as he said in a quiet voice, "I wish he didn't."

Lou sighed. She was still peeved, but his posture and tone were less aggravating now. She tugged at her collar to get rid of the heat. "I know, I know. You don't like him. He's not smart. But Ravi, you don't think anyone's smart except for like three people."

"I think some people are smart," Ravi said with a half-hearted shrug.

"Look, I know you're just trying to look out for me cause you're my friend," Lou said with a small smile. "And I know I've dated some bad guys in the past. But we shouldn't judge Adrian just because he looks like…"

"An Adonis?" Ravi muttered as he leaned an arm on the dolly.

"Psh, no…" Another memory of Adrian walking out of the lake with the water glistening in his hair last week made its way into Lou's brain. Her eyes brightened and she grinned, "No, you're right. Definitely an Adonis."

"Okay, on that note..." Ravi said as he turned to lift the box. He used all of his strength to place the box on the dolly.

"You did!" Lou cheered. She moved closer to him and pinched his arm. "Who's the Adonis now?" she joked.

He let out a nervous chuckle as he swatted her hand away and took a step back. "Enough of that," he said in a rush. He looked up at the ceiling and then back into her eyes. "And, um… I'm sorry for being so…"

"Rude? Obnoxious? Hostile…" Lou listed as she picked up the handle to the wagon.

Ravi nodded in defeat. He exhaled loudly and rolled his eyes. "Yes, all of the above."

"Forgiven," Lou smiled at him. She let out a giggle when he smiled back.

Lou shut the barn door once they stepped out. The sun was still blazing as they walked the path through the meadow, but Lou felt lighter now that Ravi's attitude wasn't radiating more heat. She loved her friend and was happier when he was happy.

"So… we awkwardly talked about my hormones," she said as she nudged his arm with her elbow. "What about you, Casanova? Anyone got you hotter than a fire?"

"Psh! Phew! What? No!" Ravi stumbled over his words. He nearly lost balance of the dolly as well, but he corrected himself. "That's… I've got way too much to think about. I'm a counselor now. And you know that I started a new chapter of the Reptile Club here. And don't forget that I'm in charge of the camp newsletter now."

"I know. Maybe it'll actually be useful now," Lou chuckled. "So, no fires for you?"

Ravi looked over at her. Her hair was messy in a ponytail and some of the strands stuck in curly designs to her forehead. Her face was flush from the heat. Her eyes were bright. His heart was racing.

"Nope," he squeaked. "No fires for me."