An infomercial about non-stick cookware was the first sound that Ravi heard as he slowly woke up. He relaxed his eyelids but didn't blink them open. He yawned and snuggled closer to the warmth of his pillow.
"Who's shouting bout pans?"
Ravi tensed at the sound of the drowsy voice. His eyelids flew open and his grip tightened around what he thought was his lavender-scented pillow. He looked over, and to his horror, he realized that he was not cuddling a fluffy pillow that he had brought from home to Grizzly cabin. But instead, it was his favorite Camp Kikiwaka counselor in his arms, who looked as confused as he felt.
Ravi gasped. "What in the world is going on?" he demanded in one of those tones that proper old ladies used in British dramas.
Lou furrowed her brow at him. "Uh, you're the one with your arms wrapped around me, Casanova."
She shoved him away and scooted to the far edge of the bed. The television was still playing loudly, but it was the only light in the room. Lou looked around the small space as she fought against sleep and tried to figure out why she wasn't in her beloved Woodchuck cabin. She looked to her right and saw a twin bed similar to the one that she and Ravi were now sitting on. The blanket and pillows were covered in designs of sailboats and seahorses, and the bedding was disheveled even though the bed was empty. Lou glanced at the walls and noticed all the photos and paintings of seashells and colorful fish. That's when she realized where they were.
"Oh," she drawled. She facepalmed and chuckled. "We fell asleep watching those Marvel movies."
Realization washed over Ravi's face and he laughed. "Right! The four of us got caught in the storm."
Lou smacked her lips and grumbled, "I can't believe Gladys would've left us stranded in that ragged ol' bus."
"I can. How in the world did that woman secure a job in being responsible for anything, especially children," Ravi said.
"Cause a lot of people don't want to see their kids during the summer."
"I did have to stop Zuri and Tiffany from poisoning Jorge with hallucinogenic berries last week, so can we really blame the parents."
Lou laughed and nodded in agreement. She stood up and flicked on the light switch. The walls were painted a bright blue and the doors of the entrance and bathroom were a loud pink.
"Wow, they were really into the seaside motel theme," she said as she picked up a corded phone that was shaped like a conch shell.
Ravi shuffled over to the opposite end of the bed and picked up the clock on the nightstand. He said, "Look, it's only 2 a.m." He placed it back down and frowned. "I believe it was around eight when Emma arrived and rudely kicked me out of my shared room with Xander." He crossed his arms and added, "Whatever happened to pals before gals?"
"At least she told you the truth," Lou shrugged. She sat down adjacent from him on the other bed. "She told me she was going to get snacks from the vending machine and just never came back. And then you showed up." Lou folded her lips and shook her head. "I should've known something was up. Emma doesn't eat vending machine snacks."
"Not unless it has California spring rolls or cashew butter protein bars," Ravi said.
"Which I'm guessing it doesn't since you brought me cheesy puffs," Lou joked as she nodded toward the bags of snacks on the table where the television was playing.
Lou yawned and stretched her arms forward, making the sleeves of her hoodie stretch away from her wrists. "I don't hear any thunder anymore," she said sleepily. "Sorry about earlier. Ever since that tornado back home hit last year, storms sorta freak me out."
"No need for an apology," Ravi said kindly with a soft smile. "Zuri used to do the same thing when she was little with Emma whenever there was a thunderstorm. Except Emma would complain about Zuri's sharp elbows the next morning at breakfast. And Zuri would mock how Emma snored."
Lou laughed as she kicked her feet up on the bed. She put the blanket over her legs and yawned again. "Well, you don't snore." She smirked as she looked over at him across the nightstand and added, "But apparently you're a cuddler."
Ravi felt his face heat up, a reaction not only caused by Lou calling him out but also because he had instantly missed the warm feeling of her in his arms after she shoved him away. He replied honestly, "Sorry. I thought you were a pillow."
"That breathes?"
He murmured, "And smells like lavender."
"What was that?"
"Nothing," he chirped. "It had been a long day. I don't know." He settled into his own bed and flattened out his blanket over his legs.
And it had been a long day. Not only had Tiffany informed him that the other sci-fi book club members had decided to dissolve the club, but the reasoning had been because the members had wanted to dedicate more time to mini golf. Ravi had felt betrayed because he was terrible at mini golf but was an awesome conversationalist during book club. Then after hearing that devastating news, he was forced by Hazel to participate in a game of tag with Weasel cabin. And the weasels liked to play tag with very large, very painful rocks. He had hoped for an improvement to his day when Lou had invited him along with her, Emma, and Xander to run errands a few towns over for Gladys. But then an unforeseen storm had left them all stranded. If it had not been for Emma bringing her credit card, they would have had to shelter in the damaged camp bus instead of a sketchy seaside motel.
"You got that right." Lou pulled her fingers through her hair. "Who knew Maine had so many shady places to buy Gladys' 'special medicine' from. And why only the towns with ports?"
"No idea. But I for one am ready to sleep and put this day behind me," Ravi yawned. He glanced up at the ceiling light, which caused his eyes to water. "Would you mind getting the lights, Lou?"
"Sure," Lou said as she kicked away her blanket and scrambled out of bed. She made her way to the light switch by the pink door and flicked it off. The room was blanketed in darkness except for the light of the television.
Suddenly, there was a boom of thunder and a crash of light outside. Lou shrieked and the room was engulfed in darkness as the light of the television vanished. Ravi heard a few footsteps and then silence. The familiar scene brought back the memory of earlier that night.
"Hmph, this comforter is not up to standard for any hotel I have visited. And what is the thread count of these sheets," Ravi complained. He fluffed his pillow behind his back and then rested against the headboard to watch whatever superhero movie Lou had picked out.
"You're one bougie boy, Ravi," Lou chuckled as she rested her head on her own pillow.
Ravi looked across the nightstand that separated the two beds and gave Lou a playful glare. "I do not need your commentary. Watch your trope-filled action flick."
Lou smiled at him and then focused her attention on the movie. Ten minutes passed and then boom. The powerful sound of thunder and hail drowned out the movie.
"Lou, would you mind increasing the volume?" Ravi asked without looking away from the villain attacking the city on screen. He waited a full minute without the level of the movie changing. He repeated, "Lou?" He turned to face his friend on the other side of the room.
"It sounds bad out there," Lou quietly commented. She fixed her eyes on the ceiling as if it would open and reveal the thundering weather outside.
"Exactly, so please turn up the volume," Ravi said nonchalantly before returning his gaze to the TV.
Without warning, hail pounded against the window. Lou hopped out of her blanket, shuffled across the gap formed by the nightstand, and then flopped down beside Ravi in his bed.
"Um…" Ravi's tummy became overwhelmed with butterflies when Lou's shoulder rested against his. Confusion flooded his brain and his heart hammered in his chest.
There was another boom of thunder that caused Lou to shudder, which made Ravi finally realize that his friend was in distress.
He flexed his hand as he gathered the courage to place it over her own hand. "Not a fan of thunderstorms?" he asked kindly.
Lou shook her head. "Not after last year," she admitted with a look of embarrassment. "Sorry. I'll just…" She made a move to scoot off the bed, but Ravi gently squeezed her hand.
"It is much easier to see the television from here. The angle is much better," Ravi said with a sympathetic smile, but his voice was a little shaky from nerves.
Lou gave him a blank look. "This room is about as big as a shoebox. The view of the TV is the same from my bed."
"I'm saying you can stay," Ravi said. "If it, um…will help you feel safe. Or, um, better. Just while we watch the movie."
Lou scooted back toward him, careful not to let go of his hand. She gave him a small smile and then turned her attention back to the television.
Lightening flickered outside providing the only glimpses of light in the dark room, now that the television had gone out. It was enough to see Lou fidgeting with the ends of her hair as she stood in the middle of the room and stared out the window at the storm.
"I'm a counselor. I've got to get over this stupid fear," Lou whispered loud enough for Ravi to hear. But she stood there frozen.
Ravi frowned. He hated seeing his normally brave and bold friend look so timid. He tapped the ends of his fingertips together as he sat up in his bed. He cleared his throat and said quietly, "Everyone has their fears. Even counselors. Trust me. I'm a counselor now and I still have plenty of fears. And it's nothing to be ashamed of, Lou. In fact, you are being quite brave just by admitting it."
Lou gave him a grateful smile that he couldn't see in the darkness. "Thanks, Ravi," she said. Her voice was stronger than it had been moments ago.
"No problem." He was silent for a moment. He noticed that she was no longer fidgeting with her hair, but she had yet to return to her bed. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Me? Yeah!" She said with forced enthusiasm. She sighed and admitted, "I'm just working up the courage to get back in my bed. I feel like as soon as my head hits the pillow there's gonna be another crack of lightning or something."
Ravi felt his face heat up and his gaze dropped down to his hands as he twiddled his thumbs. He said, "Well, um, it may be a bit different than watching a movie together… but if you want…you are more than welcome to bunk with me." He let out a nervous laugh and added, "I even promise not to cuddle you in my sleep this time."
Hail pattered outside the window, startling Lou. "Deal," she exclaimed. She ran toward the bed and jumped into the covers. She linked her arm with his and snuggled closer to him. "Do you mind if I don't keep the same promise? I know I'm a sleep cuddler."
Ravi felt like his skin was on fire. He coughed but his mouth felt dry. "That sounds a tad inappropriate. Don't, um, don't you think so?"
Lou looked deep into his eyes as her head rested on the pillow. She realized that she had never been this close to him before. She could feel his breath on her face and she liked how warm it made her feel.
"I think that if you don't mind, then I don't mind either," she whispered, not sure why it didn't seem right to talk at a normal volume anymore.
Ravi coughed again and his voice sounded an octave higher than normal. "If snuggling makes you feel better, then I suppose I can make this, um, one exception."
"Thanks," Lou replied in a drowsy tone. Her lashes fluttered and within seconds she was sleeping peacefully.
Ravi exhaled the breath that he had been holding from the moment Lou hopped into his bed. He let his eyes flutter shut and then he drifted off to the sounds of Lou sleeping and the storm raging outside.
