Camp Kiwachee
Chapter 3: Bull Frogs & Sexual Assault
Author: Adrial
Ch. 3-------------------------------------------
"Let me help you with that, Serena," Kyle smiled
charmingly at Serena as she struggled beneath an armful
of boxes.
She returned his grin and stretched her sore
muscles as the heavy weight was lifted effortlessly
from her grasp.
"Thanks, Kyle," She turned around to help Amy
hang streamers along the walls. To celebrate the camp's
twenty year anniversary, Karen had organized a small party
for the children. The counselors, however, were doing
the brunt of the work while Karen took the kids on a
two-day campout along with three other volunteers
from the orphanage in order for the party to be a
surprise.
Kyle craned his neck slightly to make sure Mina
had seen his act of kindness toward Serena and frowned
at her as her eyes were cast downward at her clipboard.
Alright, then...who's next? He thought.
Lita was checking off a list of food to bring.
No assistance required.
Raye flipped through a stack of CD's, sighing
every now and then despondently.
Not too good with chick problems.
He set the boxes aside and saught out his
bestfriend's crush. Amy, Amy...where is she?
Perfect. Amy seemed to be rather entangled
with decorations and Serena was only cackling madly
at her.
"Here, Amy, let me get those," He gallantly
offered her his arm as she stepped down from her
ladder and assisted her in untwisting the streamers
from her arms and legs.
Blushing slightly, she thanked him for his
help and nudged Serena's leg, making her wriggle
to stay on her ladder.
"Amy!" Serena grabbed for any type of ledge
but found none. Instead, she found herself tightly
held in Kyle's arms.
"Wow, nice catch, Kyle," She giggled as he
set her on the floor.
From behind them, Mina growled frustratedly
and stomped out of the door. Kyle followed her
retreating back with discouraged grey eyes.
Serena arched her eyebrows and shrugged at
Lita's confused frown.
"She must have forgotten something up at
counselor quarters," Amy offered.
"I guess so..." Serena looked at the door
Mina disappeared through and then at Raye's elusive
frown. Something was definitely up with her friends.
"Hey, let's call it quits for tonight, guys.
We can finish up tomorrow while the kids are still
on their hiking thing," Lita set her clip board on
a stool and stretched. The guys nodded enthusiastically,
dropping their handfuls of pink streamers as if
they were on fire.
"Oh, darn, did I miss the decorating party?"
Brianna appeared in the doorway and sarcastically
smiled.
"Don't worry about it. We were actually
doing fine with*out* you," Serena balled up a
wad of tissue paper.
"Well, I wouldn't have been much help
anyway. I've never had to...hang things before,"
She peered up at the elaborately decorated walls
and crinkled her nose, "Daddy always said a lady
should never do anything the highered help could
take care of."
"Oh, really? Is that what *daddy* says?"
Serena forced a smile and turned her back on Brianna's
snobby face. After selflessly giving up her fifteen
minutes in the bathroom for Brianna to dry her hair
perfectly, and keeping quiet at the numerous insults
about her hair, makeup, clothing, and music taste,
Serena was at a breaking point.
"Darien! Darling, *where* have you been all
day? I've been meaning to ask you something,"
Brianna's mini skirt inched up and down her thighs
as she sauntered around clusters of empty boxes
to Darien. Her chunky platforms clunked loudly
on the wooden floors. Darien cowered slightly and
forced a small smile.
"Uh...what is it, Bria?" He inwardly cringed
at the name she insisted he call her. He figured it
had to be better than 'Bria-baby' which she had only
hinted about earlier.
"Well, Daddy has arranged a limo for me and a
*guest*," She ran her finger along his exposed collar
bone, "To go to our private reservoir at our summer
mansion. I would just *love* it if you'd go with me
tomorrow afternoon," She was inches from his face
now, fluttering her thickly mascaraed eyes at him
and sending Jason and Zach into muffled hysterics.
Darien gulped and put a good three feet in
between Brianna and himself.
"Uh...well, actually, the guys and I are
going to...to do more decorating, right guys?" He
sent them a pleading gaze and they straightened.
Jason, who had been attempting to initiate
conversation with Raye all night, looked up
and shook his head.
"I don't remember that," He turned his
eyes back to Raye's bowed head.
Darien glared at him and turned back to
Brianna, laughing nervously, "You remember, *don't*
you, Kyle?" Kyle weighed his options. Spend the
afternoon knee deep in streamers, or spend his
time wisely by buttering up Mina's friends.
Decisions, decisions.
"Sorry, can't. I've got some things to do,"
He clapped him apologetically on his shoulder and
left the room.
"Me, too, Dare," Zach thought of his plans
for the following morning and grinned inwardly.
Everything had to be perfect...absolutely perfect.
Brianna grinned ecsatically, "Great! You're
free for tomorrow then! My chauffer will pick us up
at twelve tomorrow, don't be late," She pecked his
cheek and exited.
Lita and Serena exchanged glances and burst
out laughing. Lita leaned against Serena's shoulder
for support, and they fell as Serena's knees buckled
underneath her.
"Oh, D-darien da-darling," Serena rolled
onto her back and continued laughing. After a few
minutes of hysteria, Lita controlled her laughter
and rose, helping Serena up as well.
"Feel free to shut up any time now," Darien
folded his arms over his chest. Having them laugh
at him was already bad enough, now he would have
to deal with the guys, too.
"You sure are a ladies man, Dare," Zach
clapped his shoulder.
"I'm going to bed now," Darien left abruptly.
"Don't be late tomorrow, darling!" Serena
called after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*12:00 AM--Girl's Bunk*
Enemy: Bull Frog
Victim: Serena Tsukino
Victim's Condition: Awake
Plan of action: Kill said bull frog
"Shut up already!" Serena threw her covers
from her bed. The frog had been announcing its presence
outside of her window for the past hour and seemed
to have no intention of relenting.
The others were sleeping soundly in their bunks,
teasing her with their contented snores and whimpers
of slumber.
"That's it," She slid quietly from her bunk and
grabbed a flashlight. She would find the frog and chase
it to the ends of the earth if she had to in order to
get some sleep.
Once outside, she took large gulps of the cool
night air and sighed. Sleeping in an area without street
lights and noisy car horns proved quite difficult to grow
accustomed to. She'd take a herd of rambunctious car horns
over a bull frog any day.
"Where are you? I *know* you're out here," She pulled
her pajama bottoms up slightly to avoid getting them
muddy and rounded a corner.
'Ribbit.'
"I can heearr you. Come out, come out wherever
you--AHH!" A hand flew across her opened mouth, and another
pulled her away. She struggled in the foreign arms and
tried to free herself.
The person let her go after traveling a about twenty
yards or so away from the girl's bunks.
"Serena, it's me, calm down," He whispered against
her ear. Her writhing body stilled and she remained quiet
as he removed his hand from her mouth.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, CHI--mmph" Darien's
hand flew against her mouth again and he pulled her farther
from the camp.
"Would you just stop yelling?" He inched his hand from
her mouth again.
She inhaled sharply and turned from his arms. She calmed
herself down and whispered, "Are you trying to scare the hell
out of me, or what?"
"Not exactly," He stuffed his hands in his pockets and
walked away from her. She stood still for a moment before
following behind him.
"Where are you going?" She fell into step with him.
"No where. What are you doing up?" He glanced at her.
"Nothing. You have to be going somewhere," She stepped in
front of him.
He sighed and tried to go around her, but she still
blocked him.
"I'm going to the lake, alright?" He gave up and
she smiled. The moonlight glittered off her eyes and
Darien forced his own to stray away from them.
"Can I come? I can't sleep either," She let him
walk past her again.
"Do whatever you want, Meatball Head," He ducked
beneath a large, hanging branch and held it aside
for her to pass.
The placid waters of Lake Kiwachee loomed
ahead of them. The pesky bull frog had long since
been forgotten, and Serena sat on a log along the shore.
Darien joined her and stared off into the
distance, deep in thought. Her presence was taunting
him but he, of course, wouldn't admit that to himself.
Serena shivered slightly as a breeze blew
around her, sending a chill up her spine. A movement
beside her brought her eyes up and she gasped inaudibly
as Darien wrapped his jacket around her shoulders.
"Thank you," She wrapped it tighter around her
bare arms and pondered the odd sense of comfort it
provided.
A long silence followed, and she grew steadily
tense. Darien's eerie silence was driving her insane.
"What are you thinking about?" She turned to his
face.
He shook himself from his thoughts and turned to
meet her eyes.
Big mistake.
His jacket enveloped her tiny frame almost
completely, and her large eyes danced with curiosity.
He noticed her hair for the first time, flowing down
her shoulders freely, and wondered if it felt as soft
as it looked.
"Nothing," He involuntarily smiled at her,
"What are you thinking about?"
"You," She responded quietly. Instantly, she
felt a crimson wave wash over her face and she stuttered,
"Uh...I mean, I was just wondering what you were
thinking and everything...you know."
Darien recovered from his state of shock at her
answer and leaned close to her ear.
"I know," His hot breath against her ear sent
her emotions into a craze and she swallowed.
He seemed satisfied at her response to his
teasing and decided to let her make the next move,
whatever it may be.
Serena racked her brain for something to say,
something to respond to that with. Her only thoughts
were to sit there, dumbfounded, and giggle madly.
Giggle?
Why would she want to...giggle? Had Darien
really made her feel like that? Were the emotions she
was feeling a result from him? Suddenly the light,
night air became thick with tension and she felt
like she was suffocating within it all. She stood
abruptly and turned to face him.
"I don't get you...I just don't," With that,
she stalked away from him, steaming with frustration.
Now she surely would never get to sleep. It
was only the second day of camp and Darien had
managed to invade her thoughts completely.
Her words startled Darien and he remained
still for a few moments, rolling them over in his
clustered mind.
A cry broke his thought process and he
launched himself into the woods, searching blindly
for the source.
Through the enveloping darkness, he searched
blindly. A choked sob to his right startled him and
he whipped around. Serena lay on the ground, crying
almost silently and he lifted her carefully into
his arms without hesitation. One glance at his
surroundings informed him that she had forgotten
about the hanging tree limb and ran straight into it.
The log at which they had earlier sat was
closer than camp so he backtracked and set her
onto it gently.
Her eyes were cloudy from the collision
and he brushed a clutter of hair from her face.
Tears glistened on her skin and he vowed to turn
the limb that had caused them into firewood as
soon as possible.
"Are you okay?" He felt a wave of déjà vu and
prayed that the outcome wouldn't be as it was before.
"No," Serena sniffled and gingerly touched her
cheek. A swollen area was forming.
"This is all your fault, you know," She stared
at the lake as she spoke.
Darien grew defensive, "How is it my fault?"
"I'm not sure yet, give me a minute to think
about it," She stood and walked away closer to the
water's edge, leaving a trail of bitter cold in her wake.
He pondered whether or not to follow her for a
moment. She sat on the moist earth and threw a rock
into the lake. Her silhouette seemed too picturesque
to disturb. Eventually, however, his emotions got
the better of him and he trudged silently towards
her.
He stopped inches from her and hesitated.
What would he do?
"Aren't you going to say it?" She spoke
suddenly. He jumped slightly and covered the short
distance to her.
"Say what?" He sat beside her.
"How much of a klutz I am...how ditzy I can
be--" She broke off, tears covering any other words
she might have said.
He did the only thing he could and reached
around her to gather her in his arms. She did not
resist and leaned against him.
Her silent tears cracked his heart, joining
in with the mental beating he was giving himself for
causing her pain.
Serena's feelings were mixed as she felt so
utterly calm and comfortable in her enemy's arms.
Her tears were only partly because of his insults,
but mainly her all-consuming confusion about the
man that held her so gently.
Her ears only vaguely registered his whispered
apology. She lifted her head from his shoulder and
stood.
"I'm going back to bed," She removed his
jacket from her shoulders and laid it softly into
his arms. One more minute beside him and she would have
done something she would probably have regretted--
either slap him or kiss him. She wouldn't take her
chances with either one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The clinking of forks on plates and the occasional
cough were the only sounds emitting from the 11 people
seated in the mess hall the next morning.
Serena kept her head bowed, refusing to make
eye contact with Darien. He did the same but found
himself sending curious glances in her direction
every now and then.
Zach's restless eyes found themseleves landing
on Amy's bowed head every few seconds. Her silence
was bringing him to the breaking point of his sanity.
His declaration of his feelings for her that morning
had somehow worsened the condition of their relationship.
She was now avoiding him at all costs and in the process,
stressing him to no end.
"You gonna eat that, Ames?" Serena looked longingly
at Amy's barely touched blueberry muffin.
Amy's eyes remained fixed on her plate, unmoving
and obviously unaware of Serena's question.
"Amy...?" Serena waved a hand in her face slowly.
Amy came to attention abruptly and blushed becomingly.
"Huh? Did you ask something?"
Serena rose her eyebrows and repeated her question.
She smiled happily as Amy plopped the muffin into her open
palm.
Mina played idly with her bowl of soggy cheerio's
and wished to be anywhere other than at that table. She had
been ready to regurgitate her orange juice when Kyle had
enthusiastically complimented Lita on her hair that morning
and almost shoved her spoon down her own throat when he
politely offered Amy his own seat at the table.
Kyle smiled widely at Serena and held out his own muffin
for her to take. Mina watched with agitated eyes.
He should smiling at ME like that!
Serena's eyes flicked over to Mina and apologized
silently. Mina shrugged nonchalantly and stood to clear her
place.
Darien looked up at the sudden movement coming from
beside him and returned his eyes to his plate when he realized
it was only Mina.
Brianna sat on his other side with a frown that seemed
to be permanently stuck on her face. Unbeknownst to her fellow
counselors, her evil mind was churning silently. She smiled
suddenly and conspicuously knocked her fork on the ground.
"Oh, silly me," She giggled and reached her hand under
the table slowly.
"HEY!" Darien exclaimed, leaping out of his seat with
a speed that shook the table and knocked Jason's half empty
(or half full) glass of milk all over Raye's plate and lap.
She gasped and stood quickly, patting off her legs and
shirt with a bunch of napkins.
"Here, let me help you Raye," Jason smiled apolegetically
and started to wipe up the milk on her shirt.
Damn, now you've done it, Jay.
"No, allow me, Raye," Kyle smiled charmingly and began to
wipe the white liquid off of her arms.
Jason resisted the urge to growl at his friend, "I've got
it, KYLE."
Kyle narrowed his eyes, "I insist, JAY."
They were now tugging at Raye's arms and shirt roughly,
having forgotten that she was still *attatched* to them. Raye
swayed back and forth, heating up with annoyance with each
passing second.
"JUST LET-ME!" She growled and shoved away from them.
With a huff, she whirled around and out of the mess hall.
Lita watched her go and stood quickly, "I better go and check
on her."
Matt gave her a goofy grin before she left, and she
laughed as she disappeared through the door as well.
He seemed to be the only one left at the table that was
NOT having some sort of emotional melt down, save for Brianna, who
was scowling at Darien as he promptly began to clear his place.
Serena tried not to respond to Bria's obvious attempts to
seduce (or sexually assault) Darien and focused on her friends'
romantic blunders.
"I'm outta here," Jason stood and threw his plate away,
followed closely by Mina.
"I'm gonna head for the showers before the kids get
back," She said and paused to wait for Amy and Serena to finish
clearing their places.
Kyle and Darien were soon to follow. Brianna tugged on
Darien's arm along the way, giggling madly and drowning him with
descriptions of what a "Fabulous time" they'd have on her
Daddy's private yaht.
He smiled tightly from beside her.
If she keeps this up, I'm going to throw myself
overboard.
Alone at the table, Matt laughed to himself and then
scowled suddenly, throwing down his napkin.
"And look who gets stuck with decorating duty."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This one?"
"Whatever."
"This one?"
"I don't care."
"What about that one?"
"Mmm hmm."
"RAYE!"
"Wha- huh?" Raye's unfocused eyes blinked
a few times and turned to the person she forgot
was standing beside her.
"Are you even paying attention?" Lita's arms
were crossed over her chest and she stood amidst a
sea of Raye's clothing.
"Um, yeah, of course. You can borrow my lotion,"
Raye turned back to the window of the girl's bunk
room. The children would be returning in a couple
of hours and while the guys were finishing the
decorations, the girls were cluttered in their
bunks searching for something to wear.
Lita threw a shirt on the floor and steered
around a mountain of jeans to plop down next to Raye
on her bunk.
"What's up, Raye? You've been acting weird ever
since we got here," She placed a comforting hand on
Raye's back.
Raye forced a casual smile and shrugged,
"Nothing really..." Her eyes flickered for a moment
with indecision and Lita frowned.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" She offered.
Raye shook her head, "No, I'm fine, Lita,
really--just a little homesick I guess."
Lita didn't buy it. Not only was Raye the most
excited about coming, save for Mina, but she had
been the one to convince Lita to come as well.
She carefully chose her next words, "Is this
about Jason?" Better to be blunt, right?
Raye sat up straight on her bed and violently
shook her head, "No...no way, why would it be? Here,
let me find that lotion for you," She scooted off and
plopped onto the floor, rummaging through a stack of
jeans for her bottle of lotion.
Lita smiled secretly and picked up a bottle from
the shelf by Raye's bed.
"Here," She handed it to her.
Raye let go of the armful of jeans she was holding
and grabbed it from her.
"OK, so what if it IS about him? It's not like I
like him or anything. He's just a...a guy," She opened
the bottle roughly and squeezed some onto her arm.
"He's been driving you crazy ever since day one,
hasn't he?" Lita took the bottle from her and sat beside
her.
Raye opened her mouth to protest but fell backward
onto the pile of clothing instead.
"Yes," She whimpered, "Make him stop it!"
Lita laughed and pulled Raye into a sitting
postion. "I'd love to, really I would, but I can't.
You have to."
Confusion clouded Raye's eyes, "How do you
expect me to do that?"
"Tell him," Lita said matter-of-factly as she
folded a pair of jeans.
"Tell him what?" Raye took the jeans from Lita's
hands to get her full attention.
"How you feel, duh," Lita looked quizzically at
her, "I've never seen you so out of it, girl. Have you
even spoken to him yet?"
Raye bit her lip, "Well...not exactly. He keeps
trying to talk to me but I just get all...tongue-tied.
It's just not like me to do that," standing, she walked
over to the other side of the room and began to search
through her suitcase for nothing in particular.
"That's a good sign," Lita came up behind her,
"It means you really like him. Obviously, he's interested
in you. Just tell him," She patted her back.
"Easier said than done," Raye sighed.
"That's love for ya," Lita rose and grabbed a
discarded pair of jeans from a pile.
Raye nodded dumbly and then gasped, "Wait...LITA!"
Lita had disappeared through the door already,
leaving a trail of hearty laughs behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hand me that conditioner, Sere," Mina yelled over
the noisy shower. A hand reached through the shower curtain
with a plastic bottle and she grasped it.
"So...Amy?" Serena ran a comb through her wet
hair, wincing every time she hit a tangle.
Amy set her brush down. "Hmm?"
Serena paused to comb a knot out and turned
back to her, "So...tell me about what happened today,
already!"
Amy jumped back slightly at her outburst and
blushed. The events of that morning rolled back into
her mind and she laughed.
"Oh, that," She tried to stall.
"Yes, that," Serena nudged her arm. Mina reached
out from her shower and grabbed her yellow bathrobe.
"What are we talking about?" She asked, having
emerged from the shower.
Serena nodded to Amy, "Amy was *just* about to
tell us what happened this morning with her and Zach."
Mina's baby blues widened and she giggled excitedly,
"Oh, yeah! Come on, Amy, what happened?"
Amy ran the brush through her hair for a moment
before answering.
"He...um..that is, we--"
"He kissed you!" Serena exclaimed, jumping up and
down in her elation.
Amy's face was splashed crimson and she swatted
Serena's arm.
"No, he did *not*," She stated. Although, that
would have been nice....
Serena's happy bubble was bursted and she frowned.
"Well then what?" Mina urged her to go on.
"He told me some...things," She bit her lip.
Mina sighed exasperatedly, "What *things*? He
could have told you his favorite color was blue for
all we know. You have to e-lab-or-ate."
"He told me he liked me, okay? He told me he'd
never liked anyone as much as me and he wanted to know
if I felt the same," She inhaled sharply and cowered
backwards. Serena and Mina exchanged glances and
turned to her with mischevious smiles.
"And you *said*..." They closed in on her.
"I said I didn't know," Amy sighed.
Mina opened her mouth wide, "You don't know?"
Serena opened her mouth wider, "You-don't-know?"
"I don't--I mean, I do...but--" She leaned
against the sink and sighed.
"You're scared?" Serena placed a hand on her arm.
Amy nodded sullenly and turned to face the
mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, same
as always. Boring, lifeless, not anything like
the girls she was sure Zach usually dated.
"I'm afraid that I'm just not...good
enough--pretty enough for him," She tore her
eyes from the mirror.
"Amy, I thought you were the *smart* one!"
Mina exclaimed. Serena nodded fervently.
"Amy, do you have any idea how pretty you
are?" Serena pulled lightly on a strand of her
navy hair.
"Thanks, guys, but I don't need--"
"What you *don't* need is to be lying to
yourself," Serena wrapped her in a one-armed hug,
"You are one of the prettiest people I know. You
just need to have confidence in yourself."
"Sere's right, Amy. I'd give anything to
have your complexion. Do you *ever* get zits?"
Mina laughed.
Amy blushed and giggled softly, "Actually,
I made this special formula in chem. class last
year and it--"
She was cut off as Serena and Mina began
laughing loudly.
"What?" She crossed her arms.
"You...you're one of a kind, Amy," Serena
patted her head, "Now, go and tell Zach how you
*really* feel, or we'll do it for you," Serena
and Mina eyed each other deviously and turned
towards the door.
Amy gasped and grabbed onto their arms.
"No! No...I'll do it. PLEASE don't go
anywhere NEAR Zach," She pushed past them
and waved goodbye.
"Ah...Mr. and Mrs. Clean," Mina sighed
and turned back to the sink to comb out her dripping hair.
Serena stared at her back for a moment
and hesitated before speaking.
"Hey...Mina?" She picked up her comb.
Mina turned to her, "Yeah?"
Twirling a piece of hair between her
fingers, Serena glanced at her, "What happened
with you in the mess hall last night?"
Mina stopped mid-comb and sighed again,
"It's nothing. I'm just a little stressed
about...things."
"Things?" Serena inquired.
"Yes, things...people," Mina set her comb
down.
"People like...?" Serena set hers down as
well and leaned against the wall.
"Like you don't already know," Mina smiled
at her.
Serena laughed softly, "Well, yeah, *I* know.
Do you?"
"It's not like it isn't obvious. Kyle has
been completely flirting with you and the other girls
this entire time. Of all the people I had to like,
it had to be the one who liked everyone BUT me."
Her cerulean eyes admitted defeat and she let
her hand go limp against her hair.
Serena frowned, placing her hand on her best
friend's shoulder and squeezing slightly. She wasn't
really sure how she could reassure Mina; telling
her that Kyle was completely in love with her might
have worked in junior high, but they'd grown
up since then.
Mina sighed and leaned her head against
Serena's shoulder heavily.
"And I thought that Kiddie-camp would be
all popsicle sticks and Koom-Bi-Ya's."
----------------------------------------------------
I dunno about you guys, but writing this has been kinda
theraputic for me. It's been so friggin' hectic on my side
of the universe that being able to write lighthearted stuff
has eased the tension a LOT.
Hope ya like it so far!
Don't 4get to R&R!
--Adrial
Adrial_06@yahoo.com
Chapter 3: Bull Frogs & Sexual Assault
Author: Adrial
Ch. 3-------------------------------------------
"Let me help you with that, Serena," Kyle smiled
charmingly at Serena as she struggled beneath an armful
of boxes.
She returned his grin and stretched her sore
muscles as the heavy weight was lifted effortlessly
from her grasp.
"Thanks, Kyle," She turned around to help Amy
hang streamers along the walls. To celebrate the camp's
twenty year anniversary, Karen had organized a small party
for the children. The counselors, however, were doing
the brunt of the work while Karen took the kids on a
two-day campout along with three other volunteers
from the orphanage in order for the party to be a
surprise.
Kyle craned his neck slightly to make sure Mina
had seen his act of kindness toward Serena and frowned
at her as her eyes were cast downward at her clipboard.
Alright, then...who's next? He thought.
Lita was checking off a list of food to bring.
No assistance required.
Raye flipped through a stack of CD's, sighing
every now and then despondently.
Not too good with chick problems.
He set the boxes aside and saught out his
bestfriend's crush. Amy, Amy...where is she?
Perfect. Amy seemed to be rather entangled
with decorations and Serena was only cackling madly
at her.
"Here, Amy, let me get those," He gallantly
offered her his arm as she stepped down from her
ladder and assisted her in untwisting the streamers
from her arms and legs.
Blushing slightly, she thanked him for his
help and nudged Serena's leg, making her wriggle
to stay on her ladder.
"Amy!" Serena grabbed for any type of ledge
but found none. Instead, she found herself tightly
held in Kyle's arms.
"Wow, nice catch, Kyle," She giggled as he
set her on the floor.
From behind them, Mina growled frustratedly
and stomped out of the door. Kyle followed her
retreating back with discouraged grey eyes.
Serena arched her eyebrows and shrugged at
Lita's confused frown.
"She must have forgotten something up at
counselor quarters," Amy offered.
"I guess so..." Serena looked at the door
Mina disappeared through and then at Raye's elusive
frown. Something was definitely up with her friends.
"Hey, let's call it quits for tonight, guys.
We can finish up tomorrow while the kids are still
on their hiking thing," Lita set her clip board on
a stool and stretched. The guys nodded enthusiastically,
dropping their handfuls of pink streamers as if
they were on fire.
"Oh, darn, did I miss the decorating party?"
Brianna appeared in the doorway and sarcastically
smiled.
"Don't worry about it. We were actually
doing fine with*out* you," Serena balled up a
wad of tissue paper.
"Well, I wouldn't have been much help
anyway. I've never had to...hang things before,"
She peered up at the elaborately decorated walls
and crinkled her nose, "Daddy always said a lady
should never do anything the highered help could
take care of."
"Oh, really? Is that what *daddy* says?"
Serena forced a smile and turned her back on Brianna's
snobby face. After selflessly giving up her fifteen
minutes in the bathroom for Brianna to dry her hair
perfectly, and keeping quiet at the numerous insults
about her hair, makeup, clothing, and music taste,
Serena was at a breaking point.
"Darien! Darling, *where* have you been all
day? I've been meaning to ask you something,"
Brianna's mini skirt inched up and down her thighs
as she sauntered around clusters of empty boxes
to Darien. Her chunky platforms clunked loudly
on the wooden floors. Darien cowered slightly and
forced a small smile.
"Uh...what is it, Bria?" He inwardly cringed
at the name she insisted he call her. He figured it
had to be better than 'Bria-baby' which she had only
hinted about earlier.
"Well, Daddy has arranged a limo for me and a
*guest*," She ran her finger along his exposed collar
bone, "To go to our private reservoir at our summer
mansion. I would just *love* it if you'd go with me
tomorrow afternoon," She was inches from his face
now, fluttering her thickly mascaraed eyes at him
and sending Jason and Zach into muffled hysterics.
Darien gulped and put a good three feet in
between Brianna and himself.
"Uh...well, actually, the guys and I are
going to...to do more decorating, right guys?" He
sent them a pleading gaze and they straightened.
Jason, who had been attempting to initiate
conversation with Raye all night, looked up
and shook his head.
"I don't remember that," He turned his
eyes back to Raye's bowed head.
Darien glared at him and turned back to
Brianna, laughing nervously, "You remember, *don't*
you, Kyle?" Kyle weighed his options. Spend the
afternoon knee deep in streamers, or spend his
time wisely by buttering up Mina's friends.
Decisions, decisions.
"Sorry, can't. I've got some things to do,"
He clapped him apologetically on his shoulder and
left the room.
"Me, too, Dare," Zach thought of his plans
for the following morning and grinned inwardly.
Everything had to be perfect...absolutely perfect.
Brianna grinned ecsatically, "Great! You're
free for tomorrow then! My chauffer will pick us up
at twelve tomorrow, don't be late," She pecked his
cheek and exited.
Lita and Serena exchanged glances and burst
out laughing. Lita leaned against Serena's shoulder
for support, and they fell as Serena's knees buckled
underneath her.
"Oh, D-darien da-darling," Serena rolled
onto her back and continued laughing. After a few
minutes of hysteria, Lita controlled her laughter
and rose, helping Serena up as well.
"Feel free to shut up any time now," Darien
folded his arms over his chest. Having them laugh
at him was already bad enough, now he would have
to deal with the guys, too.
"You sure are a ladies man, Dare," Zach
clapped his shoulder.
"I'm going to bed now," Darien left abruptly.
"Don't be late tomorrow, darling!" Serena
called after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*12:00 AM--Girl's Bunk*
Enemy: Bull Frog
Victim: Serena Tsukino
Victim's Condition: Awake
Plan of action: Kill said bull frog
"Shut up already!" Serena threw her covers
from her bed. The frog had been announcing its presence
outside of her window for the past hour and seemed
to have no intention of relenting.
The others were sleeping soundly in their bunks,
teasing her with their contented snores and whimpers
of slumber.
"That's it," She slid quietly from her bunk and
grabbed a flashlight. She would find the frog and chase
it to the ends of the earth if she had to in order to
get some sleep.
Once outside, she took large gulps of the cool
night air and sighed. Sleeping in an area without street
lights and noisy car horns proved quite difficult to grow
accustomed to. She'd take a herd of rambunctious car horns
over a bull frog any day.
"Where are you? I *know* you're out here," She pulled
her pajama bottoms up slightly to avoid getting them
muddy and rounded a corner.
'Ribbit.'
"I can heearr you. Come out, come out wherever
you--AHH!" A hand flew across her opened mouth, and another
pulled her away. She struggled in the foreign arms and
tried to free herself.
The person let her go after traveling a about twenty
yards or so away from the girl's bunks.
"Serena, it's me, calm down," He whispered against
her ear. Her writhing body stilled and she remained quiet
as he removed his hand from her mouth.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, CHI--mmph" Darien's
hand flew against her mouth again and he pulled her farther
from the camp.
"Would you just stop yelling?" He inched his hand from
her mouth again.
She inhaled sharply and turned from his arms. She calmed
herself down and whispered, "Are you trying to scare the hell
out of me, or what?"
"Not exactly," He stuffed his hands in his pockets and
walked away from her. She stood still for a moment before
following behind him.
"Where are you going?" She fell into step with him.
"No where. What are you doing up?" He glanced at her.
"Nothing. You have to be going somewhere," She stepped in
front of him.
He sighed and tried to go around her, but she still
blocked him.
"I'm going to the lake, alright?" He gave up and
she smiled. The moonlight glittered off her eyes and
Darien forced his own to stray away from them.
"Can I come? I can't sleep either," She let him
walk past her again.
"Do whatever you want, Meatball Head," He ducked
beneath a large, hanging branch and held it aside
for her to pass.
The placid waters of Lake Kiwachee loomed
ahead of them. The pesky bull frog had long since
been forgotten, and Serena sat on a log along the shore.
Darien joined her and stared off into the
distance, deep in thought. Her presence was taunting
him but he, of course, wouldn't admit that to himself.
Serena shivered slightly as a breeze blew
around her, sending a chill up her spine. A movement
beside her brought her eyes up and she gasped inaudibly
as Darien wrapped his jacket around her shoulders.
"Thank you," She wrapped it tighter around her
bare arms and pondered the odd sense of comfort it
provided.
A long silence followed, and she grew steadily
tense. Darien's eerie silence was driving her insane.
"What are you thinking about?" She turned to his
face.
He shook himself from his thoughts and turned to
meet her eyes.
Big mistake.
His jacket enveloped her tiny frame almost
completely, and her large eyes danced with curiosity.
He noticed her hair for the first time, flowing down
her shoulders freely, and wondered if it felt as soft
as it looked.
"Nothing," He involuntarily smiled at her,
"What are you thinking about?"
"You," She responded quietly. Instantly, she
felt a crimson wave wash over her face and she stuttered,
"Uh...I mean, I was just wondering what you were
thinking and everything...you know."
Darien recovered from his state of shock at her
answer and leaned close to her ear.
"I know," His hot breath against her ear sent
her emotions into a craze and she swallowed.
He seemed satisfied at her response to his
teasing and decided to let her make the next move,
whatever it may be.
Serena racked her brain for something to say,
something to respond to that with. Her only thoughts
were to sit there, dumbfounded, and giggle madly.
Giggle?
Why would she want to...giggle? Had Darien
really made her feel like that? Were the emotions she
was feeling a result from him? Suddenly the light,
night air became thick with tension and she felt
like she was suffocating within it all. She stood
abruptly and turned to face him.
"I don't get you...I just don't," With that,
she stalked away from him, steaming with frustration.
Now she surely would never get to sleep. It
was only the second day of camp and Darien had
managed to invade her thoughts completely.
Her words startled Darien and he remained
still for a few moments, rolling them over in his
clustered mind.
A cry broke his thought process and he
launched himself into the woods, searching blindly
for the source.
Through the enveloping darkness, he searched
blindly. A choked sob to his right startled him and
he whipped around. Serena lay on the ground, crying
almost silently and he lifted her carefully into
his arms without hesitation. One glance at his
surroundings informed him that she had forgotten
about the hanging tree limb and ran straight into it.
The log at which they had earlier sat was
closer than camp so he backtracked and set her
onto it gently.
Her eyes were cloudy from the collision
and he brushed a clutter of hair from her face.
Tears glistened on her skin and he vowed to turn
the limb that had caused them into firewood as
soon as possible.
"Are you okay?" He felt a wave of déjà vu and
prayed that the outcome wouldn't be as it was before.
"No," Serena sniffled and gingerly touched her
cheek. A swollen area was forming.
"This is all your fault, you know," She stared
at the lake as she spoke.
Darien grew defensive, "How is it my fault?"
"I'm not sure yet, give me a minute to think
about it," She stood and walked away closer to the
water's edge, leaving a trail of bitter cold in her wake.
He pondered whether or not to follow her for a
moment. She sat on the moist earth and threw a rock
into the lake. Her silhouette seemed too picturesque
to disturb. Eventually, however, his emotions got
the better of him and he trudged silently towards
her.
He stopped inches from her and hesitated.
What would he do?
"Aren't you going to say it?" She spoke
suddenly. He jumped slightly and covered the short
distance to her.
"Say what?" He sat beside her.
"How much of a klutz I am...how ditzy I can
be--" She broke off, tears covering any other words
she might have said.
He did the only thing he could and reached
around her to gather her in his arms. She did not
resist and leaned against him.
Her silent tears cracked his heart, joining
in with the mental beating he was giving himself for
causing her pain.
Serena's feelings were mixed as she felt so
utterly calm and comfortable in her enemy's arms.
Her tears were only partly because of his insults,
but mainly her all-consuming confusion about the
man that held her so gently.
Her ears only vaguely registered his whispered
apology. She lifted her head from his shoulder and
stood.
"I'm going back to bed," She removed his
jacket from her shoulders and laid it softly into
his arms. One more minute beside him and she would have
done something she would probably have regretted--
either slap him or kiss him. She wouldn't take her
chances with either one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The clinking of forks on plates and the occasional
cough were the only sounds emitting from the 11 people
seated in the mess hall the next morning.
Serena kept her head bowed, refusing to make
eye contact with Darien. He did the same but found
himself sending curious glances in her direction
every now and then.
Zach's restless eyes found themseleves landing
on Amy's bowed head every few seconds. Her silence
was bringing him to the breaking point of his sanity.
His declaration of his feelings for her that morning
had somehow worsened the condition of their relationship.
She was now avoiding him at all costs and in the process,
stressing him to no end.
"You gonna eat that, Ames?" Serena looked longingly
at Amy's barely touched blueberry muffin.
Amy's eyes remained fixed on her plate, unmoving
and obviously unaware of Serena's question.
"Amy...?" Serena waved a hand in her face slowly.
Amy came to attention abruptly and blushed becomingly.
"Huh? Did you ask something?"
Serena rose her eyebrows and repeated her question.
She smiled happily as Amy plopped the muffin into her open
palm.
Mina played idly with her bowl of soggy cheerio's
and wished to be anywhere other than at that table. She had
been ready to regurgitate her orange juice when Kyle had
enthusiastically complimented Lita on her hair that morning
and almost shoved her spoon down her own throat when he
politely offered Amy his own seat at the table.
Kyle smiled widely at Serena and held out his own muffin
for her to take. Mina watched with agitated eyes.
He should smiling at ME like that!
Serena's eyes flicked over to Mina and apologized
silently. Mina shrugged nonchalantly and stood to clear her
place.
Darien looked up at the sudden movement coming from
beside him and returned his eyes to his plate when he realized
it was only Mina.
Brianna sat on his other side with a frown that seemed
to be permanently stuck on her face. Unbeknownst to her fellow
counselors, her evil mind was churning silently. She smiled
suddenly and conspicuously knocked her fork on the ground.
"Oh, silly me," She giggled and reached her hand under
the table slowly.
"HEY!" Darien exclaimed, leaping out of his seat with
a speed that shook the table and knocked Jason's half empty
(or half full) glass of milk all over Raye's plate and lap.
She gasped and stood quickly, patting off her legs and
shirt with a bunch of napkins.
"Here, let me help you Raye," Jason smiled apolegetically
and started to wipe up the milk on her shirt.
Damn, now you've done it, Jay.
"No, allow me, Raye," Kyle smiled charmingly and began to
wipe the white liquid off of her arms.
Jason resisted the urge to growl at his friend, "I've got
it, KYLE."
Kyle narrowed his eyes, "I insist, JAY."
They were now tugging at Raye's arms and shirt roughly,
having forgotten that she was still *attatched* to them. Raye
swayed back and forth, heating up with annoyance with each
passing second.
"JUST LET-ME!" She growled and shoved away from them.
With a huff, she whirled around and out of the mess hall.
Lita watched her go and stood quickly, "I better go and check
on her."
Matt gave her a goofy grin before she left, and she
laughed as she disappeared through the door as well.
He seemed to be the only one left at the table that was
NOT having some sort of emotional melt down, save for Brianna, who
was scowling at Darien as he promptly began to clear his place.
Serena tried not to respond to Bria's obvious attempts to
seduce (or sexually assault) Darien and focused on her friends'
romantic blunders.
"I'm outta here," Jason stood and threw his plate away,
followed closely by Mina.
"I'm gonna head for the showers before the kids get
back," She said and paused to wait for Amy and Serena to finish
clearing their places.
Kyle and Darien were soon to follow. Brianna tugged on
Darien's arm along the way, giggling madly and drowning him with
descriptions of what a "Fabulous time" they'd have on her
Daddy's private yaht.
He smiled tightly from beside her.
If she keeps this up, I'm going to throw myself
overboard.
Alone at the table, Matt laughed to himself and then
scowled suddenly, throwing down his napkin.
"And look who gets stuck with decorating duty."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This one?"
"Whatever."
"This one?"
"I don't care."
"What about that one?"
"Mmm hmm."
"RAYE!"
"Wha- huh?" Raye's unfocused eyes blinked
a few times and turned to the person she forgot
was standing beside her.
"Are you even paying attention?" Lita's arms
were crossed over her chest and she stood amidst a
sea of Raye's clothing.
"Um, yeah, of course. You can borrow my lotion,"
Raye turned back to the window of the girl's bunk
room. The children would be returning in a couple
of hours and while the guys were finishing the
decorations, the girls were cluttered in their
bunks searching for something to wear.
Lita threw a shirt on the floor and steered
around a mountain of jeans to plop down next to Raye
on her bunk.
"What's up, Raye? You've been acting weird ever
since we got here," She placed a comforting hand on
Raye's back.
Raye forced a casual smile and shrugged,
"Nothing really..." Her eyes flickered for a moment
with indecision and Lita frowned.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" She offered.
Raye shook her head, "No, I'm fine, Lita,
really--just a little homesick I guess."
Lita didn't buy it. Not only was Raye the most
excited about coming, save for Mina, but she had
been the one to convince Lita to come as well.
She carefully chose her next words, "Is this
about Jason?" Better to be blunt, right?
Raye sat up straight on her bed and violently
shook her head, "No...no way, why would it be? Here,
let me find that lotion for you," She scooted off and
plopped onto the floor, rummaging through a stack of
jeans for her bottle of lotion.
Lita smiled secretly and picked up a bottle from
the shelf by Raye's bed.
"Here," She handed it to her.
Raye let go of the armful of jeans she was holding
and grabbed it from her.
"OK, so what if it IS about him? It's not like I
like him or anything. He's just a...a guy," She opened
the bottle roughly and squeezed some onto her arm.
"He's been driving you crazy ever since day one,
hasn't he?" Lita took the bottle from her and sat beside
her.
Raye opened her mouth to protest but fell backward
onto the pile of clothing instead.
"Yes," She whimpered, "Make him stop it!"
Lita laughed and pulled Raye into a sitting
postion. "I'd love to, really I would, but I can't.
You have to."
Confusion clouded Raye's eyes, "How do you
expect me to do that?"
"Tell him," Lita said matter-of-factly as she
folded a pair of jeans.
"Tell him what?" Raye took the jeans from Lita's
hands to get her full attention.
"How you feel, duh," Lita looked quizzically at
her, "I've never seen you so out of it, girl. Have you
even spoken to him yet?"
Raye bit her lip, "Well...not exactly. He keeps
trying to talk to me but I just get all...tongue-tied.
It's just not like me to do that," standing, she walked
over to the other side of the room and began to search
through her suitcase for nothing in particular.
"That's a good sign," Lita came up behind her,
"It means you really like him. Obviously, he's interested
in you. Just tell him," She patted her back.
"Easier said than done," Raye sighed.
"That's love for ya," Lita rose and grabbed a
discarded pair of jeans from a pile.
Raye nodded dumbly and then gasped, "Wait...LITA!"
Lita had disappeared through the door already,
leaving a trail of hearty laughs behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hand me that conditioner, Sere," Mina yelled over
the noisy shower. A hand reached through the shower curtain
with a plastic bottle and she grasped it.
"So...Amy?" Serena ran a comb through her wet
hair, wincing every time she hit a tangle.
Amy set her brush down. "Hmm?"
Serena paused to comb a knot out and turned
back to her, "So...tell me about what happened today,
already!"
Amy jumped back slightly at her outburst and
blushed. The events of that morning rolled back into
her mind and she laughed.
"Oh, that," She tried to stall.
"Yes, that," Serena nudged her arm. Mina reached
out from her shower and grabbed her yellow bathrobe.
"What are we talking about?" She asked, having
emerged from the shower.
Serena nodded to Amy, "Amy was *just* about to
tell us what happened this morning with her and Zach."
Mina's baby blues widened and she giggled excitedly,
"Oh, yeah! Come on, Amy, what happened?"
Amy ran the brush through her hair for a moment
before answering.
"He...um..that is, we--"
"He kissed you!" Serena exclaimed, jumping up and
down in her elation.
Amy's face was splashed crimson and she swatted
Serena's arm.
"No, he did *not*," She stated. Although, that
would have been nice....
Serena's happy bubble was bursted and she frowned.
"Well then what?" Mina urged her to go on.
"He told me some...things," She bit her lip.
Mina sighed exasperatedly, "What *things*? He
could have told you his favorite color was blue for
all we know. You have to e-lab-or-ate."
"He told me he liked me, okay? He told me he'd
never liked anyone as much as me and he wanted to know
if I felt the same," She inhaled sharply and cowered
backwards. Serena and Mina exchanged glances and
turned to her with mischevious smiles.
"And you *said*..." They closed in on her.
"I said I didn't know," Amy sighed.
Mina opened her mouth wide, "You don't know?"
Serena opened her mouth wider, "You-don't-know?"
"I don't--I mean, I do...but--" She leaned
against the sink and sighed.
"You're scared?" Serena placed a hand on her arm.
Amy nodded sullenly and turned to face the
mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, same
as always. Boring, lifeless, not anything like
the girls she was sure Zach usually dated.
"I'm afraid that I'm just not...good
enough--pretty enough for him," She tore her
eyes from the mirror.
"Amy, I thought you were the *smart* one!"
Mina exclaimed. Serena nodded fervently.
"Amy, do you have any idea how pretty you
are?" Serena pulled lightly on a strand of her
navy hair.
"Thanks, guys, but I don't need--"
"What you *don't* need is to be lying to
yourself," Serena wrapped her in a one-armed hug,
"You are one of the prettiest people I know. You
just need to have confidence in yourself."
"Sere's right, Amy. I'd give anything to
have your complexion. Do you *ever* get zits?"
Mina laughed.
Amy blushed and giggled softly, "Actually,
I made this special formula in chem. class last
year and it--"
She was cut off as Serena and Mina began
laughing loudly.
"What?" She crossed her arms.
"You...you're one of a kind, Amy," Serena
patted her head, "Now, go and tell Zach how you
*really* feel, or we'll do it for you," Serena
and Mina eyed each other deviously and turned
towards the door.
Amy gasped and grabbed onto their arms.
"No! No...I'll do it. PLEASE don't go
anywhere NEAR Zach," She pushed past them
and waved goodbye.
"Ah...Mr. and Mrs. Clean," Mina sighed
and turned back to the sink to comb out her dripping hair.
Serena stared at her back for a moment
and hesitated before speaking.
"Hey...Mina?" She picked up her comb.
Mina turned to her, "Yeah?"
Twirling a piece of hair between her
fingers, Serena glanced at her, "What happened
with you in the mess hall last night?"
Mina stopped mid-comb and sighed again,
"It's nothing. I'm just a little stressed
about...things."
"Things?" Serena inquired.
"Yes, things...people," Mina set her comb
down.
"People like...?" Serena set hers down as
well and leaned against the wall.
"Like you don't already know," Mina smiled
at her.
Serena laughed softly, "Well, yeah, *I* know.
Do you?"
"It's not like it isn't obvious. Kyle has
been completely flirting with you and the other girls
this entire time. Of all the people I had to like,
it had to be the one who liked everyone BUT me."
Her cerulean eyes admitted defeat and she let
her hand go limp against her hair.
Serena frowned, placing her hand on her best
friend's shoulder and squeezing slightly. She wasn't
really sure how she could reassure Mina; telling
her that Kyle was completely in love with her might
have worked in junior high, but they'd grown
up since then.
Mina sighed and leaned her head against
Serena's shoulder heavily.
"And I thought that Kiddie-camp would be
all popsicle sticks and Koom-Bi-Ya's."
----------------------------------------------------
I dunno about you guys, but writing this has been kinda
theraputic for me. It's been so friggin' hectic on my side
of the universe that being able to write lighthearted stuff
has eased the tension a LOT.
Hope ya like it so far!
Don't 4get to R&R!
--Adrial
Adrial_06@yahoo.com