"I went to summer camp when I was twelve." I start with the earliest story I can recall. The Mathews were going through some marital problems that they didn't think I would understand. I understood a lot more than they ever told me though. At night I could hear them fight, and while they were at work I would see their therapy bills in the mail. They sent me away for the summer so they could live seperately for a little while. By the time I came back they were fine again, but that was a summer of all sorts od possibilities.
"You didn't like it?" Phoebe asks.
"Don't get me wrong, it was a really nice camp. It was in southern California practicaly on the beach. I got to learn to water ski, and horseback ride, and even sail." I say with a smile trying to keep my mind focused on the good parts.
"Well, it was the frst time I was away from my parents for a full two months" I say remembering how scared I was. "I made some good friends though, and I even got asked out."
"First boyfriend?" Piper asks with a little chuckle.
"Glen actually" I say with a nodd. "That was where the trouble began."
"We started sneaking out of bed at night to meet in the forest or on the beach." I say. They both give me little smiles remembering times of first love.
"Well, we met in the forest one time, and we ran into some bears." I say.
"Did you get attacked?" Phoebe asks wide eyed..
"I wish," I mutter inaudibly, "We ran the second we spotted them. We ran so fast and so far that we were completely lost. I remember fealing like my heart was beating out of my chest, and my stomach was twisting into knotts."
"We finally both collapsed realzing we were free, but totaly lost. Then we saw a clearing, and a man drinking from a bottle wrapped in a paper bag. we were confused and lost and we asked him for help." I say remembering tapping him on the shoulder nervously. He turned his head slowly, and I remember looking into his bloodshot eyes for minutes before Glen finaly spoke up.
"He asked us where we were from." I say out of breath," We told him we were lost, and we went to Oceanfront Acadamy Camp" I say beginging to cry. I stop for a moment and Phoebe puts her arm around my shoulder.
"He didn't" Piper says breathlessly. I nodd.
"He shoved us down, and tied our hands together, and taped our mouths shut. Then he took off our clothes." I say sobbing. It was the first time I ever saw anyone naked. I remember looking between Glen and the old man through wet eyes and wishing to be anywhere else. Even at home with seperated parents.
"He asked us to kiss, and we were so scared that we did even with the tape over our mouths." I remember years later when someone asked about my first kiss. I told her about the next one, "He touched us both." I say my sobs growing harder. I've never told this story to anyone.
"You don't have to" Phoebe says fealing for me.
"I'm okay." I say for what seems like the milionth time, "Then someone came. we were both squeeling as loud as we could through the tape, but we didn't think anyone could hear us." I could have sworn our heartbeats were louder than our muffled cries.
"A man. A cop, untied us, and we grabbed our clothes and clung to each other." I say sudenly realizing that he cop was probobly a glamored Leo.
"Than a young woman, who I thought was a councillor at the camp showed up, and took us back. She carried me when I was so tired from crying to even walk. She took me into Glen's cabin, and he climbed into bed without waking anyone. Then she took me to my cabin."
"Did she smooth back your hair, and kiss you on the forehead." Piper asks with teas in her eyes. I nodd, and I notice Phoebe is crying too.
"I couldn't fall asleep, and she talked with me, and told me I was okay. I don't remember when I fell asleep, or how long we talked for but I woke up the next morning and Glen and I never said a thing to each other about it."
"I'm so sorry," Piper says
"The next time I saw her was when I was fourteen." I say not ready to tell this one.
"When you were pregnant." Phoebe says with her eyes widening. She shoots up and dashes up the stairs. Piper and I share a look before following after her. I feel relieved that my story can wait, and that Piper doesn't ask.
We find Phoebe in the attic infront of a box filled with old diaries.
"She wrote about you. I remember. I used to try to read these all the time. I only ever got to read a few pages, but I remeber about her helping someone. I didn't understand it then, but it all just clicked." Phoebe says in one fast breath.
"I know how you feel." I say.