DAY THREE
Jay was seated on the wooden steps that took residence in front of the girl's cabin. The wood was not too comfortable but at least its smooth coating prevented delicate skin from being gifted a splinter. Especially on the days the kids would run from the cabin, bare foot, and splash into the lake to then return back at sunset to get changed for dinner.
It was day three of summer camp in Wisconsin and the hype that was there on day one had seemed to dissipate. At least the clear sky and shining lake were enough to keep everyone in good spirits.
The campers were gearing up for a day of activities when Jay noticed his mom had sauntered away from a team activity she was about to lead. Confused, Jay followed his mom with his eyes. She had walked over to the back doors of the main building, which were now opening. Out stepped the receptionist with a young girl, around 16 years of age, who had blonde hair with pink streaks and a perfectly placed scowl on her face. This mystery certainly looked out of place. His mom had a short conversation with the two before retreating back to the activity she had previously departed from.
Jay was momentarily distracted by a squirrel climbing up a tree nearby to notice that the mystery girl was storming herself towards him, holding her ragged backpack in her right hand while she carelessly dragged her suitcase, clutching onto the handle behind her in her left hand. He stood up from where he was seated while she approached him.
"Hi. I'm Erin. That woman over there said she's your mom. She also said that you should show me the room I'll be staying in." Her tone was harsh. Brutal. But laced with a hint of strength. A little bit of strength to stop herself from crying. She really did not want to be here.
"Hi Erin, I'm Jay." His tone was happy. Excited. He even gave her a smile before speaking again. "Yeah that's my mom. The girls cabin-", he pointed behind him, "is full so i'll take you to the other cabin. It's better anyways, you get your own room whereas in this cabin," he gestured behind him once again, "you have to share with others."
Erin didn't verbally respond. She just gave a mere nod of the head to show acknowledgement of what Jay had said.
"Would you like me to carry your bag?"
"Could you take my suitcase please?" Her tone was no longer harsh. It was quiet.
"Sure," Jay replied while taking her suitcase from her. "Follow me."
He led her past the girl's cabin, boy's cabin and down a little path along the lake to another, smaller cabin. There was no need to check if she followed him, the sound of scraping her shoes against the dead grass and dried mud road was enough evidence, along with a huff of annoyance every two steps.
At their destination, Jay opened the door for Erin to enter the cabin. "So down here we have five rooms and then upstairs we have another five rooms." She followed him a short way down a corridor to room 1. "This one should do you good." He opened the door and took a step back to let her enter first. The first thing she did was place her bag on her bed, noticing how the bed's mattress didn't dip too much. She grunted at the thought of having to sleep uncomfortably on that tonight.
"Everything okay?" Jay asked while laying her suitcase down next to the wardrobe so she could unpack her stuff.
"Uh huh." Her tone this time proved that she wasn't too impressed.
Jay backed away from her suitcase while keeping his attention on her packed goods, silently hinting for her to do something with it.
"Thank you. You can go now." And there her harsh tone returned.
"I have to supervise you." He looked to Erin then, noticing her rigid posture.
She grunted yet again. Her jarring movements rocked the suitcase a little while she sloppily hung clothes on the hangers provided. There was a little bit of awkwardness in the air, Erin not happy with being babysat and Jay unsure of why she was acting like this. Most kids that come here have at least some enthusiasm.
Letting out a huff, Erin asked, "I'm done. Now what?"
"You should get changed into some swimwear. Today they're doing water activities."
"I didn't bring any swimwear."
"Oh, but it says on-" Jay began but was rudely interrupted.
"Yes I know it says I should bring swimwear but I haven't, ok?" Jay didn't push her any further as she looked so in despair.
"Okay, you can just watch with me then. Come on."
The pair strolled back over to where they first met and perched themselves onto the stairs. Erin sat quietly, observing the water activities taking place in front of her.
"So, it's day three of camp. How come you just arrived today?"
She scoffs but turns towards him to reply. "I was supposed to arrive on day one but an hour before we were supposed to set off I ran from home."
"Why?"
"Because I do not want to be here Jay." Her response is simple, but grating. She sighed.
"Maybe I could make this experience better for you?" He gave her a charming smile. A smile that was returned by the same scowl she wore earlier in the day.
"I doubt it."
Her attitude isn't the best, and one Jay would not normally surround himself with, so he took the easiest option and dropped the subject.
An hour they sat in silence for. Watching others have fun while Jay wished he could be somewhere else while Erin wallowed in her misery.
When the session had ended, the campers walked back, dripping water from their bodies, to their respective cabin. Erin and Jay both moved and stood at the side of the stairs, not wanting to get a drip of water on them. Some girls ignored the two, some politely smiled as they rushed past and one even puffed up her chest, smiled widely and greeted Jay in passing with a cheerful "Hey Jay!" She made sure Jay knew her name; Jess. He just responded the same way he did everyone who passed him, with a gentle smile.
--
Everyone settled in the dining room, sitting around the new friends they had made in the last couple of days while being at summer camp. Erin sat at the back wall, on a small table with two accompanying chairs, alone. When Jay entered the room designated to eating food, he noticed Erin sat on her own, so he decided to occupy the seat opposite her.
"Hey can I sit here?"
Erin gave no verbal response, instead she gave Jay a very intense stare. He sat down anyway.
"Why are you sitting by yourself?"
"Well no one has made a big effort to get to know me. I'm fine here."
"Have you tried getting to know them?"
She gave him a pointed look." What are you doing here Jay?"
"Getting to know you. I wonder if you're capable of smiling," he smirked.
"Ouch."
"It's not that bad here, Erin. Cheer up."
Erin rolled her eyes. Being a moody teenager was one thing Erin thought she definitely scored a ten out of ten on and if this attitude made no one want to know her, the better. She wasn't here to make friends.
--
Jay stuffed a packet of crackers, marshmallows and a bar of chocolate under his jacket, smoothed it down as much as possible to make it look natural and made his way out of the back doors in the main building. It was dark now, tiny stars shining brightly above all of those who sat below it. Jay grabbed a blanket from the storage box near the door and made his way over to where the campers were sitting. He smiled at his mom as he approached, slightly glancing at her while she was telling everyone a story, then moving his gaze to find Erin.
He did, she sat alone at the back again.
Walking round everyone, he reached Erin who had her bottom on the floor while her back rested against a log. Letting out a huff and momentarily closing her eyes and dipping her head down, Jay knew that she had noticed him.
"Would you like the blanket to go round your knees or your back?"
"Knees."
Jay sat down next to Erin, rather awkwardly to not crush his secret stash, and draped the blanket carefully over the legs of the two. He then unzipped his jacket's zip to reveal the hidden treasures he had brought over to Erin.
"Don't tell anyone but I brought you the more expensive chocolate and the bigger marshmallows." He winked at her when he finished exposing his little stash. She smiled at him, knowing that he was the only one to be including her and making her feel a part of the camp.
While creating their s'mores, Jay struck up a conversation, hoping this relaxed environment would help her to open up more. And for him to get to know her more.
"So, why did you sign up if you don't want to be here?" The fire in the pit was cackling away, muting the voices who were telling scary stories in front.
"I," she exclaimed the word, "didn't sign up. My mom signed me up. She said that I need to change the way I behave. So this is kind of a punishment for me."
"Oh. We just do activities here, we don't change behaviour."
"I know right? My mom is just dumb. Maybe she should have parented me better, maybe then I would have turned out to be a perfect angel." Erin popped a piece of chocolate in her mouth, savouring the taste of the richer chocolate and savouring the small but sweet gesture from Jay.
Jay didn't know how to reply to that, finding it too personal of a topic. Instead, he asked, "what books do you like reading?"
"I don't read."
"What's your favorite movie?"
"I don't have one." Erin was making this difficult on him, she could tell by his growing nerves.
"What do you like doing in your spare time?" He chuckled nervously.
"Causing havoc, breaking laws, messing up my room." Jay looked horrified but Erin just smirked.
"I'm just kidding." A pause. "I like to read crime thrillers." She watched Jay relax and prepared herself another s'more.
After both tummies were full and they had gotten to know each other more, Jay saw a nice and gentle side to Erin, and with no more stories being told by the other campers, everyone began to call it a night. Bodies scurry under the neon pecks in the sky and to where they would be sleeping tonight. Erin got up too and with a quick 'bye' to Jay she left him to clean up their food packets. He didn't mind as he did bring them out but he wanted to say good night to Erin. He watched her retreating figure grow smaller and smaller until he could no longer see her.
When Erin got back to her room she closed the door gently, starring over the furniture of her room. Her wardrobe, with scratches and markings, in desperate need of some love. The curtains that hung on a simplistic pole but didn't seem to block out much light. Her bed, with an uncomfortable mattress. The bed that she would spend the night.
Alone.
DAY FOUR
Erin lay, clutching her pillow and starring towards the bathroom door. The only sound that could be heard was the early birds chirping outside. Being on her own meant there was not much to do, or many people to talk to. To change this, her main aim of the day was to chat to Mrs Halstead in private.
When Erin spotted Mrs Halstead standing at the other side of the room on the large hallway in the main building, preparing something, she made her way over. In the politest way she could, as their first meeting was not the most pleasant due to Erin's mood, she was determined to prove that she wasn't the young girl with a horrible attitude one may think she was.
"Hello Mrs Halstead," she greeted. Erin waited patiently while Mrs Halstead finished what she was doing and then watched the woman turn towards her to give her full attention.
"Hello dear, what can I do for you?"
Erin twiddled her thumbs. "So… you know how I was in the third cabin? Well I was on my own and I was just wondering maybe if there were any beds at all in any of the other cabins? Even the boys. I wasn't a big fan of sleeping in there by myself." She finished with a nervous chuckle.
"I'm sorry sweetie. When you arrived on day three of camp we had already filled the two main cabins. I'll see what I can do for you though, okay?"
"Uh, yeah sure. Thank you. I'll see you later." Erin turned around, making her way towards the food hall where breakfast would be served shortly. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Jay jogging down the stairs, meeting her at the bottom.
"You ready for some breakfast," he asked eagerly.
"Yep."
--
The campers, including Jay, his mom and a few of the camp assistants all stood in the woods behind the camp, preparing for their first team filled activity day. Jay stood unnecessarily close to Erin, unaware to themselves, but not from Jess, who gave Erin a dirty look. That too Erin was unaware of as she listened intently to what the group leader had to say.
Once the task was explained, Jay turned to Erin and said "I'm technically not a camper so you're gonna have to team up with some others."
Surprisingly, Erin didn't refute. Erin glanced to her right, noticing Jess making her way over. "Come on Jay." Jay followed Erin over to two girls, oblivious to the fact that Jess let out a big huff of frustration behind his back.
After a quick introduction by Erin, the girls she asked accepted her request of allowing her to join in with them on the exercise.
The task was to build a mini hut, big enough for the amount of team members to fit in but small enough to not draw lots of attention to it. The group of four were getting on well, Erin, Jay and the two girls who were now known as Kim and Amanda.
The team worked quickly and effectively, making Mrs Halstead and the other camp assistants very impressed. Resulting in a cleverly structured fort made from twigs and branches which the four rested in while waiting for the rest of the campers to catch up in creating something as good.
--
Jay placed his dinner plate onto the table, Erin briefly looking up to watch the unexpected movement. He then placed his backpack down on the floor, giving it a little kick to ensure it was tucked under the table.
"Why do you have a backpack?" Erin laughed.
"It's got my stuff in it. Tonight we are roommates."
"Oh, we are?"
"Yeah, my mom told me you asked if you could move rooms but since we don't have any beds left in any of the rooms, we are gonna move to a room with two single beds so that you're not alone. I hope it makes it a bit better."
"Thank you Jay."
The pair ate their dinner, silently stealing glances at each other occasionally.
--
After dinner, they entered the room, both of them immediately unpacking a few things and tossing their PJs on their assigned bed.
"Jay, could you come cuddle with me?" She asked, lifting her comforter slightly to invite him to her bed.
He smiled, got up and walked over to where Erin's bed was stationed, lowered himself carefully on the edge of the bed and got under the comforter with her. While Erin's head was slightly raised, Jay swiftly moved his left arm to lay at the bottom of her pillow. Erin laid back, the right side of her face coming to rest on Jay's arm. Jay's other arm lay behind Erin's back on the little space left on the mattress.
"I've never been held like this before" she mentioned quitely.
"I've never held anyone like this before." He grins.
Erin then moved one had to hold his face while the other would grace lightly over the top of his forehead before running her hand through his hair. "Have you ever had someone run their hand through your hair like this before?"
"Have you ever had someone stroke your back like this before?" When her hand came to run through his hair, his hand sneaked its way under her shirt, his index finger being ever so soft running up and down the dip in the middle of her back. Erin shivered, and considering how hot him and the room was, he knew she wasn't cold.
"Have you ever been kissed by a girl before?" All this questioning had caught him off guard until she lifted herself upwards, both hands holding his face now and kissed him. It was a short but sweet kiss. One that both made them smile afterwards. And maybe on Jay's cheeks there was just a hint of evidence of him blushing.
"I...uh, no, I haven't." He smiled nervously at her but she found it cute. "And um," he shimmed down so his head was at the same level as hers was, "it didn't last near long enough." He initiated the kiss this time, making its duration much longer. Long enough for him to bring his hand, the one previously stroking her back, to hold the left side of her face.
She giggled when they parted. Like, an actual girly giggle.
"Let's go to sleep," he instructed.
"Okay."
And with that, they both settled down on the bed, closed their eyes, minds full of replaying their blissful, intimate moment. Oh, and maybe they both fell into slumber with a smile on their face, unknown to the other.
DAY FIVE
Erin couldn't complain about her night's sleep this time. Cuddled up to Jay was a perfect way to wake up this morning. When the birds chirped again and again, Erin decided it was time to get up. She carefully untangled herself from Jay's hold, standing up beside the bed briefly to peek through the little window near the door to see it was another sunny day. After a quick stretch, she leaned back into Jay, her face merely touching his, and whispered, "wake up Jay." The sensation of her fingers running through his hair just as they did last night woke him, staring straight into Erin's smiling face.
"What a beautiful sight to wake up to."
Erin laughed as she shook her head. Jay caught her right hand as Erin started to straighten up her posture. He pulled himself up so he was sitting on the bed, not quite as eye level as Erin but better than before. "I'm serious. You're beautiful, y'know."
Erin smiled one of her prettiest smiles yet, making Jay's heart miss a beat. "You're really sweet." Her hand slipped from Jay's grasp, allowing her to leave to go to the bathroom.
--
After a morning of activities, Mrs Halstead dismissed the campers so they could take a lunch break. Due to the clear sky and increasing temperature, most campers decided to get their food from the food hall and sit outside to eat.
Erin joined the queue with everyone else. She turned back to talk to Jay but discovered that he was gone. His abrupt disappearance was unusual but she didn't think much of it, instead choosing to get her food and look for a spot for them to sit when he came back.
Walking over to a spot that currently did not hold a group of human beings, Erin's focus was on the plate in front of her with her arms full of snacks and a drink. She didn't take much notice of who she was walking past, which maybe she should have. Unaware to herself, she walked past Jess. Jess quickly stuck her leg out, causing Erin to trip over, drop her food and scrape her knees. Jess brought her leg back in as soon as possible to pretend that nothing happened. The girls who sat close, laughed at Erin while Jess gave her a smug look.
"You know Erin, personally I don't like my sandwiches with grass in them."
Erin got herself up, brushed off the mud and grass on her shorts, picked up her snacks that were in a packet with her water bottle and carried on to a spot near the lake. She let out a deep breath, trying to calm herself from the embarrassing act that just happened. Her gaze studied the glistening lake in front of her, acting as a distraction from the stinging pain from her knees and the faint giggles she could hear behind her.
Jay came back and plopped himself down not too far from where Erin sat.
"Where did you go?" she asked, sounding defeated.
"Oh, sorry about that. I went to go get the better quality chocolate for us."
She smiled for a few seconds but the overriding sadness feeling she felt soon consumed her again. Jay began to eat his sandwich but noticed that Erin was sitting with her knees pulled into her chest.
"What did you get to eat?" He put his plate on the floor to his side and moved his body closer to Erins, slightly maneuvering himself so he could see her from opposite her. The scrapes on her knees were obvious now. "Woah, what happened?" He sounded genuinely concerned.
She laughed. "I tripped." Her hands were no longer wrapped around her legs but instead coming to show Jay the damage that had been done there.
"Lets go get you cleaned up, yeah? I know where they keep the first aid stuff." Erin nodded and let Jay help her up. Smoothly, Jay grabbed a few snacks, popped some into Erin's pocket and shoved the rest in his and guided her to where he would clean her wounds.
--
Jay sat with his back against the log, waiting for Erin to come back from the restroom. Erin jogged lightly back to where Jay was sitting, noticing, unsurprisingly, that Jess chose to sit not too far away.
When Erin stood directly in front of Jay, she lifted the blanket he had wrapped around him.
"Hey, it's cold," he pouted.
"I know," she shivered. She moved Jay's legs with her hands so they were uncrossed and laid flat against the ground. Carefully she sat on the ground and scooted herself back so her back would fix into place with his chest comfortably. His arms came to rest around her waist. Meanwhile, she placed the blanket over them both.
"Are you comfortable?" she asked.
"I am." He allowed her to rest her head under his chin while another night of storytelling under the sky took place. Jay was transfixed on a guy named Adam who was telling a story, which seemed overly dramatic and unrealistic. Erin however, turned her head in the direction of where Jess sat. Jess looked over to Erin and Jay, unimpressed. Erin gave her biggest, smuggest grin.
DAY 6
While at the cabin, Erin and Jay were both taking some down time. The morning was spent by hiking around Wisconsin in the woods and around lakes; some breathtaking views Erin had to admit.
"We've been invited to go swimming in the lake, let's go," Jay said, elated.
"Doesn't your mom own the lake why would you need to be invited?" She laughed at how she thought Jay being invited to something his mom owned was ridiculous.
"I don't know but everyone else is going. Do you want to?"
The mood shifted a bit when Erin said, "I don't have a swim suit."
"Wear this white shirt and put some shorts on."
"You want me to wear this white shirt in the water?"
He smirks. "Yeah I do." He walks towards her, slips his right hand up the back of her shirt, and swifty unclasps her bra. "No need to wear that. Don't want to get it soggy."
She slides the bra off, tossing it onto her bed. In her next move she moves closer to Jay, pressing herself against him and reaching both arms around his neck. "Do you have some swim trunks I could borrow?"
He dips his head and kisses her softly. "I'll go look, wait here."
--
Erin's giggles filled the far side area of the lake, where the pair currently occupied. Jay swam over to Erin, capturing her in his tight hold. He started to nuzzle her neck which made her laugh harder. Once she calmed down, she spotted Jess glancing their way.
"Kiss me Jay." He gave her a quick peck on the lips. She saw that Jess was staring from the corners of her eyes.
"No, like this." She grabbed his face and went in for a full on kiss. She made sure that tongue was used and it was much more passionate than what they had previously shared.
Jess looked away, muttering 'disgusting' under her breath.
--
Erin got up and made her way over to where the cutlery was and grabbed herself a knife and fork. Her path back to her table was suddenly blocked by Jess and two of her minions.
"Erin, you know the whole point of summer camp is not to become a whore," Jess spat out with venom.
"Excuse me?" Erin didn't want to deal with Jess' bullshit right now, so she barged past her to make her way to her seat.
"Don't push me, bitch."
Erin turned round, not impressed, "what did you just say?"
"I think you heard m-" Jess didn't get to finish her reply. Erin slammed her cutlery on the nearest counter and grabbed Jess by the hair and kneed her in the face. Gasps could be heard from the diners around, shocked at the unexpected exchange between the two girls. Jess retaliated and swung her arms about until she could grab onto Erin's hair and pull her down. She wasn't successful as Erin had already pushed Jess to the ground, allowing Jess to put her hands under her nose to stop the blood from dripping on her clothes.
"Erin, woah." Jay came up to see what the commotion was about. He grabbed her gently, wanting to remove her from the situation. "Come on." He stroked her arm gently, trying to calm her down as her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"Don't ever call me a whore or a bitch again." And with that statement, Erin stormed out of the food hall and to the room she was staying in. Jay followed, of course. In her room, Erin placed both hands on her head, trying but failing to take deep breaths.
Her breathing only became steady once Jay had embraced her in a hug. Grasping her in his hold to make her feel a sense of safety.
"If she really called you those words, that's not the way to handle it Erin."
She cried then, letting the tears fall where they please. It felt good to get her anger and frustration out. And it also felt kinda good that Jay chose to follow her and not see if Jess was okay.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed.
He held her until she calmed down. Jay pulled back to look at Erin, in good time too as Jay's mom entered abruptly into the room.
"Erin. Behaviour like that is not tolerated here. Please pack up your things, your mom is coming to collect you." And with that, angry Mrs Halstead left the room.
"Wait here Erin." She was confused at his sudden departure. Was he just going to check up on his mom? Erin flopped down on her bed with puffy eyes, looking around the room she called home the past few days.
Jay came back, opening and then closing the door behind him in one quick movement.
"Jay, what are you doing with my pho-" she began.
"Turn it on." He handed her device back to her.
She gave him a raised eyebrow look but followed his orders anyway. While she waited for her phone to turn back on, she said "I'm sorry. I thought that we could have had more time together."
"Is the phone on?" He gestured to her phone, then held his hand out to take it back.
"Yeah. Why do you want it?"
"I'm going to put my number in it."
"Oh sure."
"This isn't the last of us Erin Lindsay."
A/N: Hi! So I hope you enjoyed this, the prompt I used was: 'I showed up three days late for camp and you're the unlucky person who chose to show me around and I'm not listening to a word you say.' I found this prompt on pinterest and I know it isn't exactly the same but oh well.
I have an idea of what I could do for chapter two if anyone is interested in that? Or should I just leave the story how it is? Let me know!