Renee POV

The showers here at camp didn't have the strongest water pressure, but there was still enough to get the job done. After I stepped out of the stall, I wrapped a towel around my hair and then another around my body and slipped my feet into my crocs. Luckily, the showers were right next to the cabin, so we didn't have to walk that far out in the open. Which meant there was less risk of catching a draft and of being spotted by horny onlookers.

I made it back to the cabin and got dressed. It had been about two weeks since camp had started and I was already having the time of my life. Camp Gottapee was so much fun. The counselors were awesome and we pretty much had free range to do whatever we wanted. There was always something to do around here. Games to play, our very own lake to swim in, weekly bus rides into town, and movies in the mess hall every Friday night. Even the organized activities were really cool, like the big canoe trip later today, which I was really looking forward to, especially since I was going to partner up with my new boyfriend Lincoln.

Maybe I was moving a little fast by calling him my boyfriend already. I mean, we'd only been seeing each other for two weeks, but I really liked hanging out with him and being around him. And I know he really likes me back. I've never really dated anybody before so I'm not sure what the exact protocol is, but I'm sure two weeks is enough time to start calling ourselves an item, right?

As I came out of the cabin, that's when I saw Lincoln talking to somebody. This girl named Ronnie Anne. I didn't know much about her myself, but she and Lincoln obviously knew each other personally. It wasn't that I was jealous or anything, but it seemed a little weird to me that he didn't talk about her much when they were clearly good friends. After all, he talked about Clyde all the time. I decided to go join them.

"Morning Lincoln," I greeted as I approached them.

"Oh, hi Renee." The two of us embraced each other in a big warm hug.

"I'll give you two some privacy," Ronnie Anne remarked with a raised eyebrow. "Smell you at the docks, lame-o."

"Not if I smell you first, weirdo," Lincoln replied. Ronnie Anne punched Lincoln in the arm and walked off.

"So Lincoln," I said. "Are you gonna be my partner for the canoe trip today?"

"Oh, uh, actually, I meant to tell you about that. I kinda promised Ronnie Anne that I'd partner up with her."

"Oh… I see."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No no, I'm not mad. I'm just… a little disappointed is all. Also, I wish you had told me sooner."

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just that Ronnie Anne and I live so far apart and we don't get to see each other in person that often, so we figured this trip would be a good chance to catch up."

"Right. Totally. I completely understand." At that moment, I figured this would be a good time to get some clarity.

"So… what exactly is the deal with you and Ronnie Anne?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you two are obviously really close, but you don't seem to talk about her much, so I was just wondering..."

"Oh! Okay, now I see where you're going with this. Trust me, it is NOT like that at all. Ronnie Anne and I have been friends since the fifth grade, but I don't like her that way. At least not… not anymore."

"What do you mean 'anymore'?"

"Well you see, when Ronnie Anne and I first met, she was a real jerk. She picked on me like everyday. The first time I saw her, she shoved a sandwich down my pants."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Finally I decided I'd had enough, so one day, I told her to meet me outside my house at 3:30 so we could settle it once and for all. I wasn't gonna fight her or anything. I was just gonna give her a strongly worded letter. My sisters found out about it and they told me that she was only picking on me because she had a crush on me and that I should kiss her. At first, I thought they were crazy, but then I figured they probably knew more about it than I did, so I took their advice. When Ronnie Anne showed up at my house, I gave her a kiss… and she gave me a black eye."

"Ooh. Ouch."

"Yeah. Really should've seen that coming."

"Was she your first kiss?"

"Yeah she was. But don't worry. You're a WAY better kisser than her."

I could tell he expect me to laugh at that. It wasn't really the smoothest thing he could've said, but I let it slide so he could continue.

"But then the weirdest thing happened. She threw a note up to my bedroom with her number on it, asking me to text her."

"So she did like you. Did you like her back?"

"Not at first. I think I just liked the idea of any girl having a crush on me. Even if she wasn't exactly what I had in mind. But then we started to hang out more and I realized that she was actually really cool. We became really good friends, but despite the fact that there was a lot of pressure on us to be more than that, any romantic feelings we may have had for each other are long gone. I promise you that."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely. Look, I know you're disappointed right now, but how about I make it up to you when we get back from the trip? A picnic in the clearing by the river, just the two of us. What do you say?"

"Sounds good. And don't worry about me. I'll just partner up with one of the other girls."

"Great. You are the raddest. You know that?" He pulled me in for a big smooch on the cheek. He's so adorable when he gets like that, I just love it.

"Okay, now let's go get some breakfast. My stomach's as hollow as a coconut."

"As you wish, m'lady."

If Lincoln said that he and Ronnie Anne were just friends, then I had to trust him. That's what a good girlfriend is supposed to do. And a good girlfriend doesn't get jealous when her boyfriend wants to spend time with his other friends.

Clyde POV

The boys' cabin was quiet. I sat alone on my bed trying to figure out what to do. I was so excited for the canoe trip today. Or I would've been if I'd had a partner. Lincoln was gonna be paddling with Ronnie Anne, which meant that I was left all alone and I was pretty certain that everybody else already had a partner too. Then again, if there were an even number of us here, then logically, there should be at least one person left without a partner. I just had to figure out who it was and I'd be in business.

As I stepped out of the cabin to try and find my last minute partner, I suddenly spotted Haiku sitting on the steps and writing in some sort of journal.

"Haiku? What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"I came here looking for inspiration. I find the shade to be a perfect muse."

"Oh. Did it work?"

"Extraordinarily. Would you care to hear what I've written?"

"Sure." I took a seat next to her and she began to read.

"As the summer sun burns,

Hormones run wild.

Even feelings of longing

Are no reason to smile.

For when teenage souls are impassioned

And primal desires awoken,

Hearts and trusts alike

Will always end up broken."

"Wow. That was some pretty deep stuff," I said.

"Thank you. I was inspired after I overheard a conversation between three people earlier."

"What kind of conversation?"

"I'd rather not say. All I can say is that it didn't bode well."

I wanted to tell her that she shouldn't have eavesdropped, but I figured it wouldn't do much good now. Besides, it was a really good poem and she was clearly a very thoughtful person, which I always found appealing. That gave me a crazy idea.

"Say, Haiku. Do you have a partner for the canoe trip yet?"

"No. I haven't really been looking or gotten any offers. I think most people here are afraid of me for some reason."

"Well, would you like me to be your partner?"

She paused for a moment, looking like she was thinking about it. Then she gave me her answer.

"Sure. Though I'm surprised you're not doing the trip with Lincoln."

"I wanted to, but he's going with Ronnie Anne instead. Not that I'm jealous! Why would I be jealous?" That probably came out a little more aggressively than I meant it to.

"Right," she said, clearly not buying it. "Well, I have to go, Clyde. I'll see you at the lake."

"See you there, Haiku." And with that, she got up and left. I watched her walk away, thinking about what it was actually gonna be like to share a boat with her, alone on the water.

Lori was always going to hold a special place in my heart, but I realized a long time ago that she was never going to feel the same way about me. She's madly in love with Bobby and I've grown to accept it. On the bright side, no longer obsessing over Lori has freed me up to pursue romance elsewhere.

Haiku and I got to know each other a little at the Sadie Hawkins dance all those years ago thanks to Lincoln, but I was still too into Lori at the time to think much about it. But now I was starting to realize what a catch she really was. Haiku was deep, mysterious, quirky, creative and if I'm being totally honest, she was really quite attractive in an edgy, dangerous sort of way. She had very shiny hair and even some nice curves, especially around the hips. My gosh, she was stunning.

I realized that I'd been staring at her butt as she walked away. It was so big that it jiggled a bit every time she stepped. I forced myself to stop, especially since it almost seemed like she would know if I was staring. I mean, I don't know for sure if she knew, but something about her just gave me that feeling.

Now I really was excited for the boat trip again. I couldn't wait to see Haiku again. Just the two of us alone on a boat. This was gonna be fun.

Lincoln POV

Everybody gathered on the beach, where Action and Erica already had canoes lined up for each of us. They also insisted that we wear life vests, though I'm pretty sure everybody here can swim just fine. Looking around at the other teams, I noticed Clyde climbing into a boat with Haiku. 'Not bad, buddy. Not bad at all.'

I was still waiting on my own partner to show up when I saw Renee coming up to me wearing the sexiest two-piece Ace Savvy bikini I'd ever seen. Her glorious curves were all I could focus on, hips swaying and breasts bouncing to the rhythm of her walking. As she stood before me, the only words I could muster were "Whoa, nice bathing suit."

She put her hands on her hips, striking a pose. "Thanks," she said. "You don't look too bad yourself."

"I've been working on my pecks and abs." It's true. Ever since Renee and I started dating, I'd been working out more. I had to make sure she had something to admire, too. I started showing off a few poses of my own.

"Hahaha! Not bad, bodybuilder. Have fun out there."

We shared a kiss and went our separate ways. I saw her get in a canoe with Stella. I'm glad she found another partner. Now if only mine would get here already. I didn't know what could've been taking her so long.

And then I saw her. Ronnie Anne was running straight towards me. And then, something happened to me that I never counted on. My jaw fell open, my eyes became glued to her and worst of all, my shorts got tighter. Ronnie Anne came towards me wearing a sporty purple and white two-piece that accentuated her curves and showed off her cleavage.

"Sorry I'm late," she said. "I got held up in a video chat with my family. You ready to do this?"

I was so mesmerized that I barely heard a word she said. But I managed to snap myself out of it before too long. "Y-Yeah, totally! Let's go."

As we climbed into our canoe together, I was silently cursing myself. 'What's wrong with you, man? You have a girlfriend now. You can't be turned on by other girls, especially not Ronnie Anne!' I sat in the back while Ronnie Anne sat upfront. We strapped on our life vests, grabbed our oars and cast out onto the lake, following the lead of the others.