"All right, it's time for an icebreaker!" David announced. He'd gathered all the campers in a circle on the grass near the lake.
"This is fucking stupid, David," Max said as he tossed a stick at Nikki who snatched it out of the air like a dog.
"Now Max, all you have to do is say your name and something about yourself; it's easy. Who want's to go first?"
"Oooh ooh ooh! I wanna go!" Nikki said. She stood up, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "My name is Nikki, and my mom is married to his dad!" she smacked Neil on the back of his head.
"Woah, seriously? Since when?" Max said lighting up.
"Two months ago," Neil said burying his face in his hands.
"That's… nice Nikki," David said cautiously. "Who's next?"
"Oh, me!," Space kid raised his hand. "My name's Neil and one day I'm gonna live in space."
"Space Kid we've been over this last year, you don't get to be Neil," Neil glared daggers at Space Kid.
"Okay," Space Kid said complacently as he sat back down.
"My turn. I'm Ered, and I'm by far the coolest one here." Ered flipped her hair to prove her point.
"That is so true," Nikki gazed at the teen with admiration. Max just scoffed.
"Enough!" Preston declared as he stood up and surveyed his crowd. "I'm Preston Goodplay, and this year I'm going to put on the most brilliant, stunning, emotional play you people have and will ever see! Thank you," he bowed and sat back down.
Before anyone else could go someone fell out of a nearby bush.
"Neil!" a girl squealed. It was Tabii with one eye.
"Oh god no," Neil stood up and backed away from his romantic admirer, his hands held out in front of him. Tabii ran toward Neil, her arms outstretched for a hug. In response Neil turned and fled, screeching like a four year old. Sasha and Erin stepped out of the underbrush a moment later.
"Tabii, god, stop being such a freak," Sasha said.
"What are you jerks doing here?" Max declared.
"Now Max, don't be like that. Welcome girls, what brings you to Camp Campbell?" David asked kindly.
"Ugh, Tabii had to see if that weird, pretends to be a girl, kid was back this year. I guess he is," Sasha said.
"Well, since you are already here, why don't you join us in a camp activity?" David asked.
"Hell no!" Max said waving his arms in the "cut it" gesture. "Those chicks caused enough trouble last year."
"Yeah I actually agree with Max on this one," Nikki spoke up. "They're just plain mean."
"O.M.G, are those real leather!" the new girl Sara interrupted as she pointed to Sasha's shoes.
"Like, they totally are," Sasha responded. Sara went up to the dark skined girl and examined her shoes.
"Those shoes go so great with your uniform. Where did girls of such fashion come from on this muddy lake?"
"We are the flower scouts. Our camp is across the lake." Erin explained with enthusiasm.
"If you can even call that compound a camp," Nikki stage whispered to Max.
"Do you want to, like, leave this muddy camp and join us for a spa?" Sasha offered.
"Would I ever. I haven't even been here a day and already my perfectly crafted outfit is covered in twigs and grass," Sara complained.
"Now wait just a minute girls," David intervened. For a moment, Neil appeared on the far side of the clearing with Tabii hot on his tail before disappearing back into the woods.
"Sara here was brought to Camp Campbell by her parents. She is was intrusted to us," David declared stomping his foot for emphasis.
"What ever," Sara waved him away. "At least if I go with them I will be surrounded by sensible fashion. Like seriously, is that bandana made from some old dirty t-shirt? Raw edges are sooooo two seasons ago."
David made a strangled sound as he reached for his bandana as though checking to make sure it was still there.
"Let's go Sara. I want to see you in a flower scout uniform!" Sasha squiled. The three girls turned to walk away when Erin cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Tabii! We are leaving. You can chase that boy some other time!" As the girls walked away Tabii tripped out of a bush before picking herself up and following them.
In the the silence that followed Neil joined back with the group, panting heavily, before collapsing face first at Nikki's feet.
"Aw, I'm so proud of you," Nikki praised as she stroked her step brother's hair. "All that woods training is finally increasing your stamina."
"You call it woods training, I call it you chasing me with a bat," Neil muttered into the grass.
"Well fuck, it's not even a day and we've already lost a camper," Max said. "What next, the wood scouts show up and kidnap someone?" Max started to head toward the mess hall for dinner and, because David was still standing there shocked, all the other campers followed him. After everyone had left David mumbled to himself, "But it was my favorite t-shirt."
Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, I'm having slight writer's block with this story, but I wanted to give you something. Don't forget, reviews are what make this story happen!