Chapter 6: A Little Insecure

Joanna walked into the cabin and saw Stephanie sitting on her bed, staring at the picture of Renee.

"I have't known you long, but it's still surprising to see you putting someone else before you," she mentioned as she went and sat down on her bed.

Stephanie looked up and smiled from the picture. "Well, when someone perfect like me goes and creates something, you know that they're going to be perfect too, and perfection certainly deserves admiration," she explained.

"What kind of things do perfect people go out do together?" Joanna asked.

"Well, I would take her to get her hair done. We would go to see the ballet, take her to her ballet classes. I would do make up for her if she wanted it done, nothing much, but enough to teach her the proper way to use it. She likes to chase the ducks around at the park so I would take her there, and then over to the beach," she answered.

Joanna softly laughed. She couldn't picture this lady going to a park and allowing her daughter to play with animals. "Can I ask you something a little more personal?" she questioned, suddenly intrigued with the story.

"Tell me what you were talking to Doctor Hartley about," Stephanie insisted, setting the picture down on the bed next to her.

Joanna sighed. It was only fair. "Well, I'm afraid of ending up alone," she replied.

Stephanie laughed. "That's a stupid fear," she responded.

Joanna glared to her. "I trusted you!" she angrily replied. She stood up and started towards her suitcase to grab everything that she needed for bed.

Stephanie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Okay, look. You're no me when it comes to looks, but I'm sure if you just took some time and effort, you could get somewhat close," she explained.

Joanna, who was hurt just seconds ago, decided to take her words as a slight compliment and turned around to face her. "You really think so?" she implored, suddenly interested.

Stephanie smiled to her as she studied her. "Let me do your hair and make up tomorrow, and you'll see the difference," she offered.

Joanna shrugged, what did she have to lose? "Okay. I'l give it a try," she replied, smiling to her.

ooo

Over in the other cabin, the men were all in their beds getting ready to fall asleep.

"Doctor Hartley?" Elliot asked.

"What is it Mr. Carlin?" Bob sighed in response. As far as he was concerned, today was a long day and all he wanted to do was go to sleep and start over tomorrow. Anything that anyone had to tell him, could wait until the morning.

"What happens if someone in here brought a tick in with them that can give us all lyme disease?" Elliot implored.

"Oh dear God!" Michael cried as he quickly threw his covers off and jumped out of bed. "I never thought to check myself!"

Kirk sat up and turned on the light, allowing everyone to it up and watch as Michael ferociously ran his hands through his hair and checked the rest of his body through his clothes.

Darryl stood up and looked over the edge of the bunk above him. He whispered something to Larry and then got back into bed.

"Larry wants you to know that most ticks are harmless," he informed him.

Michael stopped and looked to him. "Only most? I'm not that lucky!" he replied and then continued checking himself.

"I think you're fine," Kirk told him, wanting only to just go to sleep.

"You don't know that," Elliot responded as he lightly checked himself.

"Guys, just, just let him finish checking himself. The sooner he finishes, the sooner we can all sleep," Bob announced to everyone.

"Thank you," Michael said, calming down as he went and sat back down on the edge of his bed. "I have this weird fear that someday I'll go camping and there will be these huge ticks that'll attack me," he admitted.

"Well now I feel like I have to watch Emily every time there's a bird around," Bob remarked, hoping to just be able to go to sleep now.

"I don't like giant mosquitoes myself, they like to bombard," Larry casually informed them. "And Darryl here is afraid of building fires and Darren is afraid of leprechauns," he explained.

"Didn't we already have this conversation?" Elliot implored.

"He's right, let's go to sleep. We'll ask Joanna and Zsa Zsa what they can't stand tomorrow," Kirk stated.

Everyone agreed and Kirk went ahead and turned off the lights.

"Wait? Why did you call Stephanie Zsa Zsa?" Michael asked, breaking the new silence.

"I thought it was pretty obvious," Kirk replied. "Fun to look at, but hard to listen to at times."

"Now see here!" Michael snapped, once again jumping out of bed.

Kirk rolled his eyes and turned on the lights. "What? Does someone here love someone else?" he questioned.

"He doesn't love her, she just already has him whipped," Elliot explained.

"Does not!" Michael called back to him.

"Oh, that's a convincing argument," Kirk replied.

"Hey!" Darryl and Darren both simultaneously yelled out, causing every one in the room to freeze and look to them.

"I believe you've upset my brothers," Larry stated.

Michael went ahead and silently got back into bed as Kirk turned out the lights for the last time that night.

ooo

The next morning, the men all sat in the rec room as they waited for Joanna to come and start their breakfast for them.

"Maybe our talking lat night kept them up," Kirk suggested. He slouched in his spot in the corner of the couch.

Elliot looked to him from his spot by the window. "I know it kept me up," he commented.

"You were the one that started it with your stupid tick question," Kirk replied, slightly glaring to him.

"I'm sorry, I've just never had a tick on me before," Michael informed them.

"Well I have, and it's not so bad," Kirk harshly responded.

Elliot blankly looked to him. "No you haven't," he corrected him.

Kirk sighed. "Fine, I haven't," he confessed.

Joanna then walked into the room, her make up all perfectly done with her hair pulled halfway back and slightly curled. Her button down shirt was tied right below her chest with her undershirt showing, that was Stephanie's solution to her wearing clothes that were too baggy.

"Hey there," Kirk greeted, looking her over as he smiled.

"Good morning Kirk," she returned the greeting and then headed right for the kitchen.

Stephanie shortly followed her and headed right for the kitchen. She didn't even stop to say hi to anyone.

"How was it?" Stephanie asked as soon as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. "Not that I even need to ask."

Joanna smiled to her. "They did notice me this morning," she informed her. "Usually, they would make remarks every once in a while, but they sort of just kind of ignore the fact that I'm a girl," she explained.

"Doesn't surprise me with the way that you were dressing," Stephanie remarked. "You should switch to sweaters rather than sweat shirts," she said.

Stephanie turned and started to leave.

"Thank you," Joanna called, catching her before she left.

Stephanie smiled as she briefly turned to her. "I know," she replied and then left.

Thank you to my little sis who helped me with this. It's her birthday, so happy birthday to her!