Chapter Thirteen – Total Control
"So, you and Duncan, huh?" Bridgette says to Courtney quietly once they're sitting at the table for lunch.
"Um, what?" Courtney asks, taken aback.
"I saw you two," Bridgette says knowingly.
"Saw us what?" Courtney asks, feigning ignorance.
"Oh come on, it's so obvious. You like him. So what really happened last night?" Bridgette asks eagerly.
"I do not like him, and if you suggest such a thing again, I'll have to kill you," Courtney threatens.
"Wow, dramatic much?" Bridgette rolls her eyes. "Deny it all you want, but I know the truth. If you want someone to talk to about him, who won't judge you, I'll be here!" Bridgette offers, going back to her lunch.
"Alright kids, after lunch I want to do one last trust exercise with you, then give you a bit of time to prepare for the talent show tonight. We're going to start it a bit earlier than originally planned because it's supposed to rain tonight and I want to get it over with before the storm starts. So eat up!" Chris announces.
"Alright for this exercise you need to be in pairs again! This time I think I'll pick the pairs!" Chris decides. He divides them up and then proceeds to let them know what the task is. "As you can see we've set up a bit of an obstacle course here," he gestures to the strip of grass between the girls' and boys' cabins where there is an array of random objects. "Your task is simple! One person in the pair will have to close their eyes, the other must lead them through the obstacle course by touching all ten fingers. Got it?" Chris asks. The campers all nod. "Good, who shall we have first? Let's have Lindsay and Geoff. The rest of you can talk to your partners while you're waiting!"
"So, Courtney…" Harold says.
"We don't actually have to talk do we?" Courtney asks.
"I guess not…" Harold sighs. They sit in silence until Harold sighs again, more loudly this time.
"What is it?" Courtney huffs, annoyed by his loud breathing. Harold nods in the direction of Leshawna. Courtney follows his gaze to see Leshawna laughing animatedly at something Duncan has said. Courtney rolls her eyes.
"Why does Leshawna seem to notice everyone but me?" Harold asks.
"Are you actually asking me or is this rhetorical?" Courtney wonders.
"Maybe I should get a tattoo and some piercings as well," Harold muses. "Does it hurt?" he asks Courtney.
"How should I know? Does it look like I have any tattoos or piercings?" Courtney asks, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh…. Right…" Harold gulps, remembering he's not supposed to know about Courtney's belly button piercing. Courtney isn't dim though and she sees right through him.
"Oh my god, he told you!" Courtney accuses, hitting Harold in the arm.
"No he didn't!" Harold denies.
"If he didn't then how do you know what I'm talking about?" Courtney points out.
"Uhh…" Harold starts.
"I am going to kill him!" Courtney seethes. "What exactly did he say?"
"Well, it's not really his fault. We figured it out because your bracelet left an imprint on him. Then DJ said we wouldn't tell if Duncan gave us details…"
"Why are you defending him when he makes your life miserable?" Courtney questions.
"He really isn't that bad, I know he does it because it makes him feel superior in a world where everyone's trying to make him feel inferior," Harold shrugs. Courtney stares at him, not quite sure how to respond.
"Wow Harold that's really… insightful," she says finally.
"You like him, don't you?" Harold asks.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Courtney says exasperatedly. Harold shrugs.
"So what should I do about Leshawna?" he asks her.
"Have you tried talking to her?" Courtney asks.
"Well… not exactly. She's very intimidating." Harold says sheepishly. Courtney raises an eyebrow at him.
"Maybe you should start there," she suggests. Harold nods.
"I have one more question about your piercing…" Harold says.
"No, it didn't hurt," Courtney sighs.
"Not that… but why do you even have it if you always cover it up or take it out when people could see it?" he asks.
"Well, I didn't get it for anyone else, I got it for me and I don't need people's suggestive comments about who I'm trying to impress or 'maybe she's not such a good girl after all', like having a piercing is some kind of dumb sign that you're out to break all the rules," Courtney scoffs. "Although with Duncan that might actually be the case," she adds. Harold laughs and Courtney smiles, thinking how weird it is that this camp has actually kind of worked.
"Harold and Courtney, you're up!" Chris calls.
"We have to practise for the talent show, that's what everyone else is doing," Alejandro says as he walks into Heather's cabin.
"I don't need to practise, I'm already perfect," Heather declares snarkily. Alejandro sighs.
"If I agree with you, will you practise with me?" he says. Heather shakes her head. "Why?" Alejandro asks.
"Because I don't want to!" Heather snaps.
"Is it just me or do you hate me even more than usual?" Alejandro wonders.
"It's impossible for me to hate you more than I already do," Heather informs him.
"Oh, well that's reassuring," Alejandro nods. "But we still need to practise."
"Ugh, no!"
"Heather," Alejandro looks at her seriously. "Tell me what is wrong."
"Nothing."
"Heather."
"Nothing!"
"Tell me."
"No."
"So there is something?"
"No."
"I will keep asking until you tell me. Heather. Heather. Heather." Alejandro repeats annoyingly.
"Why didn't you try to steal my underwear like all the other guys?" Heather demands.
"What? Why would you want me to?" Alejandro asks, taken aback.
"I don't! But it's kind of offensive that you didn't even try! Is my underwear not good enough for you?" Heather says aggressively.
"Heather, I didn't take your underwear because we are both above such ridiculous games. I respect you too much to invade your privacy like that," Alejandro assures her.
"You respect me?" Heather asks.
"Yes. I don't like you, but I respect you," Alejandro asserts. "And because of that, I am expected to face the consequences of not participating in the so called challenge," he says, rolling his eyes.
"What are the consequences?" Heather questions curiously. Alejandro sighs.
"To run naked to the lake in front of everyone," he admits. Heather laughs.
"Maybe you should just do it now, everybody's out there practising," Heather suggests wickedly.
"Good idea," Alejandro agrees, stripping off his shirt.
"Wait, what?" Heather says, shocked. She stares at his chest and abs, awestruck. Alejandro smirks.
"You were right, I am very muscular. I can see that it is quite disturbing to you," he chuckles.
"Very… yes…" Heather says absentmindedly. Alejandro continues stripping with Heather watching until he's completely naked. Heather blushes as he takes off his underwear.
"It's okay, you can look," Alejandro says with a wink as Heather goes to look away. Not wanting to look like she can't handle it, Heather stares at him defiantly, pretending like she doesn't want to jump his bones. "Okay, I'm going now." Alejandro tells her.
"Okay," she says, trying to keep her voice even. He puts his hand on the doorhandle.
"Wait!" Heather says suddenly.
"What?" Alejandro asks nonchalantly, expecting her to throw herself at him. Instead she runs outside.
"Hey everyone! Alejandro is about to do a nudie run so pay attention!" she calls. "You'll probably have the best view from the dock, that's where I'm going!" she laughs evilly and Alejandro hears her skip down the steps of the cabin. He curses to himself and takes a deep breath before opening the door and walking outside. Instead of running in shame to the lake, he struts past the cabins and down to the dock, waving at everyone who stares at him in shock. He winks at Katie and Sadie who both promptly fall over.
Alejandro dives gracefully into the lake then resurfaces, flipping his long hair out of his face and turning to face the dock. Heather looks down at him with a smirk on her face.
"Like what you see?" Alejandro grins. "I know I'm probably the biggest you've seen," he brags.
"You wish," Heather scoffs. Alejandro just laughs.
"Will you bring me my clothes?"
"Hell no."
After the drama of Alejandro's nudie run is over, everyone is back to either practising for the talent show or lazing around enjoying the last of the sun. Big black clouds appear on the horizon and it doesn't look like it will be long before the storm begins.
"Excuse me, Chris?" Beth lisps.
"Uh, yeah?" Chris responds.
"I was wondering if you had any oil I can use for my baton twirling. I want to light them on fire!" Beth says excitedly.
"I don't know!" Chris snaps. "If we do it's probably in the fish cabin somewhere. Go and look around."
"Thanks Chris!" Beth grins.
Duncan is sitting with Geoff and DJ on the front steps of his cabin when Courtney strides up to him, looking none too happy.
"Can I help you?" he says.
"I want to talk to you. Alone." Courtney emphasises, putting her hands on her hips. Geoff starts to wolf whistle but it dies halfway through as Courtney gives him a withering look. DJ has a chuckle to himself but is also cut off by a death stare from Courtney. Duncan sighs.
"Fine, we'll go into the cabin." He stands up and leads her inside.
"You told DJ and Harold!" Courtney accuses as soon as the door is shut behind her.
"Aw, how did you find out about that?" Duncan curses.
"It doesn't matter! You said you'd keep it a secret!" Courtney hisses, poking him in the chest.
"Well it's not my fault your stupid bracelet left a mark on me!" Duncan retorts, refusing to be intimidated by her.
"You should have lied!" Courtney snaps back.
"You're making a big deal out of nothing. They aren't going to tell anyone," Duncan assures her.
"How can you possibly know that? A week ago you'd barely spoken to those guys and now you trust them with all your secrets?" Courtney says exasperatedly.
"It's not my secret, it's yours. I don't care who knows," Duncan points out, folding his arms.
"Well I do! And I don't want anyone to find out!" Courtney stresses.
"Yeah, I got that," Duncan responds bitterly. "Look, I trust those guys for some idiotic reason and I'm not going to tell anyone else, okay? In case you hadn't already figured out, you're in total control of this situation," he says, his jaw tightening.
"What are you talking about?" Courtney snaps. Duncan just shakes his head and walks past her and out of the cabin. Courtney watches him leave, unable to say anything.
If I'm in total control of the situation, why do I feel like I've never been in less control in my life?
Note - Hey people, I am really pumping out these chapters hey? I really appreciate all your kind comments and I love hearing that you look forward to new chapters. I think there may be four chapters left for this? We'll see how I go, it may be less. Please review! xx