Stella laid in her bottom bunk and analyzed the crevices of the ceiling. She couldn't find sleep if it were painted red, standing right in front of her.
"Call me Brandon." She mouthed, eyes wide and dramatizing it in her head. She looked over to the side and Flora slunk down to the floor, tip toeing to Stella's bed.
"Hey!" She whispered and Stella smiled back, "What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna go see him." Flora giggled in a whisper.
Stella jumped up. "No ma'am." She shook her head and continued, "No, no, no, no, no."
"Come on! It'd be fun! You'll get to see Brandon!" Flora coaxed.
"We've been here for a day. One day. I'm not getting kicked out. Good night." Stella laid back down and rolled over.
"You never let me have any fun." Flora pouted and crawled back into her top bunk.
Stella over-thought the idea of sneaking into Brandon's room. Laying next to him and inhaling his scent as he ran his hard hands up her arms and whisper murmurs of sensuality into her ear.
Stella's thoughts vanished as sleep encompassed her into a coma.
Stella woke up at 7 with her team.
"Let's go ladies!" Ms. Bahr came hustling into the room clapping her hands.
Stella pulled on a purple sports bra and black Nike Pros, sliding on her running shoes.
"First up is a 4 mile run with Coach Shields. See if you can keep up!" Ms. Bahr smiled and turned.
Stella felt her stomach churn. All of the other girls are going to be all over him. But not if they can't keep up. Stella bolted out the door and was the first at the trail where Brandon was waiting.
"Hey!" He called and smiled genuinely. Unfortunately, he had a shirt on but Stella still had her imagination.
Within minutes, the other girls were surrounding him as Stella backed to the caboose of the pack.
Ten minutes into their run, the girls were at the front, wheezing to keep up with him. Stella decided that it was time for her to do what she did best. She began to pedal from the back of the pack and within seconds met Brandon at the front.
He looked to her and smiled, "Hey, it was lonely without you." He chuckled.
She smiled but said nothing. She wanted to finish first in front of him again.
On mile 3, about 13 girls had already dropped out. Stella still felt confident so she continued.
On mile 4, only 5 girls were left. Stella, Flora, Bloom, Krystal and Mitzi. Mitzi was fighting her way through the distance, trying her hardest to keep Coach Shields' attention.
Stella chuckled as she began to lengthen her strides into a run rather than a jog. Brandon noted the pace change and quickly stepped it up. In the corner of her eye, she watched at Flora, Bloom and Krystal bail out with smiles on their faces. They saw the competitive drive and they understood Stella's hidden agenda.
Mitzi wheezed and finally keeled over. Brandon didn't notice and kept running.
"To *huuuaaahh* the pier!" He grunted as Stella sprinted full speed at the wooden frames.
Stella pumped her legs and reached as far as she could as she stomped her foot on the pier in unison with Brandon.
"Me!" He cheered.
"No that was so me!" She yelled.
"Tie?" He proposed and she smiled, "Just this once." Stella and Brandon began their walk back to the camp.
"So..." He started. "Does the boyfriend miss you?" He pried.
Stella laughed, "I don't have one. Makes everything a lot easier."
Brandon fought back a grin, "Oh..."
Stella turned and pursed her lips, "And yours?" She prodded.
"Oh, I'm straight. I don't have a boyfriend." He said with a straight face, then a burst of laughter.
"You know what I mean!" She laughed.
"No, I don't. Got dumped about 2 months ago." He smiled sheepishly.
"Oh..." Stella mumbled, "I'm sorry." She frowned to him.
"Everything happens for a reason, right?" He smiled and touched her felt a shiver shoot down her spine. He didn't touch anyone else like the way he touched her.
"You never know what's going to happen." He mumbled under his breath.
"I had fun kicking your butt. But I gotta go catch up with my group. See ya." Stella looked forward and saw the rest of the campers waiting.
"Maybe we'll bump into each other." He smiled. She grinned, jogged off, and met up with her team.
There were 3 pick up games that day. Stella couldn't help but replay her conversation with her coach's colleague. It was pure taboo, but she was okay with it. Stella scolded herself in her head. She was supposed to be here for one purpose: soccer. Not him.
Six AM
Thwat thwat thwat
Flora sat up.
Thwat thwat thwat
"Hello..?" She mumbled. She looked out the screen door and saw coach Greene.
"What are you doing!?" She yelped in a hushed tone, opening up the door.
"Come on." He smiled and began to walk from the cabin.
Flora looked around and bolted after him. He smiled and laughed heartily. He knew she couldn't resist listening.
"How are you," He whispered, eloping his hand around hers.
Flora's heart because to thud against her chest as she felt his cool hands enclose hers.
"Pretty well, considering it's 6 am." She taunted and poked his arm with her free hand.
They walked past the cabins and into the woods. Flora began to hyperventilate to herself. "Where are we going." She stuttered in intrigued fear.
"Shhh.." He whispered. They approached an opening, a field of flowers blanketed in a wet dew. Flora smiled as she inhaled the fresh scent. Helia led her to a blanket strategically placed in the middle, not bending any stems.
"This is beautiful." Flora smiled, grazing her fingers across the soft petals. She blushed at his kindness and looked up, "The sun!" She smiled as the sun began its decent from hiding.
"Is this too much?" Helia asked, in honest concern in his over-doing things.
"No." She grinned a toothy smile and traced her hand up his arm. "It's perfect."
Moments passed and Flora's head snapped to the sound of a piercing whistle.
"LETS GO LADIES, UP UP UP!" A voice chanted in the distance.
Flora sprung to her feet and looked to Helia. "I gotta go." She waved began to run, "Thank you Helia!" She giggled and trotted back to her cabin before anyone noticed her absence.
Stella dreaded this day. "Strength training. Blehhhhh." She moaned and she tightened her laces.
Stella skipped out the door and began to jog towards to mess hall.
"You're too cute!" She heard a girl chuckle and giggle.
"Oh, um...thank you." A familiar voice came.
Stella, nosey at heart, peaked around the building.
Brandon stood with one of his players and his face was red. Diaspro walked around him and jumped on his back. "Carry me in!" She giggled.
"This is kind of inappropriate!" Brandon blushed again and held his hands forward.
"You know my leg hurts, it'll just be you taking care of your injured player." She whimpered and clung to him.
He sighed and walked forward, finally making eye contact with Stella. Her brow was furrowed and her lips formed a hard line.
She shook her head and walked forward into the mess hall.
"Stella!" She heard. She proceeded forward and couldn't help but feel hurt. She inhaled and sighed, "This is why you're here for soccer Stella.." She mumbled to herself.
When the training began, the teams were sorted by random selection, rather than teams. Stella didn't know any of the girls she was with, but she kept a kosher mentality. The first drill she was at included a leg press machine and calve raises. Stella pressed 400lbs flat and smiled smugly, another hidden talent. She continued with her group to speed drills, which she excelled in. Stella trotted to her next challenge: Pilates. She swallowed hard; her balance was so below par that she would be embarrassed.
The final drill was charging full speed at coaches holding bags. "Don't be a bag hero Stella," Came a snooty voice. Stella looked and it was Diaspro.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Stella asked, insultingly.
Diaspro's eyes widened and she clenched her jaw.
Stella waited for her turn, enjoying the sights of girls running full speed at Coach Bahr and Coach Greene.
Diaspro began to run forward, like a duck almost. She slammed into Ms. Bahr and scudded backwards onto her back. Stella didn't hold back; she bursted into uncontrollable laughter.
"I'd like to see you do it!" Diaspro barked.
Stella smiled as her turn approached. She watched Bloom in front of her plow over the coach in front of her.
"I need a break." Coach Pooler complained, walking away. Stella glanced up and saw as Brandon picked up the bag. She fought a smile and crouched into her runner's stance.
Brandon's face was pale. He swallowed hard and croaked, "Go."
Stella trucked at him, kicking as hard as she could for her final approach.
With her arms up to her chest, Stella threw herself into the bag. She watched as Brandon flew backwards at least 5 yards, scrapping his back on the ground.
A simultaneous "OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH" erupted from the groups as Brandon hissed in pain. Stella jogged to him and held her hand out. He reached up with watery eyes.
"Here, get on my back. You look injured." She said. She let go of his hand and turned to Diaspro. "Is it too late to say watch and learn?"