So… I thought it was kind of unfair to have everyone base their opinion off one chapter. Thus here we are! I decided to put up another one just so everyone can 'feel things out' with how they feel about this fic. This chapter begins the evening following the first chapter as we rejoin the Squirrel Scouts through Patsy's perspective. Enjoy!

(Patsy's POV)

It was evening and I was really trying to focus on what Den Mother Doe was saying despite my mind feeling like it was 'somewhere else'.

We just finished dinner and Den Mother Doe asked us to stay a little longer like she always does to do her 'Beginning of Summer Welcome Schtick' every year. Sure it's everything I've already heard before, but since I'm now officially a 'Troop Leader'... I wanted to make sure I was still somewhat paying attention.

But, that still didn't mean my mind was wandering just a little bit.

Oh… Lazlo.

I know I keep saying it, but I just still can't get over that he's actually back!

After 4 years of me asking where Lazlo was and all I would get is a 'Needed to stay home' from Clam with no other explanation and Raj wasn't much better. But, whatever, I'm not going to complain about why he's back.

Ugh… why is he still so cute?

Seriously, I know we're all 17 going on 18 here and we've all changed a little, but it was like in the real ways he didn't change at all.

He was still the same sweet, optimistic, and adorable Lazlo that I remembered all too well.

Even aside from being taller, he really didn't even change at all there either! Same bright light brown eyes, same enthusiastic smile, same cute tuft of hair that always sticks out from underneath his scouting cap.

If anything, I think he's even cuter now than I remembered.

Even now, I still remember when I first met Lazlo… and also simultaneously got a crush on him at the same time.

It was when I went canoeing with some of the other girls when I was 11. We were going across the lake and Gretchen, Nina, and I were 'messing around' and splashing water at each other with our oars.

Then my oar slipped and flew out of my hands when Gretchen gave me a really aggressive splash from her oar and then also from her tail. I got pretty mad when I saw my oar go flying and floating toward Camp Kidney several yards away. And then I got really upset when Gretchen and I started arguing and she kept making me even angrier by saying it 'wasn't all her fault'.

But, mid-argument, I just heard a chipper and good-natured boy's voice say word-for-word:

"Hey! You're Squirrel Scouts, right? Sorry to bother you, but I think you dropped your oar and I wanted to give it back."

After that, all I remembered was looking down into the water to see a Spider Monkey in a Bean Scout Swimming uniform about the same age as me, Gretchen, and Nina with a big smile on his face as he held up my oar to me from where he was treading in the water next to our boat.

I immediately stopped talking and suddenly felt like I lost all concept of thought as I kept looking at him continue to smile at me… and I had no idea what was happening to me.

Don't get me wrong, I had crushes on boys before that point and thought they were cute, but all of those before felt like nothing compared to what I was 'feeling' looking at Lazlo.

Mostly because none of those crushes on boys at my school lasted more than a couple of days or even a week at most.

But, there was just something about him that made my heart feel like it was almost 'racing' and my stomach felt like it had butterflies flying around in it.

Yeah, I know it sounds stupid, but that was the first time I 'felt like that' around anyone, especially around a boy.

I just thought he was really cute and had a really nice smile and I really wanted to talk to him.

But, all I did was keep staring at him and even though my head was screaming at me to 'say something… ANYTHING!'... It was like I physically couldn't as I kept staring at him.

Eventually, he tilted his head at me and looked almost 'concerned' and asked me if I was 'okay' since I still wasn't responding. And then I heard Scout Master Lumpus yell, "Lazlo, get back here!"

And that was it.

That was when I found out his name was 'Lazlo' (a name I never heard before until then and just made me like him that much more since he had a name just as cute as I thought he was).

But, I still felt like my mouth was glued shut as he called back to Lumpus that he'd 'be right back'. After he said that, he just looked back at me with that same big smile he had before as he started, "Sorry, I gotta get back to my Scout Master now. Here, I'll just put your oar back in your canoe for when you want it. Nice meeting you, girl I don't know!"

After that, he just put my oar back in the canoe like he said before swimming back toward Camp Kidney.

And all I could do was watch Lazlo until finally, I heard Gretchen shout in my ear since I guess she and Nina were talking to me and I wasn't even responding because I was 'distracted'.

Then the rest of way back and even until lights out, all Nina and Gretchen did was 'tease me' about Lazlo.

Which still annoys me a little sometimes even now when they do that, but just like when I was 11… I don't care!

I like Lazlo and… I still do.

And it's not like 'what happened' earlier really helped back when I caught him from falling and ended up landing on top of him. I could already feel the back of my neck sweat and my heart race a little and I was trying to 'calm down' as I thought back to that.

Honestly, I was almost grateful when I was 'pulled out of my thoughts' as I heard Den Mother Doe announce, "Well, enough boring you with all the rules and things. Haha! What I would really like to do now is thank the young ladies who I am very grateful will be giving myself and Ms. Mucus a big helping hand this summer! Many of you new Squirrels have already gotten to know some of these ladies when they were showing you around earlier and getting you all settled. And I am so proud to say that I have watched each and every one of them grow from young Squirrel Scouts like yourselves to the beautiful, strong, and lovely young women they are now. So, allow me to officially introduce you all to Almondine Anderson, Amber Everett, Toodie Gray, Gretchen Langlade, Nina Neckerly, and Patsy Smiles! Please stand ladies and let's all give them a round of applause!"

We stood up as everyone applauded, making me genuinely smile a little, even though I also simultaneously felt a little internal 'twinge' in the pit of my stomach.

I know I said earlier that I couldn't wait for this summer to be over, but… it's like it really was finally 'setting in' that this really was my last summer as a Squirrel Scout here. That after this I wouldn't come back with my friends at camp, doing dumb yet fun things with them, and that I… I probably wouldn't see Lazlo ever again.

Lazlo…

Somehow I managed to get my head back on straight as Den Mother Doe started again, "Very good, and thank you again ladies for all your help so far! I know we'll make this summer something special and you'll get to show all our newcomers a thing or two about how to be great Squirrel Scouts!"

All of a sudden, Kelly raised her hand and stood up as she said, "Den Mother Doe! Miss Gretchen and Miss Patsy already showed us REALLY cool stuff today!"

Immediately Gretchen and I looked at each other confused as Den Mother Doe replied happily, "Really? Why, that's wonderful, Kelly! What kinds of things did Patsy and Gretchen show you today?"

Kelly's face lit up as she exclaimed, "We saw Miss Patsy's boyfriend fly up into a tree! It was AWESOME!" My entire body locked up and my mouth felt like it went bone dry in livid shock and Gretchen looked at me with a teasing smirk and I immediately gave her a hard look.

Then another girl from our group, Olivia, also stood up with a big and eager smile as she added enthusiastically, "YEAH! And Miss Gretchen threw her boyfriend down a hole!"

Immediately, Gretchen's expression dropped before she narrowed her eyes and called out defensively and almost hostile, maybe a little too 'hostile' as she started to snap, "HEY! YOU BETTER SHUT…"

I was starting to get concerned almost immediately that she was going to flip out on a 9-year-old as I stood up and smoothed out, "Uh, excuse me, Den Mother Doe. I think what they mean is that we met some of the Bean Scouts while both of us were hiking this morning and said 'hi'."

I felt like I was sweating bullets that the kids almost 'gave us away'.

But, then I felt like a tank was lifted off me as I breathed a sigh of relief when Den Mother Doe looked like she decided to believe me instead as she responded, "Oh, how WONDERFUL! Glad to hear all my Squirrels are being good neighbors to our friends across the lake! We'll be seeing quite a bit of our Bean Scout friends this Summer so I'm glad you girls got to meet some of them today. Now, let's all head back to the cabins for a good night's rest. You all must be exhausted after a big day of exploring. Have a good night, ladies!"

Almost instantly after everything cleared, Gretchen slowly turned her head back to look at me.

My hand was still on her shoulder and I felt something 'rumbling' under my touch.

At first I thought she was 'growling', but… I wasn't sure? Then again, was it even 'growling' now that I think about it? It also almost felt and sounded like a low 'hum' of some kind.

Then before I could think anymore about it, she just gave me this look before aggressively shrugging my hand off her shoulder and baring her teeth at me.

My eyes went wide as I put my hands up in defense, not knowing what was even 'happening' right now.

Again, I've known Gretchen for almost 10 years and even though I was upset with the new kids almost giving us away too… this is a little 'much', even for her. Before I could confront her though, she just looked away and grunted before passing off, "Ugh, whatever… I need to go for a swim." Then she just 'stormed off' out the door of the dining hall without turning back as I just looked on in confusion.

Seriously, what is up with her?!

1 hour later

After washing our faces and changing into our pajamas, Nina and I were just laying in our beds and reading, or at least I was 'pretending' to read.

Sure Lazlo was especially on my mind, but now whatever part of my head that wasn't thinking about Lazlo was thinking about Gretchen.

I just couldn't figure out what's been going on with her since she just seemed to get 'worse' and 'worse' as the day went on, especially after we ran into the Bean Scouts earlier.

I mean, yeah I get that I pretty much totally ruined our prank, but at the same time… I had NO idea that she made her pit THAT deep until she intentionally threw Clam into it earlier.

Seriously! She really could've seriously hurt him and even if she intentionally made that to potentially get back at Edward or even one of the other Beans… NONE OF THEM DESERVE THAT!

I mean, she was lucky that Clam is pretty much built like a tank and it takes A LOT for him to get hurt. Especially these days Clam even looks the part of being 'the strongest' of the Bean Scouts since he filled out over the past 2 summers. But, even then, and even though I know Clam can 'annoy her' a little, that still didn't mean she had to THROW HIM INTO A PIT 12 FEET DEEP!

Finally, I lowered my magazine a little to see Nina still reading one of her Science Fiction novels that she's always loved to read since I met her.

I bit my lip before looking around and also taking a quick glance out the window next to my bed, still seeing no sign of Gretchen coming back from the lake.

As much as I still hesitated, I knew it was now or never. I got my gumption and eventually started, "Uh, Nina?"

I saw her ears perk up before she lowered her book and pushed her glasses back up on her nose and asked, tilting her head at me, "Yeah? What's going on, Patsy?"

Determined not to lose any of the 'gumption' I got together, I did one last check out the window over my shoulder before leaning forward and whispering, "Um… do you think 'something' is going on with Gretchen? Like more than usual?"

I almost fell off my bed when Nina immediately slammed her book shut before slamming it down on her bed and exclaiming, "Oh my gosh! YES! I thought it was just me thinking that!" I panicked as I hushed and yelled/whispered at her, mainly not knowing if Gretchen was nearby and could be hearing this whole thing, "Shh! Nina! What the heck?!"

Instantly, her eyes went wide as she covered her mouth with her hands before recovering, "Shoot! Sorry! But… yeah. She has been acting so edgy all day. During dinner, all I did was ask her to pass the salt and then she freaked me out when she just stabbed the table with her fork before giving me this glare and eventually giving me the salt. She definitely has 'something' going on. Well… you know; like you said, more than usual. And maybe I'm wrong, but… wasn't she 'like this' last year a little bit for a week or two as well?"

I thought for a second before my eyes went wide in 'realization' as I snapped my fingers and agreed, "You know what?… you're right! She was a little 'on edge' last year at the beginning of camp too, but I just thought she was just being 'moody' or something? But this… seriously, there has got to be 'something' up with her. But, what?"

Both of us sat there thinking for a second and Nina looked like she was about to say something until we both froze, went wide-eyed, and felt our backs get taut and tense when we heard footsteps out the window.

I could tell both of us thought it was Gretchen coming back from the lake until… nothing.

We both got confused after a while until we heard what sounded like some kind of 'rough sigh' or something out the window from Nina's side of the cabin that faced the lake.

Slowly, both of us gave each other a determined look as we nodded before putting our book/magazine aside.

Both of us practically slinked to the floor before we eventually looked out the window. My eyes went wide and I had a brief moment of panic when I saw Gretchen standing about 50 feet away from the cabin at the shore of the lake, thinking she could definitely hear us talking about her just now.

Nina and I just looked at each other in panic for a second (thinking we were completely busted and Gretchen was going to bite our heads off), until… we both noticed something.

Gretchen wasn't even looking at the cabin, like at all.

Nina and I looked at each other in total confusion for a second before we immediately looked back out at Gretchen. All she was doing was standing on the shore near the lake, looking like she just got out of the water.

She was still in her swimsuit with a towel around her shoulders, but… she wasn't doing anything. Almost like she was just standing there staring at 'something'. It wasn't until half a second later that I had the realization as I heard Nina whisper, "Is… Is Gretchen staring at a tree?"

My whole facial expression contorted in confusion as I kept trying to think of any other explanation for what Gretchen was doing… but I couldn't.

Nina was right. Gretchen literally was pretty much just staring at this large oak tree near the lake.

Um… what?

Both Nina and I just kept watching her until all of a sudden Gretchen scrunched her eyes and clenched her teeth before kicking the tree, seeing some tree bark flying off in the process.

Then just as suddenly, she turned away and through her teeth growled out a frustrated-sounding, "Agh, dammit!..."

After that, she threw her towel over her head before stomping off to the communal washrooms.

What the heck? After the two of us were sure Gretchen was 'out of sight', we both ran outside as fast as we could.'

Neither of us even bothered to put on any shoes as we booked it all the way over to the tree we just saw Gretchen stare at and pretty much aggressively front-kick the bark off of.

At first, neither of us knew anything about what the heck was going on. But, then we actually saw the tree and realized something I could tell both of us completely forgot about since last summer.

1 year ago

Ah… what a perfect day.

Den Mother Doe brought the younger kids into town to mail off their letters to home and also help them earn a community service badge while they were out there, so she left Ms. Mucus in charge of 'supervising us' while she was out. And that lasted all of about 10 seconds since Ms. Mucus said she was 'going to take a nap' and to 'try not to blow anything up or make too much noise' while she was sleeping.

So, for us that was easy enough and we decided to have a beach party on the lakeshore, especially since we only had 3 weeks left at camp this summer… we were determined to make the most of it.

Besides, why not?!

It was just hot enough to swim, but not too hot to make playing sand volleyball or sunbathing unbearable. It really was just perfect.

I know I was definitely enjoying getting a little sun as we all kept 'doing our thing'.

Everything seemed 'business as usual' so far. Gretchen was swimming, Nina was sitting next to me reading one of her books, and Almondine was keeping score as Amber and Toodie played two-on-two sand volleyball with Honey and Suzie.

We all kept going about our thing and I felt like I was about to doze off until I heard Almondine shout, "PATSY! Heads… up?"

I had an inkling as I blocked the volleyball and knocked it to the wayside with my left fist. I tilted my head up and saw everyone looking at me wide-eyed before I smirked and tilted my sunglasses down with a smirk before commenting, "Oh, I think I can watch out for myself without needing a 'heads up'. "

After that I pushed my sunglasses back up and put my arms behind my head as I heard Amber remark, playfully taking a jab at me, "Hey Patsy! Maybe you should make your 'lightning-fast Mongoose reflexes' useful and join the game instead of just sitting back and 'looking pretty'."

I just smirked and shrugged my shoulders before responding just as playfully teasing, "Well, someone has to 'keep up the image'. But, here, let's call it even and I'll just get the ball for you."

"Whatever you say, Smiles!" Honey called out as everyone laughed and I smirked and rolled my eyes and got up to get the ball.

It landed over by this BIG oak tree that's been on the shore for as long as anyone could remember.

I jogged over and grabbed the ball and was about to jog back and it over, until… I saw 'something'. Something I never noticed was on this tree if it ever was even there before now to begin with.

On the side of the tree that was facing out toward the lake and just to left of the moss on the north side of the tree, was a big heart carved into the side.

No names inside of it or other things carved around it. It was just a heart. I mean, a bit of a crudely-drawn heart, but still a heart to anyone who could see it!

I just kept staring and tilting my head at it in confusion until I heard Honey call out (sounding kind of annoyed), "Patsy! What the heck?! Are you just taking a nap over here or…" But then she went dead silent too when I looked back and saw her staring at the tree wide eyed too.

And she wasn't the only one.

Pretty much all of us were staring at the tree wide eyed, even Gretchen!

It was dead silent until Toodie decided to break up all of us awkwardly staring at the tree before saying, "Um, was this thing always here and I just don't remember it?"

I mean, as stupid as that sounded… that was actually a pretty valid question, to be honest.

Amber even validated my thought by remarking, "Um, no. Pretty sure any of us would remember a giant heart carved into a tree THIS close to camp. It has to be recent. Think it's from last year or even a couple years ago?"

Then all of us got taken off guard as Nina stepped forward and almost looked like she was REALLY studying the tree as she commented, "I don't think so. This looks pretty fresh."

Nina then stepped closer and started running her finger in the grooves of the carving on the tree before saying, "Judging by the lack of weathering, color, and feel… I'm pretty sure this had to be done a couple days ago or a week maximum."

Then all of us went from looking at the tree to looking at Nina wide-eyed.

But, then again, after all the years we've all known each other… why were we even surprised?

After all, when it comes to random facts, we can always count on Nina or Almondine to just say some random stuff that none of us would know or bother learning about in a thousand years.

My thought was proven even more when Almondine stepped forward and looked at the carving too before she also ran her finger in it and nodded before confirming, "I agree. And judging by the way it looks and how it feels, it was probably carved using a very dull pocket knife or even moderately-sized sharp rock."

All of us just continued to stare in silence at how either of them knew these things.

And again, I felt like it was even more validated when Suzie stepped in and pointed out, "Okay, well now that Sherlock 1 and 2 have that 'figured out', that means that someone must have come over here and done this at night while we were sleeping. Otherwise, we would've seen them do it."

Then Honey added almost immediately, "I think it was one of the Bean Scouts."

"Well no duh! Who else would've done this?" Suzie countered.

Right then, Nina raised her hand and reasoned, "Um, guys… I think we're missing a really critical point here. Since this obviously was done by a Bean Scout just recently, on all accounts by deductive reasoning… that would mean this was carved here for one of us. Since I already have a boyfriend back home and I'm pretty sure none of the Bean Scouts over there like me like that anyway, I highly doubt it's for me."

I chimed in too as I added, "Yeah, I doubt it's for me either. Especially if we're talking about the 'current Beans' here."

Then Toodie smirked and crossed her arms before remarking, "Yeah, pretty sure we all knew who Patsy wished it was from."

They all started choking back laughs, knowing she was talking about Lazlo (even though he hasn't been around in 3 years). I felt my cheeks go red before I narrowed my eyes at Toodie and punched her shoulder, causing her to complain and rub her arm, "Ow! Geez, what the heck, Patsy?!"

I just ignored her as I continued, "Look, unless Lazlo decided to come all the way up here from South America just to carve a heart in a tree and then go right back, I highly doubt it. Besides, he hasn't even been here in 3 years anyway."

Even though, in my head… I did secretly wish this was the case, or better yet just having him back here.

Look, I've had a crush on Lazlo practically since I met him and even though he was pretty much always nice to me and I know he even 'trusts me' to many extents, I could never really tell if he actually did 'like me' the same way I liked him.

But… ugh, what does it matter? He's not even here anyway… unfortunately.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as Amber said, "Yeah, true. Even though if Lazlo were here, I would've put BIG money down on that since he seems like he would totally do that kind of thing by FAR over the other Bean Scouts."

Everyone seemed to nod and 'agree' on that statement which just made me even more upset that Lazlo wasn't here again.

But, then I was pulled back in as Almondine questioned, "Okay, well if it isn't for Patsy or Nina, then I think it's pretty obvious who it's for."

"Oh yeah." Suzie said.

"For sure." Honey added.

"Totally!" Amber agreed.

Well, at least every seemed like they agreed until almost everyone that wasn't me, Nina, or Gretchen finally said in contradictory unison, "It's for me."

Oh great... Here we go.

All of a sudden, all of them started looking at each other in wide-eyed shock that they all didn't agree.

Then Almondine decided to break up the 'shock' as she commented in confusion but also rationalizing why she was right, "What? I thought it seemed pretty obvious that Samson probably did this for me. Sure I don't really like him like that, but I know he still has a crush on me. Plus, excluding Lazlo, he's the next one I'd suspect of doing something like this regardless."

Honey scoffed as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes before saying, "Yeah, right? Samson can barely chew gum and breathe through his nose at the same time, you seriously think he somehow got all the way over here and then somehow used whatever strength he doesn't have to carve into a tree. And even if he did, we probably would've heard him wheezing and using his inhaler in the middle of the night from a mile away."

Almondine rolled her eyes and crossed her arms too before reluctantly giving in, "Well, I'm just saying."

But, then Suzie cut in and gave Honey a look before accusing, "And what makes you think it's for you then, Miss Big Brained America?"

Honey just brushed off the comment before saying, "Because I know it's for me if you've ever bothered paying attention. Didn't you see Gordon looking at me at the last picnic? He's totally into me."

Suzie immediately let out an annoyed 'pfft' sound and rolled her eyes before retorting, "Oh please, Gordon's barely smarter than Chip and Skip! Do you seriously think he had the 'planning' to do something like this? Besides, I know it's for me. Obviously, Wilbert did it. Besides, we're actually dating right now and maybe he did this for the two-month anniversary of our first date?"

This time it was Amber's turn to scoff and roll her eyes before discrediting, "Really? Don't you remember last month when you got mad at him for not remembering your first date anniversary and you wouldn't shut up about it?"

They kept arguing and yelling over each other until finally Gretchen (who had been weirdly quiet this whole time) just exploded, "Oh, SHUT UP!"

Immediately everyone stopped talking and whipped their heads over to look at Gretchen, who had her brows furrowed and teeth bared in annoyance before she spat, "What's the big stupid deal anyway?! So what if some stupid doofus carved a stupid heart into stupid tree for you or not?!"

After that Gretchen just grunted before stomping away to our cabin and slamming the door shut behind her.

All of us kept standing in silence until Honey said with a slight scoff as she rolled her eyes, "Hmph, says the girl who the heart probably isn't for."

Immediately, Nina and I gave her a look as I put my hands on my hips and directed, "Seriously? Did you forget about 'what happened' with her and Edward last month?"

Honey and everyone else went wide-eyed, clearly remembering Gretchen coming back from being 'stood up' by Edward for a date as a prank and she was so upset that she lifted a row boat over her head and tossed it into the lake before running off into the woods.

Honey covered her mouth with her hands, clearly seeming guilty now, "Oh crap, I totally forgot about that. Sorry."

Then all of us jumped when we heard the metal door of Ms. Mucus's trailer slam open as she called out in agitation, "Just what in the hell are you all squakin' and screamin' about out here?!"

And just like that, we all just dropped the subject of 'the tree'.

Present day

Nina and I both kept staring at the now slightly weathered but still-defined heart that was carved into the tree.

But, even though neither of us were saying it, I knew what both of us were thinking.

Why was Gretchen even looking at this tree to begin with?

And we have a good 'ol camp gossipy myself afoot! One of the things I loved about this series was all the weird and wacky hijinks the Scouts got up to and I REALLY wanted to do my own renditions on what the teen Squirrel and Bean Scouts would get themselves into. Especially since the Squirrels basically just got "Miss Fru Fru" as their only stand alone episode without any mention of the Bean Scouts, I wanted to give them a bit more love here. :) So, I concocted a situation where all of them discovered one of them had a 'secret admirer' via a heart carved into a tree and kept arguing over who it was meant for. To me, it just seemed like a very 'Squirrel Scout' thing for them to make a conflict out of something as juvenile and dumb as this. And not that the Bean Scouts aren't the exact same way, but… you know! Lol. XD But, what's the story with Gretchen? What's REALLY going on with her? Leave your guesses if you'd like on what you think is happening? And don't all of you Bean Scout fans worry, they'll be showing up sooner than you think if you'd like to see this continue? ;) Anyway, thank you all for reading and constructive feedback is always MUCH appreciated if you can spare it! Have a lovely weekend all!

Stay Classy!

Dexter1995