Alright, in this chapter we're going to be going back to Camp Kidney and touching base with where Lazlo is at this point in the story to get his perspective on things. Now, I always loved Lazlo's character since he is the actual embodiment of a 'chaotic good' character with very few exceptions to his ways of doing things, but is also just a genuine character who tries his best and I appreciate that. This chapter starts before Camp Kidney's morning inspection with Commander Hoo-Ha. Hope you all enjoy! :)

(Lazlo's POV)

Why am I not moving?

Actually… I don't think I can 'move' at all right now. It was like I couldn't even sit up. All I kept doing was laying on the ground in the woods just looking up into the trees.

But; and even though I felt like I was glued to the ground, it was nice! Just hearing the wind going through the trees, the birds singing, the sounds of the waves lapping up on the shore from Leaky Lake… it felt good.

It just felt peaceful to the point that I could meditate right here where I was laying.

Honestly, this is one of the things I missed the most about being back in Prickly Pines. Just to be fully 'one' with nature again.

Right as I closed my eyes to just 'take it in', my eyes sprung open when I felt something running through my hair. It took me a second to realize it was a hand and no matter how hard I strained my eyes to look around, I couldn't see anyone.

I mean, don't get me wrong, it felt nice… really nice.

But, that still didn't mean I didn't want to know who it was.

Then right as I was about to ask and try to see 'who' was there, I heard a familiar sweet and slightly teasing voice say, "Hi Lazlo."

Patsy?

At first, I was confused about where she was until I looked right above my head and saw her looking down at me with a smile.

It also wasn't until now I realized my head was elevated a little off the ground and resting in her lap since it felt like she was sitting with her legs crisscrossed on the ground under my head. She just kept running her hand casually through my hair as she smiled just as casually down at me, almost like there was nothing 'different' about this and like this has 'happened before' even though this has never happened before now.

Eventually I started questioning, knowing how confused I sounded, "Uh… hey, Patsy… What's going on right now?"

She just started giggling which only confused me even more as she kept running her hand through my hair. I just kept getting more and more confused until she let out one last laugh before saying, "Sorry, I just thought it was kind of funny. But, I just thought this would be nice. Well… unless you want me to stop?"

Well… she isn't wrong.

This does feel nice, but… I'm still confused about why I was even here, or why Patsy was here, and why I also weirdly didn't feel even a little bit 'freaked out' by any of this. Considering 11 and 12-year-old 'me' would have been pretty freaked out if I was 'like this' with Patsy pretty much stroking my hair or even when she used to playfully tackle me when she'd say 'hi'.

I mean, not that I ever didn't 'like her' and I knew I could trust her whenever she tried to help me with something important, Snake Incident aside.

I still couldn't believe she actually came along with me, Raj, and Clam to save Camp Kidney from being shut down.

She's brave, strong, and will take on almost anything and I always really respected that about her since we were kids.

But, at the same time… she just always kinda freaked me out a little at the same time with telling me that she 'liked me' all the time or that time when she gave me that Valentine's card in front of her dad and I thought I was going to be 'dead where I stood'.

Then I can't even list all the times that her and the rest of the Squirrel Scouts pranked us or just messed with us when we were kids.

But, at the same time… I don't know?

As much as I wanted to say Patsy and I were on pretty good terms as far as I knew, even as kids I never really knew exactly what to think of her.

Because as much as she freaked me out a little sometimes, I also always thought she was… pretty.

Her hair always looked nice, she had a cute smile (her real smile), and I always thought she… smelled nice. A little weird, but she always smells, like a nice flowery or citrusy lotion like my mom wears. Again, I know that sounds a little weird, but I just mean that it's nice.

Even now with how 'close' we were, she still smelled really nice… and it wasn't even just that either.

Maybe it's because I haven't seen her in almost 4 years, but I still thought she was pretty… and maybe even more now. Okay, definitely a lot more now than I remembered 4 years ago.

I didn't even realize how hard my heart was beating against my chest as I felt like I swallowed a rock-sized glob of spit down my throat as Patsy just kept smiling at me and running her hand through my hair.

Eventually; and I have no idea why, but I couldn't stop myself from smiling back and admitting, "No… this is really nice."

Actually, it was almost getting so 'nice' to the point where it felt a little too nice. I felt so relaxed to the point that I closed my eyes and rested my hands on my chest as I tried to get into a peaceful state again… until she just stopped.

Patsy stopped running her hand through my hair as I heard her say, "Actually, isn't there anything else you'd think would be 'nice' right now?"

Huh?

She took her hand out of my hair and I opened my eyes to look up at her and ask her what she meant… until my eyes went wide when I realized she somehow moved from where she used to be, and now my heart felt like it was moving up my throat.

Patsy and I were pretty much in the same 'position' we were in when she caught me from falling out of the trees in the woods earlier on our hike.

But, this time felt… different.

Very different.

Patsy just kept looking down at me with a slight smile and my heartbeat kept getting faster to the point that I could practically hear it in my ears now as she kept leaning slowly closer and closer to me.

Eventually, her eyes closed as she kept leaning in and I had no idea why, but… I started doing the same thing right back.

Or at least I closed my eyes and waited for 'whatever' to happen…

My eyes snapped open and I shot up in bed as the PA system Wake-Up call sounded off and we heard Mr. Slinkman say, "Attention scouts! Commander Hoo-Ha will be here in the next 15 minutes. Please wash up, get dressed, and report to the flag pole as soon as… Sir?! What are you…?!"

Then it sounded like Scout Master Lumpus snatched the microphone to the P.A. System away as he started directing, "ASAP, scouts! ASAP! Move, move, MOVE! This is my last summer as Scoutmaster and I WON'T have my reputation of perfect attendance ruined by all you lazy scouts! Now get your butts out of bed and MOVE!"

Right then, I realized Raj and Clam were also sitting bolt upright (secretly making me feel better to look less 'suspicious' after whatever that dream was).

We all looked at each other before my eyes went wide as a 'realization' hit me like a truck.

Commander Hoo-Ha is coming... Patsy's DAD is coming.

And I just had a dream where I was pretty much a second away from most likely making out with his daughter if the dream went on for just a little longer… and maybe even more than that.

Immediately, I hopped out of bed like a jet taking off and started ripping apart my suitcase. "C'mon, c'mon… where is it?" I said to myself, freaking out progressively more and more inside.

"Where's what?" I heard Clam ask, sounding confused.

Then Raj chimed in as he questioned in equal confusion, "Yes, Lazlo? What are you talking about? Your uniform is hanging right there next to your…" "Found it! Be back guys! Just gonna grab a quick shower!" I cut in as I found my towel and grabbed my toiletry bag with my uniform.

"Shower? Lazlo! 15 minutes is not enough time to get to the…" Raj tried to cut in as I immediately passed off, "It'll be quick! I promise!"

I sprinted past and almost ran into Samson on my way to the communal bathrooms (and simultaneously apologizing) as I kept running like my life depended on it... and kind of did from my perspective right now.

Finally, I got to the showers and stripped down faster than I ever have before in my life before turning the shower on the coldest setting I could stand before immediately jumping in and almost scrubbing my skin raw on every part of my body.

Even though the cold water was very uncomfortable since it was a cool morning today and I was fighting off the chills doing down my spine… it was nothing compared to the horrified thoughts going through my head that I haven't had since the 'Valentine Incident'.

Because that day still scares me to this day and that was mostly because I was so close to getting myself torn to shreds by Commander Hoo-Ha if Patsy didn't beat me up first (even though that whole situation was her fault), but that's a whole other thing. But, then again she sent me an apology package with a nice note and probably the best loaf of banana bread I ever had (not that I'd ever tell my mom that) to try to make up for that whole thing which was actually really nice of her.

But, that was the day I found out that Commander Hoo-Ha is a man who can actually smell fear and lies.

And if he was able to do that to me as a kid when I did nothing, then I don't even want to find out what he can 'smell from me' now when I did do something that in Commander Hoo-Ha's mind is pretty much punishable by death!... Or at the very least severe maiming to the point where I'd probably need to be on life support because I was seconds away from fantasizing about me kissing Patsy.

Almost right as I had the thought, I remembered something more that actually happened in reality that made my mind go into another dimension for a second as I thought back to when she was pretty much resting on top of me yesterday.

But, before I could slip into it, I heard Commander Hoo-Ha's voice almost echoing in the back of my memory:

"OH! A REGULAR CASANOVA?!"

"I KNEW IT WAS HIM ALL ALONG! IT'S PUNISH TIME!"

Almost on horrified reflex and drowning out any more thoughts I've never had about Patsy until now out of my head, I reached and turned the faucet of the shower so cold that I thought I was going to give myself hypothermia as I kept scrubbing any physical particle to the thought of Patsy off me.

Yeah, I'm not taking any chances. Raj is right.

Letting myself like Patsy is a 'slippery slope' that could lead to me being chopped up in a blender by her dad… or worse.

I don't care how cute she is or how nice she smells or how brave she can be or…

On second thought… maybe I should just put the shower on the coldest it can go just to be safe.

5 hours later

"See you guys! I'll be back!" I called out as I took my binoculars and canteen before walking off into the woods to go on a nature walk.

I don't even know why I was so worried this morning?

The inspection 'actually' wasn't that bad at all! Sure Commander Hoo-Ha was still his usual amount of 'scary', but it wasn't anything I haven't seen before.

Like I said, not bad at all!

So, now that all that stuff is out of the way, I'm ready to start enjoying my summer and doing everything I've been itching to do since I got here. Starting with a nature walk and some bird watching!

Raj and Clam wanted to go swimming instead, but that's okay! I wasn't going to be gone long anyway and I wouldn't mind hopping into the lake once I get back.

As I walked deeper and deeper into the woods on the trail, I decided to 'take a detour' to get into the thick of the trees to get a more 'real' view of nature.

I mean, technically I know I'm not supposed to go off the trails unless I'm a Scout Leader, but… a Junior Scout Leader should count too right?

I kept walking until I kept coming across tree after tree and rock after rock with large and aggressive scrap marks.

Huh… guess Clam's been coming out here too?

But, as I kept walking, I started seeing more and more trees with WAY more damage and then I got even more concerned and unsure when I saw several trees not only very damaged; but also, almost uprooted from the ground and toppled over.

Wow… maybe Raj was right about Clam too?

I mean, I'm all about 'freedom of expression', but if Clam keeps this up then there will be no Prickly Pines forest left!

But, I decided to put that thought aside for later as I eventually found a tree and smiled before climbing. I got up high enough and got a good view of the lake and treetops and smiled.

As I got myself settled in the branch and let out a sigh as I looked out at everything, still not getting over how much I missed being out here.

I mean, not that I don't like being home with my parents, but… being at Camp Kidney has always felt nothing but 'natural' and even like a 'home away from home' to me.

So, now that I'm back, I want to do everything I missed out on the past few years! Even if I don't regret staying behind the past couple of summers for one reason… I shook my head and tried to keep enjoying nature.

I got out my binoculars and started scanning the treetops, seeing some birds' nests (smiling when I caught a couple of birds feeding their young).

As I kept scanning, I stopped when I realized I scanned in the direction of Acorn Flats.

No Lazlo, you just got over all of that earlier. Look away before it's too late!

Right as I was about to scan away, my eyes went wide and I realized it was 'over before it started' when Patsy was going along in a canoe with a couple of the younger Squirrel Scouts.

It looked like she was showing them how to row, and also reminding me of when I technically first met Patsy.

Before I could think back to it, I noticed Amber and Toodie slowly swimming up from out of Patsy's line of sight and eventually I saw Amber to a silent '3 count' as both of them tipped over the canoe, sending Patsy and the two younger Squirrel Scouts with her into the lake.

I could hear the 'splash' of them hitting the water from where I was up here.

Patsy resurfaced and it looked like she gave Toodie and Amber a slightly annoyed look as they kept laughing and even high-fived each other at their prank succeeding.

Patsy splashed them in response, but then smiled slightly and rolled her eyes before climbing on the dock.

After she made sure the two other kids got on the doc, I smirked and was shaking my head a little. But, right as I was about to look away, my eyes went wide and my mouth fell open slightly when Patsy took off her life jacket.

I mean, she was wearing shorts, but… I just realized all she had on underneath her life jacket was a bikini top.

As much as I tried to look away, all did was just stare as she started wringing out her hair back into the lake as she started talking back and forth with Amber and Toodie.

I had no idea what they were talking about, but that was the last thing on my mind right now as all my 'thoughts' I buried earlier decided to rise from the dead in my brain like a hoard of horror movie zombies… and then those same zombies started eating away at my brain to the point that I felt like all I could think about was Patsy right now.

Somehow, I got some kind of hold on myself and swallowed hard as I gripped a hand into my hair and just 'processed'.

But, it was pointless.

No matter hard I'm trying to push it back and pretend like I don't after yesterday… cuz it's true.

I have a crush on Patsy.

All I kept thinking about was what was going to happen to me if her dad ever found out, but… what if I'll just try to be really careful so he just doesn't find out at all?!

I mean, I doubt Patsy would even say anything if something 'happens' with us either since even SHE knows what her dad can be like more than anyone.

After all, what Commander Hoo-Ha doesn't know won't kill him!… Or kill me, right?

I hope…

4 days later

(Patsy's POV)

Okay… why is everything somehow not going wrong right now?

Seriously, I was thinking the mere mention of a 'dance' would send everyone into a heated riot or something.

But, I was actually surprised how much everyone was looking forward to it when Den Mother Doe presented my idea at dinner a couple of nights ago, even the kids seemed excited about the dance party!

But, since we are handling the party this time… I guess I shouldn't be too surprised by the 'mood shift', right?

Not that I am at ALL complaining since this means I get to see Lazlo later tonight.

For now, I was just helping coordinate.

Almondine and Toodie got some of the younger girls together to help decorate the dining hall, Gretchen left to get some things in Prickly Pines (even though I think she just wanted to leave camp for a couple of hours and was surprised she didn't complain more about this dance if I'm being really honest), Nina was helping me with getting the refreshment tables ready plus getting a raffle together for fun tonight, and then Amber volunteered to go across the lake to get Raj and his stuff since we asked him to DJ and he needed a little time to set up.

Sure even with the past in mind, Raj is probably Leaky Lake's resident DJ during the summers.

Because as nice as our camp is, the Bean Scouts definitely have us beat when it comes to music and especially Jelly Cabin has pretty much all of the 'musical talent' from what we've seen from talent shows or when they have bonfires.

Raj has one of the most impressive record collections I've ever seen, Clam can play several different instruments from what I've seen, and I know that Lazlo can play the banjo since I've seen him playing it fireside or out on the lake when he's canoeing with Raj and Clam in the past.

Sure he's not 'the best', but… I don't care.

I remember sitting up in the observation tower and just watching him play at the Beans beach bonfires when we were 12.

So, anyway, since we needed an 'affordable DJ' on short notice, Nina and Amber went across the lake with Den Mother Doe a few days ago to invite the Bean Scouts officially and also to ask Raj to DJ for us. Because as timid as Raj can be sometimes even now, he never misses a chance to be in the spotlight for showing off his record collection as a DJ.

So, now that we have decorations, music, food, and a full guest list since all the Bean Scouts are coming with Scoutmaster Lumpus and Mr. Slinkman… this is actually happening now.

Nina and I kept getting the table together as Den Mother Doe came over and started, "Wow! This all looks fabulous! Oh, I am just so proud of all my girls! You all are being excellent hostesses with getting this all together. Speaking of! Here! This is a new part of camp policy for the American Scouting Associations. All events now require an 'attendance list' between our camps. This way we can ensure everyone is here and accounted for. Do you ladies have any space for me to put this here since it's near the door? This way everyone can sign in as they walk in to make things easier?"

Nina and I both exchanged a look and a shrug before I said, "Oh, sure, Den Mother Doe. We can squeeze it in at the far end to be by the door."

Her face immediately lit up with a big smile as she said, "How perfect! Thank you, ladies. Oh, this is gonna be so much fun!"

After that, Den Mother Doe walked off and right as we kept getting things set out on the table, Gretchen came over with a sheet cake she picked up from the bakery in town and set it on the table.

"Thanks, Gretchen." I said, just trying anything since she still hasn't been completely 'herself' as far as I'm concerned.

Over the past week, aside from her explosions on the first day of camp… she's mostly just been 'quiet' and 'reclusive'. Honestly, when she isn't helping us with the younger scouts, all she does is sit in the cabin filing her teeth, sunning herself on the beach, or swimming.

If anything she's been spending more time in the lake by herself than anything else.

But, I was shocked even more when Gretchen replied, "No problem… need anything else or can I go?"

Nina and I exchanged wide-eyed looks in absolute shock and confusion before looking back at Gretchen. I mean sure, despite making the offer in her usual 'passive-aggressive Gretchen way'... that was the most she said to either of us in days.

AND that she was actually asking if she could 'help us' with more when I know how much she has always hated camp events between us and the Bean Scouts since we were kids.

Especially, considering this was a dance that she also hates… Nina and I were shocked, to say the least.

Although I guess we were looking too suspicious (and also probably weirding Gretchen out) since she questioned pointedly and slightly defensive, "What?"

Fortunately, Nina was quick to recover as she started, "Oh, uh… Here, Gretchen. Want to help set out glasses for the sorbet punch? I'm just mixing it up right now."

Gretchen just seemed to let it go and started putting glasses out from our dining storage box and started setting them out on the buffet table as she said, "Sure, whatever."

As Gretchen kept organizing the glasses, Nina and I shrugged and just decided to 'accept the olive branch' that Gretchen was now giving us right now for whatever reason.

We kept up with what we were doing until I looked at the guest list Den Mother Doe dropped off at the end of the table.

Eventually, I got curious, walked over, and started paging through it, seeing exactly what Den Mother Doe meant. It was quite literally a full roster of all the Bean and Squirrel Scouts in alphabetical order and seemed to be ordered by rank/age too.

I kept looking down the list and realized something I never knew before.

This list was the first time I was seeing almost everyone's last names.

Instantly, my brain snapped to full alert, and felt like I went on a mission as I went down the list to the name I really wanted to see.

But, mid-list on the Bean Counselors, I found Lazlo.

Lazlo Moreira.

Honestly, I was glad Nina and Gretchen were not looking at me since I knew I was going into a full-on 'daze' right now as I kept looking at Lazlo's name (and his last name which I didn't even know until now).

Look, I'm past this phase and even though I don't have a diary anymore, but I know that back when I was in 5th and 6th grade and wrote in a diary… I would have definitely wrote 'Patsy Moreira' into it a million times if I knew Lazlo's last name sooner.

But, I was quick to 'snap myself out of it' and got curious looking at everyone else's last names too.

After rolling my eyes at 'Edward Platypus' right below Lazlo's name, I caught Raj's name (Raj Madan) that I also never knew until now.

But, it wasn't Raj or even anyone else's name on the Bean Counselor list that got me.

Look, I've known these same Bean Scouts since all of us were kids and I definitely always knew the first names of the Beans that were my age. But, there was a name listed right above Raj's and I had no clue who this guy even was as my expression contorted in total confusion as I kept scanning over it.

Clement MacGregor Jr.

"What the?" I said to myself, not realizing I said it out loud until I heard Nina reply, "What is it, Patsy?"

I whipped my head over until I calmed my mind down a little before finally saying, gesturing to the list, "Um, who's 'Clement MacGregor'?"

Nina just quirked up an eyebrow and said, almost like what she was telling me was obvious, "What do you mean? That's Clam."

I could feel my expression contorting, my response almost instinctual, "Wait, really? How do you know that?"

She just shrugged before saying, almost nonchalantly matter of fact, "He told me."

Honestly, I always forget sometimes that Nina and Clam are actually still pretty good friends even now. Even away from camp, Nina and Clam are pen pals to keep in touch since I remembered her saying Clam's family moved back to South Africa since his parents were originally from there and wanted to go back when Clam was 13 so he could get to know 'where they were from'… even if Clam tells her he would rather be back in the States for whatever reason and that she said he doesn't really want to talk about it.

But, they really are close and are always hanging out at mixed camp events.

I still remember the time Nina's boyfriend Henry came over to visit 2 years ago and got a little 'jealous' when he showed up and saw Clam and Nina giving each other a hug when they ran into each other in town until Henry realized Clam was 'just a friend' and then Nina spent the rest of the time playfully teasing Henry about it which was kind of funny and even Henry was laughing it off eventually.

Eventually, I asked out of genuine curiosity, "But, if his name is 'Clement' then where did 'Clam' come from out of that?Isn't 'Clem' short for 'Clement'?"

Nina shrugged again before saying, "Well, I think because he was already a 'junior', his dad already goes by 'Clem', and Clam didn't want to be called 'Clement' or 'Junior' so… I guess somehow Clam got his nickname 'Clam' from there? Come to think of it, I never really asked him how…"

Suddenly both of us stopped when we heard the sound of 'shattering glass' and whipped our heads over to see Gretchen crushed a glass to pieces with just her right hand, some shards still resting on top and inside the grip of her clenched fist.

Honestly, I would've been more concerned about 'that' if I wasn't more confused as to how Gretchen didn't even hurt her hand or have cuts all over it from the glass. Yeah, she's an alligator with tough skin… but still!

Her eyes were narrowed and her body looked tense until she slowly looked down and let the rest of the glass shards from her hand fall to the floor. Nina and I didn't even know how to react as Gretchen just clenched her teeth and scrunched her eyes shut, a low growl rumbling in her throat.

Even Almondine and Toodie were looking over with some of the younger scouts in shock.

After about a minute of silence, Gretchen finally looked like she 'relaxed a little' (barely though) as she said through a frustrated grunt, "Ugh, dammit … I'll get a broom."

After that, Gretchen just walked off to get a broom from the back storage room and left the rest of us in 'tense, awkward silence' in the dining hall.

Slowly Nina and I looked at each other, neither of us needing to even say anything as we silently knew we felt the same amount of almost 'concern' for whatever was going on with Gretchen.

But, with the dance happening in just a few hours… I'm just hoping nothing makes Gretchen explode in the meantime.

Oh, what early adolescent-aged Patsy Smiles would have given to have Lazlo return her feelings sooner? Lol. XD But, honestly, that's one of the things that I always kind of enjoyed about this pairing was because they were like a good 'middle ground' crush that was funny without pushing too many boundaries. Because one thing that I always found unfair (and partially because these cartoons aired simultaneously) was that Patsy and her crush on Lazlo was always lumped into the same category as Panini and her 'crush' on Chowder from "Chowder". Because to me… that is a VERY inaccurate comparison since Panini is not really a 'love interest' and is more of a 'pushy stalker' from my perspective since… yeah, anyone who consistently watched "Chowder" knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about since Panini constantly pushes herself on Chowder without his consent in a way that's unnerving. 0_0 But, Patsy… even her at her 'worst' (and I used 'worst' loosely here) with her slightly unrequited crush on Lazlo was VERY harmless by comparison in the most drastic way and is DEFINITELY nowhere near Panini's level. After all, even Murray and the other writers confirmed that Lazlo actually does like Patsy a lot, but just didn't 'like her' as much as she 'liked him' since he's kind of intimidated by her and her affection for him (at least at the current stage in time). But, the way I see it, the Scouts are somewhere between 10-13 years old in the show and I mostly think that with time Lazlo might have had a moment where he maybe would see that he like 'likes' Patsy. Even if now that Lazlo realizes it, he's more terrified of what Patsy's dad (Commander Hoo-Ha) would do to him if he found out about the fact that he now has a crush on Patsy and will probably want to have his head. But, we'll check in on that score as the fic progresses! I also hope you liked my concept with Clam's name and how he got it. Now maybe his name is legally 'Clam', but I love the concept that he could have a very formal sounding name like 'Clement' but just goes by a nickname like 'Clam' all the time in every situation. Next chapter will begin the dance at Acorn Flats! ;) But, I hope you all enjoyed the installment and constructive feedback is always VERY much appreciated.

Stay classy!

Dexter1995