And we are jumping right back in where the previous chapter left off! Also, I thought I'd like to explain a headcanon I had regarding the Squirrel Scouts. In the show, I always thought it was interesting how the Bean Scout Cabins had names (Jelly, Pinto, Fava, etc), and yet the Squirrel Scout Cabins never had any names or numbers to identify given to them in the show as far as I saw. So, in my fic, I'm envisioning that just how the Bean Scouts name their cabins after types of beans, that the Squirrel Scouts would name theirs after trees or tree seeds. So, I decided to name Patsy, Nina, and Gretchen's cabin 'Buckeye Cabin' after the Ohio Buckeye tree! So, with that out of the way, let's hop back in with Nina and Patsy after they 'had their talk' with Gretchen. Enjoy!

({No POV})

Right after Gretchen slammed the door shut to the cabin, Patsy and Nina were still giving each other concerned and tense looks about the situation they just found out about with Gretchen.

They both looked back at the door as Nina said, sounding nothing short of tense and concerned, "This is wrong. Clam has to know about what's going on."

But, right as Nina was about to go back to the dining hall to try to find Clam, Patsy grabbed her by the wrist to stop her as she countered, "Nina, no, we can't do that. Gretchen doesn't…" But, Nina's inner loyalty to her friendship Clam didn't seem like it was being swayed as she responded, sounding frustrated, "But, Patsy, this isn't okay. She can't just not tell him about something this and just ignore him!It's… it's just!..."

"Nina, like I said, I'm totally on your side here. But, we can't do that. One, Gretchen will probably kill us if we say anything anyway, and two… it's not our business. I know you and Clam are close and Gretchen's still out friend, but Gretchen's the one dating him and she needs to tell him about this herself. I know, Gretchen's probably just being dramatic since I don't think Clam would even care either, but… that's on her." Patsy cut in, even though it was very apparent that she was on board with Nina and that Gretchen was being WAY too dramatic about the whole thing.

Nina pursed her lips slightly, looking conflicted and a little frustrated at the situation putting her between two of her friends. But eventually, Nina let out a sigh and said a drawn-out, "Fine… but I still don't think it's right that Clam doesn't know."

Patsy just gave her a nod in agreement, but eventually just nodded her head to the dining hall and said, "C'mon, we should probably get back to the dance before Den Mother Doe or Ms. Mucus noticed that we snuck out again."

After mutually agreeing about that, Nina and Patsy eventually made their way back over to the dining hall to rejoin the dance.

But, they weren't the only ones who decided to skip out temporarily from the dance.

Immediately after Gretchen left the dance again and before Patsy and Nina went looking for her… someone else also tagged along unbeknownst to the trio.

Right outside Buckeye Cabin and sitting on the ground underneath the open screened-in window by Nina's bed… was Clam.

He snuck out shortly after Gretchen to try and figure out what was going on with her until he had to 'get out of sight' once he saw Nina and Patsy coming back to the cabin.

So, he just stayed put and sat under the window and proceeded to hear the entire exchange between the trio.

Clam's eyes were still wide and his expression almost blank as he continued to sit there with his back against the exterior wall of the cabin and 'processing' everything he just heard. He kept sitting there resting his elbows on his bent knees and wringing his hands together as he sat there as he continued to just… think.

Finally, Clam just let out a long drawn-out exhale through his nostrils before finally getting up and slowly making his way back to the party too before anyone noticed he was gone.

(Patsy's POV)

Even though I was still working through what happened back in the cabin with Gretchen.

I had to kind of get it together since Den Mother Doe found me again.

Luckily she didn't even notice I left and probably just assumed I went to the bathroom since I was standing right next to the dining hall restroom right now.

But, at least she just kind of 'said hi' and 'what a great idea the party was' before walking off again and leaving me alone.

I was looking around until I noticed something weird.

Amber was standing by Raj at the DJ table, like she had been most of the party since she helped Raj bring his equipment over from Camp Kidney.

But, that wasn't what was getting me.

She was pretty much leaning with her elbows resting on the table as she kept pointing out records to Raj, an expression on her face as she was looking at Raj (who looked totally oblivious to everything except for his records) that I was trying to figure out as I kept looking at whatever that was.

But, I couldn't even think anymore about it anymore if I tried as I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard what was definitely Lazlo say, "Uh, hey Patsy!"

I whipped my head behind me and saw him with his usual smile until it went off kilter when his expression dropped a little as he tilted his head with just concern written all over his face as he asked, "Um, are you okay?"

I looked past his shoulder at Amber looking at Raj and then thought back to the whole Gretchen and Clam thing that we just tore into back in our cabin.

Yeah… no idea how to answer that question right now since my head feels like a chaotic traveling circus.

But, I tried to get it together as I responded, "I mean, I'm technically 'okay', but Nina and I just found out about a lot just now back in the cabin with Gretchen and… I don't know?"

It was quiet between us while the music kept going until I heard Lazlo start again, "Well, do you wanna talk about it? Honestly, I'd kinda like to know what's going on too if what's going on with Clam has something to do with him and Gretchen. I get it if you can't tell me everything, but Clam and Raj are like the brothers I never had and if there's something I can do to help them then… I'll do it. Besides, you listened to me talk for a while back there, so… if you want to talk then I can take a turn to listen. I think there's still some punch left if you want to grab some?"

I stopped when he gave me a little bit of a shy look with a still genuine and very Lazlo smile.

Eventually, I looked down and grabbed his hand with a small smile as I responded, "Okay, sure, Lazlo."

I know this shouldn't even be that big of a deal since I literally held hands with him several times already tonight and kissed him on the cheek… I just still can't believe this was happening.

Us holding hands, talking, and I'm still probably never going to get over him calling me 'pretty' like he did earlier.

You know, considering he technically said it to me in both English and Portuguese tonight.

Yeah, I still have no idea exactly how to comprehend this or know exactly what any of this means OR where it's gonna go, but if Lazlo likes me back after me having a crush on him for YEARS… then I'm not going to waste this chance with him.

This is my last summer at camp and I'm still determined to not waste a second of it.

We smiled at each other and walked toward the punch bowl on the other side of the room.

But, as we kept walking and even though I was trying not to make a big deal about it, I still couldn't stop myself from looking down at our hands and not getting over how nice and just easy this felt with him despite also feeling like I'm on the verge of an explosive heart attack about it at the same time.

3 hours later

(Lazlo's POV)

I was walking back to the cabin from the communal bathroom after washing my face and brushing my teeth after the dance.

I mean, the dance was actually really fun!

But… my head just feels full right now.

Sure, part of it is because of Patsy and everything that happened tonight with us.

Especially the kiss.

And yeah, it was just on the cheek, but it was like I couldn't get her out of my head. I still keep reaching up and touching the spot on my cheek that she kissed earlier and that just made me think about every single time we held hands, danced, and even just talked tonight.

But, I also couldn't get over what I found out about Clam and Gretchen tonight either, especially after what Patsy told me.

Well, technically she didn't really tell me that much since she said Gretchen pretty much swore (or forced) her and Nina into keeping something a secret that both she and Nina think she should just tell Clam about.

That and I guess Clam and Gretchen have been dating since last summer, but ever since the start of the summer, she's been avoiding Clam because of 'whatever she doesn't want to tell him' since she doesn't want to freak him out.

And then I was just even more confused.

I kept on trying to ask Patsy if she could 'tell me without telling' just so I could try to help Clam out since he's been kinda down since he got back from his night jog on the first night of camp.

But, all Patsy said was that it was just some personal 'girl stuff' Gretchen had going on that really wasn't 'that big of a deal' according to Patsy and that she was even just frustrated with Gretchen for 'being ridiculous about it'.

And then I think I somehow got even MORE confused after Patsy said that.

I mean, what did she mean by 'girl stuff'?

Like is Gretchen on her... period or something like that? I know I might be missing something here, but a 'period' was the only thing I can think of and Patsy was really holding her ground on not wanting to tell me (even though I could tell she really wanted to tell me if it wasn't for Gretchen swearing her to secrecy about 'whatever is going on').

But, whether I know what's going on or not with Gretchen, Clam's one of my best friends, and we're Jelly Cabin! And Jelly Cabin always sticks together no matter what!

So, if Clam is going through something, then I'm going to help him.

I stopped short of the screen door when I saw Clam sitting on the edge of his bed in his jeans from the dance and his undershirt, resting his chin on one of his hands, and even though I couldn't tell what he was thinking… he definitely looked like he thinking really hard about 'something' right now.

Finally, I just straightened up and tried to keep it cool as I opened the door, but even as the door let out its usual loud 'CREAK' as it opened… Clam didn't even move.

Whoa, he's really gotta be deep in his mind right now.

But, I can relate to that! Usually, I get that way where I get so zoned in whenever I meditate or even do tai chi sometimes.

I almost didn't want to bother him, but since Raj is still in the communal bathroom… I knew now was probably the best time to talk about this with him and Gretchen.

Otherwise, this'll turn into that time Patsy wanted to sit with me on the bus as kids and Raj was being kinda weird about it and then he ended up sitting with Patsy which was even weirder to me.

Eh, I don't know?

I looked over my shoulder to make sure Raj wasn't around, at least not yet. Once the coast was clear, I took a step closer and pursed my lips before putting a hand on Clam's shoulder.

I think I caught him off guard since he tensed up and whipped his head up with wide eyes until he relaxed when he saw it was me before saying, "OH! Hi Lazlo! Ehhhh, what is it?"

Okay, guess it's now or never, I guess?

I just tilted my head before I took my hand off his shoulder and just sat next to him on his bed, even though I felt like I was almost sitting on a high angle since Clam's weight was making the bed bow in the middle.

I still remember when I saw Clam for the first time in person at the train station this year before we got on the camp bus, after Clam almost crushed me in a hug because of how strong he got.

I mean, Clam's always been pretty strong and I'm still taller than Clam, but… yeah, Raj wasn't kidding about Clam hitting the weights over the past couple of years.

That and he's also a rhino so this is normal for him to look like this, even if Clam always says he's small for a rhino.

I tried to get my focus back as we sat in silence before I finally started, "So… you and Gretchen, huh?"

Right then, my eyes went wide as I heard what was almost a growl come out of him and I looked over to see him giving me this hard look before saying short but very serious, "What about it?"

I sat back away from him a little as I put my hands up and went wide-eyed as I tried to respond as calmly as possible, "No, nothing! I was just surprised you never said anything about it to me or Raj."

Right then, Clam calmed down almost immediately and shook his head before putting his right hand on his head and patting me on the back a couple times with his left before saying, "Sorry, I… eh, sorry Lazlo. You're my friend. Just want to help. It's, eh… Complicated. Gretchen asked Clam to keep secret. Not tell."

I gave him a confused look before saying, "Why not? Did she ever tell you why she didn't want to say anything?"

Clam rubbed the back of his neck, looking frustrated even though I could tell it wasn't because of me. Eventually, he sighed as he said with a shrug, "Gretchen ready to say. Asked Clam to keep secret. But…"

He stopped, letting out a sigh, looking almost stuck on his words. But, I know he has a speech disorder and he sometimes gets stuck on finding words and expressing himself sometimes and gets frustrated about that.

Wait…

It hit me as I thought back to when Patsy and I heard Clam and Gretchen talking behind the dining hall at Acorn Flats.

I leaned forward and started, curious and still just trying to help at the same time, "Clam, is everything okay with you and Gretchen? I know you probably knew that Patsy and I saw you guys, but we also heard you and her talking when we were sitting outside on their dining terrace and you've seemed out of it recently and… I don't know? You and Raj are like brothers to me and I know I haven't been here for years, but to me that doesn't mean we aren't still Marshmallow buddies. If something's going on, you know you can count on me and our Jelly Cabin Pact to have each other's back."

I smiled when Clam slowly looked over at me and I saw him smile slightly at me… well until I winced slightly when he pulled me into a crushing hug as he said, "Jelly Cabin Pact!... Thanks, Lazlo."

Even though I couldn't breathe, I smiled and somehow managed to get enough feeling in my arms to pat him on the back a couple times as I strained out, despite feeling like I was on the verge of passing out, "Always here for ya, buddy."

I think he realized I couldn't breathe since he immediately let go of me and said, "Eh, sorry."

But, I didn't want to make him feel bad about almost suffocating me or that he was still okay with hugging me like this, "It's okay, Clam. I'm good! So… how long have you been together?"

Okay, technically I already knew that since Patsy told me earlier, but I didn't want to make it seem like I went behind his back on anything here.

He smiled and shrugged before saying, "Last year. Started hanging out at night. Became friends! Got closer after. Started dating 4th of July. Big rainstorm made mud puddle. Raced there and uh… kissed there too. Asked her out after. Long distance since… and still now. Gretchen ignored Clam until tonight."

I could tell he looked frustrated after he said that. I quirked up an eyebrow and tilted my head as I started, "Well… I don't know Clam? Patsy wouldn't say anything to me other than Gretchen had 'girl stuff' going on or something. But, hey! Just give her a little bit to cool off or something and maybe she'll…" "Miss her. Er, I miss her. Just wanna talk. Gretchen doesn't want to. Avoiding me. Frustrated. Hard to explain." He cut in, still looking frustrated but also… hurt?

I tilted my head again before reassuring, "C'mon Clam, don't worry! Just give her some space. Gretchen's your girlfriend. I'm sure she…"

All of a sudden the screen door slammed open as we heard Raj pretty much explode in shock, "GRETCHEN'S YOUR WHAT?!"

Right then, Raj threw his toiletry bag aside somewhere and ran right up to Clam and grabbed him by his undershirt as he exploded, "Clam! Tell me Lazlo made that up and you seriously are NOT dating… her! She's so mean all the time! And she does mean things to you all the time! How can you possibly like her to want?!..."

Raj stopped as Clam grabbed Raj by the collar of his pajama shirt and lifted him clear off the ground, making Raj look like his eyes were going to fall out of his head.

Clam was almost baring his teeth as an involuntary growl slipped through his teeth before he yelled back in Raj's face, "YOU SHUT UP!"

After a second, Clam looked like he regretted what he did (but also still looked really frustrated still at the same time) as he put Raj down and let go.

Eventually, he breathed out a long sigh through his nostrils and gripped the top of his head with his right hand before saying, "Sorry… Raj. Sorry, I, ehhh… Need to be alone now. Gotta think."

After that, Clam walked out of the cabin and looked like he was going toward the lake as the screen door shut behind him.

Oh, man…

As I kept trying to figure out exactly, what was happening, I guess Raj was even more confused than me as he asked, being kinda over-dramatic like usual, "Lazlo, what is happening right now?!"

Right nowit kinda made me feel better that Raj was just DJing for the party instead of outside with me, Nina, and Patsy when we found out about Clam and Gretchen.

It was silent as Raj looked like he was questioning everything and looking on the verge of a breakdown as I started, trying to figure out if he was 'okay' to try and explain... or at least kinda 'okay', "Uh, Raj?"

10 minutes later

I tried to fill in Raj on what happened since he knows now… and he was just quiet.

Almost like he was still trying to understand everything I told him.

I tried to get just something or at least just 'words' at all out of him right now as I hesitantly asked, "Raj? Are you?..." Finally, he let out an exasperated groan and called out over-dramatically, almost like nothing has changed over the past 6 years, "Ahhh! I feel like I don't know anything about anyone anymore?!"

I stepped back and put my arms up as I put my hands out in front of me as I started, "Raj, what are you?... Wait, huh?"

I had no idea why he seemed like he dragged me into this now after I just told him about how I saw Clam and Gretchen making out behind the Acorn Flats dining hall tonight with Patsy and Nina and how Gretchen had been pretty much avoiding Clam since she threw him down that hole on the first day of camp.

So… what's he talking about? What did I do?!

Raj seemed like he was still way overreacting as he exasperated again, "Seriously?! I feel like both you and Clam are out of your minds! Gretchen has always been awful and yet Clam still 'likes her' for some reason that I cannot even understand. And you are just as crazy! What did I tell you on the first day of camp this year?! I told you liking Patsy was nothing but trouble and yet you're talking, dancing, and holding hands with her all night?! Are you crazy! Or did you not remember what Commander Hoo-Ha did to all of us that time when none of us even did anything wrong?! And that was her fault!"

I bit my lip a little, and even though I knew he wasn't completely wrong and it's what I thought about before a lot since I realized I liked Patsy… I rubbed the back of my neck before defending, "Well, yeah, but… we were 11, Raj. Besides, who said Commander Hoo-Ha is even gonna know?! I don't think Patsy would say anything even if 'something' happened. I'll just make sure to keep taking a shower immediately before his inspections so he won't know a thing. After all, he didn't seem like he knew anything the last time he was here when Patsy landed on me during our hike on the first day of camp!"

I could already feel my head going somewhere else as thought back to it… and because I feel like I think about that at least 5 times a day since it happened.

And that's not even counting when I'm sleeping! But, before I could go anywhere, I was pulled out of my head when Raj said, "Wait, WHAT happened?!" At that moment my eyes went wide when I realized something.

Oh yeah, guess I never told Raj about that.

But, I didn't want to make a big deal about it since it wasn't that big of a deal anyway.

I mean, sure I'm making a big deal about it but that's mostly just because I like Patsy… really like her and I can't get her out of my head hardly ever since that happened.

Eventually, I shrugged and admitted, "Well, it's nothing really, but… that same day Gretchen threw Clam down that hole? I got caught up in a snare by my ankle and ended up hanging by my leg in a tree. Then I let myself loose, fell, and Patsy caught me mid-fall and kinda… landed on me. Nothing happened though other than that! It was okay!"

When I glanced back up at Raj though, he was pretty much looking at me with his eyes practically falling out of his head as he said, slowly getting more and more dramatic with every word, "Okay?... OKAY?! Are you completely out of your mind?! One word of that would make Commander Hoo-Ha break all your limbs! And that's under good circumstances! You seriously wanna risk that just for Patsy?!"

I mean, when he says it like that and I hear what he's saying, but… I think Raj could tell I was maybe thinking about it a little too much right now.

Plus that my mind was telling me he was probably right, but everything else in me was thinking the complete opposite as I thought about her.

How nice it felt being close to her when she landed on me and slow danced with me, how nice holding her hand felt, how nice she smells all the time, how cute she always looks.

Even in her sundress tonight, I didn't think she could look any pretty than I always thought she does, even in her scout uniform.

Eventually, Raj exasperated, seeing he was getting nowhere with me, "AGH! Unbelievable!"

But, right as he turned toward his and Clam's side of the cabin, I saw him stop and just started looking out the screen toward the lake. At first, I had no idea what he was looking at as I started, "Raj? What are you…"

I didn't even need to complete the question to know exactly what he was looking at. Sitting on top of the boulder that Clam drags back and forth on the beach every morning, was Clam.

He was just sitting on top of it with his back to us as he looked across the lake. And it wasn't that hard to guess 'what' he was looking at across the lake.

Acorn Flats.

It was quiet as Raj and I kept looking out at Clam until Raj said, "I just don't understand why he even likes her? Are we sure he hasn't contracted Love Sickness again?" Without even looking over, I shook my head and started, "No, it can't be Love Sickness again. Nurse Leslie said once you contract Love Sickness, you have an immunity for the next 10 years. But, even then, we knew he kinda always liked Gretchen a little bit even when we were kids. And… I don't know, Raj? I think Clam actually does seem to really care about her. And even though Gretchen can still be kinda mean, but… I always thought she was never as bad as everyone says she is. And I know you weren't there seeing or hearing any of it behind the dining hall, but… I think Gretchen really cares about Clam too. You know, in her own way, I guess?"

It was silent again for another couple seconds until Raj groaned and said, "What is happening tonight?! First Clam, then you, and then at the end of the night there was… Agh… Just forget it. I'm going to bed."

After that, Raj just threw himself on his bed and pulled his blankets over him.

I probably would've asked him what he was even talking about toward the end of what he said until I looked back at our at Clam. He hadn't moved at all as he kept sitting on his boulder on the beach looking across the lake.

It looks like both Jelly and Buckeye Cabin have tension going on right now, just in different ways. In this case, Lazlo being himself is remaining open-minded and supportive as a friend of Clam's relationship with Gretchen, and Raj being Raj went a bit over-dramatic with the sudden revelation that Clam has been dating Gretchen for past year, not knowing how to feel about Lazlo liking Patsy as Commander Hoo-Ha's daughter and thinking he'll be turned into a pile of severed limbs once Commander Hoo-Ha finds out. But, and as I alluded, it looks like Raj has 'something more' going on himself as well. Stay tuned on that! Anyway, I hope you're enjoying what I'm doing so far with this budding yet also adorably wholesome summer romance that's starting between Lazlo and Patsy. And what will Clam do considering the poor guy seems like he has A LOT on his mind after overhearing why Gretchen's been trying to avoid him since the start of the summer. As always, thank you so much for reading and constructive feedback is always very much appreciated if you want to share. :)

Stay Classy!

Dexter1995