Chapter Seven
Summary: The campers have finally arrived and the summer is off to a roaring start!
Evie's Notes: Hey Y'all sorry this is late! Life is totally crazy at the moment so I'm running behind on updates. Hope y'all enjoy!
Francesca smiled as she looked around the Fox Cabin. She had finally finished setting up the infirmary, and was now anxiously waiting to meet her campers, especially her CIT Avery. Fran sat up straighter on the porch swing as her first camper arrived. Moving down the porch stairs Fran went to introduce herself and help the girl with her bags. "Welcome to Camp Kikiwaka! I'm Francesca and I'll be your counselor this summer".
The pretty blonde teenager held out her hand answering, "I'm Avery Jennings your CIT, thanks for helping with my bags."
"Well, since you are the first one here Avery you have your pick of beds." Francesca declared. The girl spun around in a circle, her calculating brown eyes assessing each bed before plopping down on the one lining the left wall.
Fran smiled down at her, "Good choice! Why don't you start unpacking while we wait for the other campers to arrive?". Avery quickly agreed and started sorting her clothes and deciding what would go in her wardrobe.
Heading back out to the porch Francesca was sure that this summer was off to a great start. She waved across the lawn to Maya who was welcoming her young Bunny campers. Maria had already hit it off with another of her cabinmates, a little girl named Charlie Duncan, PJ's younger sister. Francesca could see them running around in the cabin through the open door. A few cabins down Lou and a pretty blonde were helping their campers move in.
Francesca was startled out of her thoughts as her next camper arrived. "I can carry my own stuff Jack, I do it all the time to and from the Dojo" exclaimed a pretty blonde with stormy gray eyes.
"I know you can Kim," so this is Kimberly, thought Fran. The boy, Jack, continued "but I just wanted to help. We already dropped my stuff at Wolf cabin, and you have more bags than me. It's called being nice".
"It's called being something," Kimberly returned. Turning her attention up to Fran on the porch she greeted "Hi I'm Kim! I'll be in your cabin this summer". The boy coughed beside her, "and this is Jack, he's in the Wolf cabin."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kim and Jack. I'm Francesca, but y'all can call me Fran. My friend Lucas is the counselor for the Wolf cabin. I'm sure you will get along well. One of your cabinmates has already arrived so if you want to head in and pick out your bed and start unpacking you can. Jack, I'm sure Lucas will be preparing his welcome to Camp Kikiwaka speech, you better hurry back". Jack dropped the bags on the bed she picked and gave Kim a quick hug before running across the circle to Wolf cabin.
Kim had picked the bed that was towards the front of the cabin. Leaving the two back beds for Elena and Eve when they arrived. The three girls then spent the next few minutes unpacking while they waited for their final cabinmates. This year was apparently Avery's first year at camp, but Kim had attended for the last three years and was determined to win the Camp Kikiwaka Cup this summer.
A knock on the cabin door drew the three girls from their summer planning. Looking up they saw a girl with long raven hair and deep dark mischievous eyes. "Hey everyone" she greeted, "I'm Elena!". Rising to her feet Fran brushed the dust off her skirt and then offered her manicured hand to her camper.
"Welcome to Camp Kikiwaka Elena! I'm your head counselor Francesca but you can call me Fran. This is your CIT Avery and your fellow camper Kim. The one of the beds in the back is for you. We were just planning how we are going to win the camp competition this year."
Elena grinned thankfully at the girls placing her backpack on the bed before heading back outside to say goodbye to her mom and Schneider.
The final camper to arrive, Eve Baxter was returning camper who happily claimed the last bed and chatted happily with Kim.
The girls spent the next hour moving into their cabin and planning their summer strategy against the other cabins. The ringing of the dinner bell alerted them that it was time to start heading to the dining hall. Leading her girls out onto the porch, Francesca smiled at the sight of Maria riding on Xander's shoulders. She was so blessed to have been given this experience to meet so many amazing people. Waving at Maya and Lucas as they ushered their cabins across the great lawn towards the mess hall. Francesca gathered her girls and followed them inside the mess hall.
Inside the hall Fran directed her girls to get in line behind the Owl cabin for food. "Hey Farkle, Zay, how was camper move in?" Fran asked as she grabbed her food.
"It went really well! Thanks for asking. Our campers are Max, Auggie, and Toby" Zay answered while pointing at the two blonde boys and a brunette sitting with the bunny cabin. "Our C.I.T. Jackson seems pretty great as well. I think we are set for a great summer"
"How did your move in go?" questioned Farkle as the three of them made their way to the counselor table.
"It went fairly smoothly," Francesca answered as they took their seats. "My girls are all moved in and super excited for this summer and the Camp Kikiwaka cup! Fox cabin is totally going to win this year". Lou laughed from her spot next to Francesca and started to defend her cabin but was cut off by a new arrival.
"No way!" declared a pretty blonde as she took a seat on Lou's other side, "Woodchuck cabin is totally going to win this year. Right Lou?"
"Uh, right Emma… What are you doing over here bestie?" questioned Lou uncomfortably.
Jumping in to save the girl from the awkward air around the Counselor Only table Francesca leaned over to see Emma better and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Francesca Holloway, the new counselor for Fox cabin and the camp nurse".
"I'm Emma" the blonde replied distractedly, "C.I.T for Woodchuck cabin".
Great! This was the perfect opening to explain the changes that were put in place this year. Gladys had apparently set new rules this summer, in which campers were to sit together, counselors sit together, and C.I.T.s sit with other C.I.T.s. Farkle though decided to address the issue without tack.
"Are you sure you're a C.I.T? This table is for the counselors only, it's a new rule apparently" he asked.
"What? Lou, did you know about this?" Emma screeched "I always sit with you guys. And I'm basically a counselor anyways, I've been doing this for three years! Heck three out of the ten of you are brand new! I deserve to sit at this table! Right Bestie?" Emma exclaimed, whipping her head around to look at Lou, resulting in Zay getting a mouthful of her hair. Ignoring Zay's sputtering and Lou's attempted protests Emma continued, "I mean I would be a counselor if I wanted to, heck I should be head counselor like my mom right Xandy?"
Francesca looked confused at that, were Xander and this girl together? The way the girl spoke to him and leaned over into his space, basically falling into his lap, it appeared that she at least thought they were a thing. Which sucked since Fran had thought she had picked up a vibe between her and the boy the last two weeks. Xander though looked uncomfortable and was sputtering trying to figure out how to answer the insistent blonde. Luckily Lucas jumped in to save Xander from his floundering.
"Emma, the reason we are supposed to sit in these groups to work on team bonding and event planning. The C.I.T.s will be given a lot more responsibility this year. The most important part of being a leader here at camp is working well with your team, well that and keeping the kids alive".
Francesca giggled as Maya "mistook" the betrayed look on Emma's face as one of fear. "Don't worry Emma, I know meeting new people is scary, but you are going to love your C.I.T crew. There are so few of you so I'm sure you will all be best friends in no time" with an angelic smile but a devious look in her eye Maya looked around the dining hall. Francesca giggled as Maya continued. "Hey look! There's Avery, Francesca's C.I.T, Fran call her over here so that Emma has someone to sit with". Picking up on Maya's plan Francesca called Avery over to the table.
"Liv, this is Emma, she is the C.I.T for Woodchuck cabin! I thought you girls could sit together for dinner. I'm sure you will become super-fast friends!" Francesca suggested.
"Sure Fran! Come on Emma, Holden said that he has some great ideas for C.I.T run events" she grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her along towards the CIT table.
Turning to Xander, Maya exclaimed "So that is Emma, I can't say that I am impressed. Why are you dating her anyway Xander?"
While Fran really wanted to hear the answer to that question, but she was distracted by a familiar figure entering the dining hall.
"Ravi! Oh, my Lord, Ravi, is that you?" Fran shrieked. She jumped up to meet the young man as he made his way over to their table.
"Frannie! What are you doing here?" Ravi said as he hugged her. "I thought you were staying with your Aunt Rose this summer. Is your "mini me" here too?"
"Yeah, Maria and I were supposed to be staying with Rose, but our car broke down here in Moose Rump and I was offered a job by Gladys. Apparently the nurse had quit that morning and she was desperate for a replacement. She offered a fair deal and I took it. I had no clue that this was the summer camp that you worked at! I'm so excited we get to spend the summer together! I'll have to call the others; they are going to freak! I mean, what are the odds?"
"I know right? This is going to be a great summer!" Ravi replied, "I'm going to get some food and then we can catch up!"
"You bet!" Francesca responded, squeezing his hand. Settling back down Francesca faced the several questioning looks from her fellow leaders.
"How do you know Ravi? I thought that you didn't know anyone at this camp" asked Lou.
"I know Ravi from school. We used to go to University together. I totally did not connect that this camp was the one he would talk about. This is going to be so great! The girls are going to freak out when I tell them".
"I thought you went to UVA?" asked Maya.
"We both went to UVA. What really sealed the deal for him is that they allowed Mrs. Kipling. Some of the other schools tried to kick up a fuss, but since Mrs. Kipling is filed as an emotional support animal, they did not really have a leg to stand on".
"So, Ravi is your Co-Counselor this year right Xander?" Farkle asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
"Yeah, we have been together for the last couple years. Grizzly cabin is the best and Ravi is always our secret weapon. He comes up with the best plans to help us try to win the Camp Kikiwaka Cup".
"Well you better be ready to compete, because Fox Cabin is fighting to win this year!" Fran declared as she leaned across the table to him. Settling back into her seat she continues "So how is everyone getting along with their CITs?"
"I love mine" declared Maya. "Liv is so great! I swear that she can read my mind. She is so on top of things."
"That's awesome Maya? What about you Lucas? How is Luke working out?"
"Luke is really adjusting to camp life! He is already bonding with the boys. I'm looking forward to working with him this year".
"I have Emma, so no change there really. I'm just worried about how she will take all the changes in rules" Lou contributed. The returning counselors were all quick to agree.
" My C.I.T Holden is great, though he seems to be rather attached to Maya's" chuckled PJ
"So that's where she ran off too…" laughed Maya.
"Apparently one of my campers. Parker is her little brother, so they were helping him settle in, before checking on her other brother Joey who is in Grizzly cabin" explained Farkle.
"That's sweet! I wish my siblings were half as supportive as that" commented Ravi as he finally settled down at the counselor table. "I swear as soon as the limo door opens its 'Peace everyone, see you never'. So much for sibling love".
"Oh come on Rav, you know your siblings love you! Deep, deep down…" comforted Lou.
"I guess, it's debatable whether Luke has a deep down!" causing a wave of laughter.
The rest of dinner passed in comfortable discussion as the counselors got to know each other better. As Fran settled into bed that night after the campfire she did so with a smile and dreamed of winning the camp cup.
Evie's Notes 2: I love hearing from y'all, let me know what you think of the chapter and the story so far! Stay safe everyone!