I sighed. “I thought I saw a figure,” I said. “But I never said ghost. The truth is, I don’t—”
“So, there you have it,” Bella cut in, looking away from me and around the circle. “I think it’s pretty clear there’s some kind of spirit hanging around this camp, and I would argue, it’s an unhappy one.” She folded her arms in front of her. “I think if we held a séance, we might be able to talk to the spirit and, maybe, tell it to go away.”
George snorted. “That’s ridiculous,” she said. “You just want to scare everyone! I don’t know what your deal is, but you love the drama. These kids just got here,” she said, gesturing around to the CITs, “and the last thing they need on their first night is to stay up until the wee hours scaring away a ghost that doesn’t exist. Come on, Marcie. This is ridiculous.”
Marcie looked slowly from Bella to George, then stood. She glanced nervously at Bella. “I think your story is a little far-fetched,” she said. “No offense.”
Bella pursed her lips. “Whatever, ginger,” she said snarkily. “Be on your way, then.”
Bess gently tapped Janie’s shoulder too. “Let’s go,” she said urgently. “I don’t want to get in trouble. And I think this is silly.”
Janie nodded. “Okay,” she said, then turned and followed Bess back toward the path.
I slowly got to my feet. “I’m leaving too,” I said, and then suddenly remembered Maya and touched her arm. “I mean, I think we should leave.”
Maya looked up at me then, and I saw that her face was pale. “Yeah,” she said simply, standing up.
“Do what you want,” Bella said, shrugging. “I know Maddie wants to stay here. And Charla—don’t you want to know the truth?”
“I’ll stay,” Maddie said quietly, not looking at anyone.
Charla just sat very still, looking thoughtful.
I glanced over at George, who lingered at the edge of the path where Bess had disappeared a moment before. She still looked upset, and I thought I knew why.
“Here’s the thing,” I said, reaching down to grab the candle and the Ouija board. “I’m not coming to your séance, Bella, and if you go ahead with it, I’m going to wake up Deborah and Miles and tell them.”
“What?” Bella asked, scowling. “Who died and made you camp police, Nancy?” She leaned toward me, like she was going to grab for the candle.
“Nobody,” I said, clutching the candle harder as I gestured around the circle at the CITs. “But these kids just got here. They’re here to help us, but it’s also our responsibility to take care of them. And tomorrow, busloads of kids are going to pull into the driveway, and it’ll be our responsibility to take care of them, too.”
Bella glared at me. “I know that. Unlike you, remember, I’ve been to camp before.”
“You need to let go of this ghost story,” I went on, trying to keep my voice even and low. “It’s not helping anybody, and you could seriously scare some of the kids. I don’t know what your deal is yet, exactly, but I don’t even think you believe it.”
Bella kept glaring at me. Her eyes looked hard in the pale moonlight. “You don’t know what I believe,” she hissed finally.
“Let it go, Bella,” George said, raising her voice to be heard from the path. “Everyone, come back to bed with us now. Or Nancy and I will wake up Deborah.”
One by one, the remaining counselors and CITs began getting to their feet. Several of them looked relieved. Maddie still avoided my eyes and looked a little embarrassed. But her CIT, Frankie, eagerly strode toward the path. Bella was the last to stand, and when she did she moved very slowly, deliberately grabbing her bag and tossing the matchbook, which was still in her hand, inside.
She took the few steps over to me, looking me right in the eye. “I’ll take the candle and Ouija board back, please,” she said icily.
“I think I’ll hold on to them,” I said, not backing down.
A flash of anger played across Bella’s face, and then her eyes hardened even more. She leaned in and whispered to me, “You’re a goody-goody and a tattletale. I thought this camp would be fun, but not with squares like you and your little nerdfighters screwing things up.” She held up one finger, and while I stared at it, wondering what she would do, she suddenly moved forward and poked me in the nose. “Were you looking to make an enemy tonight? ’Cause you’ve got one.”
She backed up then, raising her voice so everyone else could hear, and pasted on a fake smile. “All right, séance postponed! Let’s all get some sleep, people.”
She strutted up the path as though she were still in charge. Slowly, we all fell into step behind her.
“Nice job, Steely-Eyed Nance,” George whispered, nudging me with her elbow. “You told her who was boss.”
“But I definitely made an enemy,” I added, shooting George a concerned look. “I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite us later.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Making Friends