Besides, their past is none of my business.
Before I can try to move away again, both girls’ eyes shift up slightly. I imagine they see at least one of possibly four people behind me. Knowing I’m not alone gives me extra courage to speak my mind. “Jenny and Mindy, let’s get a few things straight. You can call this your lesson for the week. I don’t care about you or your opinions. I never will. You can say whatever you want because, in the end, you’re the ones that will look bad. I care about the opinions of the people I respect. There are very few people that have earned that distinction. People will always try to tear you down, but in the end, it’s your actions and words that make you who you are. Continue as you will, but don’t try to stop me again.”
I doubt my speech changed their perception of me or the situation, but they storm off. An arm wraps around my shoulders, and I peer up to find Jay watching the girls leave. “Remind me not to get on your bad side. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll leave you alone. They just won’t hit you over the head with it next time.”
I smile up at him. “They can do what they want because I’ve been told by reliable sources I’m not alone.”
He escorts me the rest of the way to my cabin but stops at the bottom of the stairs.
I pause at the front door. “Thanks for walking me back.”
Two steps into the room, I’m accosted. Red hair whips into my face as I’m planted onto the nearest bunk. Fallon stares at me wide-eyed. “How did that happen? Do you want me to talk to Kelly? They can’t make you stay on a boys’ team. I mean, I know my brother would never let anything happen to you, but still.”
She stops for a second to catch her breath, and I manage to talk before she can start again. “I spoke with Kelly and team earlier. I like where I’m at. I think we’re a good fit. What about your team? How do you guys get along?”
I hope if I change the subject she’ll drop the questions and it works. “I’ve known all of them for the three years I’ve been coming here.” She puffs out her chest. “We’ll be a tough team to beat, so watch out.”
“I have no doubt we’ll be on the lookout for you and everyone else,” I announce, then regret it because that leaves me open again to talk about the boys.
“There are thirty-two teams. My team and yours are in the top ten. Actually, yours is in the top three in my list of teams to watch. After the first two weeks, things will be pretty even between the teams unless teams take on bonus tasks. Most of the top teams will do this. You’ll see the top ten pull ahead pretty quick. The rest of the teams will struggle with melding and trust.”
I’m surprised she would share this information with me.
“After about a month, the top ten will be close, but you may find the top five pull away. The younger teams will be at the bottom. This is to be expected, though. It’s also the reason we come back for more than one year.”
She really does have all this figured out.
“Should you be telling me all of this?” I ask her.
“This is stuff my brother and I talked about all school year. I’m not telling you anything he wouldn’t. I’m not about to tell you my plans.” She rolls her eyes at me like I should expect to get away with that.
Before I respond, Lily and Lara walk in the door, and Lily bounces over to us. “Did you ask him? Do I have a date tonight?”
Lily’s enthusiasm makes me sad.
“I asked both of them, but as you guessed, they want to be with the team tonight. Maybe you can sit with us,” I whisper, hoping she won’t be mad at me.
She shrugs. “I expected as much. Thanks for trying. I’ll have to find easier prey.” She laughs as she walks into the bathroom.
“How was your day, Lara? Do you like your team?”
Lara stares into the mirror and shrugs at my questions. “They’re okay, I guess. They don’t seem to take any of this seriously. It would’ve been a good team for Lily to join because they only want to talk about the boys at camp.”
Now Lara rolls her eyes. Poor thing, I hope her team gets better.
“Boys are overrated,” I remind her, and she laughs.
“Totally.” Lara tries to agree but laughs too hard to make it recognizable.
Fallon knocks her shoulder into mine. “That’s my brother you’re talking about.” She tries to sound stern, but she giggles as I hit the mattress.
I try to defend myself. “Oh, I know. I would say the same to his face. Don’t worry.”
“Hey! What did I miss? No fair telling jokes without me.” Lily pouts as she rejoins us.
“You didn’t miss anything. We’re just laughing at the boys.” I notice she changed into a shorter skirt.
Changing sounds like a good idea, but I’ll go for shorts and a tank.
“Hurry up so we can get a good spot,” Fallon yells as I walk over to my bunk to change.
I decide not to tell her I’m not going to need a spot. The boys probably staked out the best places to sit, observe, and talk. They’re the total opposite of the way Lara’s team sounds.
After I finish dressing, we inspect our clothing choices one more time and make our way to the fire pit. By the time we arrive, the unlit logs lay ready for the final spark to get them ignited. Tables with all sorts of fruits and chocolate dipping sauces stand off to the right side. A pile of graham crackers next to marshmallows and chocolate waits to be made into s’mores. In the back, a small stage set up with a big monitor behind it rounds out the section opposite the fire pit. Kids play putt-putt while the camp coordinators finalize their setup. Anticipation over what I’ll enjoy tonight makes me fidgety because I’ve never been to anything like this before.
“Cassie, you weren’t going to start the party without us, were you?” Lucca’s Italian accent makes his wistful comment come across as sultry.
When I turn around, Lucca’s hands rest on his hips, and his lip sticks out in a pout. I bite my cheeks to stop from laughing at his posture.
“Lucca, we all know the party couldn’t truly start until you arrive.” I wink at him as the other guys walk up.
“Hi, Lucca!” Lily steps up to him and puts her hand on his chest.
Lucca takes a slight step back so that Lily’s hand drops back to her side as he quickly glances my way. “Buonasera, Lily.”
Lily misses the hint as she places her hand on his arm. I should have warned her I asked both Jay and Noah out for her at the same time. Lucca knows he must be next on her list.
“I love it when you speak Italian. It’s sexy,” she purrs at him.
“I'm going to switch to Portuguese then.” Lucca’s flat tone switches to Portuguese.
I giggle from behind Lily.
She glances at me. “Don’t you think his Italian is hot?”
“I don’t think it would matter what language he’s speaking.” He’ll sound hot to you. I finish in my head.
She shakes her head at me and gives up on Lucca by dragging me across the site. I twist to see what the others are doing and notice them following us.