Jay sits down next to me. “You don’t want to go in? Do you not have a swimsuit?”
I realize I didn’t take off my shorts and t-shirt. This is so embarrassing. I don’t care if others are in swimsuits.
“Yes, I have a swimsuit.” I sigh, stand up, and pull off my clothes. Jay glances over my figure, and a crooked smile adorns his lips as I sit back down. “I was thinking I would just like to feel the sun for a bit. I might get in later.”
“You look great in that suit.” He compliments me as he stands up and pulls off his t-shirt. His stomach is nothing but hard muscles. No wonder I felt like I hit a brick wall. Before I finish my ogling, he dives in the water. He didn’t even give me a chance to turn red over his swimsuit remarks.
He comes up a few feet away from me. I prepare for him to splash me, but he doesn’t. “I’m going to head down to the other end and play some water volleyball. Do you want to watch?”
Water volleyball puts us in deeper water. My breath hitches, and I deeply breathe in and out to avoid a panic attack. I plan to sit out and stay by the edge. What can happen? “Okay.”
I stand and grab our towels and clothes. Following along the side of the pool to where the volleyball nets are, I deposit them in an empty chair behind where I plan to watch, then head back to the water.
Right after I sit down, two bodies plop down next to me. On my right is Lucca, and on my left is Parker. I lean back to get a better view of both of them.
“You don’t want to play?” Parker asks at the same time Lucca asks, “You don’t want to swim?”
I giggle at both of them. “No, I’m happy here enjoying the sun. I also told Jay I would watch him play water volleyball.”
“You mean win water volleyball. He can’t lose with Lucca and me on his team.” Parker high fives Lucca over my head.
“Will you cheer for all of us?” Lucca pulls off the puppy dog eyes I failed at earlier.
Unsure of what is happening or why they pay so much attention to me, I run with it. “Of course, it makes it easier that I don’t know anyone on the other team.” That sounds slightly insensitive, so I add, “I would have rooted for you guys regardless, though.”
Lucca winks at me as he stands up and dives in the water. Parker stands, but I realize he still has his shirt on. He strips it off, and I get a good look at him. It’s hard to believe he was overweight because I don’t see an ounce of fat on his body. He isn’t as muscular as Jay, but he’s well defined.
He dives in, and water sprays my face. I wipe it off and lean back again, letting the warmth of the sun dry me. Only a few small, puffy clouds and a random bird disrupt the clear blue sky. I miss this living near the city. Everything here smells fresh and clean. I daydream about growing up in an area like this. I stop my thoughts before I become depressed since I only know about families from what I’ve read in books. No point in daydreaming about something I’ll never have or a place I’ll never live.
I sit back up and watch the boys pass the ball around, their graceful movements in sync with each other. The game starts right after three more guys join them. The team on the other side is full as well.
Twenty minutes later, the outmatched other team hasn’t scored anything to my boys’ seven goals. I’m not sure why I’m thinking of them as mine other than the fact they asked me to watch and cheer for them. My hands and throat are sore from screaming, whistling, and clapping at each score or when they’ve stopped the other team from scoring.
After sitting on the concrete for so long, my sore butt convinces me to stand and stretch. I grab my towel, and as I bend over to put it on the ground to sit on, a push from behind knocks me off balance. The hard surface of the water slams into my face before everything goes black.
~
My eyes open slowly. The matching green eyes of Parker and Fallon flash with concern.
“Breathe, Cassie.” Parker’s soft and soothing voice urges. “Can you sit up?”
“What happened?” I try to sit up as Jay’s rough hands on my back lift me.
“Mindy pushed you into the pool.” Irritation laces Fallon’s voice, but she tries to be as calm and soothing as Parker when she talks to me. “You hit the water then passed out. Don’t worry. The lifeguard escorted Mindy up to Kelly’s office.”
I cough a few times, which gets me worried looks from those around me. “I’m okay. I just need to get up and move.”
Those same rough hands help me stand. I wobble a little, and my back rests against Jay’s chest. “I’ve got you,” he whispers in my ear.
Lucca holds a towel out to me. “Do you want to sit in one of the chairs?”
“No. I’d like to go take a hot shower to help clear my head,” I say, not really wanting everyone to notice how weak this made me.
“I’ll walk you back.” Lucca takes my hand after wrapping the towel around my shoulders.
“You don’t have to leave on my account. I remember the way back.” I try to pull my hand back, but he holds it tight.
“No, you shouldn’t be alone since you blacked out.” Lucca directs me to the gate I originally entered through.
Fallon saves me. “I’ll take her. You wouldn’t be allowed in the cabin, and I can sit in there and make sure she doesn’t pass out in the shower.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, let go of Lucca’s hand, and stumble back to the cabin with Fallon.
CHAPTER SIX
I breathe deep as I stand under the hot water. After only half of a day here, I made an enemy that’s willing to kill me, met three guys with a strange obsession with me, and learned this camp really is for gifted teens. The most drama I’ve ever encountered before this is which classroom to duck into when trying to skip class.
During my shower, I decide to go back to my original plan to check out the Corral and their computers. I may need my escape plan sooner versus later if Mindy insists on making life hard for me. After I finish drying off, I pull my hair into my usual bun and check my face in the mirror. Light red stains my cheeks, and broken blood vessels dot around my left eye. The beginning of a black eye mars my face. Maybe one of the cafeteria attendants will give me a bag of ice.
Fallon sits on her bed, still in her swimsuit, and glances up with concern as I exit the bathroom. I feel bad that she’s losing out on her free time to babysit me.
Forcing a smile, I say, “Thanks for watching out for me, but I’m fine. I’m going to head over to the Corral for some quiet time.”
She frowns and stands. “Do you want me to go with you?”
I wave her offer away. “No, I’ll be fine. Go back to the pool and have fun with Micah.”
She nibbles her lip, obviously conflicted, and I walk out the door before guilt makes her follow me.
I make my way down the quiet lane. Since camp activities begin tomorrow, most people are probably down at the lake or still up at the pool. This allows me to have the alone time not granted yet at camp.