Camp Forget-Me-Not (3 page)

Chapter Two

FOUR YEARS AGO

“…I can’t do it.” I was scared and humiliated. I didn’t want my friends to see me struggle and fail to scale Tennent Mountain’s peak. Out of shape and out of breath, I’d trailed behind them as we’d climbed all morning. I’d pushed myself hard just to keep them in sight. But this steep vertical looked impossible, my fear turning into full-blown panic. Everyone would reach the top, and I’d be left behind, noticed in the worst possible way.

“Hurry up, Kayla!” one of the other girls hissed as she climbed past me, her tennis shoes moving over slippery rocks easily. “We’re always waiting for you.”

Panic and embarrassment would not make me go any faster. But the girl who’d hassled me—Rachel, I think her name was—would never get that. She was always winning races.

Forcing one foot forward, I tightened my grip on a vine growing over the edge of the cliff face we were climbing. Where was a counselor when you needed one? I swear mine was avoiding me.

I tugged the vine harder and tried to lift myself up. Except the vine gave way. My arms spiraled through empty air, hands grasping for anything to break my fall.

“No worries.” A boy’s voice said in my ear just as wiry arms wrapped around my waist. “I’m here.”

He caught me as if he’d been waiting for me. I had a vision of what I must have looked like falling backward, a chubby girl who couldn’t pull her own weight. Literally.

“I’m sorry,” I croaked as I wriggled free and stood on my own two feet.

Facing him.

He was cute. Half my size, with wiry arms and springy dark curls. His smile was crooked, and he looked so proud to have saved me that I felt bad for nearly crushing him.

“Why are you sorry? You fell.” He pointed to the right. “Go this way and you can get up the hill without climbing such a steep slope. It’s easy.”

I wanted to argue—nothing was easy for me—but he darted away so fast I didn’t have time.

Damn it.

Hurrying after him, I realized I hadn’t thanked him. Or found out his name. Of course, it would be better if I never saw him again since I’d nearly flattened him.

“Hey,” I called, realizing I’d really, really like to see that path he’d mentioned. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

I rounded a corner and nearly slammed into him. Poor kid. But he was light on his feet and just bounced ahead a step.

“Here. Look.” He pointed to a dirt path that looked better than that cliff face. “I can help you.”

“Thank you,” I managed to say through my burning throat. I closed my eyes, wishing I were invisible, that no one could see me. Not even this helpful boy who made me feel even more self-conscious.

“Er…uh…sure,” the boy said and his tone sounded funny.

Then, suddenly, he was prying my eyelid open.

“You in there?” he asked, leaning too close and peering into my eyeball as if I was a science project.

“What are you doing?” I leaped back, away from his touch, blinking to fix my eyelid. It felt all weird now.

“You were closing your eyes,” he explained, his own hazel eyes serious. “I didn’t know if you were okay.”

“Oh.” I could hear other people calling my name on the hilltop, and I knew I should hurry. But something about this boy’s worried expression made me feel funny inside. Happy, I guess. “Sometimes I close my eyes when I want to disappear.”

His grin returned, but I could tell he wasn’t laughing at me. I don’t know how I could tell. I guess because I’d seen enough people making fun of me before.

“It doesn’t work so well,” he told me, laughing a little as he held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll help you up.”

His fingers were sticky, and the glitter on his thumbnail meant he probably hadn’t washed them after arts and crafts. But I was happy for the extra grip anyway.

“I’m Kayla,” I told him while he steered me up the easiest part of the path.

“I know who you are.” He pointed to a group of girls in my cabin when we got to the top of the hill. “Your friends are over there.”

How did he know my cabin?

He started to dart away again, but I grabbed his hand once more.

“They’re not my friends.” Every one of them had passed me on that hill.

“I am.” He stared down at my hand on his, and I saw a little half-smile curl his lips. “I’m Nick Desanti.”

No one smiled when I touched them. According to the boys at school, I’d had cooties for the past two years. So even if Nick hadn’t helped me today, I would have liked him for that.

“Well, Nick Desanti, I make the best friendship bracelets ever and I’m making you one.” I edged my backpack higher on my shoulder. If I didn’t join my cabin soon, they’d start making embarrassing catcalls about me talking to a boy.

“Sounds cool.” He let go of my hand and held up his sparkle-covered nails. “I suck at arts and crafts.”

“See you, Nick.” I could have talked to him all day, but I needed to go.

It was the happiest day I’d had in a long, long time…

TODAY

“Kiss her, you wimp!”

“Or bite her!”

I glanced from the flickering movie projected on the side of our rec room to the talkative boy squished against me later that night. He stuffed another handful of popcorn in his mouth, kernels falling from his smacking lips.

Ewww.

He thrust his bucket at me, his greasy smile full of metal and white bits. “Want some?”

I inhaled the salty butter and tightened my stomach before it growled. “No thanks. I’ve had plenty.” I brushed his half-chewed bits off my lap and stood.

“Hey! Down in front!” someone yelled.

I ducked my head and stepped over the campers sprawled on the lawn for tonight’s Movie Under the Stars. Another vampire flick. Surprise.

I found a spot behind the Divas and settled in quietly. Only Nick turned, but Brooke got his attention back by grabbing his hand and putting it over her eyes.

“Tell me when this part’s over.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “If you weren’t here, I’d be terrified.”

Oh, puh-lease. A drop in Brooke’s YouTube channel subscriber numbers scared her way more than sexy vampires. This was exactly why I hadn’t sat with the Warriors and Divas. Watching girls flirt with Nick made me feel worse than ever.

Nick smoothed the top of Brooke’s head. “No worries. I’m here.”

The timbre of his voice made me shiver. He used to say those words to me. Now Brooke got his comfort. I met his over-the-shoulder look then forced my eyes away.

Yeah. Message received. Nick had moved on since I’d broken things off with him. As I watched the movie, I felt his stare. What was he hoping for? That I’d look upset? Ask him for forgiveness? If he hadn’t acted so mean when he’d returned to camp, I might have. I would have told him the truth and that I wished I’d handled things better.

Brooke twined a finger in one of Nick’s short, dark curls. “Some of us are meeting at the dock at midnight to swim,” she whispered loud enough for me to hear. “Wanna come?”

A night swim? I pulled my knees to my chest and swallowed hard. No one had mentioned it when we got ready for the movie. Were my friends leaving me out on purpose?

“What about Victoria?” Nick lowered his voice and glanced at our counselor. She’d propped herself against a nearby tree, her eyes obscured by dark glasses.

“She sleeps like a trucker. After eleven, we could throw a party in our cabin and she wouldn’t wake up.”

Brooke was exaggerating, but she was mostly right. We’d been getting away with stuff for years. And up until now, they’d always included me. I blinked back the sting in my eyes.

“So who’s coming?” The rising moon outlined Nick’s handsome profile. His light eyes slid my way again, his stare steady and assessing. Was he trying to intimidate me? Keep me from joining the group?

Brooke leaned closer and whispered in his ear. My stomach knotted. I imagined her reeling off a list of names that didn’t include mine.

She pulled back after a second and smiled, her teeth whiter than the rising moon. “So you’ll make it, right? I’ve got this sick bikini…”

Satisfaction swept through me when he pulled her hand off his leg and dropped it back in her lap. “It’ll depend on what Rob’s up to tonight.”

“Duh. It’s Friday. I heard he goes out late on the weekends.”

Cameron leaned over. “Only once in a while, but tonight he’s definitely got a date. I heard him making plans with Jim, the counselor from the Human Habitat cabin, to cover for him. Since Jim usually stops in just after lights out, we’re covered. Dude.” Cameron punched Nick’s arm. “Can’t believe you didn’t notice.”

“I’ve had other things on my mind.”

I dodged a look he sent me, then startled when someone shook my shoulder.

“Which one of you is Brooke?” asked a middler counselor I didn’t recognize.

Brooke tossed her hair and reached for the purple marker and heart-shaped notebook she kept handy for autographs. “Who should I make it out to?”

The counselor’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”

“What can we do for you?” I asked. The young woman’s serious expression did not exactly shout Brooke White Fan Club.

“Nia hurt her arm, and she’s in the infirmary. She’s asking for her best friend, Brooke.” The counselor beckoned to Brooke. “Would you please come?”

Despite our whispers, the rest of the Warriors and Divas—except Hannah and Julian, who’d found their own spot—turned.

Brooke closed her notepad with a snap and crossed her arms. “I’m not her best friend. Did she break it?”

The counselor extended a hand to help Brooke up. “No. It’s a sprain. But still, it’s painful.”

“Please.” Brooke rolled her eyes and ignored the counselor’s hand. “You don’t know Nia. She’s a major drama queen and does everything to get my attention since I’m famous.” She ran her fingertips up Nick’s arm. “You understand about that whole fangirl thing, right?”

He would, I mused, but not for the reasons Brooke thought.

“So you won’t come?” The counselor rocked back on her heels. She looked from the rolling credits to an inattentive Victoria.

“I have plans.” Brooke’s voice suddenly turned cold. “And I’m not letting Nia spoil them.”

The wind stirred the humid air, and suddenly I wished I’d been invited on the swim trip more than ever. But since it wasn’t to be…I stood. “I’ll go check on Nia.”