Lolita's Perception

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

Our cabin was at the very top of the hill, tucked right in between great big evergreen trees and sweet smelling honeysuckle bushes. The whole place was filled with noise. From the chirping of birds, to shouts and hollers from the Boy Scout's camp across the lake. From inside the log cabin's walls came the the blend of multiple different voices, all talking over each other. All talking at once. After a recount seconds Bonnie took my hand in hers, and soon enough the two of us had began our walk up the sun bleached wooden steps, and then through the doorway.

There were three other girls inside the cabin, all seemingly older than myself. Sitting alone atop one of the bunks was a lanky redhead with pin straight hair and freckles, below her was a stout girl with round glasses and a honey complexion. Meanwhile, the girl standing leaned up against the wall was had a glum look on her face, and was oddly pale for being at summer camp.

From the moment Bonnie and I stepped inside, the chatter faded out, and the three girl immediately glanced over to us.

"Guys, this Dolly—it's her first year." said Bonnie, motioning over to me. "That's Marnie, Vicki, and Julia." she pointed first to the girl on the top bunk, then the girl below her, and then finally, the girl in the corner.

I waved over to the three of them: still feeling too shy to say much of anything. Marnie hopped down from the top bunk, before jaunting over to the two of us, Vicki and Julia following close behind.

"Aww, she's such a baby!" Marnie cooed, fidgeting with the satin ribbon in my hair.

"I am not!" I exclaimed, crossing my arms.

She just shrugged, with a smile that seemed to say: "Aww, the little baby's upset."

Revolting, I thought to myself, rolling my eyes as I turned back to Bonnie.

"Guys, come on." she said, slinging her arm around my shoulder. "Dolly's pretty cool, you know."

"Oh yeah? I bet she's never even kissed a boy." said Marnie, with a scoff.

"I have, too!" I exclaimed, my cheeks turning bright red. "And not just a boy, either—a real man!"

"You're kidding?" Julia asked, in utter disbelief; her voice was much quieter than the other three girls.

"Nope, and he's really, really cute!"

"You got a picture?" Marnie noisily asked.

I nodded, scrounging around in my suitcase for what seemed like eternity, before slowly pulling out the picture of Humbert and I sitting together on the porch—the one Mom took of us during his very first week in Ramsdale. After just a couple seconds, I held up the photograph for the entire cabin to see.

Immediately, the girls began to coo in admiration.

"Oh man, what a dream!" Vicki exclaimed, trying to get a better look.

"He sure is old—" Julia began, before Bonnie quickly interrupted. "Yeah, but cute,"

"Tell me about it..." I remarked, smiling as I tucked the photo safely into my suitcase.

"Hey, Dolly, wanna share a bunk?" Bonnie asked, pointing over to the tall wooden bunk bed in the left corner.

"Sure! Can I have top bunk?"

"You got it," she replied, with a smile.

I took the stuffed teddy bear out of my suitcase, tossing it up onto the top bunk, before climbing up the latter. Even while lying down, I could see just outside the window, and through the thick branches of staggering pines