Love Scouts

Chapter 2

**Lennon's POV**

Dax, without fail, always got in the way of me trying to be on top.

With us constantly at each other's throats to be the best, I earned myself a rival. 

Ever since I joined boy scouts, I wanted to be the best at everything. My desire to surpass everyone at everything came from the fact I always want to impress my mother and make her proud for once. Like I have said before, my mom is never satisfied with what I do, and that included how well I did in boy scouts.

From the first day that Dax had joined my troop, I loathed him. Why you may ask? Maybe it was the fact I became incredibly jealous that he befriended everyone his first day while I had only managed to make two friends in 1 week, or how he just seemed so perfect with his fun personality and carefree, confident attitude. But to this day I still don't know for sure what made me despise him without even getting to know him.

Soon enough I was given a reason to dislike him, for we would challenge each other at everything we did as we grew up together. Even if it was something little like picking up trash or setting up the chairs for meetings, we would challenge one another to see who was stronger, faster, or overall just better at it.  

The weird thing was, we never spoke to each other unless we were forced to because of an activity of course because it seemed our scowls and challenging smirks did enough of the talking for us.

In fact, I don't think I've ever had an actual conversation with that annoying boy.

From the moment Scout Master Tom let us begin whatever activity we were supposed to do, Dax and I would send each other dangerous glares, challenging each other.

Now, I don't mean we challenge each other then laugh about it. No. I mean that we would push each other or sabotage the other person, but neither of us ever got hurt. Though one time, Dax took the competition thing a little too far.

When we were 10, our troop was at a day camp. The camp had a lake, a dining hall to eat lunch and breakfast, and other little places to do activities. On one morning when we had an early start to our day, and all of the other scouts (including me) were in an especially bad mood, but the leader of the day camp suggested we go canoeing. 

So, we all headed over to the dock to put on our life vests. Once all of us 10-year-old boys reluctantly put on our vests and were sanding and a half-circle by the camp-counselor, he started putting us in groups of 3. 

"Okay scouts! I'm going to assign you to a group of 3!" the counselor called out as he read up and down a list being held by a clipboard. Clay, Porter, and I all looked at each other, hoping we would end up in the same group.

 "The first group will be... Clay!..... Porter!... and..."

Please choose me, please choose me...

"Emmerson!" 

I let out a groan as I watched the kid named Emmerson walk over to where my only two friends were standing. They both gave me an apologetic look while I forced a small smile.

I zoned out as the list of names seemed to go on forever, until I heard mine being called by the counselor. "Lennon?" 

"Yes sir?" I answered, coming back to reality.

"You need to wake up my guy!" he said while shaking my shoulders, and I gave him a sheepish smile, "Sorry sir."

He chuckled and pointed to where two boys were standing, as it looked as everyone else had headed towards the canoes already, "You will be in a canoe with those boys. Okay?"

My mouth opened a bit when I realized I had been paired with Dax and one of his friends, whose name I believe was Nathan. So, I resentfully walked over to where the two boys were standing, dragging my feet on the ground the whole way.

We decided that I would go in the back, Dax in the middle, and his friend Nathan in the front. Due to the fact I was going to be seated in the back of the canoe, I had to climb on first.

 I pushed past Nathan and Dax as I walked closer to the edge of the dock. But before I made any movements to get in the canoe, I eyed Dax wearily worried he would try and pull something on me. He stared right back at me, narrowing his eyes. 

He seemed to be the first to notice we were gazing at each other for way too long and quickly looked away. 

I turned around as well and started to slowly place one foot down in the canoe. It started to rock side to side as I tried to steady it. The next step I took crossed over the first seat, then I stepped over the middle seat. I started to turn around so I could sit down, but as I did, the canoe started to rock aggressively side to side, almost knocking me out of the canoe. 

I looked up to see Dax with one foot still on the dock and the other rocking the canoe. 

"Stop it, Dax!" I cried out as he held his stomach from laughing too hard while Nathan was next to Dax, nearly on the floor. 

With one good push down on the canoe from Dax, the canoe flipped, sending me into the water.

I quickly resurfaced, spitting out some of the water that had gotten in my mouth.

The camp counselor, who had been helping the other teams get into the water during this entire event, looked over in our direction when he heard the giant splash I made from being flipped over.

" What on Earth are you doing Medows?!" he cried as he jogged in my team's direction, " You know you're not supposed to be in there!" 

I opened my mouth to answer him, but I was quickly interrupted by Dax.

"He was trying to walk to the back of canoe but it started to rock. And I tried to steady it, sir! But he flipped before we could help him." He said with innocence in his voice and in his eyes. 

The counselor hesitated for a moment with uncertainty, " Okay..." he looked past Dax at Nathan to confirm what Dax had said, and Nathan shook his head yes. I just rolled my eyes, as I had just witnessed Dax lie to the counselor in front of me. 

As they finished their conversation, I swam back to the dock and climbed back up onto it, which was not very easy, but luckily the counselor helped me a bit.

I started to wring my shirt out when I heard Dax speak, "Hey Lennon. It looks like you got a little wet."

I slowly looked up from my shirt and gave him the deadliest glare ever. I had only stared at him for a couple of moments before Dax and Nathan burst into laugher once again, gasping for air after a couple of seconds.

After I got all the water I could out of my clothes, I sat on one of the benches wrapped up in a princess towel while everyone else got to continue canoeing, and I was not too happy about that.

As I sat on the bench, I felt some water running down my leg. I thought I had dried off pretty well already?  

I took a look, only to see that I had a pretty deep cut on my leg with a good amount of blood coming from it. 

What the hell?

I told the counselor and my scoutmaster, and they took me to the nurse available there at the camp. My leg got treated, but I was in an even worse mood for the rest of the day just wanting to go home.

**

Ever since that day years ago, I've wanted nothing to do with Dax Malloy, but the fact I saw him every Saturday, and whenever we had activities planned, did not help my mission to avoid him.

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Hi! I hope you enjoyed this chapter <3

Would you rather...

Always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?

I would be 20 minutes early!