Witch of the Wild Woods

Chapter 7 - Kid Smoke

Lane found Nina on the deck that overlooked the amphitheater. Her back was pushed up against the floor-to-ceiling glass window that wrapped around the rear of the dining hall. Sure enough, inside the cafeteria that could have accommodated a hundred or more persons was a disaster area. Tables were covered in filthy sheets. Chairs were stacked, pushed into corners. Multiple ladders stood under opened and exposed vents, ventilation, and wires dangling precariously from lighting fixtures. It was a mess splattered in the same dark viscous residue that covered the phantom Panther, Wolf, and Lion that appeared before The Twins: the same omens that stood guard outside the very camp they now worked for.

    Nina flinched as Lane approached.

    "Are you alright?" Lane asked, keeping his distance from the petite girl. Nina glared up at him. Lines of black and neon green mascara stripes ran down her cheeks. Recognizing Lane didn't pose much of a threat, she retreated back into the fetal position; knees pressed up to her chest, arms wrapped around her tan legs.

    "Fine," Nina coughed out. "Perfect. Love being miles away from home surrounded by jerks. It's my favorite."

    "Okay, wait right here, there's like buckets of sarcasm dripping all over the deck right now. I'm gonna need to go get a mop," Lane chided. He waited for a response.

    Nina tilted her head to the side, one eye peering up at Lane. Eventually, a small smile revealed itself, "So, you tell jokes then, huh? That's your thing?"

    Lane already had enough on his plate as it was. Omens, sexually aggressive strangers, and someone he longed for from his past. Nina wasn't a problem he needed to get involved with, but she was something he could easily solve. It didn't take any energy out of him or cost anything to be nice to someone. So, that's what was needed in this particular moment; an easy win and some kindness shared with someone else.

    Lane knelt down beside Nina, "What brings you up here then if being trapped in social situations isn't your glass of whiskey?"

    "Whiskey?" Nina chuckled, "What are you like forty?'

    "I didn't want to assume tea and have you peg me for ninety," Lane added with a smile.

    Nina scoffed, "I like tea."

    "Who doesn't like tea?" Lane agreed. "But, you're not a fan of being here?"

    Nina stood up and stomped her foot, "I just don't understand why she had to drag me all the way here? Like, 'You've been coming here on your own for the past ten years by yourself,' and now she pulls the Best Friend Card. Now I'm guilted into coming. Thanks, but that's ridiculous."

    Lane's ears perked up on the pronoun game; "So someone dragged you here against your will, huh?"

    "Jordan," Nina spat out, "Love her to death, but sometimes I forget why we're friends. Like, we're polar opposites on almost everything. And, she didn't even tell me about the stupid water balloons!" With a frustrated huff, Nina peeled off her damp shirt and threw it over the balcony with a frustrated scream. Her neon green bra covering a wonderfully flat chest was equally soaked but thankfully remained on.

    Lane's mind was rapidly compartmentalizing the details at hand. Nina was best friends with Jordan. She wears loud neon bras. Nina's petite yet muscular frame is absurdly alluring. Blinking back to reality, Lane held out the dry camp shirt he'd received from Jude; "Maybe something less wet will help?"

Nina growled, then turned to Lane. Scruff of orange hair not unlike Jordan's, maybe a shade darker. His green eyes were wide, calming, friendly; just some dumb guy trying to be nice and not utterly failing at it either. Nina took the soft, dry cotton shirt and slipped it over her head, "Thanks."