She

The Artist

*flashback 9 years ago*

"C'mon, Carter. We need to leave or you'll be late for your first day of camp! We wouldn't want that, now would we?" I heard my mother yell from downstairs.

"Okay..." I said trudging down my stairs to my mom standing with the door open, beckoning me outside. When I was close enough to her, I dropped my bag and hugged my mom, faking tears and wailing, "Please don't make me go! Pleasssseeee!"

"That guilt trip isn't going to work this time, Carter. Now get to the car." This obviously wasn't working on her. I tried a different approach.

"I DONT WANNA! DONT MAKE ME! WWAAAAHHHH!" I screamed hitting the ground with my fists and feet, laying on my stomach. My mother was rather irritated by this.

She picked me up by my arms and pointed a finger in my face and said, "You better clean up your act, Carter, or else."

"Okay, Okay." Guilt didn't work, temper tantrum didn't work, guess it's plan c time. Pout.

I sat completely silent in the car, ignoring my moms questions that she clearly already knew the answer to, like 'Are you excited to meet new friends?'

I did this the entire ride there. 'There' is referring to the dreadful camp of the arts that my mom signed me up for without even asking. She wanted me to make friends, but I already knew I wouldn't like anyone there, or more like they wouldn't like me. I'm very quiet and awkward. I'm not what most girls my age would consider 'normal'. I like video games, comic books, and I like being alone. I can be myself when no one is around to judge me.

We arrived without anymore words exchanged. As we entered the gates, a rather large lady bent over in front of me and said in the most sickeningly sweet voice I've ever heard, "Oh! You must be Ms. Carter! I'm so glad to meet you! You're very pretty, you know that?"

"Thanks." I said staring at my shoes.

My mother smiled at the lady, turned me around and knelt next to me and said, "Please try to make friends. For me?"

"You know how I am with other girls my age."

"Yes, Carter, I do. But just try please. I don't like seeing you alone and upset."

"But mom, I'm not ups-" I was interrupted by that lady from before bellowing out, "Okay, will all of you happy campers come with me, to the place you will be spending most of your time at, the dorms!"

My mom turned back to me and said, "Go ahead sweetie. I love you."

"Love you too..." I mumbled as I left with my Spider-Man backpack full of my clothes.

We made it to the dorms and were paired into groups of six. I was in an all girls group, all of who looked to be way prettier than me. Well, I can already tell this is gonna suck. I counted everyone. 1-2-3-4 and 5, including myself, but where was number 6? I looked around, but saw no one else near my group. I shrugged and continued walking.

Once we entered the dorm, it felt like I entered a whole new universe. There was a huge room, all of the walls filled with paintings and drawings and sheet music. My mouth dropped to the floor in amazement. It was just so... Pretty. Never thought I would say that about anything. I loved it. It just automatically interested me. I'm not sure why, it just did.

As I left my daze from the beautiful room, I noticed all of the other girls huddled together whispering and pointing in my direction and occasionally laughing. My face fell and turned red as I realized what they were looking at. My spider-man backpack.

Their giggle fest was interrupted by, I'm guessing, number 6.

"Sorry I'm late." She walked in and immediately looked at me. I felt uncomfortable with this and quickly walked over to my bed and put my stuff down. The huddle of girls continued laughing at me and number 6 glanced at them then furrowed her eyebrows.

She started to make her way over to me and my heart rate picked up a bit. I looked up at her when she was close enough and saw her smiling. She said, "Is that your backpack?" Ashamed, I nodded my head and looked at the ground.

"Sweet! I love Spider-Man!"

I looked up at her and smiled sheepishly after that. I said, "I do too. H-he's my favorite superhero."

"Mine's The Hulk."

"Cool." I said. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all...

"I'm Maddie by the way."

"I'm Carter. It's great to meet you."