Summer of '78

06

It was the next day. Mara and the rest of cabin 3 were heading to the mess hall for breakfast. Anna and Mara took their trays and sat at the same table as yesterday. Anna sat next to James and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Could you just not kiss here. It's gross." said Lars, annoyed by his friends' behaviour. "Yeah, whatever" said James and then laughed at Lars.

"Anyway, let's talk about last night. Kirk, you were soaked head to toe when you came back last night. You didn't think I was actually sleeping, did you?" said Cliff eyeing Kirk. He turned red like a tomato. He turned to his left to face Mara and ask her for help.

"We did go stargazing. But then we went to hang out by the lake and I slipped and fell in the water and I dragged Kirk with me. That's it." said Mara while looking at Clif straight in the eyes. She was a very good liar. She was able to keep a straight face and look a person in the eyes every time she had to lie.

"Yeah, sure, whatever. I'll find out sooner or later what really happened last night." Cliff said and left the subject like that.

"Hey we have that soccer game later today. I hope all of you know how to play. We gotta crush the guys from cabin 9. I put a bet on us. If we win I get a date with that cute blonde from cabin 1." said Aaron and pointed towards the girl he was talking about. 

"Can't wait to see you lose." said Mara and chuckled.

"Okay Mara. I see you've finished eating. Go grab Willow and Beverly and meet me in front of our cabin." said Anna 

"Yeah, okay." Mara replied and stood up. She made her way towards the table her two friends were sitting at. But before she could reach her sister, a group of 3 girls stood in front of her, not letting her pass.

"Uh...can I help you?" said Mara, a bit confused.

"Yeah, actually. I want you to stay away from Kirk. You think I didn't see you two last night, looking at the stars and cuddling near the lake." said the girl who was standing in front of the other girls. 

"Okay, wow. First of all, we weren't cuddling. We were just sitting. And second of all, I don't even know who you are. You can't just tell me who to befriend!" said Mara very annoyed at this girl. 'Who does she think she is' Mara thought.

"Look, bitch! If you don't stay away from Kirk I am going to make sure you get thrown out of this camp." said the mean girl.

If she came to Mara on her first day and told her that she could get her sent home from the camp, she would have done anything to leave. But now, she doesn't feel like leaving. She wants to spend her time with her new friends.

"I'd like to see you try." said Mara getting closer to the girl. She was clearly towering over her new enemy. Then she brushed passed them to get Willow and Beverly and left with them to meet with Anna.

"Who were those girls you talked to earlier?" Beverly asked Mara when they reached Anna.

"What girls?" asked Anna, now interested in her friends' conversation.

"There were 3 girls who approached me and one of them told me to stay away from Kirk or she'll find a way to kick me out of camp. It's no big deal." said Mara, trying to assure Anna that there was nothing to worry about. Anna, on the other hand, widened her eyes. Mara and Beverly were very confused but Willow seemed to understand what Anna was thinking, giving the fact that she had the same facial expression as her. "What? What is it?" asked Mara.

"What did she look like?" Anna asked Mara

"Well I don't know. Relatively short, light skinned, brown hair with blonde highlights, green eyes and she was wearing a Madonna shirt." Mara said.

"Okay. Listen to me." Anna said, putting her hands on Mara's shoulders. "Her name is Zoey. She is absolutely in love with Kirk ever since he came to our camp. But the thing is Kirk never liked her. Last year she told him that she likes him. And of course Kirk told her that the feeling is not mutual. She got mad, but she is still trying to get him to like her. And now you are in the equation. She knows he likes you and I can assure you, Zoey will do anything possible to have Kirk. So you better watch your back." said Anna, feeling sorry for the girl.

"Great so now I'm at war with a girl over a boy I don't even like that way." said Mara, mad at the situation. One thing she didn't like were these fights over boys. They are ridiculous and useless.

"Not sure about last part." said Anna and winked.

"Yeah, okay, cool. Can we now get to today's schedule?" asked Willow. "You can talk about boys later." she continued.

"Yeah, alright." Anna said and looked at one of the papers she was holding. "Okay. Willow and Beverly are going on a hike today, most of the day. You girls will be leaving in 20 minutes. Go get ready. Clara will lead the group. You can ask her more questions. She knows more than me." Anna told the younger girls. They left the older girls and Anna turned to Mara to tell her their schedule. "Okay. We have water balloon dodgeball with cabin 5 and 4. Not sure you can take part in that. After that we are going to build bird houses and tonight a talent show is going to take place in the mess hall." Anna finished and smiled at Mara.

"Great." was all the girl said.

Later that day, Mara was sitting on a bench while she was watching Anna play water balloon dodgeball. She really wanted to participate. It looked like great fun. 

"Hey." said someone and interrupted Mara's thoughts. She turned to look at the person who just sat down next to her. It was Kirk.

"Hi Kirk." she said in a sad tone.

"What's wrong." he asked. 'Sweet of him to ask' thought Mara.

"Nothing. It's just... I wish I could play as well. It looks fun." said the girl and gave Kirk a small, sad smile.

"Don't worry. You'll be able to get out there in no time." he said and put his hand on Mara's shoulder to assure her that everything will be alright. The girl's heart skipped a beat when the boy did this. But she thought nothing of it.

Without even thinking another second Mara asked Kirk what she wanted to know ever since Anna told her about Zoey. "Hey umm... I heard that this Zoey girl has a thing for you."

"Who told you that?" Kirk asked.

"Her. When she threatened me saying that she'll find a way to kick me out of camp if I talk to you from now on." Mara said in a normal tone. She wasn't afraid of this Zoey girl and she most certainly won't stop talking with Kirk.

"Oh I'm so sorry for that. Don't worry I'll talk to her and get her to think rationally again." said Kirk, now worried for Mara.

"Thanks but you don't have to do that. This is between us girls. I'll sort it out." Mara said and smiled at Kirk. She was really glad that he cared about her.

Kirk smiled and nodded at Mara's words.

"Hey, Kirk, get your ass here man! The game is about to start!" yelled Lars from the field the soccer game was going to take place.

"I'll see you later." said Kirk and got up.

"See you" Mara said as she got up as well. Then she gave Kirk a hug. He was taken aback at first but then he hugged her back, putting his head on Mara's shoulder. The girl giggled at the interaction, feeling Kirk's curls against her face. "For good luck" she then said. Kirk smiled and ran towards his teammates who were getting ready for the game.