Sunset Camp

Chapter 2: The First Day

It was so sunny that day, I could feel the heat and the sunrays splashing onto my skin. I put my hand up to make cover for my eyes, so I could see where I was going to. 

"This place is amazing."

While walking slowly, I was silently admiring the place, it was huge, and clean, it even had swings! How cool is that. It was filled with greenery, it looked like one of those places that was entirely made up out of a young kid's imagination. 

I see other campers talking to each other but I don't have the courage to go up to them and strike a conversation.

"Why are you not hanging out with the other campers?" I hear a voice from behind, it startled me.

"Oh, It's just.. Eh..."

He laughs it off softly and introduces himself.

"Haha, it's alright, by the way, I'm Nate! I'm a junior staff member here. It's my first year as a staff member."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Tim."

We started chatting and it got a little bit awkward. My responses to his questions were very bland, I was feeling uncomfortable because I had kind of a hard time talking to people I barely even knew.

I apologized to him for my awkwardness.

"I'm sorry, I'm just really awkward, I have a hard time talking to people I've met for the first time so..."

"It's okay, you'll adapt to it, don't worry." He places his hand on my shoulder reassuring me with the it's going to be alright look.

"Now, why don't you try talking to some of the other campers, I bet they'll enjoy conversations with you." 

I started to feel more comfortable little by little.

Cluelessly, I see some campers nearby me and I decided to give it a go despite being nervous as hell. As soon as I come close to them, I could hear them speaking French.

I became even more nervous, I couldn't understand a thing obviously, so I just tried to walk away unnoticed. One of the guys from my cabin was there, Raphael.

"Oh you guys, this is Tim, he's on my cabin, he's a little shy." jokingly said Raphael as if we've talked before.

I became full on red and tried to play it off just like he did.

"Yep, that's me, Tim."

They noticed how awkward I was and tried to let me join their conversations, I felt like I was interrupting since all of them were from France, as they were all speaking French, so me being there, they probably felt like they had to speak in English so I wouldn't feel left out.

"So Tim, how are you liking it so far." Says one of the girls.

"It's quite nice, I've seen the camp before only on pictures so being here, it still feels unreal."

"Same, I've only heard Raphael talk about it, he's been here before, last year, so for him it's not that special I guess." She makes a funny face after saying that.

"tu n'es pas drôle" Raphael rolls his eyes at her.

We all start laughing as they translate what he said that she is not funny.

Suddenly our little chat was interrupted by some of the staff members with megaphones, requesting us meet at the main hall.

"We want to warmly welcome you all for joining us this year for the International Camp! Let's all meet to the main hall in 10 minutes."

We slowly start making our way to the main hall, it was huge on the inside, on the outside it looked smaller so it took me by a shock.

The staff directs us to the seats and we sat down, patiently waiting for all the others to join so we can start already.