Camp Paradis || Jean Kirstein

5.30 • That's An Unfortunate Name

  I hated everything about the summer time. It was too hot, there were too many bugs, and I spent far too much time with my family.

  It was the last Saturday of May, and after coming home from a night out, I was awoken far too early by my father, told to pack my suitcases, and forced into the backseat of our Bronco. There was an argument we had through my pounding headache after I was told our destination, but after him threatening to shred the lease on my new apartment I was supposed to move into this fall, I begrudgingly rolled my bags to the car, and tossed them into the trunk. To make things even worse, he "surprised" me by inviting Reiner. The son he never had, and hoped to gain by marriage in the next few years. As fucking if, and judging by the tired look on Reiner's face, he looked like he didn't really want to be here either. We waited by the car together while my mom and dad stayed inside a minute longer so that she could fill up her travel thermos with an entire bottle of red. I lifted my face up to pull my sunglasses down into my eyes, and as I did, I squinted when I took notice of the dark and purple spot on his neck as he scrolled through his phone. I reached for the bottom of my skirt, and tugged it a little lower to ensure that my own marks on my thighs were covered.

  When it was finally time to leave, him, I, and my twin sister Historia loaded up into the back of the SUV, Reiner sitting in between us. I don't know why he tried to fit his broad figure into the middle, but if I had to guess it would be because that's what my father would have liked. To see him front and center so that it would be easier to talk to him about his plans for law school. Reiner was a genius, but you didn't need to be one to know that my father liked things to be a very certain way, and that his image was everything since his name was so prevalent in Marley as the lawyer who just got some big shot doctor off for medical malpractice. Reiss wasn't just a name, over the years it had become a brand.

  The ride felt like hours, much longer than it used to be when my sister and I were kids. I kept my head against the window next to me, staring outside as the buildings began to fade into trees and highway. I watched the greenery thicken in disappointment the farther we drove away from Marley. I enjoyed the city life. I loved the busyness of it, how everyone minded their own business, and the lavish lifestyle that came with having money in that environment. I enjoyed my father's money despite not particularly liking him, and I liked having his money deposited into my account every two weeks. Why would I have to work yet when I didn't need to? Especially now that I was finally out of high school, and had planned to enjoy my summer before college began.

  What I didn't like was the fact that one of the other ways that my dad made money was by  owning a family oriented summer camp: Camp Paradis. My sister and I used to get dropped off there during the summer when we were younger. It was an easy time for Historia since she was very outgoing and charismatic. Her constant state of joy made people flock around her, making it annoyingly easy for her to make friends. I was miserable. My sister and I couldn't be more opposite from one another, and I seemed to repel people wherever I went, which was fine by me. I had a hard time finding someone I was compatible with anyway (I don't even really like my actual friends that much). So, when our parents told us that we wouldn't be returning to the camp once we were starting middle school, I remember being so thankful.

  I had a plan for my summer this year. The summer before college was one I had expected to spend with my ... "friend" back in the city. I had been accepted to study abroad in Italy this upcoming semester, so the two of us were supposed to fly to Europe, and get a head start on my year in the country. I was mainly looking forward to drinking on vineyards, and shopping in the towns. My dad had ruined those plans. I didn't want to spend my summer with these people who didn't bother to be involved in anything except their own interests, and I hated that they invited my boyfriend. Reiner was a nice guy, a people pleaser, and we got along fine, but holy shit, we had the spark of a wet log being used to start a fire. I was hoping to at least get a break from him before my dad shoved us down the aisle once I got back to America. At least if he wasn't coming, I could find someone else to scratch my itch, because I knew that he wasn't attracted to me (which was fine, because I thought he was just okay myself). I knew he was seeing someone (more than one person if I had to guess) behind my back, and there was no doubt he knew that I was doing the same because in the year that we'd been together we hadn't done more than kiss.