Camp Paradis || Jean Kirstein

Have You Ever Seen A Baby Bear

"Beck, come on, just like, two steps!" he encouraged me.

I whined as I looked down at the dirty water that he was already standing in.

Wednesday morning, I had the bright idea of betting Jean that I could take just one bite of a scrambled egg. I don't even know why I was trying to convince him that I could, when I knew damn well I couldn't. I don't even remember how it started, I think he was just giving me a hard time about my distaste for them and I got annoyed with him. He said if I could take the one bite without gagging or throwing up, he'd bleach his hair. I don't know why I chose that to be his punishment, I guess I just thought Jean would look funny with blonde hair. My punishment for if I couldn't eat the egg, was he would finally get me in that disgusting lake.

I was confident when I picked up my fork and scooped a small bite off of Armin's plate. I didn't hesitate when I brought the fork to my mouth, but the second my lips closed around it, my eyes widened and I spat it back out onto my plate, forcing the vomit back down my throat.

So, after dinner, I dragged my feet down to the lake, Jean walking behind me to make sure I didn't try to bolt to get out of my punishment. Fuck, you stupid bitch.

He had already changed out of his work clothes into his swim shorts and a shirt that he didn't mind getting wet or dirty, even though he wasn't wearing it anymore. I think he might have had it in his mind that I was going to actually get in that water, but he was lucky I was even giving him the few steps he was asking for.

"Jean, please don't make me do this." I begged, "I'll literally do anything else."

He laughed, "No way. There's no way, you lost." I felt his hand take mine and he started to walk backwards. I tried to pull my hand out from his but he held it so tightly that I ended being pulled forward. I let out a small scream as I stumbled forward even closer to the water, "Jesus, will you calm down? Someone's going to think I'm murdering you."

Was that not basically what he was doing?

The water was so close to my feet, I couldn't take my eyes away from it. I couldn't even see the bottom because it was so gross. Fuck, I was gonna catch something if I got in there, "Jean, I'm gonna get a disease."

"Beck, stop being ridiculous and get in." he jerked me forward again and I gasped as my feet finally stepped into the water. It was at least warm, but it was slick underneath me and I stumbled a little. Panic set in my when I thought I might bust my ass and fall into the water, but Jean grabbed my other hand and helped me keep my balance, "There you go."

I hated this. I hated everything about this. Something slid at my ankle and I screamed, jumped, and hugged onto Jean's neck, "Something just touched me!"

He had his hands on my lower back, "Nothing touched you, it was just the water."

He took another step back and I followed him, keeping an intense gaze at the water beneath me. I didn't even notice that we were stepping further into it at first, "No it was a snake!" I tried to convince him.

He laughed at me again, "Beck, it wasn't a snake. I promise that I won't let anything touch you."

Before I knew it, the water was halfway up my calves. I leaned away from him, keeping my fingers latched tightly around the back of his neck. I looked down at the water and I started to whine again, "Jean?" I was about to ask him if I could get out but he pushed his fingers into my back to get my attention.

"Don't look at the water, look at me." I did, "You're doing great. This isn't so bad is it?"

"It's awful." I told him, "You guys actually enjoy this-" I gasped when I felt the water hit my upper thighs. The son of a bitch had been moving me again, and when I felt my light blue dress stick to my legs I jumped up, this time wrapping my legs around Jean, "Fuck, will you stop doing that?"