Camp Twin Tails

Chapter 14: We Have a Snooper

We're sitting at lunch, and with our group we take up two tables. I try to focus on each bite of my grilled cheese sandwich instead of whatever silly topic the others are babbling on about. I've been trying to keep my mind off the graveyard for well over twenty-four hours now but it's not working very well. My lack of sleep is evidence.

I look up to see Noah and Gwinny giving each other weird looks. Like not quite suspicious looks but clearly they're hiding something. I wonder what's up with them. Usually Gwinny is one of the louder members of our group and right now she's being oddly quiet; she's also tapping her fingers together again.

Unsettling.

Calder suddenly looking around throws off my train of thought. "Hey, where's Reed? He hasn't gotten lunch yet right?"

"About that," Gwinny speaks up, "we haven't seen him since before lunch. I'm getting worried."

So that's what the look was. How did none of us notice he wasn't with us earlier. Maybe because counselors don't sit with campers for lunch very often? Either way, someone should go find him.

"I'll go look for him," I say, standing up.

"You sure?" Josie asks.

I nod and catch Calder's eye. Clearly his stare means he doesn't want me going alone. I try to communicate I'll be fine and that I'm going anyways. It takes a long second but he finally nods and I turn to leave.

Most of the campers are at or around the mess hall, but there's some kids who don't hang with the crowds and end up finding somewhere else to sit until lunch is over. Half the time they find something else to do to pass the time, like read a book, play catch with a friend, or if your DD, bully a younger child.

DD stands over a shorter kid, holding his baseball cap out of reach. I want to smack that smug grin off his face so bad. Even if I can't hit him, I can at least help the poor kid out.

I push my way in between the two and yank the cap out of DD's hand. "Knock it off DD. Get it through your thick skull already that you being a jerk isn't funny."

He glares knives at me before scoffing, purposefully bumping my shoulder as he strides off.

Damn ass.

Giving the cap back to the short boy, I give him a quick smile. "Try to stay out of his way for a while. See you around."

"Thanks."

Back on track, I head for Reed's cabin, number seven. Seems like a good place to start looking. Just as I get to the porch though, I hear guitar music through the open window. Peeking in, I see Reed sitting on his bed playing a dark blue guitar.

I didn't know he could play. He sounds great though. I sit down on the porch below the window, not wanting to disrupt the song. When it ends after another minute or so however, I stand up and lean against the screen. "You sound amazing."

He jumps and looks up at me, he visibly relaxes before a playful smirk spreads across his face. "Y'know, if I didn't know better you seem an awful lot like a stalker right now. Watching me through the widow without saying anything like that."

"Whatever," I say, rolling my eyes and opening the door.

I stop in front of him and look at the gorgeous instrument still in his lap. "Not that it's any of my business, but how come you don't play more often? I didn't know you knew how and I doubt most of the others do either."

Reed runs his fingers down the strings absentmindedly. "I used to play for my siblings when we were younger actually."

"Used to? Why not anymore?"