The Girl at Camp Green Lake

Untitled part 7

I'm sitting in the lunchroom when I hear it.

I haven't spoken to Barfbag since he almost strangled Magnet. He tried talking to me once, but I made it clear that whatever almost-friendship we had before was over. I feel bad about it now, but still, just thinking about it makes me giggle.

I had been walking back to the tent one night, when I suddenly felt his demanding presence behind me.

"So, you're in tent D?" He had said, then waited for me to laugh. a just kept walking. "Sorry, never mind." He jogged up in front of me and held his hands in the air to show that he came in peace. I don't believe him. "Look, I'm sorry about what I did the other day. Seriously. I never meant to hurt you, or Magnet, but I was so ticked off for some reason. I've got anger issues, and I'm sorry. I honestly never meant to hurt you."

I scoffed and swatted his arms down with my hand as I continue my walk back to the tent. Barfbag grunts in frustration but kept up with me still. "You might not see it, but you've got power. Do you even know how many guys here want to get to know you?"

What?

I look back at him in disgust, wanting badly to ask what that had to do with anything.

"See, you don't even, -" but before he can continue, Squid is running over to us, glaring maliciously at Barfbag. He glances over at me, looking for an answer, but I'm too busy wondering how he got so close without me noticing. 

"Satan, I've been looking everywhere for you." he forcefully grins and picks a dust ball from my hair. I'd never felt such a strong sense of deja vu as I did then. I was almost hit back; it was so powerful. Shaking it away, I tip my head and give Squid a contemplating look.

"I wonder why," I deadpan back in a mocking voice. "Nothing new here. Still punishing people in the eternal pits of hell."

A light smile tugs at the corner of his lips, but he still looks concerned. He almost looks like Cerulean. I don't know how; in fact, I can barely remember what anyone in that dream looked like. Except Luke. I couldn't ever forget his horrifically beautiful face.

"Just wanted to talk, s'all." His southern accent was very strong for some reason, and he couldn't stop scowling over in Barfbag's direction. "But if you're too busy."

"No, no I'm not, actually."  Then I have an idea. I am still thirsty for revenge, after all. Even if I have no reason to want it. "Not busy at all." I suddenly gasp and point behind him. "Rain!"

Squid turns in shock and searches the horizon. As soon as he wasn't looking, I kneed Barfbag right where it hurts and took off running. That's right. I'm sure he never saw it coming. He doubled over in pain, growling curses under his breath. Squid faced us again, only to find Barfbag laying on the dusty gravel floor. By then, I was long gone.

Now, two days later, I sit in the cafeteria, gnawing on a stale slice of bread. I haven't said a word to anyone but Zero since the incident with Barfbag and Squid, and I don't plan on doing so for a while. Little can sway me once I've made up my mind. Even when Zero asked me about what happened, I refused to give him a straight answer. I only told him:

Whoever I did what I did to, deserved it.

Zero just frowned and shrugged what I had said away. I was thankful he didn't ask any more questions.

Someone walks up to our table and smirks as he leans his elbows on the splintered picnic bench. "Hey, Satan! Come sit with us," he tells me. His face is way too close, and I have a disturbingly clear view up his nose. I silently gag. "Forget those losers." It's the boy with freckles from the first day. The one who called me a dumb blonde. Idiot. He has blonde hair. I suppress a laugh as I contort my face into a grimace. I barely have a chance to respond though, because Armpit says, "Scram, Crust. She don't wanna sit with you." That nearly warmed my heart. I haven't ever had an actual conversation with him, and yet he's still standing up for me.

Crust isn't buying it though. "Yes she does. Look at her. Must be boilin' up with boredom."

I sneer at him and answer before Armpit can.

"Shit, dumb blonde or what?" I ask him, then throw my head back and laugh, almost psychotically. That sure gets rid of him. He gives me a repulsed look, but has already started to seep back over to his table. I widen my eyes at him menacingly, a smile still playing across my lips. 

"What was that all about?" Armpit asks me. I just shrug in response and smile at him, then go back to starling off into space. I haven't had much fun in a while. Except when me and Smalls pulled that prank on Yeah-Yeah. The look on his face, golden.

We had been walking back from the lot one day, me and Smalls. We were neighbors. Are neighbors, I mean. That's how I'd met Ben and all the rest of them. Anyway, we were about to go separate ways with Ham, when-

"You think that'd work?" two whispering voices pull me from my memories. I glance over to the other side of the table. Xray and Barfbag are sitting at the end by the wall. Steam wafts up from Xray's bowl of carrot soup, fogging his grime flaked glasses. Barfbag's hair is flipped up in tumbling ocean waves, caressing his tanned forehead. His eyes are nearly closed, and he looks like he's about to pass out from exhaustion.

"They'd have to take me away." He insists. "No way they would have all that heallin' stuff they need to keep me alive."

I frown. What is that supposed to mean? Keep him alive? I can't imagine why he'd be expecting to almost die.

"But what if they don't get you out in time? What then?" Xray stirs his soup while he looks intently at Barfbag.

Barfbag shrugs. "Worth a try. I can't be here any longer though. Same thing, every day. It's drivin' me crazy."

Xray sets his spoon down and lifts the whole bowl to his lips. When he's drained it, he cleans his face off with the table cloth and says, "Whatever. I know you'd never do it."

Barfbag sighs. Then he stands up, swings his legs over the bench of the table, and walks out of the cafeteria. Leaving a careless Xray and confused me behind as he stumbles through the swinging double doors. I look back at my cup of broth and floating chunks of carrots. My brain is so tired from everything, that for a moment, it almost feels like I'm flying. Or floating. Maybe I'm really just a carrot floating around in broth, mostly submerged in the burning liquid, but for a few, very brief seconds, I'm pushed to the top and I finally feel air and see light. Only to be pushed back under. What a strange thought. When I realize that I'm smiling, I quickly wipe it off, knowing that I've done way too many things lately that made it seem like I'm out of my mind. 

With a glance around the room, I realize that everyone's starting to get up and leave now. The only people left at my table are Xray and Zigzag. Soon Zigzag gets up and abandons the almost empty room. Now it's just me and Xray. I want badly to ask about the conversation he just had with Barfbag, but I also don't want to ruin my reputation of not talking to anyone. I rise from my seat, clean off my tray, then stumble out into the warm evening air. Outside, it's quiet and lonely. The moon peeks out from behind a silky cloud, illuminating the velvet sky. I breathe in the dry air, remembering the night when I'd done the very thing that got me here. I'd set a man on fire. Would I do it again? What would have happened if I hadn't caught him ablaze? Where would I be?

Endless questions muddle my crowded mind. Eyes closed, I tilt my head back and blow into the sky. I imagine all my thoughts and questions and worries shimmering out into the air like poison. I imagine that I'm clean and free now, far from any trouble. Except maybe the Yellow Spotted Lizard sitting a few inches away from me.