The Reunion

Chapter 6 - Karlie

It was the summer before seventh grade, and Karlie would take any excuse she could just to get away from her house. She and Kaia had been invited camping with Erica Landis and Anne Lewis for the fourth year in a row. And even though the campsite was only a couple hours from home, it felt like an entire time zone away.

All four of them had been forced into band class when they were in elementary school by their parents, and they all hit it off immediately. But, as they got older, Kaia gravitated toward softball while Karlie found art and track. But they all remained close friends over the summers.

While at the campground, on one of the last summers they all would be together, Karlie fidgeted in her sleeping bag. Even though every year Erica's parents tried to get the closest site to the bathrooms, it never worked in their favor. And this year was no different. And she had to go, of course, in the middle of the night.

It was a muggy summer night when Karlie tossed and turned, dreading having to make the long walk to the bathrooms in the dark. Frustrated, she opened her eyes and groaned. She really didn't want to have to walk to the bathrooms, but she wasn't sure she'd be able to wait until breakfast.

"You good?" Karlie jumped at Kaia's quiet voice.

"You scared me." Karlie hushed out. Kaia's giggle filled the small space. "I have to pee, but I don't want to walk there by myself and get locked out of the camper." Karlie sat up, her sleeping bag unzipping slightly from the movement. "Will you make sure the door doesn't lock while I'm out?" Karlie reached for the flashlight that was on the small table and stood up.

"I should probably go too, or I'll burst by the time everyone else wakes up." Kaia stood and looked for her sandals.

"Alright, I got a light." Karlie whispered and took a few steps towards the front door of the camper but was caught up short when she tripped over the Landis' bulldog sleeping on the floor. A small cry left Karlie's throat as she tripped and she felt arms wrap around her, steadying her.

Kaia laughed quietly in her ear, "careful klutz."

Karlie could feel her breath on her skin and despite the summer heat, it gave her chills, and it confused her. Where had that come from?

Karlie cleared her throat and stood tall. "Thanks," she muttered almost ashamed of the fact that she needed someone to catch her like that. Kaia gave her a soft smile in response before opening the camper door.

The walk was filled with the sounds of their scuffing sandals on the gravel and the chatter of bugs in the trees around them. Karlie could feel her skin already starting to get clammy from the humidity and she was tempted to go down the slope to the creek or hop the fence to the campground's pool. The fence wasn't that high, so it wouldn't be too hard to jump it.

"So..." Kaia broke the silence, tearing Karlie away from her thoughts, making her jolt. "You're really jumpy tonight." Kaia told her in a chuckle.

"What? It's dark and it's creepy out here." She said defensively.

"Not one to like scary things. I remember." Kaia noted. It was true, Karlie hated scary movies and preferred her fairy tales and lively video games. "Anyway..." She sing-songed, "Can I ask a question?"

Karlie hummed in answer as she aimed her flashlight in the trees making sure there wasn't anything there. No creepy night crawlers or anything absurd like in the movie Erica got them to watch the day before. She shivered at the thought of strange alien-looking creatures watching them from the trees.

"Did you kiss Tyler Markle?"

Karlie skidded to a halt and turned abruptly, forgetting that she was still holding a flashlight, only realizing after she blinded Kaia. "Tyler Markle?" Her tone was something like disgusted and shocked. Her brow scrunched in confusion.