12 STEP PLAN! (skz)

!TWO!

I'M NOT A CHILD ANY LONGER, I AM STRONGER.

The next day marked our first proper day at camp, and the day that activities were due to start. I'd never done many of the activities on the roster and I was glad that the other boys in my cabin had seemed to adopt me into their friend group, since it would remove my need to make other friends.

But I wasn't sure we'd make it that far, considering I was woken up at the ass crack of dawn by an argument. I didn't really know what they were arguing about, considering it was too early for me to even form a coherent sentence, let alone listen to one. When I looked, Jisung and Hyunjin stood in the kitchenette, screaming at each other about something.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and groaned, considering my options. Option one was to block it out and try to go back to sleep. I'd shove my pillow over my head and if it suffocated me as well, was that really such a tragedy? Option two was to just...be awake, but I was perturbed that I would even consider that. Option three was to tell them to take it outside in hopes that they would listen and we could all sleep peacefully.

Option three it was.

"Hey, can you guys like not fight at six in the morning? I'm trying to sleep!" I called to them. The guy in the bottom bunk opposite me snickered. Seungmin, I'd learned his name was. The others liked to call him The Puppy, but it seemed like a bit of a weird nickname if you asked me. I thought he looked more like a deer; like Bambi.

"It's okay," he muttered, voice thick with sleep, "You get used to it" Great. By that line. I knew that this must have been a regular occurrence, and I was already contemplating asking for my cabin to be switched. I opened my mouth to answer, but at that moment, Chan strode through the obviously unlocked door, another energy drink can clamped in his fist. Honestly, I'd never seen anyone go through as many as Chan had in the short two days I'd known him.

Their voices seemed to trail off as Chan gave them a stern look. "People are trying to sleep. If you two want to argue like a couple of kindergarteners, be my guest, but do it outside where nobody can hear you."

Oh.. Oh.

He said it so nonchalantly that something flipped inside my stomach. "Seungmin and Felix, if you're awake I'd consider staying awake. We have to be at the Upper field by eight, and the earlier you shower, the better. They can get a little packed in the mornings."

That's right, communal showers. I remembered Chan mentioning those the previous night and I groaned inwardly. I hated anything communal, due to obvious reasons. Any time I might have to change, shower, or use the bathroom in front of, or around other people, I always feigned sickness. But that was the reason I was here. Everyone here was like me, in one way or another.

I could do this. it was just a shower.

The bathrooms were, surprisingly, nicer than I'd imagined. They were quite spacious, packed with both toilet stalls and shower stalls. The floors and walls were sparkling clean, and everyone seemed to be minding their own business. I hung his shower bag on the back of a stall door and was about to step inside when Chan stopped me.

"Here, take this.." he offered, holding out a little foam square that hung on the stall handle. I turned it around in my hands, chuckling at the little no peeking message written on the front. I shot him a smile, hung it on the door, and stepped inside the shower stall.

We made it to the Upper Field just before eight. Everyone who'd chosen giant swing for their first week activity was there, like a sea of lime green. "Okay campers, welcome to Giant Swing!" I'd promptly learn that the director's name was Marjorie and I liked her; she was fun and upbeat and seemed accepting.

"So behind me you'll see the Giant Swing, which looks like a weird contraption, I know. I have two fantastic counsellor volunteers who are going to demonstrate for you.." There were two counsellors in orange, already strapped into a harness. "So we're going to harness you in pairs, for safety. Then, when you give us the thumbs up that you're ready, our fantastic team will start pulling you up to the top"

The counsellors gave a thumbs up and immediately it was like they were floating. I wasn't sure how it worked, but they were being heaved up into the air. It was quite high, up the top, and I started to get a little nervous as I thought about my turn.

"Then, when you're ready, one of you will pull on the red cord. And... voila.."

One of the counsellors must have pulled the red string because a second later they went flying out over the valley. Their screams didn't do anything to comfort me, and I chewed on my nails uncomfortably as everyone started pairing up. I should've gone horse riding...

"Scared of heights?" Chan appeared beside me, smelling like cherry soda and smoke. I assumed he'd been downing another energy drink before he'd showed up. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe.." He grinned, jabbing me in the side with his elbow. I was a little terrified, but all my brain could scream was he touched me, he touched me.

I watched as Hyunjin and Jisung trekked their way back to us, hair ruffled by the wind and excited grins on their faces. "You guys!" They called, "It's so fucking fun!"

"Language!" Marjorie hissed, from the side, some of the younger kids giggling at their expletives. 

Before I knew it, Chan and I were strapped up in the harness. If I had any balls, I might've complained about the pain. I could see Chan wincing, but honestly, the tighter the harness, the safer we were. Chan gave the team a thumbs up and they began hoisting us up to the top. I could feel the wind on my face; it was cold up there. "Chan, if we die up here I just want you to know--" 

"Three, two, one"

Chan pulled the cord and we went flying over the valley.