Intimidation //

Chapter 1 || "I'm not a total douchebag"

-Avery-

"Maya, come here!" I yell trying to unpack my suitcase into the tiny dresser provided in the cabin.

"Yeah, Avery?" I see her head pop around the side of the bunk bed.

"Is this your shirt?" I ask holding up a blue 'Camp Sequoia' t-shirt.

"Oh, yeah," she laughs.

"Why was it in my bag?"

"I didn't have anymore room in mine."

I chuck the shirt at her and roll my eyes. I continue to unpack my suitcase until I hear a rough knock on the cabin door. I sigh and walk over to the wooden door.

I open the door to be greeted by a pair of blue, kind eyes. I suck in a small amount of air before realizing that I was holding my breath. I send a small smile at the person.

"Do you know where the camp counselor cabin for the guys is?" he asks.

"Oh, yeah I do. One second." I step back inside for a moment to slip my shoes back on. "Maya I'll be right back!" I walk back outside.

"K whatever!" I hear Maya yell as I close the cabin door.

"Thank you. I'm Lake. Lake Turner," he says kindly.

"You're welcome. I'm Avery. Avery Moore," I say with a smile. I lead the way through the woods to the cabin.

"You go to East High don't you?" he asks. I feel my face flush. I really didn't want to meet anyone from my school on this trip.

"Yeah I do, actually."

"I thought I knew that name from somewhere. You won that huge award earlier this year for something..."

"Yeah. It was an academic award. I had the highest GPA and the highest score on the SAT."

"You know there's rumors going around that you'll be our graduating class's valedictorian," he flashes me a comforting smile.

"Yeah I know," I pause and stand in front of the cabin. "Here we are."

"Thank you," he starts walking towards the door before turning back to face me. "Could you come in for a second? I need to give you something to give to my sister, Monica." I stand there, processing his words before replying.

"Oh, uh sure." I walk up the stairs behind him. He opens the door in front of me and I hear shouts inside. I walk in behind him trying to keep my head down.

"Lake! Where the hell have you been dude? We thought you were dead," one of the guys laughs before glancing behind Lake at me. "Who is she?" he scoffs. I look up and immediately recognize the boy.

"Oh, hey Asher. I got lost. This is my new friend Avery." I silently wave at the three boys staring me down.

"What is she doing hanging out with you?" Asher asks.

"And why is she in here?" another boy asks.

"I have to give her something to give to Monica." I hear groans from the others. I guess they don't like Monica?

I stand there awkwardly as Lake digs through his bag. I can feel the heat from
the other guy's stares.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around to see Asher towering over me, his muscular arms folded across his chest.

"Hi," I mumble.

"What's your last name?" he asks sternly.

"Moore."

"I thought I've seen you from somewhere. You go to East High with me," he says trying to act all big and bad.

"No kidding," I scoff and I turn to face Lake. He stands up straight again and hands me a professional camera.

"Give this to her. I borrowed it and she'll kill me if I don't get it back to her," he says kindly, smiling lightly at me.

"I think I would, too," I laugh. "Well nice to meet you, Lake." I smile at him and wave as I walk out of the guy's cabin.

I walk back through the dense woods to get to the cabin.

Emotions course through my veins like a wildfire.

I had never been interested in bad boys, much less take a second look at one, but seeing Asher there in the cabin in his somewhat tight kaki pants and t-shirt with the three buttons and the sleeves rolled up... Wow.

Wait, what am I saying? I am not  interested in Asher Allen. I am not interested in the most popular bad boy in my school, and town.

I'm not interested in him. Not at all.

I get to the cabin and walk up the steps. I try to shake all the thoughts out of my mind, but it doesn't seem to help.

I start to open the door and end up running into someone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I say looking up at the person.

"It's okay. It's my fault," she pauses. "Is that my camera?" she asks pointing down to the camera in my hands. I look down before realizing I still had it.

"Oh, yeah. You are Monica right?" She nods. "Well I'm Avery. Avery Moore. Your brother wanted me to give this back to you," I say putting the camera into her hands.

"Oh. Well, thanks. How do you know my brother?"

"We just met actually. I showed him where the guys cabin was. He was a little... lost," I laugh. I see a small smile spread across her face as she looks down towards her camera.

"Well, again, thank you. I thought I'd never get it back from him."

"It's no problem. You going to come in?"

"Um, no. Not right now. I just want to sit out here for right now. Thank you, though."

I send a small nod and go inside. I unpack my clothes, continue on with my day and act like I never met him. Act like I never met the Asher Allen.

-Asher-

"Yeah, he brought some girl in here earlier. She seemed pretty weird though."

"She has a name, Asher. She isn't just 'some girl', and she isn't weird," he says coldly.

"Yeah okay, whatever, Lake," I pause. "Yeah, yeah, Mom. I'll tell him you said hi. Yes. Love you, too. Yeah. Okay. Bye."

Conversations with my mom were always so awkward.

"Her name is Avery, you asshole. And she's not weird," Lake growls as I hang up the phone.

"Avery, huh? And how do you know she's not weird? You didn't even know who she was until thirty minutes ago," I mock. He was so uptight about everything.

"Because we actually talked. Unlike you, I'm not a total douchebag to every girl I meet," he mumbles angrily unpacking his bag some more.

"Yeah, okay. Whatever, Lake." I laugh. I thought the conversation would end right there but more words seem to fall out of my mouth, "You know what, I'll prove that I'm not a douche to every girl. I'm going to go over there and introduce myself to all of them and maybe get some of their numbers."

Lake laughs.

"Yeah, good luck, asshole. I bet they won't fall for it. And I know for a fact  Avery won't."

"You'll see," I say with a smirk and walk right out the cabin door.

I trudge down the path to the girl's cabin. I am confident that whatever I'm planning is going to work.

I march quietly up the steps and knock on the door.

A girl I seem to recognize - Avery I think?? - opens the door with the other girls standing behind her.

"Hey, guys. I'm Asher. Asher Allen."