𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 from across the living room "your summer is gonna suck".There's an echo of snickers from my teammates, the loudest coming from Chris, Archie and Bobby, who all told me something similar when I said no to joining them in Miami this summer. " inspiring words, Turner", l shoot back at my unimpressed room-mate"you should become a motivational speaker ".
You'll be sorry you didn't listen to me when you're stuck doing manual labour and team building activities at staff training next week".Henry continues to flick through the Honey Acres brochure, his forehead creasing with a frown the further he gets into it. " What's Night Juty he Complains.
"I have to sleep in a room attached to the campers cabin twice a week in case they need anything", I say Casually, watching Henry's eyes widen in horror. " the rest of the time l sleep in my own cabin",
"It's a no for me", he says, throwing the barouche back onto the coffee table. " Good luck, though ".
" Could be worse ", Robbie muse's
From across the living room. " You could have to move to Canada this summer".
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐞 groans loudly, burying his head in his girlfriends hair, sinking further into the recliner they're sharing. "Fuck off about Canada".You brought this on ur self".Stassie mutters just loudly enough for us all to hear. " stop being such a crybaby. Nate, you want to play for Vancouver ".
"I'd rather move to Canada than look after twenty kids for nine weeks." The genuine disgust on Henry's face would make someone think I'm going to work in a slaughterhouse, not spend the summer as a counselor at a sleep away camp. "You really didn't think this through, Callaghan".
I really did.
Honey Acres'msin clientele are busy and rich parents who need to keep their kids occupied for all the full summer while they work Thankfully., the fees are expensive as hell, which means the facilities are better than every other camp.
Archie and Bobby suggested l apply after l turned down their vacation offer, explaining l needed to get a job. They went to Honey Acres one summer ten years ago, and swore it was the best camp in California, and I was willing to apply for anything. Money has been tight science the bar l worked at was shut down by the cops. Unfortunately, it's reputation for suspicious activity and serving under age students finally caught up with it and there's no sign of it reopening. So even though Henry's think my judgement is seriously flawed, so the alternative is hanging around Maple Hills, unemployed, beaing hounded by my mom to visit her. It was a very easy choice" what i'm hearing, Hen, us you still don't want to come with me," I tease.
"It's still a no. Thanks ,But you need
A fake emergency to be able to leave, let me know. I'll make a call" JJ leans closer to Henry from beside him on the couch, nudging him with his shoulder. "The only emergency you're going to have for the next two years captain, is drowning in to much puss-
"JJ!" Stassie squeaks, cutting him off. "Get your mind out of the gutter".he chastises. I was going to say paint".Stassie rolls her eyes at him., giving him the finger as he blows her a kiss. Lowering her hadn, she focuses on me, a soft smile on her lips. " You'll have fun ignore
Henry. We'll miss you around here, though". you don't even live here anymore ".Mattie says, eyebrow raised. " You've never lived here! "She counters,starting off an argument about who spends more time at this house.
As grateful as I am to have a job this summer , it does kind of suck to be heading off when lve only moved in with Henry and Robbie. Plus out unofficial roommate's Mattie, Bobby and Kris Who magically appear whenever food is mentioned. It's weird having my own room after two years of sharing in the fraternity house, and before that my brother Ethan but I'm already so much happier here. Aside from the obvious things like having my own space and living with people l like, it feels so good to not have a strategically plan when l can jerk off or on rare occasions, get laid. Henry had the courtesy to let me know that after six months of living next to Nate and Stassie, he can confirm with absolute certainty that the room is not soundproof. " Are you gonna argue all night or should we get ready for the party? "Robbie shouts over Stassie and Mattie bickering tonight we're throwing a party to say goodbye to all the guys graduating or a Farewell and Fuckoff party, as Robbie calls it.
Making my way to the kitchen, I grab a water from the refrigerator, taking another when l sense someone behind me. " You ready for your first official party? " JJ says accepting the bottle from my hand. We both lean on the kitchen counter looking at the living room. l think so. Don't piss Robbie off is the only rule, right?!. JJ shorts as he unscrews the lid on his drink. It's happens to be my favorite pastime, but it depends how hard you want to be worked next season ".
" l think I'll stay on his good side".
*we laugh*
Feel like home yet.? he asks taking a sip of the water I've spent a lot of time with JJ over the past few weeks and have discovered beneath the Joker persona he's very brotherly after using my savings to buy myself an old truck a couple of months ago I became the unofficial moving guy of everyone's boxes it's nice to feel usefulness so it didn't bother me until layer was worried about her stuff with accidentally get shipped to Nate's new place in Vancouver and she Drew dicks on the boxes that weren't hers or Stacy's. JJ and I drove to the new house in San Jose with a truck bed full of the decorated boxes getting funny looks from other drivers for the entire journey you learn a lot about who someone is when you're stuck in an exploding and closed space with them for 10 hours ironically JJ joke that I hardly gave anything away. Getting their arrangement big change from what I'm used to remember you belong here everybody once you are around you hear me Jesus quietly I've never voiced my insecurities to any of the guys somehow JJ knows I keep myself on the outside of things I called him perspective once and he said it's because he's a scorpio whatever that means I appreciate it anyway, and for the first time in a long time, I feel understood. Which is a strange feeling to accept, since a law of the time I don't understand myself. I hear you, I confirm he slaps me on the shoulder before heading back to his seat in the living room. I slowly followed during myself into the seat beside Henry. Robbie collapses hands once, giving us all hockey flashbacks as we instinctively give him our intermediate attention like well-trained dogs. You know I flinch during rounds of applause now, Bobby ads I think it's an actual trauma response. I hear that clap when I'm alone Matty says, nodding in solidarity.Nah Joe snorts. That's Chris next door just the one full stop clap her cheeks, singular. Robbie hisses something under his breath as Chris launches a couch kitchen at nick when he catches and throws back, chaos in soaring where were these defensive skills when you play the hockey nick? Henry asks, catching him off god enough for one of Chris's cushions to smack him right in the face. For fox sake Robbie grumbles this party isn't going to be happening if one of you clowns ends up with the concussion for stop come on, one last time a natural silence settles over the room as everyone reluctantly lines up to be told what to do by Robbie coma and there's a weird moment where I think it occurs to everyone that this the last party the guys are going to throw together in this house.
I'm lost in my thoughts when JJ starts laughing and shouting. "Five bucks!" He all owe me five bucks!" "What?"
"Stassie is crying!"
He wraps his arm around her and kisses the side of her head. And it is before she had any alcohol! I win. Wiping her tears away with the box of her hands, she looks around and is wielded. You guys placed about me? The guys all reach for their wallets, plucking out bills. Chris shrugs as he slams it onto JJ's awaiting palm stop we technically bet on your tears. This is unbelievable!. Nate, did you kn-- she turns to your boyfriend, who is discreetly pulling money from his pockets. You're such a douchebag! You're all douchebags. Nate hands his $5 bill to JJ and Tugs her into a tight hog kissing her temple of Softly.
You didn't even try to last. I could have bought you chicken wings with all that money. Unbelievable. It's just so sad you guys are all going to separate ways and there's just an atmosphere. If I told you Matt didn't bear on you crying today would that make you feel better?. Her eyes watery meet mine and she grins. Thanks muffin. You're not on my shit list. I give her a nod of acknowledgement, letting her think it's because I thought she wouldn't cry-- which I knew would-- instead of saying it's because I don't gamble. "Excuse me," Henry interrupts. Neither did I. Henry also knew she would cry but decided he doesn't gamble anymore in solidari. JJ is still counting his money when lola roles in with bags full of red cups she looks along the line and scars she cried didn't she yup the room Echoes god damn it, Anastasia. Lola drops the bags onto Robbie's lap bending to kiss him, before reaching into her past and pulling out some cash. This is the last time you ever get my money, until I feel that hockey and follow my true calling in life JJ continues. "Stripping."
"Until then."
"Now that everyone's steps have been paid can we please get this shit show started? "
Robbie Grant's. The silence from earlier Returns, the same shared thoughts running through my teammates Minds one by one. Necklace his throat, nodding.
" one last time"
The word atmosphere disappears as soon as Layla burst out laughing.
"All Right, Alexander Hamilton. And I'm supposedly the dramatic one, jeez. Bunch of fucking drama queens".
