REPOST - [ camp discovery ] - a tayvis short story

outtake three.

JUNE 23, 2013

19:32

"Lockdown! All campers and counselors should be in cabins now!" Lance and Tree heard Jason call on the walkie-talkie. They looked at each other, confused. Jason wouldn't call a lockdown for no reason. Lance went to the door, expecting to grab Taylor and pull her back into the cabin, but instead saw her with Jason.

"Jason, what's going on?" Lance asked, still very confused by Jason's actions.

"Her parents!" Jason called back, pointing in the direction of the parking lot.

"Trina!" Lance called for Tree, using her full first name for the first time in only God knows how long. He never used it; he only called her that when something serious was happening, something so serious that he needed her attention quickly. Before he could turn around to find her, she was standing at his side, confused by both the lockdown and the use of her real name.

"What's going on?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice but not enough to cause her to be visibly shaken by the events.

"Taylor's fucking parents are here," Lance said, looking into the parking lot. The car had parked in an empty spot, and the two 50-somethings had emerged from their car and were on their way up to the cabin.

"Where are they?" were the first words Tree and Lance heard coming from Taylor's mother's mouth.

"We have no idea who you're speaking of," Lance said as calmly as he could.

"Don't play fucking stupid with us," Andrea spat. "We know she kidnapped Michael and brought him here. We see her car. Now, where is she?" Andrea stormed up the steps, getting closer to Lance and Tree.

"We can not tell you the whereabouts of a camper of a counselor," Lance stated, pushing Tree behind him slightly, knowing that his wife was most likely furious at what was going on before them.

"That is my daughter and grandson! He has every right to the both of them."

"We have an obligation to our campers and counselors to keep them safe. We only allow people on their emergency contact list to see or talk to them while they are at camp." Lance informed the two disgruntled people before him, a slight smirk on his face.

"You know I'm Taylor's mother from all of the years that she came to this piece of shit place when she was younger."

"I am not aware of the current status of your relationship with this person, so I can not allow you near them," Lance stated. "With that being said, I would like you to remove yourself from the premises, or law enforcement will have to be called."

"I will just tell the police that you are holding my child and grandchild here hostage against their will." Andrea crossed her arms across her chest, determined to see both Taylor and Michael.

"Your child is an adult and doesn't have to see or talk to you if they don't want to," Tree finally said, stepping out from behind Lance so that she could see Andrea's face.

"My daughter is an irresponsible, immature, ill-informed child masquerading as an adult. She needs guidance and instruction. She is not fit to be the sole provider of a seven-year-old little boy." Andrea fought back. Andrea had little to no faith in Taylor's parenting ability. Both of them need to be with us this instant, especially Michael."

"No." Tree states simply.

"That little boy needs a strong father figure in his life," Andrea complained.

"And you think your husband is that figure?" Tree asked, growing more and more impatient with the woman and her silent husband.

"Tree..." Lance said, taking hold of Tree again, pulling her back now that it seemed as if she was ready to move forward toward Andrea's direction.

"That little boy will learn more here than he will ever learn with you back in that town that refused to help his mother out of every abusive situation she has ever been in," Tree nearly screamed.

"What seems to be the problem here?" An officer said as he got out of his patrol car.

"Officer Andy, it's so good to see you," Lance said, smiling at the man in uniform. "We have a couple of people here refusing to leave the campgrounds."

"Officer, they are refusing to allow us actress to our daughter and grandson," Andrea chimed in, explaining her side.

"Can I see the emergency contact forms of the two people they are looking for?" Officer Andy asked Lance and Tree. Tree nodded, going into the cabin to retrieve the paperwork that he wanted. "Can I take a look at both of your IDs?" he asked Andrea and Scott, who still hadn't said a single word since getting there.

"Most certainly," Andrea said, going into the purse she had been carrying. She dug through a couple of compartments until she found her wallet. She got out her ID and handed it over to the office. Scott pulled his wallet from his back pocket, handing over his own ID as well.

Tree resurfaced from the cabin, two papers in hand. "Here you go," Tree said, handing the papers to Officer Andy.

"Thank you, ma'am." He said, giving her a small nod. Tree backed up a few steps as Officer Andy scanned over the paperwork and the IDs. Andrea's face held a grin, almost as if she was attempting to taunt Lance and Tree. "Andrea, Scott, your names are not on this paperwork for either person you are trying to see." The grin on Andrea's face quickly faded.

"Give me that!" Andrea said, attempting to snatch the papers from the officer's hands. Luckily, his reflexes were quick despite his old age.

"I suggest you not do that unless you want to end up in cuffs," Officer Andy told the woman, whose face was red with anger. "Now, would you like to walk back to your car, or would you like to be put in the back of mine? The choice is yours." He held out both Andrea and Scott's IDs for them to take.

"Come on, Scott!" Andrea said once the two of them took their IDs from the man in uniform. Andrea stormed off, ranting to Scott as they got to the car. "You're a piss poor excuse of a man." The sound of car doors slamming was heard right before the car pulled off of the grounds.

"Do you guys need me to stay for a bit to make sure they don't return?" The officer asked.

"If you don't mind, that would be great," Lance said. Officer Andy nodded, handed the papers for Taylor and Michael back to Tree, and headed back to his car.

"Let's go get her," Tree said. She went back into the cabin briefly and returned the papers she had in her hand to her desk. She came back out of the cabin, taking Lance's hand. They walked down the steps of their cabin and were off to get Taylor.