My Step Brother's Obsession - Carly #2

Morning Rituals

Carly

After the warm welcome from the camp staff and the counsellors, I headed to the medium-sized room where the kids were counselled by the counsellor. I was shadowing. Once my observation was over. She had told me that she would lessen the reigns and let me talk more to the campers. She was as pleased with me as the tutor of my course was. Now I knew that I had chosen the right path. I enjoyed listening to others without making assumptions or judging them about their problems and burdens. I have understood more than anyone. You can't judge a book by its cover. I have had my fair share of assholes bullying me for being me and not taking the time to get to know the real me. It really pissed me off that they went on face value and not what the person was like on the inside and out.

I had no time for people like that. If they didn't like me for me, then they could go fuck themselves. And that was literally the way that I would tell the kids here who were dealing with that kind of shit if they couldn't appreciate who you were both inside and out fuckem. I literally wouldn't use that word but it meant the same as I would say to them, but it would be along those lines. If they didn't lie, then they would lose out. No one is perfect in this world and the sooner others realise that the better no one is the same, we are all different and no one should judge us for feeling comfortable with the person we are.

The day I had was the best by far, even if I had to get up early tomorrow to run for miles and do whatever Sergeant Snider had planned, now I was back. One thing I knew, he was a sore loser and he always won at everything until he met me. I was determined to make him see girls weren't everything he thought they were. We weren't all made of plastic and thought more about our looks and fashion sense than keeping our bodies fit and healthy. If he thought that of me, he didn't know me and he certainly hadn't met my mother. She had drilled it into both Kaden and me that our health was more important than trying not to meet the hierarchy of the queen bees and the pretty boys of the school who thought they were better than you and everyone around you. My mom was an exercise holic and trained every moment she was free. When she wasn't working, she encouraged us to do the same. She'd bring us to the camp a few hours from here so we could work out and do the stuff she did when she was at camp, even if she wasn't there anymore. She thoroughly enjoyed putting us through our paces. Dad enjoyed us going through the torture even if Mom made him join in.

It still feels weird to call Josh dad, but he's been more of a father to me than my own, the sperm donor. That is a waste of space, time and effort. Or the shit on my shoe. He treated Liam just like that and he was his own flesh and blood. If he could do that to his own son, his firstborn, what would he do to me? He never recognised Liam as his, so he certainly wouldn't recognise me as his daughter. He was just doing it to prove a point that he could twist me around his little finger and make me believe he was a dating dad, which he wasn't and I wasn't that stupid. Liam had opened my eyes to how bad things were with our father and I wasn't about to be the prick's punching bag. He treated my mom. I'm shit so why would he treat his own daughter any differently?

I headed to the cafeteria to join Kyler and Jonathan. I had missed them since the camp closed until spring. It was still cold but it would warm up around May, then campers could do more activities even though they liked challenging the campers during April in the freezing water and the long hike. Then came the games. Something I had tried to forget and put behind me after last year. But, I don't know if I can. It was the worst nightmare of my life. I had to put it behind me. Being back at camp for the games this year would push my boundaries to the limit. But I had to go on. I had to prove to myself I could get past it and move on. I had to put on a brave face for the campers so I could be there for them during the games. That's when most would crack up and confide in us more. I had to stay strong for them.

I strolled into the cafeteria and grabbed a tray and I was given a bowl of stew and crusty bread, then a cup of hot chocolate. I smiled and thanked them and headed towards the tables when I spotted Kyler and Jonathan in the corner in a debate. I rolled my eyes. Did these two ever agree on anything?

I strutted over and they finally looked up and smiled. "Hey, Carls."

"Hey, you two," I said, placing my tray down. I sat opposite them and began eating.

"We were both wondering what Snider wanted to talk to you about?"

"Oh."

"Kyler reckons he was congratulating you on your observation."

"And he reckons he was buttering you up so he could drop a bomb and say you had to continue training with him."

I choked, hitting my chest with my fist. "Sorry. Went down the wrong way."

"So, which is it?"

"Both." I coughed, hitting my chest. Damn it.

"Oh."

They both looked at each other and then me. "No shit?"

"No shit. He congratulated me blah blah black and as I was leaving he insisted on continuing the training every morning I was here. "

"I swear that guy doesn't know how to leave army training at the barracks."

"Isn't that what we all do here anyway?"

"Not his type of training no. It's more mellowed. We don't want to scare the kids away. This shit is a walk in the park compared to how we train."

Oh.

I nodded and continued eating. "He won't go easy on you this time, Carls. He has something to prove now you've knocked his ego down a peg or two. He wants to show you he's the best of the best and he won't stop until you break."

"Well, he's chosen the wrong girl to break 'cause I'll never break."

"You say that now, but the best soldiers have broken during their training."

"Then I'll make sure I don't. Just to make sure he doesn't get his ego back but tarnished. By a girl." I say confidently, though I'm not sure even if they are true. The guy is a bully and will train you into the ground and find your weakness, use it against you and break you. I'll just have to make sure he never finds my weakness.

After lunch, I leave the guys and head back to the office for the rest of the afternoon of counselling sessions. I never once thought that there would be so many kids here that needed counselling. It seems I was wrong.

I met the guys for supper before heading back to my hut to shower and relax. Before tomorrow morning, the guys gave me a hug and wished me the best for the morning. I sure would need it. I curled up in bed and closed my eyes. Four days of this shit how hard could it be?

Hard.