Camp Pinewood ~Book 2~

7

Sydney's POV
We jumped away from each other as Alyssa's voice reached us from behind. Turning, she was standing there with a slight smirk on her face, as if we were falling right into her plan.
Which I'm still not sure what exactly that is. I thought to myself.
I tried to focus more on what was going on now. Alyssa just caught Jesse and I nearly making out. Which wasn't what we were about to do.
I rolled my eyes. "Please. Nothing was going to happen between us." I said, laughing it off.

She raised an eyebrow. "Mhmm. Whatever you say."
Jesse just turned back and started to walk to the pool area, not bothering to respond to her. After one last glance at Alyssa, I followed him.
I expected to walk into the pool recreation center- as the new sign said- and have to stop another fight. But instead, everyone was already in the pool. And they were actually working together. As to what they were working on, I couldn't say. It seemed somewhat like an exercise though.
I smiled and looked over at Jesse, who looked just as proud. Yes, I could see how this strangely seemed as if were the parents of these delinquent teenagers but hey, you get attached to them as their counselor.
Of course the team spirit didn't exactly last very long. Someone messed something up and all of a sudden they were back to yelling at each other. Jesse- thankfully- stepped in this time.
"Okay guys! Let's calm down and have a talk." It took a few minutes but they managed to shut up and swim over to the edge where we both stood. "So, when we were here as campers, we did this activity too."
"Are we supposed to care?" Courtney asked.
"You're supposed to shut up and listen. Next time someone talks, its five laps around the pool for everyone."
He was met with silence. I guess no one wanted to see if he'd really make do on his threat.
"Good. Now, we'll be back in here tomorrow and for the rest of the week. We're going to be playing volleyball. Sydney and I choose the teams, alright? No arguments or negotiations. Today you all can just... swim. But I'm curious. What were you doing before?"
"Trying out those stupid water dances." Brandon responded. "Then food spitter over here knocked me over and thing one and two started yelling at us."
"Would you stop calling us that?" John yelled, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"I'm sorry. You're right. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle dum then right?"
Before I could even blink, Jesse was on his knees and reaching out right as Ron's fist came flying towards Brandon's face. Jesse grabbed the fist, splashing water all over the two of us, and threw the hand down into the water.
"Do we need to have the same chat as before? How are we supposed to win if you keep fighting and bickering?!"
"It's his-"
"No. Five laps. You, John, and Brandon. Now."
Even I had to admit that Jesse sounded pretty convincing. The three of them commenced without any hesitation, but mumbled to themselves as they swam away.
"Okay, the rest of you... just relax and swim a bit. We'll be here for about half an hour." I told the remaining campers. Then I helped Jesse- who was soaking wet now- up and pulled him to one of the benches.
"I wish I'd gotten real prison time. So much that I couldn't have gotten out so that I wouldn't be here now." He muttered, sitting down on the bench.

I couldn't help it. I laughed. He had his face in his hands and was bent at the waist. His elbows were resting on his knees. He really looked as if he were in hell now.
"Ah, admit it. You like it here and you know it."
He chuckled along with me and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. It's not that bad, helping kids that are just like me." He glanced over at the group. "Okay, not just like me. They're much more... creepy than I was. At least I had a reason for what I did. These guys... they'll do that stuff for fun."
"I know what you mean. I thought the worst thing I'd ever done was drugs and alcohol. These girls make the old me look like an angel. Halo and everything."
"Well, you are pretty enough to be one."

My heart started racing, pounding hard against my chest. I didn't look up at him. No, I just stared at our group of campers.
"Don't do this Jesse." I said, practically sighing the words.
"Don't do what?" He asked.
"You know what. I'm with Ethan. I love Ethan. He was there for me after..." I trailed off. But he knew what I meant. So I just continued on. "And two years hasn't... Nothing has changed. You're still a murderer Jesse."
"I've changed. I'm not like I was Sydney. And you know that I did what I did for a good reason. It wasn't like... I'm not like them." he motioned towards our group. Brandon and the twins just finished their laps and were resting now.
"That's true. You're not like them. I never said you were. Having a good reason doesn't change the fact that you are a murderer. And how am I supposed to trust you anyways? You lied that summer. You looked me right in the eye and lied to me."
"Haven't you ever heard of a thing called forgiveness?" He asked me, his eyes narrowed.
"Ugh!" I stood up, tired of this conversation. "I don't even know what it is you want from me Jesse! I have forgiven you, but that doesn't mean I want you back!"
He flinched at that but didn't say anything else. We had the eyes and ears of our campers now and I couldn't take them knowing about our drama- past or present- right now. Without another word to or glance at Jesse, I stormed out of the "pool recreation center".