Camp Pinewood ~Book 2~

19

The next morning as all of the campers and staff headed to the Mess Hall for breakfast, I was still fresh off the Green Team win yesterday. There was just something about seeing the look of pure hatred on Alyssa's face that gave me a high like none other. It was really rewarding to know that I had the chance to give her a little comeuppance for all of the crap she's put me through since I've come back to Camp Pinewood.

"Earth to Sydney, you're kind of holding up the breakfast line." Jesse interrupted my thoughts.

"Oh, my bad." I spooned some hash browns on my plate and got out of line.

"That is a huge shit eating grin on your face by the way." Jesse acknowledged as he walked with me to our table.

"Yeah well yesterday put me in a really good mood." I told him.

Jesse smirked and pretended to brush something off of his shirt. "I'd like to think that I had a little something to do with that."

"Actually it was Madison and Brandon." I deflated his ego.

Jesse frowned. "What? Oh, you mean the Camp Pinewood Games. Yeah they were amazing. Now we're tied with Alyssa's team."

Like she heard him call her name, Alyssa suddenly appeared in the Mess Hall. She was wearing a soft pink dress that fell to her knees with a pair of nude heels on her feet. Her dirty blonde hair was curled to perfection and flowed to her waist.

"What's that all about?" I asked.

"Hey Sydney!"

I turned around and found Ethan running towards me, there was a look of pure panic on his face.

"What's up?" I asked as him when he finally reached m.

"There's... something I need... to tell you." He panted and tried to catch his breath.

"Well..." I trailed off, waiting for him to speak up.

"Alyssa arranged for-"

"Hold on." I raised a hand in the air and cut him off. Alyssa had just plugged in a microphone to the amplifier and I had a feeling that I should hear what she was about to say.

"Attention campers and staff! Today I have scheduled a surprise for all of us. If you would please make your way outside, I'm sure you'll be interested to see what's out there." Alyssa announced.

We all rose from our seats simultaneously, forgetting all about our breakfast, and made our way to the doors of the Mess Hall.

"You should know what's out there before you go." Ethan warned as he followed me.

"I'm almost there, I might as well find out for myself." I told him.

Ethan shrugged and walked away. "Ok, suit yourself."

Jesse was the first one to reach the doors and pulled them open. As he did a chorus of "Surprise!" rang into the Mess Hall. There was a bunch of middle aged people standing outside, smiling and hugging their kids as they came outside. But I only had eyes for one man.

This is what Ethan tried to warn me about.

My step father Bill was standing outside with a sinister grin on his face. He saw me looking at him and he loved the fact that all happiness fell off my face at the sight of him. I haven't seen my step father in three years, choosing to live with my biological father after I finished my first year at Camp Pinewood as a camper. I occasionally called my mother from time to time, but that was the only contact I had with my past. I immediately noticed that my mother was missing in the crowd.

"Sydney." Bill said as he came to stand in front of me.

"Bill." I spat.

"I see that three years have done you no good. You're still a disrespectful little girl." Bill chastised.

"And you're still an old bastard." I retorted.

Bill raised a hand as if to slap me, but took a look at his surroundings and lowered his hand.

I raised an eyebrow in triumph. "What? Do you not want people to know that you're abusive?"

"Shut up Sydney! You should be happy that I came at all."

"Oh? And why's that?" I humored him.

" Your mother didn't want to come see you and it was out of the goodness of my heart that I'm even here. I didn't want your friends to see that you have absolutely no one that cares about you." Bill smirked.

I crossed my arms. "You're going to have to do better than that to get a reaction out of me old man."

"JESSE!"

I looked to my side and saw Jesse embrace a woman who I assumed was his mother. She was a tall woman with long brown hair with streaks of gray running through it and she had Jesse's green eyes.

"Mom, I've missed you so much." Jesse breathed as he lifted his mother into the air.

"I've missed you too sweetie."

Jesse let go of his mom and took a look around. "Where's Danielle and Julia?"

Jesse's mom frowned. "Sorry honey, your sisters couldn't make it."

"That's ok, I'm just really happy to see you mom." Jesse saw me looking at him and smiled. "There's someone that I want you to meet." Jesse gestured for me to come over. I did and nearly groaned when I saw Bill following me, clearly confused.

"This is my girlfriend Sydney. Sydney, this is my lovely mother Patricia Peirce." Jesse introduced.

"It's nice to finally meet you Ms. Peirce." I smiled and held out a hand for her to shake.

Ms. Peirce twisted up her face, almost like she had smelled something bad. "This is the girl who turned you in."

I grimaced as Jesse wrapped a comforting arm around me.

"What happened to Alyssa, Jesse?" Ms. Peirce asked.

"I'm right here Patricia." Alyssa appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh Alyssa darling, it is so nice to see you!" The two hugged.

"You too." Alyssa exclaimed.

"Why in the world would you leave a sweet young lady like Alyssa for this." Ms. Peirce gestured to me and my outfit.

And suddenly I understood why Alyssa was so dressed up today. She arranged for the parents to come to camp today and dressed up, knowing that Jesse's mom would be there and that she could impress her. Alyssa looked like a catalog model while I looked like a homeless person in my ripped jeans and old camp t-shirt.

Did she think that Jesse's mom would force Jesse into getting back into a relationship with her? And more importantly, was Alyssa right??