Different Doesn't Mean Broken

Chapter 23 - Alex

Crutch Girl disappeared during swim. When the whistle blew for another buddy check, I didn't answer. And neither did Crutch Girl.

"Beach, 10!" Someone called. "Beach 10! Where are you?"

"I don't know where my 'buddy' disappeared to, but I'm right here," I said to the lifeguard.

"Why didn't you keep an eye on your buddy. We're going to need to search the lake!"

"Relax. She didn't go in the water. She took off away from the beach."

"That's not better!" The lifeguard said. I shrugged. Not my problem.

Finally Sally told the lifeguards that Michelle had found Crutch Girl, but by then, everyone had been told to get out of the water. I smirked. Let everyone get pissed at her for once.

We went back to the cabin so people could change and we could go to our last stupid activity. Crutch Girl wasn't in the cabin. Neither was Michelle. I wondered if she was getting in trouble. I swear, if they send Crutch Girl home for running from the beach but don't send me home for going to the beach, I will revolt.

The new girls were there. Twins. Great double morons. Or were they both gimps? Gimp squared? Whatever. I didn't intend to be here much longer. Not if I could help it.

Sally tried to introduce me to them, but I walked away without giving them a glance.

The last activity was hobby groups. Good god. I signed up for swimming because I wouldn't be required to actually participate.

"Swim?" Michelle asked as I wrote my name. She had just returned with Crutch Girl who had gone inside. There was screaming from the back of the cabin, but it soundedhappy, so no one ran to see.

"Why? Am I not allowed to go to swim?" I asked, snarkily.

"Well, technically, yes. Of course you can. But you said you don't swim. So why would you choose that as a hobby group?"

"Because I can," I said.

"Okay," Michelle sighed.

Satisfied, I made my way down to the beach.

To my dismay, Crutch Girl came, too.

"You're going to swim?" She asked me.

"Yes. Obviously," I said, showing her I wasn't wearing a bathing suit.

"Why?" She asked.

"Why not?" I said, and stepped up my pace to get away from her.

Once I got to the beach, the lifeguard frowned at me.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Am I not allowed to be here? That sounds like discrimination. Are you discriminating against me because I don't swim?" I challenged.

"No, you can obviously come here. Did you want a lesson or something?"

"Hell no. I just came to sit my ass on the beach and be left alone," I said.

The lifeguard just frowned, sighed and waved me in. I went to "my" spot and plunked my ass down.

Once everyone was signed in, the lifeguards started giving instructions for what they thought would be "awesome fun". I wholeheartedly disagreed.

Crutch Girl came up to me just then.

"Mind if I sit with you?" She asked. God! How much clearer do I have to be for her to leave me the fuck alone!

"I do," I said. "But it's a free country so you do you, gimp."

And she did. She sat her gimpy ass down beside me. I sighed and turned away.