Family + Camp (working title)

Chapter 34 Part 2: Day Off

They had reached the bike racks where Nell's bicycle awaited her like a faithful steed. She'd head to her house, alone. All the counselors had been staying in two cabins in the Chumash Village, boys in one and girls in the other, but this afternoon, they'd received their cabin assignments. They were supposed to use this time to move into their cabins and make them their own. The program staff were heading up to their staff quarters per usual. Rob to his little program director's cabin.

Nell wondered what everyone else would be doing over the weekend. She suddenly realized how lonely she felt. Staff would not be provided another meal until Sunday breakfast. She'd overheard some of them talking about their plans. A few staffers were going to head home—if they had cars or a ride—for the full day off. Others were going to hang out in their quarters and go for hikes around camp and the adjacent national park, or do some unsupervised swimming in the lake. There would be no lifeguards on duty. For those without rides, Nell's dad had made sure they had some food for Saturday, or at least a ride to Hurstville. They had received their first paychecks. Everyone wanted to go to their banks to deposit them. Nell did too. She paused by her bicycle and looked around. It was already quieter.

"It'll be weird without you all here," she said. A little bit of unvarnished truth for Cash Tilney to take in. What a gift.

He swung his thumb over his shoulder, the look on his face like a cartoon lightbulb had just gone off over his head. "Do you want to come see my room? I don't think Timber's left yet." She wondered for a split second if he said this to make her feel like he wasn't trying to lure her up to his lair for some nefarious reasons. Hey, little girl, want some candy?

"Sure," she said. "I'll check out what you've done with the place."

They walked side by side, but did not speak. The longer the silence grew, the more difficult it seemed to try to break it. Nell usually didn't have issues with talking or feeling—what was the opposite of feeling embarrassed? Confident? Nell usually did not have a problem feeling confident. But something about this boy caused her to feel a touch unmoored.

She walked up the outside stairs to the staff quarters behind him, which gave her the perfect opportunity to assess his traits. Unlike many teenage boys she knew, Cash smelled nice. His clothes were clean—as clean as clothes could be living in the woods—and his hair was an ideal length for the shape of his face—cut short on the sides and long on top. She liked his shoes, too—hightop Vans.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Cash turned at the top of the stairs and waited for her to be beside him.

"Prepare to have your mind blown," he said, his tone dry.

"I can't wait," she said, matching him.

They walked down the wooden, covered balcony and stopped at the third door. The curtains were drawn but there was a hint of light inside. Cash paused at the door and let out a breath, like he'd been holding it. He knocked twice, rapidly and called out, "I'm coming in and I'm not alone."

Quickly, he opened the door.

==

Vans never seem to go out of style. I wore them in junior high, and I wear them now in my adulthood. Do you own a pair?