Alex's P.O.V.
There's no rest for the wicked it seems. That's the thought that came to mind when I was abruptly awoken by a young man shaking me to no extent.
"Alex, wake up!" whispered Travis urgently.
"Five more minutes," a low groan escaped my lips as I rolled over and lifted my duvet over my head.
"Alex, get up. This is starting to hurt," Travis whisper-yelled at me.
"Ugh, what?!" I groaned in annoyance. I threw the covers off my head and sat up angrily.
Travis was struggling to wiggle me awake with one hand. The other was holding onto the wooden railing of the top bunk. Connor was under Travis, carrying him to reach me.
"Okay, Connor, you can put me down now," Travis said down to his older brother.
He was lowered, and I gently climbed down the ladder to the ground, making sure not to wake any campers that were still trying to get some shut-eye.
My feet felt the cold floor.
"Wanna help us prank the Ares cabin? It's a three man job, and we thought you'd be the perfect accomplice," Connor smiled at me.
"This is what you woke me up for?" I scolded.
"It's a very important mission,"
"Fine. Just let me get dressed first,"
I pulled open my drawer and grabbed an outfit for the day. The bathrooms were not too far, so I'd be able to not make too much of a fool of myself in my pajamas.
Once I was comfortable in a pair of jeans shorts and a hoodie, I walked back to cabin thirteen to meet with the Stolls whom were eagerly waiting for my arrival.
"What's the plan?" I asked, my hands in my pockets.
"I'm so glad you asked!" Connor started. "Here we have a mud bucket," he pointed to a tin bucket filled to the brim with viscous brown liquid. Just looking at it made me gag. "And this, is a tripwire," he lifted a rope that had glued grass, sticks, and leaves on it to make it camouflage. "The Ares campers train here everyday at noon. If we place this tripwire between that bush and that tree, then it'll set off the trap that will drop the mud bucket straight onto them!" Connor finished proudly. "Alex, you position the bucket; I'll take care of the tripwire; and Travis will be our watch,"
"Sounds good to me," I shrugged.
"Perfect. Let's go, team!" Connor shouted before running to place the wire.
I quickly grabbed the bucket and tried not to spill it. I placed it in front of the tree before climbing up the branches into a hidden spot.
Connor tied one of the ends of the rope to the bucket and lifted it for me to grab. I placed it in between two branches and held it steady. Connor and I both signaled a thumbs up.
"They're coming!" Travis warned. He his in a nearby bush as did Connor. I snuck into the shadows of the tree leaves to avoid being seen.
Heavy footsteps invaded the calm of the forest. A loud, hearty voice shouted orders with aggression. I knew exactly who it was. Most of who I spoke to warned me of her. Clarisse La Rue. She was the cabin leader and stood at the head of the group of campers. Her sneer was malicious as she barked more orders.
The group moved in closer and I held my breath. Clarisse still yelling and the whole pack holding weapons made a pit of regret form in my stomach.
Finally, Clarisse's foot triggered the bucket. I let it go.
The scene played in slow motion. The bucket flew down and flipped causing all its contents to be unleashed upon Ares' children. Everyone froze. The leader stood still until she wiped the mud from her eyes and growled like a wild animal. My heart stopped at the sound. The growl crescendo-ed until it became more than a noise. It was a word.
"STOLLS!"
The two jumped out of the bush, and I took it as our queue to leave. I tried to come down safely, but was tugged by Connor to make a quick escape. The force flung out of the tree and onto the dirt. Hard. My wind was knocked out me. The boys yanked me up and ran, the Ares kids holding Clarisse back from committing a triple homicide.
"Shit!" I cursed lowly. "She's gonna kill us," my eyes widened.
"They'll never find the body," Joked Travis as we ran.
"She won't find us if we hide in the strawberry fields!" Connor shouted and pulled us both to the left.
We booked it until we saw the fields in sight. When we got close enough we ran behind a larger bush and dropped. I hadn't known how much strain it had put on me until I plopped to the ground. Thank the gods that my adrenaline kept my body moving.
"That was amazing!" Travis whooped in triumph.
"Did you see the look on her face?" Connor burst into laughter.
I soon joined in, and a chorus of laughter rang throughout the fields.
"Hey, Alex?" asked Travis.
"Yeah. What's up?"
"Please, please, please prank with us more often!!!" Travis begged.
He jumped on me in a hug.
"Can't argue with that," Connor laughed. "What do ya say?"
I wrapped my arms around Travis and chuckled.
"How could I refuse?"
-----
After hanging out with the Stolls, my stomach shouted at me to eat. I headed to dining pavilion and spotted Kim. She had a piece of bacon on her plate and a small pile of eggs in the corner. In one hand was her fork; in the other was her phone.
I sat myself down in front of her. A bowl of cereal appeared in front of me and I dug in.
Kim looked up from her phone; a knowing smirk on her face. Her eyebrow raised.
"You really do have a problem with cereal. It's the main ingredient to you diet," she smiled.
"Free country," I mumbled as I shoveled another spoonful of cereal into my mouth.
Kim rolled her eyes in response.
"Whatever you say," she scoffed. "Where we you this morning by the way? I woke up, and you were gone,"
"Pranking with the Stolls,"
"That explains the angry Ares kids,"
"You know it,"
