Summer Camp

t e n

chapter ten

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"Feeling used, but I'm still missing you and I can't see the end of this" - i hate u, i love u by Gnash feat. Olivia O'brien

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Dinner continued on. I plopped some more potatoes onto my plate, shaking the ladle when half of them stuck to it. I was pretty sure I was already full, but it was so delicious! I was going home an overstuffed girl tonight! (Even though I knew I would regret it in the morning when I realized I had had so many calories; I wasn't obsessed with a thin body, but I was so insecure about my figure.)

"So, Shey have you received the invitation to our," Martha giggled quietly to herself, "'Summer Camp' yet?"

I swear, Parker was about to full on choke on the chicken in his mouth as he looked up at his mother in alarm; his eyes were wide and his whole body frozen. It took all of my will not to snort loudly.

"Our what?!" Parker sputtered out after registering the words. Martha frowned at him in confusion.

"Our invitation," she said, eye rows raised, trying to jog his memory, "Remember when that girl... wait- Lisa!" his mother's face lit up with remembrance, "was here, she was talking to you about Shey? But you were in a hurry or something, because you stormed away quite quickly..." Martha trailed off, frowning and sent a glare to her son as if to scold him, "Anyways I gave her an invitation through Lisa because I was elated to hear the Margret's were in town."

She paused and swallowed; her voice grew somber, "Albeit not all."

She and Jack sent my mom and I a pitying look and it felt like I had just packed a punch. I was too scared to look at anyone - I didn't want to see the pitiful gazes or my mother's destroyed one; it would be too much. I let my gaze drop to my plate and when I deemed it safe, brought it back up. I caught Parker's eyes. They had softened, just like his face. It felt nice to look into his eyes without finding a raging hate burning in them. My newfound calm was gone just as quickly as it had lasted; his demeanor hardened again as if he realized he had been fraternizing with the enemy. I wanted to cry.

Sensing the gloominess, Martha continued, "I'm sure you and Parker will enjoy spending time together again; you haven't in years! You have received the invitation, yes?"

I nodded, reserved.

Parker made a weird half-strangled, half-choked sound. I turned to look at him. All eyes were on him.

"We invited her?"

I bit my lip at his harsh tone. Fuck Parker, honestly. I can't right now.

"Parker! What is the matter with you?" Martha asked, bewildered, unconsciously leaning back in her chair as if a wind was pushing her against it.

I cleared my throat, the tension too thick, and forcibly smiled at the older woman, "No, Martha, it's alright. Parker... well, let's just say we're not really quite as good friends as back then - I guess time has taken its toll."

"Yeah, something like that," I heard Parker mutter under his breath. Would I get in trouble for kicking him in the shin? Or - better yet! - the balls?

"Really? That's sad to hear," my mother said after a while, her eyes meeting mine, asking silently why I hadn't come to her. I looked away. My lungs felt like they were tightening.