Faking It

Edited: 20

As Miranda leads our siblings to our first lesson, I pile together all of the cabin's dishes. Stacking cups with cups, bowls with bowls, plates with plates, and silverware in the bowl. Its not my week for kitchen duty, but since doing so many dishes, I've gained a respect for the orderly manner.

"Thanks, Katie-Kat, I can take it from here." Travis comes up behind me.

"Great," I take the opportunity and roll with it. I make a swift beeline to the exit.

"Woah, woah, woah," He calls out. "Leaving so quickly?"

I look at him over my shoulder. "Yep," I respond and begin walking again.

"Come on, we haven't talked—"

"What's there to talk about?" I cross my arms. A few campers make faces at us and our conversation.

"Well, I was thinking, maybe we could hang out?"

"Hang out with your girlfriend," I tilt my head. I watch as the last straggling campers leave. It's just us.

"Myra and I have been hanging out, but why can't you and I still be friends?"

"I don't think we can be."

"Why not?"

"Were were ever to begin with?" I shake my head. "We jumped straight into our relationship after years of arguing and now we're not even together anymore."

"Why can't we start being friends?"

I sigh. "I don't think Myra will like it. As much as it pains me to say it, I have to respect her as your girlfriend."

As true as that is, I do have to respect their relationship, deep down...I don't think I could handle seeing him with someone else.

"I have to go, my cabin is waiting," I turn on my heel and walk out.

I keep my head low as I walk away from the dining hall. I keep my hands balled as fists in the pocket of my sweatshirt. Who knew walking away would be so difficult?

I don't know how, but soon days turn to weeks. And weeks to a month. One morning I wake with a sigh. In the shower I let the steamy air consume me as I wash myself and I wash my hair.

I step out and put on a new outfit. "You look really pretty Katie." A small voice says.

I turn around and see that it was Rosie who said that. "Thanks Rosie." I say, "do you need help with your hair?"

"Yes please."

"Ok." I say as I set her ontop of the counter and start brushing her hair.

"He's not happy about how things worked out, you know." She says after a while, catching me off guard

"Huh?"

"Travis...I mean Stoll. Sorry" she corrects.

"No go ahead. You can say his name. What do you mean he's not happy?"

"I mean he's not happy."

I shake my head at the five year old. "That's not what I meant, little one, why isn't he happy? You know the story, he chose Myra."

"He helps out sometimes with my hand to hand combat training. He puts on a smile, but when everyone is on a water break, his smile falls and looks sad."

I don't say anything as I slip half her hair into pig tail.

"I give him hugs." She continues "he likes them and hugs back. I think that's part of he needs. A hug."

"He can hug Myra. He chose her." I say softly, hiding my pain and curiosity.

"They're almost always arguing."

"What?"

"I overheard Connor and him talking during a water break last week. He said I don't know what to do, I can't stand Myra's attitude and Katie won't even talk to me."

I inwardly smirk but then feel guilty. Myra may have an attitude problem, but she's Travis' girlfriend. I remind myself to not think such bitter thoughts.

I finish the other pig tail and she smiles. "Thank you Katie! Come on!"

"Let me put my hair up real quick." I say and she nods hopping off the counter.

I put my hair in a half up and half down style and step out of the restroom hand in hand with Rosie.

"Come on!" Rosie giggles and I pick her up on a piggyback ride and we head out.

"Okay, guys lets go." I say and we head out. I dismiss what Rosie said. It's not all the time that you can trust what a little kid says.

"I want strawberries!" Rosie announces causing me to laugh.

"Let's go to the line." Miranda says and we walk to the line. I set Rosie down and she fills her plate with strawberries. I smile at her and then put waffles and syrup onto my plate.

"Hey, wanna hear a joke?" Miranda says. Connor is rubbing off on her a bit.

"Sure." I say.

"A man walks into a bar." She says. The pauses and then says, "OUCH!"

Railynn, who stands in line with us, laughs. Rosie, not knowing what to do, laughs too. I frown. "I don't get it." I say.

Rosie stops laughing and whisper yells to me "I don't get it either!"

That causes me to laugh.

"He walked into a bar. Not like a drinking bar, but like...a bar. He hit his head and said 'Ouch!'." Railynn says

"Oh." I say, "that's not very funny but...okay."

"It was funny and you know it." Miranda says sticking her tongue out at me "why else would Rai be laughing?"

"Well it's a given fact that she's crazy," I shrug nonchalantly.

I earn a "Hey!" From both Rai and Miranda and a giggle from Rosie.

We finish getting our food and as we walk over to our cabin's table and I stop and feel someone looking at me. I shake it off but still it doesn't go away. I turn and accidentally make eye contact with Travis again.

Act tough, I think, act tough. I turn around and stare at my plate. But just turning around doesn't stop my thoughts. They wonder back to what Rosie said.

If he's so unhappy with being with her, why did he choose her?