One Bright Spot -- The Revisions

2

∞Christal∞

It was sort of hazy and blurry, obscuring my vision. I glance around, unsure of my surroundings. It's dark, but not totally pitch black. I see a light up ahead; a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. As I get closer, I see a wooden table and five chairs around it. Four of them are occupied. Three of the faces sort of blend in with the dark, but when I reach the table, I see that they are Kota, Theo, and Josh. The fourth guy does not fade into the dark. He has light brown or blonde hair. He's wearing glasses and a lop-sided grin. I do not know him, but apparently he knows me. He jumps up from his seat and pulls the empty one out for me.

"Um, thank you", I say as I sit down and he pushes the seat in.

"Sure thing", he says, winking at me. He sits back down.

I feel myself blush. I don't even know this guy.

"Ahem."

The clearing of a throat draws my attention away from blondie's eyes. Kota is talking now. His lips are moving, but no sound comes out. He gestures to something on the table. When I look, there's a blueprint type of piece of paper. It is the plans for a building, but I don't know which one, or why we're looking at them.

I look around the table at the four boys gathered with me. I can't place my finger on why it feels normal to be here with them. Josh is to my left and our elbows are resting against each other. Blondie is to my right and sending Josh dirty looks. Kota is sending both of them dirty looks, but when he looks at me, his eyes soften. Theo looks amused by it all. Me? I'm confused.

***

Then someone is shaking me, "Christal, it's time to get up!"

I groan, "But Mom, it's summer." I pull the blanket up over my head.

The voice laughs, "Silly, it's Carmila. You're at camp, remember?"

I push the blanket back and rub the sleep out of my eyes, "Oh yeah. I forgot. What time is it?"

"About 5:15. I didn't know how long it would take you to get up and get ready. Sorry, I should have asked you last night."

"Oh, that's all right. That will be just the right amount of time for me. Especially once I get fully awake", I yawn.

"Well, I'll leave you to it. I'm going to go fix me some hot tea. Would you like some?" she asks, standing.

"Yes, please."

"Okay", she says, going out of the room.

***

I dress in one of my black shirts and pants and pull my shoulder length, brown hair into a ponytail. I slip on my black tennis shoes, because the white ones look dumb with the outfit. I take in my appearance in the full-length mirror on the back of my door. The clothing isn't skin tight, but they do hug my body and pronounce my curves. I shrug on a black jacket.

I go out to the kitchen and gratefully take my mug of hot tea from Carmila.

"Ready for today?" she asks.

"I hope so." I take a deep breath, "How sore am I going to be tomorrow?"

"Very. There are going to be a lot of muscles you didn't know you had."