luck, a lake, and lora

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Second Week of Camp Lake Crowpire

The Commons treehouse was surprisingly quiet for 6 in the evening. Normally after dinner at this time, the campers would've been playing cards or climbing the tree vines, but Sage was alone. In the past week, they went canoeing, where Sage turned around to get a picture of everyone and smacked into a low-hanging tree branch; played a very intense game of Capture the Flag which Team Clover absolutely demolished the others at; and had three successful campfires and one that a kid lost her flip flop in. So far, wilderness camp has been.... wild.

Sage rested her chin on her hand and stared at the Team scoreboard. It was split into eight fractions, four for the junior high kids and four for the older ones. Her team was tied with Team Dandelion in their age group but Team Minnow was in the lead overall. Sage wasn't sure what the prize for winning was, but she was determined to win.

She heard someone coming up the ladder and she straightened her back and tried not to look bored. Dani, a 7 year old girl on Sage's team rushed onto the Commons directly to where Sage was sitting.

"What's going on?" Sage chuckled as Dani hid behind her, peaking over her shoulders.

"Sshhhhh! She's going to find me!"

Sage looked around the empty treehouse. "Who is- OH MY!" Both camper and counselor shrieked as a red headed someone jumped down from the tree vines.

"Lora, you demon!" Sage shouted, startled. "I almost peed myself." Dani herself looked like she might have actually.

Lora continued cackling, evidently finding others' terror amusing. She ruffled Dani's hair as the younger girl crossed her arms and pouted.

"You hid really well, champ," Lora comforted. "You were the last person I found." So that's why Sage hadn't seen anyone since dinner; they were playing Hide and Seek. She was slightly offended that no one told her.

"Really?" Dani beamed. "Does that mean we can play another round?"

Lora got a gleam in her eye. "Sure." She slapped Sage on the shoulder, shouting, "You're it!" and sprinted through the treehouse with Dani giggling behind her.

She sat for a second, baffled. Realizing that she was now part of the game, she jumped up, yelling after Lora, "I'll kick your ass!", to which the other replied, "Watch your language!"

9pm Campfire

Sage greatly underestimated how large the camp was, and it took her forty minutes before she found everyone. Quinto was very smug that she didn't find him, but that was because he hid in the Port-a-Potty. Disgusting.

She was coming down from the supply room with two bags of marshmallows in her arms and a package of chocolate between her teeth. Somehow, she managed to not drop anything coming down the ladder. Theo was waiting for her before they made their way to the campfire, where all the campers were eagerly waiting for s'mores.

"How have you been enjoying the camp?" Her cousin asked.

"It's been fun. I didn't think I'd like the kids this much."

Theo laughed, "Me neither! Remember that one Thanksgiving dinner when you threw a spoon at Richie?"

She laughed too, recalling the memory of Richie, Theo's little brother. "He was being very annoying."

"He was 5 years old!"

"Still."

Theo shrugged, agreeing. They stopped at the top of the hill, catching their breath. The fireflies twinkling and the bonfire in the middle of the field looked like something straight out of a movie. Someone noticed them from the campfire and waved. Sage waved back.

"You two are getting along well," Theo said.

"Really? I can't even tell who that was," Sage replied honestly, though she really only had one friend, so it was likely to be Lora. As they got closer, it turned out she was right.

"Lora's been the most lively this whole summer than any other year. I think she likes you."

"Yeah, me too. I'm glad to have a friend here."

"A friend, yes." Theo raised an eyebrow at her. Sage stared at him unbelievingly.

"Wait, is she...." She wasn't sure how to word it.

"Gay as hell."

"Oh my lord, I can't handle this," Sage giggled, a hand on her cheek and suddenly very excited. "Are you sure? But is she single? She's way too perfect to not be dating someone. Do you think she likes-"

Theo cut her off. "Go for it, Sage."

Sage was so going for it.