Summer's Ember

Chappie Four

🔥🔥🔥Chapter Four🔥🔥🔥

I sigh and roll out of my sleeping bag, glancing at a little battery powered clock Roberto gave me for my birthday last month. I prefer practical things to pretty bobbles.

3:26. The little red numbers glow.

I sigh, again, and begin to braid my hair. I've only been asleep for two hours.

I've been struggling with insomnia. Occasionally, I'll take sleeping pills if I really need to sleep but most the time I'll just go for a run or a bike ride until George wakes up.

I pull a hair tie off my wrist and tie the end of my fishtail braid. I open one of my three duffle bags, pulling out a purple sports bra and tiger-striped booty shorts.

I change then write a note for George on a sticky note. I brought sticky notes and my favorite purple Ink Joy pen just for this purpose.

I unzip my tent, looking to see if anyone else is awake, getting a midnight drink or something.

I creep into my dads' tent and put the sticky note on George's forehead.

I stretch a little bit and look at a map, deciding if I should go along the roads or take a hiking trail.

I decide I'll go through some of the other camping areas then pick a trail to go along.

🎬

I stop, drink water, and use the bathroom an hour and a half later, near a summer campus. This island might not have terrific ocean beaches but they do have nice lake beaches. So many summer camps tried to reserve the large campuses. I know all this because we've spent summer here almost every year since I was adopted. Plus, Roberto knows one the people in charge of the camps or something.

I reach down to touch my toes and hear a whistle.

I shoot up and look around.

A boy is sitting on a picnic-tabletop. His elbows are rested on his knees and in one hand there is a cigarette, freshly lit seems.

"I'm an explorer." He says, his tone flat.

"Huh?" comes my dumb reply.

"So can I explore that?" He pointedly eyes me up and down, his voice turned seductive.

"Oh!" I exclaim, realizing this is one of the boys from the delinquent camp that was supposed to be here next week. "You guys are early!"

"What?" It's his turn to sound surprised.

A smile creeps onto my lips at his confused expression. His dark brown hair is tousled, like he rolled out of bed and forgot to brush it. His chocolate eyes are pretty when they catch the light of the rising sun. He's tan and has a straight nose. There is a small scar one the edge of his right eyebrow. He has a silver lip ring, which is currently caught between his teeth.

"Your camp. It was supposed to be here next week. Roberto warned me about running this way." I make a regretful face. "Sorry but I have to go."

I take a quick sip of the water fountain next to me and start to jog away when his hand catches my arm. Man, he's fast.

"Wait, what's your name?" He asks, gazing at me intently.

"What's yours?" I counter.

"Julian." He responds without missing a beat.

"Amanda but I go by-"

I'm cut off by a honk.

"Em, shut your face." George yells out of his window.

"Why?" I shout, knowing that it's about time for most early risers to be getting up.

"Because I'm you father and I said so!" He rolls his eyes and I can see his grey eyes moving from here.

He is stopped in the road, many yards from me and Julian.

"Did he really just pull that card?" Julian snorts, the sound unattractive coming from him.

"Yes he did!" George yells, somehow hearing that.

Julian's eyes widen. I giggle and take his hand from my shoulder, where it had sat.

"Bye, baby." I give a taste of his own medicine and wink.

I laugh at his shocked face as I sprint to my truck, which George is driving.

All I get is a disapproving look at my attire and a sigh.

"Oh hush." I slap his arm."There's usually no one out at this ungodly hour."

He grunts and has a little smile on his lips. I am forgiven.

We drive in silence to the convenience store and pick up ginger beer. Non-alcoholic of course, is there a kind with alcohol?

On the drive back, me and George sing 99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall, more yelling then singing. I'm sure it's a wonderful wake-up call to our fellow campers since we drive with all windows down.