Camp Rises [an AU of Gravity Rises]

Chapter 2: Stubbornness and Pancakes

(Mabel)

"AAAAAAIIIIEEEEEE!"

Needless to say, Pacifica Pleasure's high-pitched scream was neither a pleasure nor what Mabel had hoped to wake up to.

"NO! NO, YOU CAN'T! YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE SO CRUEL, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

If the other two girls (Mabel was pretty sure there names were Candy and Amanda, if memory served) hadn't been awake before, they certainly were now, just in time for Pacifica's drama. Melody seemed like an island of calm and reason in the shrieking.

It wasn't just screams, actually: Pacifica had tears sliding down her cheeks and ruining her perfectly applied mascara, leaving black streaks on her face; she was also kicking the foot of the bunkbed and giving herself a real reason to cry. Wood was not a comfortable surface to kick at with bare feet. Then again, a camp shirt wasn't exactly something worth throwing a fit over, either.

Melody took a deep breath. "Pacifica, hon, wearing the camp shirt the first day is a tradition. It shows that we're in unity here, that we can stick together and help each other out. I know you're not used to this, maybe, but perhaps if you just-"

She was cut off by another wail. "Oh, no," Pacifica sniffed, dabbing at her perfect features with a lavender tissue, "of course you wouldn't understand, you're the hired help, I wouldn't expect you to know about fashion, but-" she sniffed again, "I was born to stand out, not blend in and disappear among commoners!" Pacifica gave a high, sort of hiccupy laugh and dabbed at her cheeks, attempting to wipe off streaks of makeup. "You see, a showgirl has to keep up appearances - other than this, but we'll keep that between us - so I can't be expected to wear that drab thing around potential clients, now can I?" She brushed away a last tear and smiled, as if of course she would get her way, and everything would be perfectly alright with the world once more.

Mabel shuddered. If that girl could go from screaming and wailing to calm and smiling in that bit of time - well, Mabel didn't particularly want to see her other mood changes.

Especially if they involved screaming.

"Now, Pacifica, I'm sure we can work out somethin'. Everyone wears the camp t-shirt."

Pacifica sighed. "She's not wearing it." She pointed at Mabel.

"I'm - I'm not dressed yet," she said hurriedly throwing off the covers and reaching for her suitcase.

"Here, Mabel." Melody tossed something over, and a small bundle of teal cloth landed on Mabel's bunk. Mabel picked it up. It wasn't a bad color, really. The words "Camp Rises" were spelled out in black cursive across the front. It wasn't that dreadful - she certainly didn't see why Pacifica needed to throw a tantrum over it.

Then again, drama was kind of her thing, apparently. As was purple.

"So, Pacifica, what do you think? Is there some other way you could wear it?" Melody seemed to be giving in a little.

Pacifica sighed and pouted a little. "Well... I might be able to find something to go with that horrid color. Possibly gray..." She sighed again and climbed up to the top bunk, muttering to herself about the finer points of color coordination.

From what Mabel heard, it seemed Pacifica had an entire suitcase devoted to skirts. Who wore skirts to summer camp? Pacifica, apparently.

That was the answer to quite a few questions Mabel asked herself lately.

At least Pacifica wasn't the only other girl in the cabin - there was Candy and Amanda, who seemed quiet, but nice.

"I'm going down to the lodge to make breakfast, if any of you want to come," Melody called out a moment later.