Into The Wild

O N E

7:52 A.M.

Just eight minutes left.

I drag a suitcase in one hand as I check the time, my small but compact backpack softly hitting against my back as I take long strides. This is probably the fastest I have ever run in my life. Maybe at this speed, I could have won the track team's competition for first place and came home with a smile on my face.

Everyone I pass on the pavement is giving me weird glances. It's not their fault, I mean, my wig is almost halfway slipping off my head. Why a wig? Well long story short, there was a tongue-tied incident that caused me to cut my hair really short. But that was during January, so my real hair is up to my shoulders right now. Why am I still wearing a wig then? It could be because my life is literally all over the place.

7:59 A.M.

Taking a turn, I stop and fix my wig before continuing to walk towards the location.

Just in time.

Teens of all ages from thirteen to nineteen are all grouped up in front of the doors of the huge travel bus. The doors are not yet open, so I look around in search of my best friend, Aria. But it's hard to locate a friend when you're already so short.

I grab my phone from my shorts and start texting her.

Me: Ria? Where are you?

Aria: Found a new target.

Me: What?

Aria: Sis! The counselor is HOT!

Me: R u srs?

Aria: YEA! I'm near the doors of the bus. Come come come!

I squeeze myself through the crowd, an advantage of being short. It's so easy to get through crowds and no one even notices you. Well, if you're not wearing a huge dark wig that's so close to slipping off, that is. I'm now having second thoughts of coming here. Summer camp wasn't always something my parents cared about, but this year I wanted to attend it with my best friend, Aria. She's the type of person who could get you to do anything and she had just more than a few months to persuade me into coming with her.

As soon as we meet up with each other, Aria gives me an annoyed look. She takes out her phone and starts texting.

I jump when I hear the familiar notification sound from my phone. Was it always this loud or is everyone around us suddenly quieting down?

Aria: A wig, seriously! No one knows u here, Olivia

I look back up at her with a smile. She's so thoughtful that instead of whispering it to me, she texts so no one would have a clue about my problem. The real reason why I wear one is that I feel insecure. I want to look like Aria, who's always looked so good with her defined curves and long, wavy brown hair.

I quickly text back that I don't feel comfortable without one.

When she looks up from the text, she rolls her eyes and shakes her head, obviously very disappointed in me. She opens her mouth to speak but is cut short when we hear a whistle go off. Everyone looks at the direction of the sound where a guy in his twenties is standing.

Aria elbows me in the ribs, nodding in his direction. "Isn't he so hot?" she exclaims, staring adoringly at him.

As he speaks I learn that the so-called hot man happens to be one of the counselors of the camp we're all attending. He has his black hair pulled back under a cap, a few dark strands peaking out on his forehead. He's wearing a loose white shirt that holds the words, "Summer Camp Wilderness" and in the bottom, "Counselor". His dark ripped jeans just finish the touch of his look and the whistle around his neck only adds to his sexiness.