camp || m.c. (on hold)

eight

I was laying in my bed with a package of Pringles beside me and a book in my hands when a knock came at my door.

"Who is it?" I called, but there was no reply. I grunted as I hopped off of my bed, sneakily stowing the chips underneath my bag and walking over to the door. I threw it open and was surprised to come face to face with Michael.

"What do you want?" I spat harshly, and Michael held up his hands in an attempt to pacify me.

"I just noticed that you weren't at dinner, and I wanted to know if you wanted to go out on the boat with me tonight," he defended himself, smiling slightly. My face went red and I studied the floor, thinking through my answer. I was such an idiot; Michael had been nothing but nice to me and I had just yelled at him for wanting to take me somewhere.

"Sure," I replied hesitantly, "Just you, me, and Rod?"

"And Luke. He really likes it on the lake." I nodded, holding up a finger and closing the door quietly. I quickly changed into something that wasn't riddled with chip crumbs and dirt, and reopened the door to my cabin. Michael smiled and gave me a thumbs up, but my knees shook terribly as we ambled to the pier.

"You smell like Sour Cream and Onion chips," Michael laughed suddenly, raising his eyebrow at me. I nearly tripped over a rock.

"Please don't tell!" I pleaded, and he chuckled softly.

"Of course not," he assured me, and I relaxed. I just hoped Rod wouldn't ask any questions.

"It's kind of a nice fragrance, really," Michael said, but his eyes didn't match his voice. He looked so sad; it honestly hurt my heart seeing him looking so depressed. Sarah didn't ever look like this, and it made me wonder if Camp Hill really had been doing its job with her.

---

The pier was harboring a decent sized black and red boat; its cargo was no where to be seen. I glanced quizzically at Michael, and he just shrugged.

"Let's wait for them on the boat," he suggested, grabbing my hand and tugging me lightly to the edge of the boat. I carefully stepped inside, allowing my legs to grow used to the consistent swaying of the vessel beneath my feet. I had never been on a boat before. I stumbled slightly as I hesitantly walked to one of the seats at the back of the boat, but Michael caught my forearm before I fell. I gave him a grateful smile, which he reciprocated, and eased myself onto the faux leather interior.

The inside of the boat was an off-white color with red details around the steering wheel and along the bottom of the vessel. I almost felt awkward sitting on the seat because I was probably completely scumming it up; I had adamantly refused to shower in the shower house the day previous, but I was sure I'd need a shower tonight. I felt disgusting.

"Michael! You didn't say you were bringing a friend along!" Luke's distinct voice called from behind us. Michael and I turned our heads simultaneously to see the tall blonde boy shoot us a suggestive smirk. Michael rolled his eyes, and I blushed.

Luke hopped into the boat, which pitched with the added weight, and slid into the seat beside me. He was holding a large guitar case in one of his hands. And his other arm draped itself around my shoulder. I stiffened.

There is a boy touching me. There is a boy touching me. There iS A BOY TOUCHING ME.

My heart began to race. I hadn't been in close proximity with a boy since the sixth grade, when everything was normal and my dad was still alive. I cautiously leaned my head on his shoulder, and I could feel Luke's jaw tighten in a smile. I could also feel the heavy glare of Michael, but I disregarded it.

Rod appeared soon after Luke, his tattooed arms hidden under a long sleeved shirt. He tossed the keys to the boat from hand to hand, but when he saw Luke and I sitting so close to each other he nearly dropped them off of the dock. He hastily grabbed them to cover his mistake, but I could tell he was flustered.

He huffed as he stepped into the boat, and I rocked further into Luke with the boat's sudden movement.

"Be glad you're a volunteer, Luke. Because if you were an employee you'd be out of a job faster than a jack rabbit on 5 hour energy," Rod threatened, and Luke smirked, wrapping his arm tighter around me. Rod turned the key into the ignition, and the boat roared to life.

Luke pulled me closer to him as the boat backed out of the dock slowly, and I savored his musky smell as the boat sped off to the middle of the lake.