Perfect Timing: a tratie story

September // Chapter 11

Katie Gardner

I yawn as Miranda and I make our way towards the strawberry fields. We had to finish our growing season the past few days before all the summer campers left, but we decided the newfound quiet at camp would make for a nice walk. The absence of noise definitely doesn't remind me of a certain idiot and I definitely don't dwell on the fact that he didn't say bye to me when he left. He's continued to prank me almost every day since July, and refused to let me ignore him, but the one time I considered talking to him he didn't try anything at all. I guess it's just as well since I should really start getting over him sometime.

yeah so anyway- I'm definitely not thinking about all of that when I feel a tap on my shoulder and a familiar voice. "Hey, Katie-kat, I think you dropped this." I turn around and try to hide my many emotions as I come to face to face with the only person who has the nerve to call me that.

I stare at the familiar stupid smirk for a moment, unsure of what to say. Finally, I settle on the simplest option "Is that my wallet?" I take it from him.

"Uh, seems like it?" He laughs at my surprise.

I narrow my eyes "I didn't have this when I left the cabin, so how could I have dropped it?"

"um well, the thing is," he shifts his weight and pushes his hair out of his eyes, "you must have dropped it in my cabin... under one of my siblings pillows... by accident."

"so, you're telling me someone in your cabin stole my wallet," I cross my arms.

"well that's one way to put it," he clears his throat uncomfortably, he obviously doesn't do this 'returning' thing often.

"and you're giving it back to me?"

"well hey," he catches me off guard with his stupid dazzling smile "no one can steal from my sunshine except for me, right?"

"That doesn't make any- okay, well, first of all don't call me that. Also, I'm not your anything- Why are you here anyway?" I finally blurt out, annoyed at myself for being so easily flustered by him.

"to give you your wallet," he quirks an eyebrow and lets out a small laugh, "I thought that much was clear."

"not that- at camp, you idiot" I gesture vaguely to our surroundings, not sure if he's being difficult or if he's just that dumb. I wouldn't be surprised if he had missed the date to go home out of sheer ignorance.

"why wouldn't I be at camp, Kates?" he looks at Miranda with a bewildered expression, as if she can offer him an explanation.

"you got held back? you're going into the city for the school year, right?" I ask, suddenly unsure of the story I had blindly believed all summer.

"That sounds like me doesn't it? But no, you'll be happy to hear that I definitely graduated." he smirks and leans down slightly "Please tell me you don't believe every rumor you hear about me, Kit-Kat."

I laugh nervously, trying to seem unfazed by this new information "no, of course not." There's an awkward pause and he opens his mouth to say something else, but I cut him off to save myself any more embarrassment. "Well we have some strawberries to pick so we really gotta go" I start to drag Miranda in the direction of the field.

"wait, you told me strawberries don't grow in the fall," he scrunches up his eyebrows in a genuinely confused expression, curse the gods for making him so adorable. And since when does he even listen to me?