Thank you, Kelley

Chapter 6

Meghan's POV:

Dinner is uneventful which is good but it's now time for team bonding. I'm a little nervous and Kelley picks up on it as dinner comes to an end.

"You ok?"

"Yup" I replied shortly.

She places her hand on my thigh in an attempt to calm me down and get my attention. "No you're not. What's wrong?"

"Just a little nervous that's all. Having everyone hang out at once. There are a lot of people. Just my anxiety. I'm good though. I promise." She doesn't seem convinced but neither am I so hey whatever.

We make our way up to Pinoe's room and everyone spreads out across the room. I ended up in between Kelley and Rose. Sonnett is across the room but we keep making eye contact and then both quickly looking away. She and I have gotten pretty close but we are both pretty awkward around each other so it's a little weird.

"Ok so truth or dare?" Pinoe yells out pulling me out of my thoughts. Uhh... of course. I knew it. This is going to be interesting. I'm not going to want to do any truths because I don't want them to ask about my past or my panic attacks. But the dares are going to be interesting.

The game gets started and I learn some interesting things about the girls. They are all so weird and silly but very nice too. There are some stupid dares to. At some point Kelley has to do a shot of ketchup. I don't even know where the ketchup came from but that's ok. Ash has to spend the rest of the night without a shirt on. I kinda stopped paying attention after a while.

I am pulled back to reality when Mal says my name. "Meghan?"

"Oh ya sorry."

"Truth or dare." I decided I'd rather take my chance with a dare then have to share anything about myself.

"Dare" I state. I can see that a few people look a little disappointed obviously wanting to get to know me more.

"Ok I dare you to strip down to your underwear and bra and jump into the pool downstairs."

I try to hold back a groan. Uhhh... I really don't want to do that. Oh my god. My scars. Noooo. I guess I don't have a choice. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. The scars that wrap around my back and front are pretty intense and I really don't want to deal with people's questions. Between the car crash which I still try to block from my memory and the abuse I have suffered back home, my body is pretty fucked up looking.

Kelley seems to notice my hesitation and tries to step in. " aww man that's kinda harsh. Pick something else."

I hear an "aww" from Pinoe. Then a "but she has to it's a dare" from someone else.

"No Kel it's fine," I state as I stand up showing my intention of going. I hear a chorus of 'yes's, 'ya's, and 'let's go's.

We make our way down to the pool and there are only a few lights on so it's pretty dark. Hopefully the shadows will be enough for no one to notice. I get pushed to the front of the group.

"Strip!" an overly excited Pinoe yells.

I stand there for a second not quite ready for this. I make eye contact with Kelley and we have a whole conversation with our eyes. She basically lets me know that I don't have to if I don't want to but I just look away indicating I'm good.

Ok here I go. Fuck this is scary. Nobody has really ever seen these scars except for me. I can do it.

I pull the fabric over my head leaving me in just a sports bra. I can hear a couple of gasps and oh shits under a few people's breaths. I stare at the floor knowing that the whole team can in fact see my broken body. I don't dare to look in their eyes because I don't want to deal with the pity or the questions. It takes me a second but I pull off my pants and hand them to Kelley. She is the only one I am able to make eye contact with. They are filled with worry and not pity which I appreciate. I give her a quick wink and then take off towards the small ladder and diving board. If I'm gonna jump in I'll give them a show.

"Where is she going?" " I don't know" I can hear as I walk away from them.

I step out onto the diving board. One foot. The other foot. Two feet. I use the power from the previous steps to launch myself into the air. I pull my body into the pike position and flip in the air once then flattening my body out and entering the water in a perfectly vertical position. I'd say that's a 9.5 out of 10 if I do say so myself. I feel the cool water rush over my body. I have always loved the way the water feels.

I swim up to the surface to find a crowd full of stunned faces. Apparently they liked my show.

"What the hell rookie. Is there anything you can't do? I mean come on beat us in the beep test and then show us up on a dare." I think that was Pinoe who said that.

"How did you learn how to do that?" Julie asks.

" My best friend back home is on the diving team and taught me how." I saw with a giggle knowing I had impressed them. "We don't live in a great town and we knew that sports would be our way out. For her it's diving, for me it's soccer."

I pull myself out of the pool and step back over to the group.

"Is no one gonna get me a towel. I'm cold." I say to the girls just standing staring at me. I know they want to ask about the scars but I make it pretty clear that I don't want to talk about it. Soon Kelley walks over to me and hands me one. I can see approval and satisfaction in her eyes. I really appreciate how much she cares about me and is excited that I shut them all up by showing them up.

Rose pipes up next, "Ok so we can go back to the room now." I am grateful because I don't want to stand here anymore.

"I am actually just gonna go back to my room and shower and probably just go to bed. I'm exhausted." I quietly state. I'm met with a few "ok"s and "sounds good"s. As we walk back to the hallway the team is staying in Emily changes her pace so she is walking next to me.

"You all good? Do you want any company back in our room."

"No thanks, I'm good Sonny. I'm just going to shower and go to bed. I'm really tired. Thanks for checking on me."

"Mmm ok. If you're asleep when I come back Good night."

"Night Emily"

And with that I head back to our room. I close the door and just stand there. Wow that was quite the day. I am so drained physically and emotionally. I am very much an introvert and I need my alone time and since I arrived at camp I have gotten none of that. I can feel the tears start to slide down my face. I'm not really a crier unless I am having a panic attack or I am exhausted like I am now. I know the best thing is to just get a quick warm shower and go to bed. I do exactly that. I am able to stop crying and crawl in bed in my favorite sleep shirt. It was my brothers. I miss him and my family so fucking much. And with that I am out.