𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 / 𝐙𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥

Chapter Two

The shiny yellow bus pulled into the camp grounds, the sounds of children's excited chattering resonating throughout the entire yard. It pulled up on the grass beside the other vehicles and the children piled out the moment it stopped. They all ran across the lush green grass to the wooden bedroom cabins that they lined up round the corner. Cassie ran with the crowd to the bedroom.  The orphan kids come to the camp every summer and stay for a while. It was a tradition for the kids, and they enjoyed it greatly every year.

Cassie stopped when she reached the cabin and saw another girl climbing up onto her bunk. She rolled her eyes and grabbed the girl's dungaree strap.

"Hey, Nancy, you blind?" She sighed.

"What?" The other girl questioned.

Cassie pointed up to the roof above her bunk, where in chalk it was written Cassie's bunk! She had written it when they first came here and she had taken a liking to that specific bunk.

Nancy huffed and hopped down from the ladder, walking away with her bag in tow.

"When are you gonna get a life?" She stuck her tongue out.

Cassie simply ignored her and began climbing the rickety wooden ladder to her bunk. She threw her bag down messily and unloaded her belongings, making sure to stuff the chocolate bar she stowed under the duvet. She took off her cap and set it down onto the quilt.

~

Clarissa delicately removed her straw hat and placed it on her pink, satin quilt. She smiled and straightened out her sheets, turning around.

"Miss Edwards seems nice." She asserted, wrapping her hand around the wooden bed post and staring at her father. "Does she work with you?"

"Uhm...not exactly." Zayn stammered, then his eyes drifted towards the large window beside his daughters bed and he smiled. "Hey, I got something to show you."

He lifted the little girl up and placed her on the ledge, drawing back the curtains gently.

"You see there? Across the lake?" He pointed out across the glimmering water. From the window, you could see the camp grounds and the orphan kids running about and playing games with each other. "That's Camp Malik. That was your mom's favourite project."

Clarissa smiled. "So, is she from the camp?"

"Who?" Zayn's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"Miss Edwards."

He chuckled fondly. "Sweetheart, let me have a little talk with you."

He lifted her down from the window ledge and placed her on the bed, sitting down opposite her and looking at her expecting face.

"Clarissa, a lots happened since you've been gone. And you know I haven't been able to come to this house since mom passed away. But there comes a time where a person has to move on. You're getting older and there's only so much a father can do without help."

"We have Harry. He helps us." Clarissa piped innocently.

"That's right, he does. And he's been our good friend for a long time but...what I think our family really needs is a-"

There was a gentle knocking on the door and Harry was stood in the entryway hesitantly.

"Excuse me. Telephone rang, it's a board meeting."

Zayn sighed. "Let me ring them back."

"They said it was urgent." Harry continued.

"I'm with my..." Zayn trailed off when Harry extended a sympathetic shrug and gestured for him to take the call. He frowned and turned to his daughter, who was looking at him with bright blue orbs. "Will you forgive me?"