An Unforgettable Summer

Chapter Three

I wake up to my favorite sounds and smells of camp... The smell of the freshwater lake perfectly paired with the calming splashes of its tiny waves against the rocks outside the lodges... The comforting scent of all the salty and sweet breakfast foods cooking just a few steps away in the dining hall, and knowing my best friend is here with me for it all. Today is going to be amazing, nothing can convince me otherwise. With that thought, I launch myself out of bed and head to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the first full day of my perfect summer.

As we're getting ready, Em and I plan out all the fun things we want to do this week; planning for one day just isn't enough for our overexcited brains. I get dressed in an oversized band tee tucked into some distressed jeans shorts, my favorite pair of overworn chacos, and some cute gold earrings, just for an extra confidence boost. I tie my chestnut brown hair back into a low bun and pull out the front pieces to frame my face. As we head out the door for breakfast, I have Em check out the door to make sure Matthew is nowhere in sight. As soon as she signals that the coast is clear, we sprint for the elevator door, leaving every emotion and questionable thought from last night and this past year behind us in the wind. 

We meet up with a few annual camp friends on the walk to breakfast, and the whole meal is a full, dramatic recap of all of our junior years. Our little girl group all met our first year at Camp Roanoke, and ever since we've been inseparable. Of course, there's Em and me, but there's also Beya, Crys, and Jax. The five of us have done camp together every year, and somehow it's always crazier than the year before. Crys is the shortest of our little group but by FAR the smartest. We all have theories about where she'll end up going for college, and she hates us for it cause she says it just stresses her out even more. She's always the one everyone goes to for the hard advice, the stuff when we need advice from the head, not the heart. We know she loves us, even when she's annoyed by our craziness. Then there's Jax and Beya, our resident identical twins with slightly psychotic tendencies. It's really funny when no one else can tell them apart except for our little group. They're the kind of sisters who would help you kill someone and hide the body, no questions asked. They're obviously inseparable, and they provide our group with the refreshing amount of slightly frightening comedy. The five of us catch up over breakfast, and obviously I catch them all up on the current Matthew situation. After we clear our dishes, we all agree to meet up later tonight for our annual first sunset of camp. 

After breakfast with our girls, Em and I decide to run back to our room to change into our swimsuits. First dip in the lake! It's always freezing but so worth it. We get to our special spot, and we see two people sitting on the edge of the rocks. I look over at Em and we both nod, as if to say "no big deal, we'll just find somewhere else to swim." But as we're walking away, I look back to see if I can maybe figure out who it is. I feel the pit in my stomach come back, as I realize that I would recognize that hat anywhere. That red and blue baseball cap turned backward, of course, it's Matthew. And a girl I can't recognize. I shouldn't care who, but part of me just feels icky. I quickly turn back around to tune into whatever bubbly story Em happens to be telling, feeling kind of sick to my stomach and trying to subconsciously forget about what I just saw. 

Later that night, I have successfully forgotten everything about seeing Matthew with that girl. I'm not even thinking about it a little bit. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Today was filled with swimming, making our first bracelets of the summer, and reuniting with my girls for our annual sunset. Today couldn't have been more perfect! I should just be grateful and go to sleep. I check my phone. 1:30 AM... ugh I just can't sleep. Em's knocked out, of course, snoring like a truck driver with a deviated septum... I love her so much. Maybe I just need some air, the air here always has a way of calming my thoughts down. With that, I slowly creep out from under my sheets so I don't wake Emily up. I slip on whatever flip flops are close and head out our front door to go get some air. The night sky is gorgeous out here, and I can see fireflies down on the front lawn of the lodges. The reflection of the moon on the lake is absolutely stunning, it always has a way of making the world feel right again. I've always loved nighttime, I love the dark and feeling almost invisible, especially after this year of constant drama and bad spotlight. 

Suddenly, my train of thought is interrupted by the sound of the elevator door opening. Who would be coming up right now? At 1:30 AM? Either way, I freak out and quickly tuck myself behind the corner of the lodge. Our hallways are outside, so I can hear whoever it is walking down towards me. I listen in... yeah I'm nosy okay?

"Today was the best... thank you for helping me get my mind off of seeing her-- I mean off of everything going on. You're really sweet." There's only one voice in the world that can possibly be so light and striking simultaneously. It's Matthew. Of course. He must be with the girl. I sigh as I listen in again. "Of course, I wouldn't want to spend today with anyone else... you're like magic." The girl says with a grossly basic giggle. Ew. I already don't like her. I wonder what she looks like... As I peek my head around the corner to see, I watch his strong arms wrap around her tiny waist as he kisses her. I feel... frozen. I whip back around to my corner and I want to cry? Throw up?  I don't even know. All I know right now is that I'm stuck here till this is over. It feels like it lasts ten years before I hear his door finally open and close, and the elevator door as well... thank god. I bolt inside, lock the door, and fall back into bed. Guess who isn't sleeping tonight...