SUMMERLAND | shawmila

two.

Camila looked across the sea of kids crammed into the rows of wooden benches. She could still remember being one of them—wearing her sash proudly across the teal camper t-shirt, giggling and talking excitedly about the day's activities.

Camila stood up front with the counselors now. She watched her own set of kids—names now forcefully memorized—and made sure no one was acting up.

Robin and Dana seemed to be getting along now after kitchen duty. They kept whispering and laughing about something. Camila was standing by Gwen but dared now to look for Shawn.

She spotted him on the other side of the podium. He was talking to Connor, the counselor who also ran the stables. Camila had met him at her training.

"Hello? Is this thing on?" Coach Jeff tapped the microphone and Camila forced herself to pay attention.

"Hello! Settle down, please..." He waited for the kids to quiet down. "Welcome to another great summer at Pine Point Camp! Now, for those of you who are new, or who maybe forgot—my name is Coach Jeff. I'm the head counselor here. You can call me Coach, if you want. Not only do I prepare all your lovely meals, but I also coach your sports. But I'm more than just your kickball coach—"

Camila caught Shawn's eye and they both barely held back laughter.

"—I'm also your life coach. Feel free to talk to me about anything. Believe me, I know what it's like to be in your shoes. I was a kid too, you know, as unbelievable as that seems—"

Camila slowly tuned him out. She knew the gist of this already. Instead, she took the time to study the other counselors.

Gwen was only a couple of years older than Camila and had been counseling here since she was eighteen. Next to Coach Jeff, she was the one who'd been here longest. There were other counselors she didn't know by name, and Miss Wheeler, the camp nurse.

Camila's eyes flicked to Connor. She'd only met him briefly, and he seemed nice enough. Shawn seemed to think so. They were laughing about something.

She let herself look at Shawn now. He seemed enamored with Coach Jeff's speech, and Camila was glad she could take this moment to privately look him over.

He was so different, but also, the same. He had those same curls. Camila had always thought they were cute, but they were absolutely adorable now.

He had tattoos too. Camila could see one on his hand, and another just peering out from under the sleeve of his t-shirt. She gasped when he looked over and caught her eye. On instinct, Camila glanced away. When she looked back, he was watching Coach Jeff again.

"—Curfew is at nine o'clock, with lights out at ten. That goes for everyone—I mean it." He actually glanced at Camila and she rolled her eyes as if to say he didn't even have to worry.

"—Alright, I think that's enough of my blabbering, don't you think? Why don't we wrap it up with a song? It's a Pine Point classic. Take it away, Shawn."

Shawn stepped up to the mic, grabbing an acoustic guitar. Camila stared as he slipped the strap on over his shoulder. Her heart started pounding again.

No way. No way he actually knew how to play, even after all these years. They'd both took lessons here as kids, but Camila never expected he'd keep at it and actually get good. Camila remembered the way he would get so frustrated during practice, the way his fingers sometimes bled.

Camila herself knew all the chords but would be rusty if she tried now. She fell out of practice during her first exam season in college and never really recovered.