The Girls of Firefly Cabin

by Cynthia Ellingsen

  “What is that?” she cried.

  “Fireflies.” Isla’s eyes got big. “I’ve never seen so many of them before.”

  All the campers fell silent, staring at the woods.

  Thousands of what seemed to be white Christmas lights lit the forest, flickering and sparkling in a steady rhythm. Their energy increased, and they streaked through the dusk like shooting stars.

  Magic.

  “Make a wish,” Isla whispered, closing her eyes.

  Lauren didn’t want to be greedy. This experience was more than she’d imagined. Still, she squeezed her eyes shut.

  I wish for the girls of Firefly Cabin to be the best of friends.

  Lauren had never had a best friend. She’d attended several schools but had never had the freedom to hang out after school or invite anyone to her house. As a result, the girls were friendly but kept their distance. Here, she finally had the chance to see what it would be like to experience that.

  When she opened her eyes, the fireflies stilled.

  Archer clapped. “That was epic.”

  Slowly, the campers returned to roasting marshmallows. The Fireflies sat in companionable silence.

  “It’s a shame Jade missed out on that,” Lauren said after a moment.

  Isla shifted in her seat. “Something happened today. With Jade.”

  “What?” Lauren asked, instantly worried.

  Isla fiddled with her watch. It was dainty, with sparkling jewels and gold accents. “Do you remember when I returned to the cabin before the soccer game? Well, Jade was looking through a scrapbook and crying. Wailing, really. It was quite sad.”

  Archer frowned. “Why? What’s the big deal about the scrapbook?”

  Isla pushed her bangs out of her eyes. “No idea.”

  Archer leaped to her feet. “I’m on it.”

  “No,” Lauren scolded. “You can’t just—”

  But Archer was already darting down the path.

  Isla looked stricken. “Oh dear.”

  Lauren rubbed her hands against her legs. She didn’t want to invade Jade’s privacy. On the other hand…just because Jade didn’t want their friendship didn’t mean she didn’t need it.

  It didn’t take long for Archer to rush back down the sand, cheeks flushed with victory. The scrapbook was tucked under her arm, and she handed it to Lauren.

  “She was asleep, so it was super-easy to swipe.”

  Archer sat with a thump, and sand scattered around her boots.

  Hands trembling, Lauren flipped open the book.

  “BEST FRIENDS” hung in bubble letters over a picture of Jade and a beautiful girl with dark brown hair. The pages showed the girls’ friendship from kindergarten to junior high school. There were pictures of them playing in a sandbox, celebrating birthdays, and in formal dresses with two cute guys.

  Archer made a big show of yawning. “I bet they’re in a fight.”

  Lauren bit her lip. “No. I doubt a fight would…” She flipped to the last page of the book and gasped.

  There was an obituary for Jade’s best friend.

  The Fireflies looked at one another in horror.

  “What happened?” Isla whispered.

  The obituary was in both Spanish and English. Lauren skimmed the one in English, fighting to read the small print in the dim light of the fire. The opening sentence read, “Kiara Maria Flora—a smart, well-loved girl with two younger brothers and an older sister—was killed in a car crash on New Year’s Eve.”

  “Kiara’s older sister was driving,” Lauren breathed. “She hit a patch of ice, spun out, and hit a tree.” Pained, she touched her bracelet. “Those friendship bracelets have to be from Kiara. That’s why Jade didn’t want to wear mine.”

  Isla’s eyes filled with tears.

  Archer shoved her. “Don’t cry,” she said, but looked close to tears herself.

  The other campers were singing “Let It Be.” As the words floated through the air, Lauren’s heart ached for Jade.

  “We can’t tell her we saw this.” She shut the book. “But we have to be there for her, no matter what. Deal?”

  Isla gave a firm nod, but Archer didn’t respond.

  She couldn’t still be mad at Jade after this, could she?

  “Archer, we really need to—”

  “I know.” She looked down at her hands. “I just feel super-guilty for acting like that earlier. But yes, of course. Jade’s a Firefly. We’ll be there for her, no matter what.”

  Lauren grabbed her hands and squeezed them. Their group sat in silence as the ash from the fire drifted away in the wind.

  Chapter Eight

  Jade woke with a gasp. Shadows clawed at the bunk above her, and she pulled her blanket close.

  Another nightmare.

  This time, she and Kiara were at that hotel their parents had taken them to in Florida. There was only one s’more left at the snack bar. Jade wanted it, so she pushed Kiara into the swimming pool, and into the jaws of a snapping shark, to get it.

  If Kiara were alive, they would laugh at the idea of a shark in a swimming pool. But nothing seemed funny anymore. Especially since the last thing Kiara had said to her was “You’re not my friend. You’re a traitor.”

  If only that day had been different. If only she had been different.

  Reaching under her pillow, she pulled out the letter she’d received earlier that afternoon and shined a flashlight on the page.

  Dear Jade,

  I can’t believe you’ll be at camp when you get this! The pool won’t be the same, but I’ll dunk Bobby a couple times for you. Maybe we can see a movie when you get back? You’ll have to stop ignoring me at some point. LOL. Seriously, though, I hope you’re making new friends and letting yourself forget about everything back home.

  Have a good summer.

  Your friend, Colin

  Jade fiddled with the edge of the paper.

  Colin was her brother’s best friend. He was just a year ahead of her in school, but she’d never noticed him until her parents’ Christmas party. She and Bobby had had a big group of friends over to celebrate in the basement while the adults ate appetizers and gossiped upstairs.

  Kiara came over early. She looked amazing, as always. Jade felt pretty for once, too, instead of tall and awkward, in a sparkly sweaterdress and her mother’s diamond earrings.

  “You look like Elsa,” Kiara breathed.

  It was the ultimate compliment.

  The party was a blast. They ate chocolates and Christmas cookies while everyone danced and told jokes. Colin made everyone laugh. For the first time, she noticed he had a great smile.

  Then Kiara leaned over and whispered, “Colin is gorgeous.”

  So, that was that.

  They had a rule that if someone called a crush on a guy, the other couldn’t like him too. Jade had promised to help Kiara talk to him.

  The rest of the night, Jade put them on Colin’s team for group games. Even though he kidded with both of them, she thought he was watching her.

  When the party ended, Colin slept over. Around one o’clock in the morning, Jade went to the kitchen for water and found him at the table, drinking a Coke and playing a game on his phone.

  She pulled her nightshirt close. “What are you doing?”

  “Couldn’t sleep.” He gave her a wicked grin. “Bobby snores, you know.”

  She giggled and sat with him, sharing silly stories about her brother. Before she headed back to bed, Colin whispered, “You looked beautiful tonight.”

  They FaceTimed every night that week. It was a delicious secret to keep from Bobby and her parents, but she felt bad hiding it from her best friend.

  Jade resolved to confess everything on New Year’s Eve. She and Kiara had spent it together their entire lives, dancing to the video countdowns and drinking sparkling grape juice as the ball dropped. It would be the perfect time to get her approval. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way.

  Kiara’s parents had to manage the family
restaurant, so she caught a ride with her sister. Cat wanted to get to a party, so as a surprise, she dropped Kiara off early, just in time for Colin’s New Year’s FaceTime call. Jade heard a small gasp and turned around, midsentence, to see her best friend’s face turn red with betrayal.

  Kiara didn’t believe Jade planned to tell her. Furious, she called her older sister to come back and get her. Right before stomping out of the room, she pointed at Jade and said, “You’re not my friend. You’re a traitor.”

  That was the last time Jade ever saw her.

  It was awful losing her best friend. Worse? Knowing she was the reason Kiara had been on the road at all.

  The guilt and heartache had kept Jade home for months. She’d avoided her friends and ignored Colin.

  One night, he came to their house for a barbecue and approached her while Bobby and her dad were arguing about the Cubs.

  “I miss talking to you, Jade.”

  Up until then, Colin had been all jokes, like laughter could color a world without Kiara. His serious tone had made something inside her break open.

  “I miss you too,” she’d whispered.

  His face had split into a huge smile. He’d stepped forward and panic had filled her heart.

  Traitor, traitor, traitor…

  “Colin, I can’t.” She’d darted across the lawn, her vision blurred with tears.

  Ever since that stupid, weak moment, he had tried to reconnect, but she hadn’t responded. Now, he’d sent this letter to camp.

  Jade did miss him. His smile, humor, and friendship. So much of what he said made sense.

  I hope you’re making new friends and letting yourself forget about everything back home.

  How? Kiara was supposed to be here! How could Jade make friends with the girls in her cabin with that in mind?

  That’s not fair, though. To them, or you.

  Jade stared up at the springs on the bunk bed above her. She was so tired of being depressed all the time. Maybe Colin was right, and she needed to give the girls in her cabin a chance.

  Raising herself up on one elbow, she considered the letter in her hand. His words made a difference, but that didn’t mean she could write him back. She had to let him go, to make up for what she’d done to Kiara.

  You’re not my friend. You’re a traitor.

  Jade crumpled the letter into a tiny ball. From now on, his letters would go into the campfire. Maybe then her best friend’s last words would finally get out of her head.

  Chapter Nine

  Once the Fireflies had eaten breakfast, Isla reviewed the morning schedule posted on the board in the mess hall. Swimming, canoeing, hiking…

  Where was the option to go home?

  It was already ninety degrees outside. The hall felt like a steam room. It was hard to breathe, and she hadn’t even done anything.

  What if I have an asthma attack?

  It had happened at school once, during PE, before she officially had asthma. Her lungs had gotten tight, she couldn’t breathe, and the gym teacher had to call an ambulance. Her parents were baffled and quick to inform the doctors that asthma did not run in the family. The next day, everyone had kept asking to hear the story. Someone like Archer would have reveled in the attention. For Isla, it was one of her most embarrassing memories.

  “You ready?” Archer jogged over and whacked her back.

  Isla flinched. “Please don’t do that. It hurts.”

  “It hurts?” Archer snorted. “We’ve got to toughen you up, princess.”

  Princess? That’s what these girls think of me?

  “I am not a princess.” Isla lifted her chin. “Please don’t call me that.”

  Isla didn’t want to pick a fight with Archer, but she did feel it was important to let her know what was and what was not acceptable. Ever since she was young, her parents had taught her and her brothers the importance of setting boundaries.

  You show people what you are willing to accept by your words and actions, her mother always said. So use care with both.

  “Look, I meant it as a compliment,” Archer said. “Few people are true royalty. You’re one of the lucky ones.”

  Isla let out a huff and headed outside. It felt like an oven. Plus, it smelled like dirt and moss and, ugh, nature. Almost immediately, she sneezed.

  Lauren caught up to her. “You okay? Archer was just teasing.”

  “I know.” The sun glistened beyond the canopy of pine trees. Quickly, Isla reached into her bag. “I just wanted to take the time to put on some more sunscreen. It’s a spray, so I figured it would be best to do it outside.”

  It was an excuse, but she didn’t want it to seem like Archer’s comments had upset her, especially since Archer was walking toward them. Jade was right behind, looking glamorous but tired.

  “Sunscreen.” Lauren bit her lip. “I can’t believe I forgot to pack it.”

  “They sell it at the canteen.” Archer strolled up. “Want to go grab some?”

  “Uh…” Lauren flushed. “I don’t have any money on me.”

  “You can charge it. According to my sister, they’ll just bill our parents.”

  “No, I…I don’t want to make us late to Flagpole. I’ll just grab some out of the buckets like I did yesterday.”

  The buckets were a cheerful green with blueberries painted on them, stationed at various locations. They held survival supplies like bug spray, sunscreen, and first aid kits. Isla hadn’t seen any on the way to breakfast, and it seemed dangerous for Lauren to wait.

  “Use mine.” She handed Lauren a spray bottle. “You’re much too fair to be in the sun without it.”

  “Thank you.” Lauren seemed relieved. “I would have looked like a lobster by lunch.”

  The Fireflies walked to the common area for Flagpole, the morning meeting. Isla’s thoughts were panicked. Oh how she wished she could hide in the cabin and embroider headbands. It seemed so much safer than this. The only thing that kept her going was knowing the cute boy from the store was somewhere across the lake.

  Isla smoothed her thick bangs at the thought. The motion caused a bee to attack her pink nail polish, and she shrieked. Of course, Archer burst out laughing.

  “Hang in there, princess,” she sang. “You’ll survive.”

  By the end of Flagpole, Isla doubted she would, in fact, survive. The meeting kicked off with a camp song that involved vigorous jumping, followed by stomping. From there, the counselors made them play some game where they had to run all around, meeting one another. Then they connected with the rest of the Insects for their first group activity—a morning hike. The group went through the forest, up the hills overlooking the lake, and back down to the shore.

  By the time they were done, Isla was exhausted. The distance was not the issue. She and her mother often walked across the entire city in an afternoon. However, those hikes typically ended in an air-conditioned museum lobby or a Broadway show. The hike at camp ended with bug bites, a sweaty back, and a pinched feeling in her left foot.

  The Fireflies peeled off their shoes to walk down the beach for the next group activity, a canoe trip. An enormous blister covered Isla’s heel. It stung every time her skin touched the sand, and she winced.

  “I’m going to have to have my mother send me another pair of shoes,” she said to no one in particular, before she remembered her mother was in Europe.

  “You mean a pair you didn’t steal from a runway model?” Archer said.

  Isla looked down at the patent leather loafers dangling from her manicured hands. Yes, they were a designer brand, but they were supposed to be functional. Besides, they looked much better with the camp uniform than Archer’s ridiculous combat boots.

  “I’ll have her send you a pair too,” Isla shot back, “since we don’t appear to be under attack at the moment.”

  Everyone laughed, but Archer looked hurt. Immediately, Isla felt bad. It wasn’t like her to be so rude.

  It’s the heat. You can apologize later.

  But she d
idn’t know if she wanted to. It was almost like she had to stand up for herself or get run over, which she was not used to.

  “Let’s go, campers!” Taylor, one of the lead counselors, stood on the beach with a bullhorn in her hand. She was a pretty African American girl with an infectious smile, and Isla was completely intimidated by her confidence. “We need to change into our suits and get into the canoes, pronto!”

  Fidgeting, Isla followed the stream of campers into the large green building on the edge of the shore. The interior was lined with enormous metal lockers. Each one had the symbol for one of the cabins. The Firefly locker sat in the corner, next to one of the rickety, backless wooden benches lined up across the room.

  Earlier, Cassandra had brought over their uniform swimsuits and towels. Isla grimaced to see the suits hanging in the locker together. She would have to monogram hers, because she didn’t want to put on someone else’s suit by accident.

  That’s a guaranteed way to spread germs.

  “The lake might evaporate if you don’t hurry up,” Taylor shouted from outside. “Move it!”

  Lauren laughed. “Hurry, Fireflies.” She stripped off her clothes right there. Without skipping a beat, Archer and Jade did the same.

  Isla gripped her suit in embarrassment. Ever since she started wearing a bra, she did not like getting undressed in front of other people. In gym class at school, she always changed in private, and back at the cabin, she’d snuck off to the bathroom. The idea of taking her clothes off in front of an entire roomful of strangers…she couldn’t do it.

  Before anyone could comment, Isla darted into a private stall and yanked the curtain closed. She put on her swimsuit as quickly as possible.

  “Last call, campers,” Taylor roared. “If you are not outside in one minute, I will personally volunteer you to sing a solo of the Blueberry Pine camp song at lunch.”

  That did it. Everyone dashed outside, giggling and squealing.

  The campers lined up on the spongy sand, and Isla glanced down the row. The swimsuits, she had to admit, were cute. They were forest green one-pieces, in a 1950s style, with high waists and large white buttons up the front. The camp certainly was not trying to be fashionable; they had just used the style for so long that the suits were trendy again.