Lauren grabbed a peeler to help. “It’s the Fireflies, really. I’ll never get to see them again, which is pretty typical for me. My parents died when I was three and I’ve never lived with a family for longer than a year. I’m used to saying goodbye. It’s just that saying goodbye to these girls seems so hard.”
Chef thought for a moment. “Can’t you win another scholarship?”
“No,” Lauren said. “It’s in the rules.”
Chef’s face brightened. “Ask to work here!”
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. “They do that?”
“Not that I’ve seen, but it never hurts to ask.” Chef swiped the peels into the garbage. “I could use the help. You know your way around a kitchen.”
Lauren jumped up and down. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Look into it, but don’t get too excited yet,” Chef warned. “It’s just an idea.”
Lauren beamed. “It’s brilliant.”
Grabbing the carrots, she peeled in earnest.
I could work here next year. And every year. It doesn’t have to be over, and I could be the one singing about freedom and flapping my wings.
Chef pointed at the clock. “It’s getting about time for you to head on.”
It was nearly three o’clock, time for Lauren’s elective. This week, she was on a team for beach volleyball. It was a blast.
“Thank you.” She beamed at Chef. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Lauren banged the kitchen door shut with glee. Then she flew through the forest to the beach, feeling like she might truly have wings.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jade’s legs were tangled in a rope underwater. She couldn’t get away, no matter how hard she kicked.
No one noticed, either, because Makayla was lounging on a raft with Colin. She wore a polka-dotted suit and was sharing a picnic with him. Neither of them seemed to mind that Jade was trapped below, gasping for air.
A hand gripped her shoulder.
“Jade.”
Blinking, she turned to the side.
Isla peered at her. “You were having a nightmare.”
Jade brushed away tears. The springs of the bed overhead came into focus. Her sheets were damp with sweat. Outside the window, the trees were a dark outline against the early morning sky.
“Sorry I woke you up,” Jade mumbled.
“It’s okay.” Isla pressed skinny arms against her silk nightgown. “I’m a light sleeper.” She held out a bottle of water. “Drink this. If you want it.”
“Thanks.” Jade took the water and held it tight. “I think I’m going to get up.” The thought of another nightmare was terrifying.
“Do you mind if I sleep a little while longer?” Isla asked. “It’s only six thirty.”
Jade shook her head. “Thanks for checking on me.”
The springs on Isla’s bed creaked from across the room, and Jade slid in her earbuds. She blasted hip-hop, trying to drown out the images in her head. It didn’t work. The panic of the dream still clutched at her heart.
Climbing out of bed, she surveyed the cabin.
Lauren was out on her walk and Cassandra’s cot was made. Isla and Archer were fast asleep. The cabin smelled of bonfire smoke from last night’s campfire.
Pushing open the screen door, she settled into the rocking chair on the front porch. It had been a strange few weeks, making new friends and, for the first time in ages, having fun. The Fireflies made her laugh the way Kiara had made her laugh. Even more, they were there for her, like when Isla woke her from the nightmare. Without the Fireflies, she would be forced to face her fear and heartache alone. It was hard to believe how much these girls had come to mean to her in such a short period of time.
“Good morning,” chirped a voice, interrupting her thoughts.
Jade jumped. “Oh, hey.”
Cassandra climbed the porch steps, already chewing a huge piece of gum. “It’s Archer’s birthday tomorrow. Here’s a card from the counselors. Do you guys have something special planned?”
“Oh.” Jade took the envelope. “No, she didn’t tell us.”
Archer’s birthday was coming up?
Jade couldn’t believe she hadn’t said a word about it.
“Hmm…” Cassandra popped a bubble. “She might be shy about it. Some people are.”
“Shy or not, we have to do something,” Jade said, and their counselor nodded.
“Let me know what I can do to help. I wanted to swing this by, but for now, I’ve got to head out and help update the leaderboards for the contest.”
“How are we doing?” Jade asked. “We just did a bunch of the bonus points.”
“In all your spare time?” Cassandra teased.
Camp was definitely busy. This week, the Insects had learned to fly-fish, taken a Red Cross course on CPR, and mastered a hip-hop routine in dance class. Still, the Fireflies had managed to complete three bonus activities for the competition: they’d made a model of their cabin only using items from nature, recited a funny jingle about Blueberry Pine onstage at lunch, and planted a tree in the arbor.
“The Fireflies are crushing it,” Cassandra said. “Keep it up.”
Lauren climbed the front steps as Cassandra left.
“What are you doing up?” Lauren asked. She clutched a bag, most likely filled with cinnamon donuts.
Sure enough, she offered her one. Jade shook her head and held out the card.
“It’s Archer’s birthday tomorrow.”
“Did you know?” Lauren looked miffed.
“No clue. She might not want us to know.”
Lauren’s face fell. “We can’t not celebrate her birthday.”
Jade stared out at the forest. Then an idea struck her and she smiled. “I know exactly what we’re going to do.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Uggh. Talk about a sucky birthday.
In truth, Archer’s birthdays had sucked for a few years. She never celebrated anymore. Wanda, her one and only friend back home, thought birthdays were stupid: the cake, the presents, but mainly, the enthusiasm.
“It’s not like you did anything special to be born,” Wanda liked to snarl. “Why are we supposed to get excited?”
It felt weird to not tell the Fireflies, but what if they felt the same? That would be embarrassing. So, she kept the news that she’d turned twelve to herself.
During Indoor Rec, the Fireflies scattered. Even Jade. Feeling depressed, Archer headed to the art building on her own.
The young campers were in another painting class. She gave them a weak smile as she passed.
I hope you guys never have a sucky birthday.
In the back of the room, she went to pull her project out of the slot and stopped. It was gone. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach.
Yes, it was possible the counselors had cleaned out the bins. But the painting next to hers, some terrible version of the lake that had irritated her all week, still sat there wallowing in its talentless glory.
Archer stomped out to the front porch. Mallory, her least favorite counselor, sat in the sun, reading a book.
“Someone stole my painting,” Archer growled.
Mallory squinted. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t find my painting,” she repeated, feeling dumb.
Mallory sighed and dog-eared her book. “Sometimes they get filed in the wrong slot.” She got to her feet and headed inside.
Archer followed. Normally, the smell of the chalky pastels inspired her. Now, they made her feel sick.
Mallory flipped through the files in the back. “Isn’t this it?” She held it up. The look on her face was pure distaste, like she could only expect someone with Kool-Aid hair to paint something so hideous.
Because Archer’s painting was now, indeed, hideous.
Someone—take a wild guess who—had covered it in graffiti. The sunset now looked apocalyptic and had “pathetic” blazed across it. The sign above Firefly Cabin read “loser
s.” And all the beautiful, sparkling fireflies in the woods were blacked out.
“This is so angry,” Mallory tsked. “Is everything all right?”
What can I say? It would be impossible to prove I didn’t write all that.
“I’m great,” Archer said. “But thanks so much for your feedback.”
Mallory gave her a look before returning to the porch.
Archer sat in silence, staring at the destruction.
What am I supposed to do with this?
Fix it, she imagined Jade saying. Just paint over the words.
Where could she put it, though, where it would be safe? She couldn’t trudge back to Firefly Cabin with it every afternoon. It would get ruined.
Like it wasn’t already.
My sister is such a jerk.
Archer dumped it in the trash and stomped out the front door. She passed Mallory in an angry blur and rushed toward the Lodge, wishing she could trash Bluebird Cabin instead.
Once there, she dodged past the other campers and their crafts. She yanked on the storage room doors until one opened, cued up Paolo, and fired off a message to her sister.
It’s time we met.
“Archer! There you are,” Jade called. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” She bounced onto the couch in the television area, jostling Archer out of a half nap.
Squinting, Archer sat up. The other campers were watching the original Parent Trap. Leave it to a movie to show two sisters being the best of friends; reality was a completely different story.
“Hey.” Jade tried to hand her a bottle of water, which she pushed away. “Get up. You’re supposed to come with me.”
Archer pulled her knees to her chest. “Forget it. I’m sleeping.”
With an hour left for Indoor Rec, it made no sense for Jade to try and ruin her nap. Especially since Jade was so touchy about napping herself.
“Privacy, please,” Archer groaned, because she could still feel Jade’s breath on her neck.
“Sorry, you’ve got to get up.” Jade’s pretty face was troubled. “Look, I didn’t want to say it, but you’re in huge trouble. You have a bathroom violation. I was told to go find you.”
A bathroom violation? Archer had never even heard of such a thing, and now she had one? This was the worst birthday in the history of birthdays.
“I can’t believe this,” she grumbled, but got to her feet.
It wouldn’t be smart to risk a scene. If the counselors had to come and get her, word would get out. The second her sister learned she had a bathroom violation, she’d never hear the end of it.
“We’re supposed to go to the kitchen.” Jade grimaced. “I think you have to do dishes or something.”
Archer complained under her breath the entire way across the main lawn. Jade led her around the back and knocked on the kitchen door.
Like a jail warden, she called, “I’ve got Archer.”
Seriously? Did she have to sound so happy about it?
“Send her in,” Cassandra called back.
Archer stomped in. The afternoon light stretched across the kitchen in long rays. The room smelled delicious, like cinnamon and vanilla, but that did little to quell the rage inside of her. Looking around, she didn’t see Cassandra anywhere. Then suddenly, someone yelled, “Surprise!”
Lauren, Isla, Cassandra, and Chef jumped up from behind the gigantic counter. Lauren held up a cake with frosting flowers and twelve sparkling, silver candles. Jade rushed behind the counter with them, and they all began to sing “Happy Birthday.”
Archer’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh. What…?” Her voice trailed off as she realized the blue and purple flowers on the cake were the same color as her hair. “Wow,” she breathed, once they were finished singing. She covered her face with her hands. “This is epic, you guys.” Then she erupted into giggles and pointed at Jade. “You said I had a bathroom violation!”
The other Fireflies hooted and hollered. Archer took a step forward and looked at the cake, uncertain what to do next.
Lauren sang, “Make a wish.”
Of course. It had been so long since she’d celebrated a birthday, she forgot all about that part. Closing her eyes, she wished to be friends with the Fireflies for the rest of her life.
Jade applauded as the candles flickered out. “Your sister’s face will be covered in warts by dinner.”
Everyone laughed, even Chef. She sliced up pieces of cake for everyone, adding generous helpings of vanilla ice cream. The cake was cinnamon spice with cream cheese icing, something her mother baked for her every year.
“How did you guys know about this?” Archer demanded, the second she took a bite. In spite of all their heart-to-hearts, she couldn’t remember ever telling them her favorite type of cake.
“Cassandra called your mom,” Jade said, dipping her fork in the cream cheese. “To find out if you had any traditions.”
Archer couldn’t believe anyone had gone to this much trouble for her. Digging into her cake, she tried to think of a hundred different ways to say thank you, but every time she tried, she got choked up. Instead, she focused on licking the ice cream off her plate and laughing at Chef’s stories of Isla’s attempts at cracking an egg without touching the yolk.
“We have presents.” Lauren threw away her paper plate and slid forward a bunch of wrapped packages.
The girls had used anything and everything as wrapping paper, from tinfoil to the construction paper they used for crafts during Indoor Rec. It was the most beautiful collection of presents Archer had ever seen. Eagerly, she ripped into them.
Lauren gave her a necklace made out of wire that spelled out “Queen Firefly,” Isla gave her a headband embroidered with skulls but no monogram, and Jade’s present was the painting she’d been working on: the art room with two blank easels. Cassandra gave her a six-pack of Mountain Dew, and Chef let her have the rest of the cake, wrapped up in tinfoil.
“This birthday rocks,” she kept saying, embarrassed by all the attention.
When Chef and Cassandra started talking about camp stuff, she pulled her friends aside. “I want you guys to know how much this means to me. Birthdays have been rotten for a while. You guys made it fun again. You’re incredible.”
Lauren shook her head. “Archer, you’re incredible,” she insisted. “I can’t imagine being a Firefly without you.”
The spice from the cake warmed her tongue as the girls walked back to the cabin. The girls carried the Mountain Dew and leftover cake, while Archer wore her necklace and headband, and carried the painting tucked under one arm. It was the best birthday she’d had in ages, and her heart sang with the knowledge that it was all thanks to her friends.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Isla couldn’t remember a time she had been so happy.
Ever since the bonfire, Jordan had called every single day. She loved his sense of humor, the way he teased her about everything, and the fact that their half-hour phone call felt like mere seconds.
She was so excited to see him again at the next competition: a scavenger hunt that would take place at both camps!
The morning of the scavenger hunt, Isla could hardly sit still at breakfast.
I can’t wait to see him again. Face-to-face.
Isla planned to surprise him. Not because she was big on surprises, really, but because she didn’t feel bold enough to say, “Hey, Jordan. Do you want to set a time to meet during the scavenger hunt?” When she admitted as much to the other Fireflies, they couldn’t believe that she wasn’t going to say anything.
“Hold up.” Archer took a bite of Fruity Pebbles and waved her spoon. “You talk to this guy every day, but you didn’t tell him you’re going to be within mere feet of him?”
The girls were at breakfast. Isla could barely choke down a piece of dry toast, but Archer had already polished off two bowls of cereal.
“I didn’t want to make plans with him because I’ll be competing.” Isla squeezed her hands. “There won’t be time.”
<
br /> Lauren, Jade, and Archer exchanged glances.
“Well.” Lauren patted her hand. “We’ll see what we can work out.”
Jade grinned. “Get you guys a little private time.”
Even though that was Isla’s plan, she didn’t want to say it out loud. She grabbed her tray, blushing furiously. “Let’s stop talking about it, okay?” She stomped away from the table, heart racing a mile a minute. Archer made kissing noises behind her.
Kissing Jordan?
Her palms went damp at the thought.
The Fireflies weren’t nearly as cheerful when the counselors passed out the task list.
Lauren chewed her lip. “This is intense.”
It was more complicated than the brain-building activities Isla’s parents gave her. There were thirty assignments under three different categories—Object Retrieval, Puzzle It Out, and Blast from the Past. Plus, the difficulty level was based on age.
“It might be harder to beat the younger girls,” Isla mused, looking at the list. “Depending on how much of an advantage they were given. That seems unfair.”
Lauren looked worried. The Fireflies had placed first twice now, but anyone could pull ahead.
“It’ll be okay,” Jade said. “I’m pretty good at scavenger hunts. Kiara and I…” She stopped talking suddenly, and Isla touched her arm. Jade let out a breath. “Kiara and I coordinated a huge scavenger hunt at the end of the summer for our friends. We spent most of August setting it up and…I don’t know. It made going back to school feel like a celebration.”
“That sounds really fun.” Archer stretched, showcasing a new drawing on her upper arm. The planets and stars looked cool, but Isla couldn’t help but think it had to be giving her some form of ink poisoning. “Of course, I would have solved your clues in a second.”
“No chance.” Jade took a drink out of her water bottle. “You would have quaked with terror at the stuff we came up with.”
“I’m quaking with terror at this.” Lauren smoothed the list, which was already damp from the humidity. “Let’s plan it out.”
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