Maddie's Camp Crush

by Angela Darling

  Maddie laughed. “Yes, they do.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “If those were mine, I’d never admit it. Those polka dots are hideous.”

  But Emily didn’t care. “Everyone salute my underwear!” she yelled, raising her arms in the air, and the boys started cracking up.

  Liza was frowning. “If I were you, I’d be mad,” she said. “Not because you should be embarrassed about your underwear, but because it’s an invasion of privacy. Those boys snuck into our cabin. That hits too close to home.”

  Maddie suddenly knew how to make things up to her best friend. She leaned over and whispered in Liza’s ear.

  “Let’s get them back,” Maddie said. “I’ll help you. I have an idea.”

  Liza turned to her, and her blue eyes were sparkling. “I knew I could count on you, Mads.”

  For the rest of the day, Maddie and Liza were inseparable. They paired up during tennis, laughing hysterically as they both sent the ball flying in crazy directions. In acting, they practiced being a baked potato and a fried chicken leg. At instructional swim, Liza surprised Maddie by showing up for the advanced class.

  “Tara said I was ready,” Liza said, grinning. “Of course, I thought I was ready three weeks ago, but whatever.”

  During free time, they headed to the soccer meadow to pick flowers. Colorful wildflowers dotted the overgrown border of the meadow, and lacy green ferns grew in the woods on the meadow’s north side.

  “I think we were, like, eight the last time we did this,” Maddie remarked. “It’s hard to believe it was that long ago.”

  “I know, right?” Liza nodded. She leaned down to pluck a tiny blue flower nestled in the grass.

  “So much has changed since then,” Maddie said, and she regretted the words as soon as she said them. It was true, but the last thing she wanted to do was talk about her dad now, when she was so free and happy.

  But Liza just smiled. “Yeah, things change, but we’ll always be friends.” Which was the exact right thing to say, Maddie thought, and just another reminder of why Liza was her best friend.

  “Always,” Maddie replied.

  Liza stood up. “Come on, it’s time for arts and crafts. Let’s see what we can do with these.”

  Carrying their treasures in paper lunch sacks, they trooped across the meadow, past the bunks, to the craft cabin. Maddie found herself swiveling her head around as they walked across camp. It was almost second nature at this point to be on the lookout for Gabriel. Which was silly. After all, would she march up to him? Go over and just talk to him? Probably not. But well . . . why not? She was lost in thought.

  “Earth to Maddie!” said Liza. “What do you keep looking for? More flowers?”

  Maddie looked down so Liza couldn’t see her blush. She felt bad. She was supposed to be having quality time with Liza, not thinking about Gabriel. “Uh, yeah, just looking for some more flowers,” she said.

  Twice the size of one of the bunks, the arts and crafts cabin was stuffed with shelves containing paint, yarn, glue, glitter, beads, fake fur, and every other craft supply Maddie could ever imagine. When they arrived, Emily was already there, gluing plastic gems onto a wooden box she had painted bright purple. The rectangular box had high sides and was open on top with a handle, almost like a toolbox.

  “What are you working on?” Maddie asked.

  “It’s a craft caddy, like a portable container for my basic craft supplies,” Emily said. “I’ve been working on it all through free time. What do you think? Does it need more gems?”

  “It looks pretty sparkly to me,” Maddie replied. “It’s beautiful.”

  Liza dumped the contents of her bag onto the table. “So, do you think you can help us make cards out of these? I forget how we did it last time.”

  Emily frowned, thinking. “Well, if you want to dry or press the flowers so they’ll last a long time, that will take, like, a week.”

  “I don’t have a week to do that,” Liza said. “I’m leaving in a few days.”

  “Not a problem,” Emily said. She started putting some of the fern leaves and smaller flowers aside. “I bet if you spray these with some acrylic spray, they’ll last for a while. Long enough to mail them, anyway. You can spray them outside, and when the stuff dries just glue them to the front of the card.”

  “Cool,” Maddie said. “Where’s the spray?”

  Emily pointed. “In that closet over there,” she said, and then went back to gluing more gems onto her craft caddy.

  Maddie and Liza went to the closet and looked for the spray. Maddie noticed a big jar of petroleum jelly on the shelf. She picked it up and grinned at Liza.

  “Just what we need,” she whispered.

  Liza looked around to make sure no one was looking at them. Then she took the jar from Maddie and slipped it into the empty brown bag.

  “Perfect,” she said, nodding at Maddie. “Now let’s go make some cards.”

  With Emily’s help, the girls created a dozen cards decorated with beautiful flowers and leaves.

  “Now I have to start writing those letters,” Maddie said, holding up a card with a little white daisy on the front. “I’ll definitely, definitely do it tomorrow.”

  “I’ll remind you,” Liza said. “Because after I’m gone, I want to make sure you write me a letter too.”

  “Of course I will,” Maddie promised.

  That night, the girls sang loudly at the campfire, cracking up after each silly song. When the sing-along was over, they headed to the mess hall for milk and cookies. Maddie saw Gabriel waiting by their rock for her. He looked at Maddie expectantly as she approached.

  Maddie looked at Liza.

  “It’s okay,” Liza said, her eyes twinkling. “See you back at the bunk.”

  “Hey,” Maddie said, walking to the rock.

  Gabriel slid over, offering her a seat. “I got you a cookie,” he said, “and some chocolate milk.”

  “Thanks,” Maddie said, taking the snack from him. She noticed she didn’t feel as flustered as she usually did. Things just felt . . . normal.

  Is that good or bad? she asked herself, starting to worry. Didn’t the sweaty palms, heart-pumping thing mean she had a crush? So was her crush gone?

  “You and your friend are good singers,” Gabriel said, and Maddie blushed a little.

  “Yeah, we were kind of loud tonight,” she said, and then her worried thoughts flew away. “So, where are you from, exactly?”

  Gabriel smiled. “London,” he replied. “I thought it was fairly obvious.”

  “But your mom,” Maddie said, and then she stopped herself. Gabriel had seemed pretty embarrassed by his mom that first day. Maybe she shouldn’t bring it up?

  But Gabriel just laughed. “She’s American. My dad is British, but they got divorced last year, so mum and I came to America to live.”

  “Wow,” Maddie said. “That’s a big change.”

  Gabriel nodded. “Getting used to another country is pretty big. I miss my friends, but I miss my dad the most. He’s pretty far away.”

  So is mine, Maddie thought, and even though it wasn’t exactly the same, she knew how Gabriel must feel.

  “Have you started school yet?” Maddie asked, changing the subject.

  “No, we just moved in June,” Gabriel replied, and he suddenly looked nervous. “I start in the fall. My mum thought it would be a good idea for me to go off and have a nice summer at camp while she gets everything settled at home. If you ask me, she wanted to park me somewhere while she got things sorted out. I’d rather be settling in at home.”

  A dark looked crossed his face, and then softened. “No offense or anything!”

  Maddie shook her head. “It’s okay. I think my mom dumped me here for the whole summer too!”

  Gabriel didn’t ask why, and Maddie didn’t tell him. Soon it was time for curfew. She said good-bye to Gabriel and gave him a big smile, then she headed toward the cabin with a warm, glowy feeling in her chest. Maddie found herself whispering w
ith Liza after lights out, just like they used to.

  “So you really like Gabriel?” Liza asked.

  “I think so,” Maddie whispered. “But it’s confusing. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel.”

  “I know what you mean,” Liza replied. “I thought I liked Brandon, but now I don’t know. It’s like you’re supposed to like somebody, but why? What would make me like Brandon? I mean, sure he’s cute and he’s nice, but so are a lot of boys. And sometimes he can be a little bit of a jerk. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who stole Emily’s underwear.”

  “Well, Gabriel’s nice,” Maddie said. “I don’t think he would ever steal anyone’s underwear.”

  “That’s cool,” Liza replied. “So if he’s nice, then just keep hanging out with him. Why not?”

  “Why not?” Maddie agreed.

  “Will you two be quiet?” Amelia hissed.

  “Stop texting!” Liza hissed back, and Amelia didn’t say another word.

  Liza grinned at Maddie. “Night, Mads.”

  “Night,” Maddie replied, and then she feel into a deep and lovely sleep.

  chapter 10

  THE NEXT NIGHT MADDIE AND LIZA QUICKLY changed before dinner. Maddie put on black shorts and a black tank top, and Liza wore purple shorts with a navy blue T-shirt.

  “Do you have it?” Maddie asked as they got ready to leave the bunk.

  Liza grinned and held up a small drawstring bag. “We’re good to go.”

  They nervously ate dinner, hoping that no one would notice their unusual change of clothes. But everything was normal.

  “Veggie burger twenty-one,” Emily announced as the girls brought their trays to the table.

  “Oh my gosh, Emily, you are going to turn into a veggie burger before camp is over!” Maddie exclaimed.

  “I know,” Emily said glumly. “But I’ve got a plan. I’m making a new apron for Mrs. Hancock, and then I’ll suggest that she get some tofu into this place.”

  “I hope she likes glitter,” Amelia said.

  Liza made a face. “Tofu? I’m so glad I’m leaving in two days.”

  “Hey, I like tofu too,” Libby said, standing up for Emily.

  “I like it in miso soup,” Samantha said quietly.

  “Well, then it’s a good thing you’re all staying,” Liza said, and Maddie glanced at her, worried. But Liza didn’t look upset, and Maddie felt relieved.

  After dinner they all filed out for the evening program. Because the first camp session was ending soon, the counselors had put together a skit, pretending to be campers on the first day of camp. Tara played a girl who took her blow-dryer with her everywhere.

  “You mean I can’t blow-dry my hair in the swimming pool?” she whined, and all the girls laughed. They knew she was teasing them.

  Then Liza nudged Maddie. “Come on, let’s do this,” she whispered.

  Crouching low, they quietly snuck away from the program and headed for the path to the boys’ camp. Once they got there, they stood up straight and broke into a run.

  “We’ve got to hurry!” Liza said. “Some of the boys might come back early.”

  Maddie’s heart was pounding. She had never done anything like this before. It was terrifying and thrilling at the same time.

  Liza made a beeline for the Charles bunk.

  “Hey, that’s Gabriel’s bunk!” Maddie called out.

  “Who cares?” Liza asked. “We need to hit as many bunks as we can!”

  They slipped inside the dark bunk.

  “It smells like feet in here!” Liza complained.

  “Oh great. I can’t wait to get to the bathroom,” Maddie said.

  They stepped into the boys’ bathroom and Liza opened her bag. She handed Maddie a pair of thin plastic gloves.

  “From the cafeteria,” Liza explained. She slipped on her gloves, and then took out the jar of petroleum jelly. “All right. Ready!”

  She opened the jar and took out a glob of the thick clear jelly. Then she smeared it on one of the toilet seats. Maddie started giggling uncontrollably.

  “This is so gross!” she squealed.

  “Shh!” Liza warned. “Come on, help. It only works if we do a whole bunch.”

  Maddie grabbed a glob of jelly and quickly hit the other seat. Then the girls rushed out of the bunk and ran into the next cabin. They were in the middle of pranking a third bunk when they started to hear voices coming through the woods.

  “Liza, they’re coming!” Maddie shrieked.

  Liza stuffed the jar into her bag and nodded to Maddie. “Head for the trees!”

  The girls left the cabin and raced toward the trees like spies on the run in an action movie, ducking behind buildings and rocks until they reached the woods. Then they made their way back to the quad, avoiding the path so the boys wouldn’t see them.

  They tumbled into the quad, laughing and gasping.

  “That was awesome!” Maddie cried.

  “Definitely!” Liza agreed. “One of the best camp pranks ever. The boys sit down . . . and slide right off!”

  Maddie started giggling again, but the sound of Gabriel’s voice made her stop. She looked up to see him sitting on the rock—their rock—with Amelia. She was laughing like Gabriel had just told the funniest joke in the world. Maddie felt a little pang in her heart.

  “That’s not right,” Liza said. “She knows you like him.”

  “It’s okay,” Maddie said, even though she wasn’t sure if she believed it. “He’s not my boyfriend or anything. He can talk to whomever he wants, right?”

  They both stood there for a moment, not sure what to do. For a second Maddie wondered if she should go over there, but what would she say? And what if Gabriel didn’t want to talk to her?

  “Come on, let’s see if there are any cookies left,” said Liza.

  Maddie followed Liza right past Gabriel and Amelia. She waved at them, and Gabriel smiled and waved back. Amelia pretended she didn’t see her.

  So what if he’s talking to Amelia? It doesn’t matter, she told herself. But that little pang was still there, and not even a double-chocolate-chunk cookie could make it go away.

  chapter 11

  THE NEXT MORNING TARA CAME INTO THE BUNK FIVE minutes earlier than usual. Libby quickly threw down her hairbrush.

  “I’m ready! I swear!” she cried.

  “Relax,” Tara said. “I’m just here to talk to you girls about a prank that was played last night.”

  Maddie resisted the urge to look at Liza. She knew if she did she would give everything away.

  Behind her, Liza’s face was a mask of innocence. “What prank? Did the boys do something again?”

  “Actually, the girls did it this time,” Tara said, eyeing her carefully. “Can you believe that someone greased the toilet seats in three of the boys’ cabins?”

  Emily burst out laughing. “Awesome!”

  “Ew! That is so gross!” Amelia cried, making a face.

  “Anyway, Patty has asked all the counselors to check around to see who might have done it,” Tara said. “I told her that none of my Hannahs would ever do such a thing. None of you know anything about this, do you?”

  Maddie struggled to look calm and cool, but she could feel the heat rising to her face. Did Tara know? Were they in trouble?

  Then Amelia piped up. “Well, Liza’s been saying for days that she’s going to get revenge on the boys for their pranks,” she said.

  Liza quickly turned to Amelia and motioned texting on a cell phone, and Amelia turned pale. Liza turned back to Tara.

  “Yeah, I said that,” Liza admitted. “But I got salt all over my mashed potatoes. I was mad!”

  “And I thought it was funny when they put my underwear on the flagpole,” Emily added.

  “That’s just what I thought,” Tara said. “All right, girls. Get ready for flag.”

  Tara started to walk out the door, but to Maddie’s surprise she turned her head and winked.

  “I don’t know who did it, but it was
pretty awesome,” she said quietly, and then she hurried away.

  Maddie fell back on her bed. Liza stormed over to Amelia’s bed.

  “Snitch!” Liza accused.

  “Okay, chill,” Amelia replied, holding up her hands. “It’s no big deal. Tara’s not even mad!”

  Liza shook her head and walked out of the cabin. “She is the one thing I won’t miss about camp,” she muttered under her breath as she walked past Maddie.

  Maddie jumped up and joined her friend. “That was close,” she said, once they were outside.

  Liza stopped and then smiled. “Yeah. But we did it,” she said, and she held up her hand for a high five.

  At breakfast that morning the whole camp was buzzing about the girls’ prank. Jared walked over to the girls’ side of the room.

  “You guys think you’re very funny,” he said. “But I know who did it, and we will get revenge.”

  “What’s the matter, Jared? Did you slip and slide?” one of the girls called out, and Liza and Maddie looked at each other in surprise. Their prank was a hit!

  Jared just scowled and walked away.

  “Do you think he knows it’s us?” Maddie whispered to Liza.

  “He couldn’t,” Liza replied, but then Maddie noticed Amelia eyeing them curiously, and she went back to eating her French toast.

  When breakfast ended, Gabriel walked up as Maddie was wiping down the girls’ table.

  “That was a right cheeky prank last night,” Gabriel said, grinning.

  “Cheeky?” Maddie asked.

  “Um . . . bold, I guess,” Gabriel said. “But also funny.”

  “You’re a good sport,” Maddie said. She wasn’t about to tell Gabriel that she and Liza had done it. Some things would always be between her and her best friend.

  Then Liza nudged Maddie. “Look,” she said, pointing.

  Across the room, Amelia was talking to Jared. He was glancing over at their table with narrowed eyes. Maddie definitely did not trust Amelia. But what would she have to gain by ratting them out? Did Amelia like Jared now?

  “Well, bye,” Gabriel said with a little wave. Maddie was startled. She was so busy worrying about Amelia that she had forgotten that Gabriel was standing in front of her, trying to talk to her.