by Nia Arthurs
Like I said, people weren’t necessarily my cup of tea.
“Hey. Stop.” I said weakly, waving my arms toward the young people pushing each other to get out.
“That was so helpful.” Mia said sarcastically, laughing at my pathetic attempt.
“You’re welcome.” I winked at her.
She glanced toward the back of the bus where Drew was helping to dismount the luggage. His biceps flexed in the waning sunlight. All ready, a few teenage girls circled around him just watching him work.
“You and Drew okay?” Mia questioned.
We hadn’t spoken one word to each other since meeting in the parking lot a few hours earlier.
We were most decidedly not okay.
“Yeah,” I said instead. “We’re good.”
“Okay,” Mia slapped my back and grinned, “Come on, girl. We have forty-eight hours of teenage interaction before us.”
I groaned, “Please don’t remind me.” I whispered.
Mia laughed and helped me to stand.
We merged into the flow of marching kids and dismounted from the bus. I swallowed a boatload of discomfort and steeled myself for the weekend.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jermaine had commandeered me to a cabin and declared that the five young women were my “girls”. I stared at them as they stared at me and then cleared my throat.
“Hi.” I nodded awkwardly.
My voice bounced off the walls of the small cabin. At least the bedding and floors looked clean. There were a bunch of other huts such as this one on the wide lawn. Each house could hold about six girls. There were two windows on either side of the cabin and a front door on the west wall leading out to a small porch outside.
“So, you’re Jermaine’s girlfriend?” A thin Hispanic girl with long brown hair dyed blonde at the ends and teeth that poked out a little at the front asked.
I wanted to tell her to mind her own bunny business, but that was Un-Camp-leaderish of me so I kept my sarcastic comment to myself and said instead.
“No. What’s your name?”
“I’m Lindsey.”
A short brown skin girl with freckles and a shy smile introduced herself. “I’m Shay. That’s Ash.” She pointed to a young lady that could be her twin and I assumed they were sisters.
“Renesha.” A young girl with very fair skin and blonde hair raised her hand. She seemed shy too.
“Brittney.” A tall one said.
“Okay,” I nodded and pointed at each of them in turn, “Lindsey, Shay, Ash,” I snapped my fingers and then recalled the blonde’s name, “Renesha and Brittney.”
“That’s right.” Lindsey said with an attitude.
I could already tell that this one was going to be trouble.
“Who’s the youngest in our group.”
I was surprised when Renesha raised her hand.
“I’m fourteen.” The little girl offered.
“Nice.” I smiled at her. There was something about her sweet spirit that endeared her to me.
“And the oldest.”
Again I was surprised when the quiet, shortest female of the group raised her hand, “I’m seventeen.”
Wow.
“Cool.”
I nodded and sat on the bed.
“Well, my name is Alexi Reyes, but you can call me Lexi. I’m twenty-two years old. No, I don’t have a boyfriend.” That one was aimed at Lindsey who rolled her eyes, “I’m a programmer and animator. I like watching television and Oreos.”
“You like watching Oreos?” Lindsey commented with enthusiasm.
The other girls giggled.
“No. My bad, I like eating Oreos.”
Lindsey was going to be annoying.
“So,” I continued, “since I’m new to this, I expect all of you ladies to be on your best behavior and give me a good name. Capice?”
Everyone nodded sagely except Lindsey, who folded her arms and looked disinterested.
I clapped my hands, “Great. Let’s head to the rec center to meet up with everyone else.”
I saw excitement light their eyes. When I was their age, I was far from boy crazy but that didn’t mean that I was immune to the way all of my peers seemed to thrive on male attention. None of my girls were any different.
My campers gathered what they needed and I locked the cabin behind us. If someone really wanted to steal our stuff, they could just break open the glass and climb in. Hopefully, no one had brought anything that they couldn’t live without. That was, to my understanding, one of the main rules of the camp.
We trekked over a laid stone pathway to the large building rising in the distance. It was nearly nightfall, so I couldn’t get a good look around at the camp ground, but I’d heard that, when it wasn’t rainy season, the lawns were pretty.
Lindsey led the way and stormed into the rec hall. I followed after them, slamming the screen door closed behind me. The main room was brightly lit with bulbs lined all around the room. The group of fifty or so kids milled about. Girls mostly stuck with girls and boys mostly hung with boys. Of course, this pattern was broken when my gaze landed on Drew. The teenage girls flocked to him like he was some kind of movie star… which with those good looks, it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to think.
Susan bounced into me.
“Hey,” She apologized, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I nodded and my gaze locked on Drew again. He seemed very uncomfortable and if we were on better terms, I would help him out.
“This is an intense crowd, huh?”
“Yeah.” I agreed.
She pursed her lips and followed my line of sight. My gorgeous friend nudged me with her shoulder.
“You remember that Archie was dating Nicole before he met me?”
I folded my arms, “I don’t know what that has to do with me.”
Susan grinned knowingly.
“Okay.”
She patted my back and walked off. I hung out at the back of the rec hall while Jermaine and Archie got the front set up for the music portion of the evening. I spotted Lindsey in the hall. She stood next to a handsome guy with bulging muscles.
That man was a teenager?
I noticed the way that Lindsey and the young man interacted. They didn’t do anything inappropriate but it was clear to anyone with eyes that Lindsey had a little bit of a crush on her friend. I hoped that she didn’t try anything with him on this weekend away. Even though Lindsey had the attitude of a tuna fish, I wouldn’t wish any harm on her.
Most boys her age certainly didn’t have settling down in mind when they dated a girl. Not even the ones that sat in brown pews and listened to preaching every week. I could almost bet my life that most relationships started at the age of fifteen didn’t make it past a year. It was just the way of the world.
So from the look in Lindsey’s eyes and the smile that graced her face when the boy bent down and whispered in her ear, I knew she was heading for a world of heartache if she kept putting any kind of fantastic expectations on him.
A mike croaked and everyone held their ears in pain.
“Sorry about that.” Jermaine said into the microphone.
The chatter returned to its frenzied level.
After five minutes, Jermaine and Archie got the speakers to work properly and invited the kids to quiet down. Archie played a few songs on their guitar while Jermaine sang and then the director said a few words about being a Kingdom citizen from a young age.
The kids seemed mildly bored which was to be expected.
After the lecture, the teenagers were encouraged to trek outside where the camp ground managers had built a bon fire for tonight’s s’mores and hotdog fest. I perked up.
Chocolate!
I must admit that I was among the crew of teenagers racing toward the huge flames in the middle of the dark field. Long rough hewn logs sat around the campfire. It was a pretty impressive setup. The flames crackled and snapped and I stared, totally entranced by it.
&nbs
p; Josh caught up to me. I hadn’t seen him since the bus ride.
“So cool!” My little friend gasped.
“It is.” I agreed wholeheartedly. “But I have only one question.”
I stooped and looked at him.
A knowing look overcame his face.
“Where’s the chocolate.” We said together and he giggled.
“I’ll go ask my mom,” Josh raced toward his mother who stood beside Tyrone in the gathering crowd.
“Hey.” I heard the familiar rumble and a tingle shivered up my spine.
Drew.
We hadn’t spoken since I fled from him yesterday in the parking lot. I was hoping that he would just ignore me and pretend that I didn’t exist on this trip. At least then, I could accomplish my Jeremiah spy mission and leave unscathed.
“Hi.” I said shakily.
He stepped close to my side and I glanced up at him. The moonlight and the shadows cast by the fire shaded his blue eyes.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“No.” I waved away his apology. “I have some… things going on right now. I’m sorry for letting out my frustration on you.”
He accepted my apology with a nod of his head, “I, uh, brought you something.”
I wondered what he possibly could have gotten me. Drew unzipped the backpack strung on his shoulder and brought out a crinkling package. I held the blue and black plastic covering up to the light and almost fainted.
It was a package of Oreo S’mores.
If Drew wasn’t dating Catherine, if I wasn’t trying to get over my crush on him, if we weren’t at a camp surrounded by young and impressionable children, I would hop into his arms and plant kisses all over his face while pledging my undying love for him.
Instead, I choked up.
“Wow.” I grasped his hand briefly and then let it go. “Thank you.”
He shrugged.
“We’re friends.” He said as explanation and shoved his hands into his pockets.
Our moment was disturbed when Drew’s teenage fan club once more found their places beside him. I rolled my eyes at their giggling and whispered comments.
Shoo, shoo.
“Hello!” Jermaine cupped his hands and yelled at the adolescent group.
No one paid him any mind.
“Hello!” He tried again.
“Be quiet!” The other counselors tried to coral the chatter to no avail.
I heard Jermaine point to the case of chocolate in an ice box near his feet and shake his head. I interpreted the movement. If the kids didn’t quiet down, no one would be getting extra chocolate tonight. As much as I loved Oreos, I wanted that chocolate.
I stepped forward and, back lighted by the flames from the bon fire, I stuck my fingers into my mouth and whistled loud and low. Kids bent their bodies in pain.
“Hey!” I shouted when most of them had quieted down, “I’m not getting any chocolate unless you all quiet down so zip it!”
I successfully frightened all the pickni into submission.
“Uh, thank you, Lexi.”
I bowed and swept my hand in an open gesture.
“Right.” Jermaine looked a little uncomfortable. “Good night everyone. Welcome to our first campfire of the weekend. I have the chocolate individually wrapped in packets. Each person can have three. Let’s form a line and get to s’moring!”
His lame joke fell flat and all the teenagers glanced at him with dull eyes.
The crickets increased their songs to emphasize this awkward moment. I scooted away from the would-be comedian.
Awk-ward.
“Come on, guys. Line up.” Susan helped poor Jermaine out.
The kids rushed to do as bid and we all helped to hand out chocolate.
“Are you sure we should have Lexi doing this?” Drew cut his eyes in my direction and addressed Mia, Persia and Susan who were also helping to hand out the packages of crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.
“Hey, I resent your implication.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
Our earlier conversation had cleared the air a little and I was able to once again enjoy Drew’s company. I knew I’d pay for it later when my feelings grew stronger for him, but at least right now, our relationship was like old times.
“Hey,” Mia muttered, “you’re right. Susan, search her.”
“Really guys!” I scolded as Susan held me back and patted down my sides.
Her hand flicked over my pockets which were stuffed filled with chocolate.
“Ah-ha!” Her honey brown cork-screw curls bounced with the discovery.
Drew stepped over to us.
“How much is in there?” Mia called from her station.
“One.” I presented a packet to Susan.
Drew gazed down at me.
“There’s more.” He said without looking at my pants.
I growled at him and emptied my pockets.
Bunches of chocolate rained from my jeans.
Susan gasped. “Lexi!” She scolded in that American twang of hers.
“Sue me.” I stuck my tongue out at the both of them and strode forward.
“Ah-ah.” Drew caught me around the waist and pulled me playfully to his chest. “You’re not coming close the chocolate.”
I grinned wickedly. “Did I ever tell you what Melody did to a security guard in L.A. that tried to restrain her?” I glanced up at him.
“No.” He cocked an eyebrow and glanced down at me.
“Well, don’t let me have to show you.” I threatened with a little bit of tease in my tone.
He chucked my chin and released me.
A few of the camp counselors and kids sent us strange glances.
“What?” I asked Susan when Drew had walked off to help a little girl with her s’more.
“What what?” Susan said, trying her best to look innocent.
I insisted, “What was with all the faces just now?”
Susan shrugged, “I was just looking with my eyes. What’s the big deal.”
I shoved her lightly and grabbed a chocolate bar for myself. I deserved it.
“He’s a nice guy”. Susan stepped back and watched me watch Drew.
In the shade of the darkness, I observed his gentle behavior with the little girl no older than twelve. He respectfully showed her how to turn the s’more so that it didn’t burn and laughed when she gave it a try.
“He’s a great guy.” I agreed.
“Archie said that he’s trying his best to understand The Kingdom.” Susan let that little fact drop.
“Oh,” I said breathlessly.
Drew’s gaze shot up and our eyes connected. I could feel the impact of our gazes as solidly as if someone had sucker-punched me.
“Lexi.”
“Yeah?” I broke my eye-staring contest with Drew and glanced at the short woman beside me.
“Sometimes love is complicated.” She brushed a hand through her curls, “And with guys like Archie and Drew, they don’t want to rely too much on feelings. They believe in commitment and faithfulness to one person even when feelings change.”
I nodded and swallowed hard.
“But, it’s important to remember that Drew and Catherine aren’t married yet.”
I glanced at her, my eyes wide.
“What are you saying.”
Was Susan urging me to steal Drew from Catherine?
“I’m not saying you should try to move in on Drew.” Susan clarified, “Dang, I’m really not good at this.”
“No.” I agreed, “you’re not.”
“I agree that feelings aren’t the best indicators of love. They can change so easily.”
I nodded.
“But,” Susan continued, “it’s better if a guy dates around now before he gets married. You know, just to be sure.”
I tilted my head.
“Oh for crap sake.” Susan flung her hands to the heavens, “I’m terrible at this. Archie made me promise not to tell but I have to.” She took a deep breath
, “After the Blue Jaguar trip, Drew told Catherine that he was sorry but that he couldn’t continue to hang out with her when he couldn’t see himself married to her. He told her they could still be friends but he didn’t want a second date.”
I sucked in a deep breath as surprise washed over my body.
Wow. Drew said that.
Susan growled. “Don’t you dare tell Archie that I told you.”
I could only blink at her.
Well, that was an enlightening conversation.
But if Drew had broken things off with Catherine, why did he continue act all weird around me?
Maybe Susan was mistaken. Maybe Drew just didn’t want a relationship with anyone right now.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I bit into my chocolate and continued to steal glances at Drew until I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.
Jermaine stood behind me.
“Hey, Lexi. Would you mind taking a walk with me?”
“What about the kids.” I pointed to the large group warming their marshmallow and chocolate sandwiches.
“They’re in good hands for a few minutes.” He turned pleading eyes on me. “Please?”
“Sure.” I nodded.
He turned us westward and we strolled in the darkness, our path lighted by the dim strains of moonlight. It would have been a romantic moment if I were with anyone other than Jermaine.
Open, open, open.
“So,” I licked my lips and turned to him, “What did you want to talk about?”
“Uh,” He wiped his palms on his khakis. “I guess you know by now that I’ve always had a crush on you.”
I started feeling very uncomfortable. I didn’t like where this conversation was going at all. I’d promised myself that I would be open to at least a friendship with Jermaine. I wasn’t prepared for any confessions of love.
How was I supposed to answer a question like that?
“I’ve heard some stuff.” I said vaguely.
Crickets and cicadas met my confession with a rousing song. The night was cool and I drew my arms around myself as a brisk wind whipped my hair against my face.
He stopped near what looked like a lake which sparkled in the moonlight. I felt itchy all over.
This is why I don’t like talking to people.
Jermaine stopped at the shores of the lake.