Friends ForNever (6 page)

“Kayla gets the prize, since she was the first one to hear it,” announced Rachel. Erin dropped back so she could walk next to Nic and me. “Be ready for the signal,” she told us. Nic and I nodded.

We cut through the trees until we came to the falls, which were tiny by most waterfall standards. The drop from the top of the rocks where the falls formed to the pool of water below was no more than ten or twelve feet.

“I was expecting something a little bigger,” Brittany admitted.

“See why these are called Angelhair?” asked Rachel, pointing to the way the rocks made the water pour over the edge in threadlike streams.

“Okay. What's my prize?” Kayla wondered.

“We throw you in!” shouted Rachel, rushing at her. When she said that, Erin, Nic, and I rushed forward too, and we grabbed her by the arms and legs before she knew what was happening.

We carried her down to the edge and started swinging her back and forth over the water as she screamed her head off.

“One . . . two . . . ,” yelled Rachel, and then on three we laid her down gently in the damp moss by the stream. A newbie always got this joke played on her, because the rest of us knew to keep our mouths shut.

The newbies who were watching all cracked up over the sight. It took them a couple of seconds to figure out the inside joke. Kayla sat up and heaved a sigh. She still had a look of terror on her face. “Now I'm wet,” she said, inspecting the moss underneath her.

“This is a great home for Nellie,” said Rachel, slipping her backpack off her shoulders and unzipping it. She took out a glass jar with an orange newt inside. “I had to catch this little critter yesterday. Remember? It had a part in last night's skit for evening program.” We all watched while she unscrewed the lid and shook it gently. The little salamander crawled out and paused on the carpet of moss before disappearing under a rock.

Everyone was peeling off shoes and socks to wade into the rushing stream. “Hey, Darcy, Nicole—come on in!” called Brittany. She stood in the stream with her arms stretched out, desperately trying to keep her balance on the slippery, moss-covered rocks.

“Sure!” I yelled. I couldn't wait to let the cold water cool off my sweaty feet.

The water was so numbingly cold that it made my legs ache all the way up to my knees. I could feel the pull of the current swirling past my ankles. We waded and splashed around till we were soaking wet. It was so much fun, but I looked around and realized that Nicole was still sitting alone on the bank. I didn't even notice that she hadn't followed me in.

“Aren't you getting in?” I called to her. But she just shook her head and didn't move.

I felt like I should get out and go sit with her, but this was what we came for. Yeah, the water was icy cold and the rocks were so mossy and slippery that it made wading pretty treacherous, but nobody really cared. I stayed in for a few more minutes, then got out and grabbed my shoes.

“It was great! Really refreshing,” I said, sitting down on the bank by Nicole. I wiggled my wet feet into my dry, dusty socks.

She didn't say anything.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing.” She watched the water spilling over the rocks and wouldn't look at me.

“You sure?”

Nic nodded. She did that sometimes, got moody and quiet. I knew something was wrong, but I wasn't sure what. Did it annoy her that I'd spoken to Brittany? That seemed like such a trivial thing. Or was it that I'd gone in with everyone else instead of staying with her? Or something else completely, maybe even something that had nothing to do with me?

“I'm freezing! I'm soaked!” Brittany shrieked as she ran up to us and grabbed her shoes. “This is so much fun!”

I smiled and nodded, but I didn't talk to her this time. It made me feel silly, not talking to her in case that was what was making Nic mad. I didn't want to be rude.

Here we were on this beautiful, sunny day, surrounded by woods next to a scenic little waterfall. It was almost perfect.

Except for the dark little storm cloud beside me. I hoped that the weather would be nicer tomorrow.

On Saturday, Nicole and I skipped afternoon activities to make sure we each got a hot shower. Usually on the first Saturday night of every camp session, Pine Haven would have a dance with the boys from Camp Crockett.
Usually
, but not always. The counselors had an infuriating habit of not announcing dances till the last minute. They wanted us to go to activities instead of spending the whole afternoon getting ready.

Nic and I weren't willing to take a chance, and we weren't the only ones who assumed there was a dance with Camp Crockett tonight. Everyone was busy getting ready.

“Have you decided what you're going to wear?” I asked Nicole when we got back from the showers.

“Well, these jeans”—she pulled a pair of denim capris from her trunk—“and I was thinking this shirt.” She opened my trunk and searched around until she found my pink-and-white American Eagle rugby. She laid the clothes out on her cot for my approval. “Cute, huh?”

“Oh, so you're assuming
I'm
not wearing that shirt tonight?” I teased her.

“I know you're not wearing it because you're wearing this instead.” She took my flouncy khaki skirt out of my trunk and draped it across my bed. Then, from her trunk, she pulled out a violet tunic with a scoop neck and puckered sleeves. She knew that was my favorite shirt of hers. “There. Now we both know what we're wearing, and that's always the hardest part.” Nicole had been in a good mood all day. Times like this reminded me of why she was my best friend.

“Are you going to wear my earrings?” I asked, since she still had my little hearts in, the same ones she'd been wearing since the first day.

“If you don't mind.”

“Of course not. If you'll let me borrow your shell necklace. I just wish we lived close enough that we could swap clothes and jewelry like this all year long.”

Whitney came in dressed in riding pants and boots and gave us a quick hello.

“Where's Sarah?”

“Still in the showers. How was your lesson?” I asked her.

“Fine, thanks. Caroline says my posture during jumps is exceptional.” She pulled out her hair elastic and shook her head so her reddish blond hair fell across her shoulders.

Just then Sarah walked in the door dressed in her robe. “What did I miss? What's exceptional?”

“Nothing. Caroline just complimented me on how well I took my jumps today.”

Sarah clapped her hands. “Did she also tell you your bowing was exceptional? And your handstands? And every single thing about you?” Whitney had always made sure we knew about her multiple extracurricular activities—violin, gymnastics, not to mention all of her riding accomplishments.

“As a matter of fact, she did,” said Whitney, not even looking at Sarah. “I'm glad you're all here. I've been waiting for a chance for the old campers to be alone. We need to talk about the very serious problems occurring right now.”

Sarah rubbed her wet hair with a towel. “You're right. But which problems are you referring to? Global warming? Or the lack of blueberry syrup at breakfast?”

I had to laugh, even though I tried hard not to. This morning Whitney had been very upset that only maple syrup was served to pour over the blueberry pancakes.

Whitney pointed at Sarah. “Global warming is everyone's problem, Sarah. We all live on this planet, but that's not what I want to talk about. It's Cabin Three and all our troubles.”

“Oh, you mean the whole Jamie thing again?” I asked. Jamie, as a first-year counselor assistant, was turning out to be a major disappointment for Whitney. Jamie didn't stress over cleaning the cabin for inspection every morning or making sure no one was cabin-sitting instead of going to activities. Basically, Jamie didn't stress over anything. Why should she when she had Whitney around to do it for her?

“Well, yes. There's that. She has no respect for order and discipline. She doesn't even care if we talk during rest hour. And she offered us M&M's and Starbursts the other night when we all know candy's not allowed!”

Sarah gasped. “She should be fired! What was she thinking? Doesn't she know we're all in our cavity-prone years?”

Whitney ignored Sarah's remark and kept going. “And then there's Natasha and Ashlin. They've completely shunned Claudia.”

“Whitney—that is
so
not true! Natasha and Ashlin are too nice to shun anyone,” I assured her.

Whitney let out a long, frustrated sigh. “That's not all. Have you noticed how Claudia marks every day off the calendar? She's been counting down the days till camp is over since the first day! That girl is literally wishing her life away.”

Sarah collapsed on her bottom bunk and draped her arm across her face. “You're right! The whole cabin is falling apart!”

“We are the leaders here,” said Whitney, standing up to make her point. “The four of us, being old campers, need to take charge and address these problems. Are you with me?”

Sarah waved at her from her bunk. “We sure are. Thank you so much for bringing all this to our attention.” She sniffed loudly. “Do I smell horse manure?”

“No, you don't. I always scrape my boots before I leave the stables. So, here's my plan. The four of us will—”

“Whitney, darling, did you see the line for the showers? If you get down there now, you'll only have an hour wait. Tell us your plan when you come back.”

Nicole nodded. “Good idea. Darcy and I love plans. We're very good at them.”

Whitney let out a little sigh. “Fine. It's just that the four of us need to be a united front. I hope we all agree about that.”

“Absolutely,” I assured her.

Whitney went over to Side B to get her towel, soap, and shampoo.

Once she was out the door, Sarah sat up on her bed and looked at us. “Is anyone else relieved she's gone?” she asked.

“Yes!” I shouted.

“Me too! Sarah, doesn't she drive you insane?” asked Nicole.

“You guys know I love her to death, but lately . . .” Sarah trailed off.

“She's just disappointed that she hasn't been able to turn the four newbies into Whitney clones,” I said, laughing. As far as I could tell, all the new girls were getting along just fine. Natasha and Ashlin had become instant best friends, Claudia was busy with some swim class, and Patty spent all her time at canoeing. They didn't need Whitney directing their lives.

Nicole stood up and threw her shoulders back. “My posture is exceptional. And I placed second on vault and fourth on bars at regional this year.”

Sarah ran her comb through her wet hair. “She's always been a control freak. And she brags too much. None of this is new. But lately, she's really starting to get on my nerves. Do you see what I have to deal with?”

“Dump her,” Nicole said. “I couldn't stand to spend two minutes with her.”

“Yeah, hang with us instead.” I picked up my pillow and hugged it. There was something so deliciously fun about gossiping. I felt so connected to Sarah and Nic at this moment. “Why are you even friends with her, Sarah? I've never been able to figure that out. You two are so different.”

Sarah's forehead wrinkled while she thought about that. “I don't know. Because last summer our beds were right next to each other. And making fun of her is what gives my life meaning. But . . .” She shook her head. “Things are different this summer. I used to think she was funny. Now I just think she's annoying.”

I supposed that made sense, that they got to be friends because Whitney was close by—literally. It was like me being friends with Emma Barrett in fifth grade because her desk was in front of mine. But last year we were in different classes, and we barely spoke to each other. It wasn't the same type of friendship that Nic and I had, where we both had so much in common.

“Seriously—Nic and I are here for you. I'm sure the Crockett boys will be falling all over Whitney, so while she's busy being prom queen, you can chill with us tonight,” I said.

“She is my best friend, but there are times when I want to . . .” Sarah picked up her pillow and crept toward Nicole, then sprung on her, trying to press the pillow over her face. Nic screamed, and I bopped Sarah with my pillow. We were all cracking up when Natasha and Ashlin walked in.

“Oh, hi! We're just gossiping,” said Sarah. They smiled at us before going over to Side B as fast as they could. All the newbies seemed to think we were weird, for some strange reason.

Soon everyone showed up, and the cabin was a madhouse while we all got ready. I was looking forward to seeing Blake tonight. I'd written him two letters this week, and he'd sent me one postcard.

Darcy,

My counsillor is making us write letters to our family. C U at the dance. Bye.