Chapter Text
-Dylan Lenivy-
I was nervous. Scratch that, I was beyond nervous as my train arrived at North Kill station and came to a screeching halt. While some of the passengers gathered their belongings, I stayed in my seat, staring out the window. I suddenly felt glued to the spot, and all the doubts I’d had for weeks continued piling up.
What if I just… didn’t get off the train?
“Come on, you can do this…” I whispered to my reflection in the window.
I had to get moving before the train would, so I took a deep breath and got up to grab my bag. I had no reason to be this nervous. It was just a summer camp. In the middle of nowhere. With a bunch of strangers. And a swarm of kids I was supposed to be responsible for. For two months.
I had to practically throw myself out of the train, and once outside, I tried to ignore the feeling that taking this job as a summer camp counselor was a big mistake. It was not a mistake. It was going to be fun . I’d enjoyed my time at the camp as a kid, so of course I’d have fun now as an adult. As a counselor. Who was responsible for the wellbeing of the kids. With a bunch of strangers.
Dear fucking me, why did I come here…?
I glanced around on the small platform, but didn’t spot anyone familiar, so I followed the few other passengers through the station to get to the parking lot. I took another glance around, but still saw no one I knew. There was, however, a small group of people my age gathered by the curb that caught my eye. I would’ve assumed they were just a group of friends traveling together, but it was clear they didn’t know each other that well. And it was clear they all had the same destination.
“Is this your first time as a counselor at the camp?” one of the girls, a tall blonde, asked one of the guys in a flirty manner.
Great. I’d found my group. I let out a silent breath, took a stronger hold of my bag and headed their way, even though I actually really wanted to run.
Social interactions. Yay…
“You’re heading to Hackett’s Quarry?” I spoke up when I was close enough.
“Hi! Yes, we’re waiting for Chris,” the same tall blonde said, smiling widely. “I’m Emma. You’re one of us counselors?”
“Dylan, and yeah. First time,” I said shortly, trying to act calm and composed as I dropped my bag close to theirs.
But of course, having so many sets of eyes just staring at me sent my nervousness into overdrive.
“I mean, I’ve been there as a camper a couple of times years ago, but it’s my first time as a counselor.”
Oh, God, why was no one saying anything…?
“I’m kind of nervous but I’m sure it’ll be just fine.”
Polite nods. That was all I got.
“I promise I’ll do my best so not all of us need counseling once the summer is over,” I added, trying to smile but it was probably just an ugly grin.
But they laughed. Oh my fucking God, they laughed.
“Counseling. Good one,” one of the guys, a big bloke, said with a smirk.
“Not all of us?” Emma repeated with a raised eyebrow and an amused smile on her face. “So you’re saying some of us will need therapy?”
“Eh,” I only said and shrugged – I was not reopening my mouth anytime soon.
I was let off the hook as the others decided to share how many times they’d been at the Hackett’s Quarry summer camp, and how often they’d been a counselor. I was not the only first timer, thankfully, which calmed me a bit.
And soon enough, the big boss himself, Chris Hackett, showed up in a big old, dusty minivan to pick us up.
“There’s my Hacketteers!” he shouted through the open window in a cheery manner after stopping the car next to us.
“Hey Mr. Hackett!”
“Sorry I’m late,” he said as he stepped out and joined us by the curb. “I couldn’t find my shoes.”
I chuckled at his words, just like the others. Man, he had not changed much. Though, when I took a closer look at him, he seemed… older. Too much older than I remembered. It hadn’t been that many years since the last time I saw him, but he had a lot more gray in his hair and wrinkles around his eyes. He was also clearly tired, like he hadn’t slept at all. But his demeanor was still as happy as ever.
“Emma, how’s it going? Ryan! Back again, huh? Abigail, Nick, Jacob, welcome, welcome! Kaitlyn, looking as sharp as ever! And Dylan, long time no see!” Mr. Hackett greeted us all shortly with a big smile on his face, while I tried to memorize all the names. “Ready to go? There’s food waiting for us at the camp.”
I followed the rest, tossed my bag to the back of the minivan, and moved out of the way, only to get faced by Mr. Hackett.
“Sorry Dylan, Nick. You’ll have to fight for the front seat,” he said apologetically.
I frowned and gave Nick a confused look, only to see him mimicking my expression.
“Because we’re… tallest?” I guessed since we both seemed to be the exact same height at almost six feet two, making us several inches taller than the rest.
“There’s not much room for legs at the back,” Mr. Hackett only said and wandered off.
I turned back to Nick. “You can sit in front.”
“No way, man,” Nick replied quietly. “You sit with him.”
“No, you sit with him.”
“No, you do it.”
“Ugh, what are you, ten?” said Kaitlyn, an Asian girl, rolling her eyes.
I snapped my mouth shut and shot a short glare at Nick.
“I’ll sit with him,” an African American guy, Ryan, said with a smirk and walked to the front, probably thinking we were complete idiots.
“Sure thing, boss,” I said, trying to act indifferent even though Kaitlyn’s words still echoed in my head.
Not the best first impression, I had to admit.
I ended up sitting in the back row of the minivan with Nick and Kaitlyn, the latter stuck between us since she was the smallest person in the group. There really wasn’t much room for legs, but I wasn’t complaining. Neither was Ryan, it seemed. As the minivan started moving, he chatted with Mr. Hackett like they’d known each other for years. I listened to their cheerful conversation for a bit, and quickly realized that was indeed the case.
While I was at it, I failed to notice that I was being stared at. It took me a moment to realize Emma was smiling at me. I did not, however, fail to notice the quick up-and-down look she gave me. I nodded at her shortly, feeling awkward. At least she didn’t seem to mind that I’d acted like a kid just now.
“I feel like I know you,” she suddenly said. “Have we met at the camp when we were kids?”
“Uh, maybe? I don’t know…” I said. “But I’m just as bad with names as Mr. H is finding his boots.”
“I heard that,” Mr. Hackett said, thankfully sounding amused, while the rest snickered at my words.
“Emma Mountebank? You don’t remember me?” Emma asked in a very innocent voice.
“Sorry, no,” I said.
“Hey! How about me? Jacob Custos? I got sent to the camp a lot of times,” the big bloke said, trying to turn around in his seat in his puppy-like enthusiasm, nearly squashing Abigail, who was basically the size of his leg.
“Oh…” I said, letting my smile drop in an instant. I definitely remembered that name. “Weren’t you the guy who pulled the drain plug off a boat in the middle of the lake and everyone on it had to spend the rest of the very cold day in wet shoes?”
Jacob laughed loudly. “Yeah, that’s me!”
I faked a smile. “Yeah, I remember you.”
“How do you remember something like that, but not me?” Emma asked, trying to pull the conversation back to her.
“It was a very, very cold day,” I only said.
“Don’t be mad at me. I had wet shoes too,” Jacob said, smirking.
“Don’t get on a boat with me,” I told him. “Not without a spare pair of shoes.”
He and everyone else laughed.
So. I had one girl checking me out, and another thinking I was ten. I’d already had a small quarrel with one of the guys, and I got to spend two whole months with the annoying camp bully from my childhood.
I let out a deep sigh, letting my head drop down in defeat. This camp sure was going to be interesting. At least people seemed to like my jokes. I didn’t even know I could be funny, so that was a plus.
“What band is that on your shirt?” Emma asked, and I assumed she was still trying to get my attention since I was indeed wearing a band shirt.
But when I looked up, I spotted Ryan watching me behind Emma with a small, crooked smile on his lips. He slowly looked away when our eyes met.
Oh, fuck…
“Dylan?” Emma leaned a bit closer.
“Oh, uh…?” I glanced at my shirt, then at her.
“The name is literally the only thing on his shirt,” Kaitlyn told her sharply, stealing the words right out of my mouth.
“I couldn’t see it well,” Emma said without losing an inch of her confidence.
I suffocated a sigh and stole a glimpse of Ryan, but he was now back to talking with Mr. Hackett, so I looked away.
I had a… bit of bad news for Emma.