Chapter Text
It was early in the morning on a brand new day, marked by the song “Listen to the Music” by The Doobie Brothers. The tune slowly drowned out by the chattering conversations between campers and counselors flooding into the Mess Hall.
Robby poured himself a coffee as he watched them all drag their heavy feet into a neat, orderly line, finally finding some compliance in a daily routine. He was so caught up in this observation that he didn’t notice Mohan standing right beside him. A bit startled, he witnessed her take two cups from the styrofoam stack, stirring with the dizziness of deja vu that fizzled his mind. He blurted, “What the hell is going on with you people?”
Thankfully, Mohan was still in the process of waking up and too focused on her coffee that she couldn’t understand him. She didn’t even bother facing him because it would be too strenuous to turn her head. All she could mutter was, “What?”
Robby placed his coffee on the table. He folded his arms, facing her so that there was no way for her to avoid his question. He asked, “Who’s the second cup for, Samira?” in a taunting tone.
She answered before contemplating the consequences, “Jack.” As his name left her mouth, her brain instantaneously jolted awake. She bravely faced Robby, despite the terror that rattled her bones, “He made me a cup of coffee yesterday. I want to return the favor. That’s all.”
Robby couldn’t help but be amused by her panic, but held himself together, holding his hands out in an effort to calm her down, “Samira, I get it, but Jack isn’t here. I sent him and Mel into town to get a new fan for the broken freezer. They left before breakfast. He didn’t tell you?”
The knots in Mohan’s stomach untangled from disappointment. She told him, “No, he didn’t,” while looking out the window in front of them. She gained a minimal view of her parked car but saw that the parking spot, Abbot’s parking spot, next to it was vacant.
Robby sighed, “Well, with both Jack and Mel gone, I’m gonna need you to take on some of their campers this morning. Can you do that?”
She was in a daze, but agreed, “Yeah, no problem,” while offering the second cup to Robby, “Want another coffee?”
Robby held out his palm flat in refusal, “One is enough for me.”
Mohan firmly grasped both cups as she walked away. Only a few steps away, she felt too heavy with curiosity. She asked in a disgruntled huff, “Do you know when they’ll be back?”
Robby thought about it for a moment before answering, “It takes an hour to reach town, it shouldn’t take too long at the repair shop, and another hour to get back, but knowing Jack, he’ll probably grab something to eat before coming back, so my guess is not till after lunch.”
Mohan nodded, “Okay, thanks,” turning on her heel to join her other counselors, but she didn’t join their conversation. Instead, she swirled her finger along the lid of her coffee, staring at the second while imagining countless scenarios about exactly how she would communicate her feelings to Abbot. Her goal was to find one that didn’t end with her throwing something at him, but she failed to do so.
Javadi sat directly across from Mohan and was the only one who noticed her blank stare. She asked, “Samira? Are you okay?”
Mohan stared directly into her soul, “Why wouldn’t I be fine? I’m always fine. Do I not look fine?” Her muscles were visibly strained, and the irritation in both her eyes and voice was unmistakable.
Javadi froze, but managed to utter, “No, yeah, you’re totally fine.” She shied away from Mohan, sinking in her seat.
Mohan let out a regretful sigh, “I’m sorry. I’m just a little upset, but I’m fine.” She spoke with more certainty while placing her hands flat out on the table to assure Javadi that she wouldn’t bite her head off.
Javadi wanted to be helpful, but she didn’t exactly know how. All she thought to do was offer an awkward smile and ask, “Do you wanna talk about it?”
Mohan dismissed the offer, “No, it’s alright, but thank you.” She watched Javadi settle within herself again. Mohan didn’t think she needed it, but after thinking about it for a moment, she saw that asking her for help would only benefit both of them. “Actually, Jack and Mel have gone into town, so I’m gonna have more campers this morning. I could use your help managing them, if you don’t mind?”
Javadi dragged out her words in a long breath that revealed just how relieved she was, “I would love to.” Originally, she was supposed to help Santos with her course. Given her last experience, she was in no rush to get back to rock-climbing.
-
In the quaint town of Evergreen Hills, the brakes of Abbot’s vintage green Ford pick-up truck squealed as he parked alongside Main Street, right in front of the repair shop. There was a hand-painted sign hanging above that read, “Louie’s Auto Repair & Supply” in brightly chipped red cursive letters. The shop appeared run down with dented metal gutters, a slightly rusted ice machine out front that buzzed not so quietly, and rain stains that couldn’t be power-washed out. These qualities weren’t unwelcoming. It rather contributed to the shop's character.
The bell hanging above the door chimed sweetly, slowly dying down while Abbot held it open for Mel, noticing her dazed look when she walked by. “You doing okay, Mel?” The bell chimed again when he let it shut.
Admittedly, Mel was a bit wary of this new environment, but the sharp aroma of grease, metal, and rubber reminded her of the countless outdoor shops she’d purchased gear from, providing a sense of familiarity, just what she needed to relieve her muscle tension. She answered plainly, “I’m fine.” She was too busy wandering around the store to give him anything more. It was obvious that the owners put in a lot of effort to upkeep their store. The floors were freshly polished, the walls freshly painted, and the merchandise well organized. It wasn’t what Mel was expecting, but pleased to discover.
Abbot tilted his head, wearing his typical quizitive expression, watching her closely. This is what he was skilled at, seeing the truth behind people’s avoidant eyes, but Louie’s voice sounded through the store before he could ask anything else.
Louie used the hand towel slung over his shoulder to clean off his hands while shouting, “Jack Abbot! Always a pleasure to have you in my shop…and who is this beauty?” He extended his now clean hand towards Mel.
He exaggeratedly gestured to her presence, jazzing his hands when telling him, “This is Melissa King, our new hiking instructor up at camp.” He only amused himself.
Mel promptly shook Louie’s hand, “Hi, please call me Mel. You have a lovely shop.”
The soft coo of a baby reached both Mel and Abbot’s ears, calling their attention to the garage where Louie’s wife, Rhonda, was holding their newborn baby girl close to her chest in a warm bundle. “Well, thank you so much for saying so, Mel. How you doing, Jack?” Rhonda joined Louie’s side, resting in his embrace.
Both Abbot and Mel melted at the sight of the baby. They shuffled over one another to get a close look at the baby, producing an awkward moment at which Mel shrank, clasping her hands around her neck, momentarily forgetting that she couldn’t lunge at a stranger's baby, no matter how cute she thought that baby was.
Abbot whisper-yelled, “You had the baby!?” He leaned over the desk to get a better look, a conniving smirk growing, “How are the nights so far?” Abbot didn’t ask to patronize them. He wanted to give the couple a chance to complain and vent, because he wasn’t against giving sympathy.
Louie let out a weary sigh, “Long,” he looked at his baby girl, then added, “but worth it.” He placed a loving kiss on Rhonda’s temple, holding both of his girls close to his heart. Rhonda closed her eyes, savoring the pleasure of his love
Mel tightly pressed her hands together, keeping them close to her chest. She absolutely loved babies, but knew it would be better to contain her excitement, only whispering, “She’s beautiful.” She gave a small wave with her pointer finger when the baby looked up at her with glossy, sleepy eyes, “Hi.”
Rhonda was bombarded by the admiration both Abbot and Mel were struggling to contain. Amusingly, she asked, “Do you guys wanna hold her?”
Like a child, Abbot shoved his way in front of Mel, his breath hitched when he told her, “I’d be honored.”
Rhonda walked to the other side of the front desk while instructing Abbot how to position his arms so that her baby was well supported. Slowly and carefully, Rhonda lay her into his arms, informing them, “Her name is Amelia.”
Every muscle in Abbot’s body stiffened from the terror of hurting her in any way, “I gotta admit, you guys did a pretty darn good job…I’m gonna need you to send me every photo you have of her. Everyone at camp is gonna want to see her.”
Louie’s cheeks were starting to hurt because of his near-permanent smile, “Of course…take a breath, Jack, you’re too tense.” He landed a smack on Abbot’s shoulder to release his stress, but it only startled him.
Mel looked over his shoulder while assuring him, “Babies are more resilient than you think,” while keeping a respectable distance from both Abbot and the baby, but gaining a clear view.
Amelia raised her hand to his chest, just over his heart. It was her soft touch that granted Abbot the ability to relax, babies, as sensible as they are. Abbot began to rock her back and forth with a gentle bounce of his arms. He would have loved to live this life if it had been granted to him, but it wasn’t, not that he ever thought it would be. Even when he was younger, he knew the perfect, cookie-cutter life was never in store for him. He didn’t resent it. In fact, he embraced it. He grew up, fell in love, got married, but ultimately decided to serve his country, losing more than he intended to, including his wife, and now found home at a summer camp. His mind was heavy now, too heavy. Abbot asked, “Would you like to hold her, Mel?”
Mel squeezed her palms together again, “Oh…may I?” She was practically bursting at the seams with excitement.
Rhonda gave Louie a questioning look, asking for his permission, which he gave without hesitation, so she answered for both of them, “We don’t mind at all, and I mean, how could you not want to?”
Mel’s smile grew twice as big, if that were even possible, as she reached out and skillfully took Amelia from Rhonda's arms. She held her close to her chest while swaying her weight from one foot to the other. It was natural. Mel watched Amelia slowly blink, lick her lips, and scratch at her nose, turning to Rhonda, “Thank you for letting me hold her. I just love babies.”
Rhonda watched as Amelia shut her eyes and kept them shut. “Well, apparently, they love you too, because that is the fastest I’ve seen her fall asleep. I might have to hold you hostage.”
Mel gently laid Amelia back into her mother’s arms, “I wouldn’t mind that at all,” helping tighten the blanket around her shoulders.
Rhonda returned to Louie's side. She gave him a quick kiss before saying goodbye to Abbot and Mel, “It was wonderful seeing you again, Jack, and wonderful meeting you, Mel. Make sure to send everyone at camp my love and come back soon, alright?”
They all watched Rhonda and Amelia leave the shop. When she was out of sight, Louie focused back on the counselors, clapping his hands together, getting back to business, “Alright, what did Shen and Ellis break this time?”
Abbot let out a small chuckle, “Surprisingly, it’s not their fault this time. The fan of our ice cream freezer spontaneously broke.” Abbot pulled out his phone, showing Louie a picture of the freezer and the fan, “Think you can help?”
Louie closely examined the photo before answering, “Yeah, I got what you need.” He handed Abbot’s phone back to him, “I don’t keep them out here, though, so give me a minute. I’ll be right back.” He left for the garage, out of sight.
Abruptly, Mel asked, “Why don’t you have kids?”
Abbot froze, stunned, unable to formulate any coherent response.
Mel didn’t conceptualize how abrasive that particular question might be, never mind the connotations of her words. To Mel, it was a simple question.
Abbot’s mind swirled, “Well…uhm…” unable to configure any coherent sentence to answer her. Mel stared at him, pressing for him to go on. Abbot folded his arms, looking down at his feet, for once, avoiding someone else's gaze, “Kids…just weren’t in the cards for me.”
Mel hummed a simple “Hmm,” feeling no need to press him any further.
Louie finally came back with the new fan in hand. “Okay, it’s gonna be $150.”
Relieved from the subject, Abbot focused on arguing, “C’mon, Louie, I know it’s supposed to be $250.” He dug in his pocket for his wallet, sifting through a few bills before handing Louie a couple of hundreds and a crisp fifty-dollar bill.
Louie laughed while happily taking the money, “Rhonda would kill me if I didn’t at least try to give you the friends and family discount.” He wrote up a receipt for both him and Abbot to keep, before bagging the fan in a brown paper bag and handing it over to Abbot.
“Thanks, Louie. See you soon, alright?”
They parted ways with Louie heading towards the garage, waving them bye, “You better. Have a good day, Mel.”
Abbot abruptly turned on his heel to face Louie, “What about me?” He pressed his back against the shop’s door, holding it open with his foot as Mel passed through. The sound of Louie’s deep guttural laugh taunted him as the only thing they heard walking out of the store.
Mel wrapped her hand around the truck’s passenger door handle, waiting for it to unlock. She was ready to head back to camp, more so, eager, that when the lock clicked under her palm, she practically lunged into her seat, expecting Abbot to do the same. Instead, he set the fan in the driver's seat, going the extra mile to buckle it in, once again amusing only himself. He closed the door, his voice slightly muffled by glass and metal, “You hungry?”
Mel voiced her confusion, “Shouldn’t we be heading back to camp?” She looked at her brown leather-bound watch around her wrist, “It’s already 10:30 am.”
Abbot remained unbothered, “They’ll survive without us a little longer. Come on, there’s a great diner a few blocks from here.” He shut the door and took off down the street expectant that she’d follow, and she did.
-
The song “My Brave Face” by Paul McCartney lingered over camp as campers and counselors flooded into the Mess Hall for lunch for Shen and Ellis’ infamous Italian subs served with fresh salad and fruit. Javadi and Mateo remained at the back of the line, as usual, to monitor the campers, which meant they were served last.
She lowered her shoulders, dragged her feet, and admitted exaggeratedly, “I am starving.”
Suddenly, Mateo left her side to wander up the line of campers, cutting in between two campers to reach the service window. Javadi watched Shen and Ellis yell at him, threatening to smack him with their tongs, then snatch two yogurt parfaits from the arranged snacks and run back to Him. She pressed the tips of her fingers against her lips in an effort to hold back her laughter, but it spilled over when he returned with a proud smile.
Javadi graciously took the yogurt, slightly shaking her head when she said, “Thank you, but you didn’t have to…”
Mateo interrupted her, “I wanted to,” holding her gaze longer than he expected to, but Javadi shied away nevertheless.
He nudged her with his shoulder, encouraging her to speak again, “So, how was your morning? I didn’t get to see much of you.”
Javadi swallowed hard before answering, “It was eventful to say the least. I helped Samira with her extra campers.” She ran a hand through her frizzy hair, bound back by a headband, trying to soothe herself, “Don’t get me wrong, it was fun, but…”
Mateo interrupted her again, “Paint is like sand. It gets everywhere.” He knew the exact exhaustion she was feeling, and if there was anything he could do to help alleviate her pain or discomfort, he was going to do it. Little did he know that all Javadi needed was him.
The pair laughed together, both feeling more relaxed than they ever had before. Javadi internally celebrated her ability to keep her cool long enough to speak comprehensively, while Mateo felt overjoyed about speaking to another person entirely.
Langdon, Collins, and McKay passed by the cheerful counselors as they headed out of the Mess Hall.
Coming down the steps, Collins remarked, “Those two are cute.”
McKay looked back at them before agreeing, “Oh, I know, right? You should’ve seen them yesterday. They were practically frothing at the mouth over each other.”
Langdon furrowed his brows in confusion, “Who?” He looked behind them to piece together the puzzle, but failed to do so.
McKay answered him plainly, “Victoria and Mateo, haven’t you seen them together?”
Langdon shook his head, “No.” The last thing he cared about was the youngest counselor's love life, nor did he care about the older counselors' love lives, or any of their gossip at all. While it's true he enjoys their tall tales from time to time, he always grew bored with them.
Collins scoffed, unsurprised, “You are so self-centered, Frank. I swear, someone could be on fire in front of you, and you wouldn’t even care, let alone notice. I mean, come on, how could you be so inconsid…”
Langdon stopped listening the moment the term “self-centered” fell from Collins mouth. Coincidentally, the sound of a tire against gravel caught his attention. He whipped his head towards the entrance of the camp, being the first to witness Abbot pull into his designated parking spot. He kept his eyes on Mel when abruptly parting from Collins, only muttering, “Yeah, yeah. I’ll talk to you guys later.”
Collins was shocked, but mostly offended, “Frank!?”
“I don’t think Victoria and Mateo are the only ones with crushes.” McKay wrapped her arm around Collins, with a convincing and conniving smirk, while advancing towards the Wildlife Rehab Center, the reason they left the Mess Hall in the first place.
Abbot spotted Langdon heading their way first, proclaiming, “See, Mel? I told you they could survive without us.”
She came from around the truck, seemingly calm, but once her eyes met his, she became the embodiment of sunshine radiating pure happiness. So much so that Langdon couldn’t help but smile too. There was a reason Mel was eager to get back to camp, and now he stood in front of her. She couldn’t resist jumping off the ground and latching onto his arm. She spoke through her grin, “Frank! I got to hold a baby!”
Langdon placed his hand over hers, trying to keep her still, while sharing her excitement, “Really? Rhonda had the baby!?” He looked to Abbot for confirmation, and his sly smile was more than enough.
Abbot pulled out his phone, “I got pictures.” He held out his phone, slowly swiping through the countless photos Louie graciously sent not too long after leaving the shop. “Her name is Amelia.”
At Langdon’s side, looking over his shoulder like she did with Abbot, except this time, Mel didn’t mind keeping any space between them. She rested her chin against his shoulder, consequently pressing her chest against him. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
All this time, Langdon was physically unable to pull his eyes away from her. He observed the way her eyes narrowed when she smiled or how she bit down on her lip when she smiled. He admired the way the sun bounced off her glasses, which hung low on her nose, but what he found most endearing was her inability to stay still. Her happiness was intoxicating, or maybe it was his own. He couldn’t tell.
The abrupt tune, “My Brave Face” by Paul McCartney, signifying the beginning of free hour, carried throughout the camp. Within an instant, campers came scrambling out of the Mess Hall, some ran back to their cabins to nap, others to the lake to skip rocks, and a few sat around the Pitt to gossip.
Robby exited the Mess Hall to greet his friend, “You made it back in time for trivia. Dana’s setting up the projector right now.”
Abbot smiled wickedly, “You sure you’re up for it?”
Robby let out a condescending laugh, “Why don’t we find out?”
Abbot scoffed, “You’re so eager to lose.”
They wrapped their arms over each other, a constricting embrace heading towards the Mess Hall.
Robby hooted, “I’m not the one who has to deal with an angry Samira.”
Abbot’s face dropped, expressing a fusion of despair and regret, but he didn’t stray away from his fate. It seemed that the longer the image of an angry Samira lingered in his brain, the more excited he grew.
Mel followed after them, but hadn’t made it even two steps before she was immediately pulled back by Langdon, his grip tight around her wrist, “Wait, Mel…why don’t we get away for a little while?”
Mel tilted her head questioningly, blankly stating, “I’ve been away all morning.”
Langdon chuckled, “I know, but trust me, you don’t want to be around for trivia. It’s an hour where everyone argues about who's right and wrong, and every single time, without a doubt, Robby and Jack end up throwing something at each other, but uhm I think Samira might join in on that this time…I don’t think you want to be around that?”
Mel shook her head, “No, not really. Well then, what did you have in mind?”
Langdon tried to think of something to do. Honestly, he didn’t expect her to accept his offer. He looked around the camp, a place full of exciting activities, yet nothing he felt she would enjoy, so instead he thought of the farthest place they could get to within the hour, “Why don’t we go for a hike? If you’re not too tired?”
Mel jumped with excitement once again, “I’m fine, and I know just where to take you!” She took hold of his hand, pulling him towards the hiking trails, “It’s perfect! You’re gonna love it!”
Langdon laughed, “I bet I will.”
-
The trail was marked by a tall wooden arch with the words “Meadow Bridge” carved into it in canary yellow paint. Mel let go of Langdon’s arm, turning to him in full seriousness, “Are you sure you're up to this?”
Langdon looked down at her, questionably, “What makes you think I’m not?”
She told him honestly, “Hiking isn’t like swimming. The last thing I want is a fellow counselor’s unbecomings on my conscience.”
Dramatically, Langdon covered his heart, taking a few steps so that he hovered over her, “I assure you, Melissa, I am prepared for whatever this hiking trail has in store.”
In a blinded haste, she interlocked her hand with his, leading him up the inclined path, “If you say so!”
The trees emitted a familiarly comforting smell of pine and sap that made Mel feel as if she were being hugged. However, Langdon preferred the murky stench of algae and moss buried underneath cool water. That was his element, but now he was in hers. Langdon saw a stark contrast between Mel at camp and in the forest. Now, surrounded by trees, twigs breaking under her feet, and a gentle breeze blowing through the loose hairs of her two braids, she seemed more like herself. Langdon felt proud to be the one to witness it. He watched her close her eyes, tilt her head back with her ears perked up, listening to the sweet tweeting of the birds, and he relished the low, absentminded hum from her, too. It was a pleasant distraction from the wringing pain in his ribs.
Farther down the winding path, the pair reached an even steeper incline, but luckily, there was a staircase of thick wooden planks buried within the earth. Mel turned back to Langdon, reaching a mutual height by standing on the first step. She rested her hands on her hips, unfazed when she asked, “How are you doing?”
Langdon answered honestly, his voice uneven and husky, “I’m gonna admit…I’m a little winded…” He interlocked his hands above his head to fill his lungs with more air. He flexed his biceps, and his shirt slightly lifted enough to reveal the lower part of his stomach. “How do you do this multiple times a day?”
She didn’t answer right away. Her mind was too busy wandering from the messy strands of hair hanging over his darting eyes, along his arms, then down his happy trail. The tips of her ears burned, her throat ran dry, and the air thickened. Maybe it was the fact that they were alone, or maybe it was because for the first time in her life, she was doing something for herself. Nevertheless, Mel saw him differently, in a way she didn’t think she could ever forget, nor wanted to.
Langdon lifted one of his legs onto the step she was standing on, essentially caging her in his presence. He lowered his hands, dropped himself just enough to catch her gaze, “Melissa?”
She tightly gripped the end of one of her braids, twirling the tail end of her hair around her finger, “What?”
He leaned closer to her, just slightly, “I asked how you do this multiple times a day?”
Mel couldn’t help but shy away. He was close, too close. Just as she stumbled over the next step, she stumbled over her words, “Well, I do—I’m used to it.” She felt as if she were on fire when she turned away, “But once you see where this trail leads, it’ll all be worth it.” She ripped off her green windbreaker, wrapping it around her waist, leaving herself in a navy blue tank top that revealed her toned backside.
Now it was Langdon's turn to admire her, particularly the way her long braids bounced against her shoulder with every step she took. He was stuck, frozen on that first step, watching her walk away. The sight was tantalizing. He gathered enough energy to run up the steps to cut in front of her, twirling on his heel to face her when he reached the top, “Well then, we'd better get there!”
Mel smiled, feeling herself come to life as she chased after him, cutting in front and hollering, “Just past this turn!”
Then, there they stood, side by side, on a steep hill that lined up with a clearing through the treeline, creating a glamorously layered view of the Grand Lake that simply took Langdon’s breath away. He had always revered the Grand Lake for its enormity and depth in which all his worries would wash away, but it was so minuscule now. The campers were like ants, moving in distinct patterns as clusters, but they weren’t so far away that their voices didn’t carry. Dana’s hour-long playlist that clouded over the camp was a faint hum now. All he could think to do was settle down and enjoy the view, so he did.
Mel observed him, his mouth agape, and wonder in his eyes. He looked just like her campers did when they followed this trail. She watched him settle on the ground, feet crossed and weight resting on his hands behind him, staring at the glistening lake.
He spoke softly, sincerely, “It’s beautiful, Mel.”
Mel settled beside him, her hands pressed against the ground at her sides, knees to her chest, “Yeah, it is.”
Langdon turned to her, “I know you’ve taught before, but did you always want to work with kids?”
Mel nodded, “I did. I just couldn’t find a teaching job that wasn’t for adults, that was, until my sister…”
He interrupted her, “Becca.”
She smiled, shocked that he even remembered, “Mhmm, she got into this awesome living facility that helps people with autism navigate adulthood. It’s quite perfect, actually. I know she’s getting the help she needs, but can still have her own life, and I can have mine…” Mel paused, wincing as if she was pressing on a sore bruise. “I’m close enough so that if anything happens, I can be there for her. It’s difficult being separated, though. This is my first summer without her…ever…”
Langdon dropped his head a little, unsure of what to say. He settled on, “It’s good that you’re doing something for yourself, Mel. I’m sure your sister is thankful that you’re letting her too.”
Mel couldn’t express how deeply she appreciated his words, so she kept to a simple, “I hope so…but how about you? Did you always want to work at a camp?”
Langdon shrugged, “Oh, I know I’m not meant to do anything else. I tried to break away a few years ago, but it didn’t work out for me.”
Mel asked softly, “What happened?”
Langdon huffed, “It doesn’t matter.”
They sat there, together, focusing on the glittering lake, just as they did the first night they met. They didn’t say anything because there wasn’t any need to, and the sound of their uneven breath was enough to fill the silence.
-
At last, free hour was over. The campers were already clustered in front of their respective afternoon courses when Mel and Langdon returned to the Waterfront.
Langdon let out a sigh of reluctance, “I don’t know how you do it.”
Mel appeared puzzled, “It’s just walking, Frank?”
Her judgmental tone made Langdon freeze, but when he examined her face, all he saw was genuine confusion, so he laughed, “No, I—That’s not what I meant. You go to beautiful, peaceful places and then come back to everyone’s chatter and…it must be difficult.”
Mel shook her head, “Not when you have something to come back to, y’know? I had Becca.”
Langdon asked, “What do you come back to now?”
Mel wanted to answer him, but how could she? When the truth is nothing. Instead, she told him, “I enjoyed hiking with you, Frank.”
Langdon agreed, “I did too, Melissa.”
Mel smiled sweetly when she said, “I’ll see you at Dinner.”
Langdon’s mouth twitched, “Can’t wait.” He watched her walk away and greet her campers. All he wanted was to watch her, but then he heard the most aggravating voice.
“You are such a loser.” Garcia was standing behind him, watching the whole exchange with hilarity.
Langdon rolled his eyes, running his hands through his hair to soothe himself, “Shouldn’t you be rounding up the campers? Or doing anything generally useful?”
She laughed tauntingly, “C’mon, Camp Ken, Camp Barbie will still be there after your courses.” She gripped his shoulders and turned him away from camp and towards the lake.
Langdon groaned, “Warm as ever, Yoyo.”
Garcia droned, “Yup, as if I just came out of the oven. Now come on, campers to teach!” She grabbed a duffel bag from the benches set up by the shoreline, tossing it into his arms, “Go set up the buoys in your little boat.”
Langdon gritted his teeth together, “It’s a kayak!”
Garcia was already walking away, “And I still don’t care!”
Langdon wrapped the duffel bag around his chest before approaching the ship rack to prepare his personal kayak.
Javadi approached him cheerfully, “Is there anything I can help you with, Frank? The lake is the only part of camp I haven’t worked yet, and I’d love to…”
He dismissed her, “I don’t need help with anything. If you really feel like being useful, I’m sure Heather and Dennis could use some more hands protecting their plants and bugs from our wonderful campers.” He turned back to his kayak, completely disregarding her.
Javadi stared at him blankly, unsure whether to leave or not, but then he walked away. “Okay…” she muttered to herself, turning back to camp.
-
Time went on as it always did, campers and counselors gathered in the Mess Hall under a falling sky to share a splendid dinner. Robby and Dana sat on the stage, legs dangling, watching over them all. They shared some fruit from a styrofoam bowl in between them.
Dana asked, “So how was your day?” Although she didn’t expect such an intriguing answer
“Good, spent most of the morning in the Greenhouse.” Robby popped a piece of honeydew into his mouth.
Dana looked at him, bewildered, “I didn’t think you knew how to enjoy yourself.”
Robby laughed, “I’m learning.”
Quizzically, Dana looked over towards the counselor table, staring directly at Collins and Whitaker conversing with McKay and Javadi. “Who’s teaching you?”
Robby gave her an odd look, “What are you getting at?”
Dana shrugged, “Nothing. I’m happy as long as you’re happy.” She popped a piece of watermelon into her mouth, feigning innocence.
Robby answered earnestly but cautiously, “I’m trying.”
Just for a few seconds, she and Robby were in a staring contest until Dana submitted by moving the bowl away so that she could rest her head on his shoulder, to which he winced. She chuckled, “Abbot got you good, didn’t he?”
Robby nodded, “Son of a bitch has quite the arm.” He clenched his shoulder, groaning in pain.
Dana lifted her head, “Who knew a napkin holder could do so much harm? Or our precious Samira.”
Robby hooted, “And here I thought Cassie was the only one with spectacular aim.” He turned his attention to the service window, watching Abbot rub at his chest, just like him.
Dana reenacted Samira throwing the very same napkin holder back at Abbot, “Straight to the chest. Oh, god, I love trivia.”
Eyes kept on the counselors, Robby watched Langdon take Mel’s empty fruit bowl. He departed from the table to get her more. Robby called out his name, “Frank!” stopping him in his tracks when he passed by the stage.
Dana whispered, “Play nice.” She hopped off the stage, leaving them alone.
Robby did the same, now standing in front of Langdon. He folded his arms, keeping his voice low when he asked, “Did Victoria offer to help you with your course earlier today?”
Langdon straightened his back because no matter how calm he told himself to be, his nerves still felt as if they were on fire. He answered honestly, “Yeah, why?”
Robby let out a heavy sigh, obviously disappointed. He asked, “Did you tell her to go help Heather and Dennis instead?”
Langdon didn’t see the harm in his words, “I didn’t need help. There was nothing for her to do, so yes.”
“Frank, she’s here to learn just as much as she is here to guide the campers. It is your job as an older counselor,” Langdon appeared offended, so Robby corrected himself, “...wiser counselor to teach her. Do you understand?”
Langdon swallowed Robby’s words, practically felt them searing into his skin when he nodded, “Understood.”
Robby relaxed, “Okay, thank you.” He waved his hands, essentially dismissing Langdon from the conversation. He went back to the stage, leaning against it.
Dana joined his side once again, remarking, “That was good.”
Robby kept his eyes on him as he approached the service line, receiving another bowl of freshly cut cantaloupe from Shen. Robby pointed it out to Dana, “He hates cantaloupe.”
Dana told him in a dismissive tone, “It’s not for him.”
Robby rubbed the nape of his neck. “What is it this summer?”
Dana laughed, “Maybe you hired the right bunch of people? Why's it bother you so much?”
Robby argued, “It doesn’t—I’m not—whatever.” He knew exactly why it annoyed him with all these favors, but he wasn’t gonna admit it. He watched Langdon return to his seat beside Mel, handing over a full bowl of fruit. She thanked him and shared the bowl with Mohan.
-
The stars had shifted, and the moon hung low over the Grand Lake. The counselors sat around their nightly campfire, no games this time, only conversation, but that could only be interesting for so long. Mateo leaned against the doorway of the Waterfront, uninterested, but Javadi intently watched the exchanges between her fellow counselors, entertained.
She looked to Mateo, wanting to share her joy, but only found boredom. She grabbed a drink from the cooler beside her seat and joined his side, offering a soft drink to him, guessing, “Your favorite?”
Mateo chuckled, “It is actually, thank you.” Javadi smiled, pleased with herself, going back to watching the others by his side. Mateo watched her, deciding, “I have something I wanna show you.” He held out his hand, but Javadi hesitated. He assured her, “It’ll be worth it, I swear.”
Javadi smirked, interlocking her hand with his when she said, “Okay.”
Thankfully, Collins, Garcia, and Santos were arguing loudly enough for the pair to sneak away without anyone noticing. He led Javadi through the back of the Waterfront and down the winding path that led to the closed-off hiking trail.
Javadi laughed, “Should we be doing this?” She tripped over some thick branches, clinging to Mateo’s arm.
Mateo placed his hand over hers, keeping her close to him, joking, “Of course not, but that’s what makes it fun.”
The pair trekked further down the long, narrow path, pushing the foliage away from their faces to reveal an enclosed overgrown meadow riddled with dandelions that tickled their ankles. There were a few rays of moonlight falling through the trees. Mateo flipped a switch on a power box hanging on the nearest tree. Warm, bulbous lights strung from tree to tree illuminated the space above, revealing a treehouse across the way.
Javadi gasped, covering her mouth, only managing to utter, “...pretty.”
Mateo led her across the meadow, informing her, “Dana built this when she was a camper.” Javadi gave him a questioning look. Mateo nodded, “It’s true, come on…” He gestured for her to start up the winding staircase around the tree, which she eagerly did. Mateo followed after her, adding, “She built it with her camp director, Mr. Adamson…when he passed, she and Robby agreed to close it off.”
Javadi shuddered at the thought of intruding on such a personal place, “Mateo, we shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be here.”
Mateo shook his head as he settled on the treehouse's small balcony, leaning against the railing, looking to the dazzling night sky, when he admitted, “In my first year of counseling, I was going through a pretty rough time. I thought, spending the summer here would help, just needed to get away, y’know?” He hesitated, “I was sitting on the shore, angry and alone, when Dana found me. She brought me here, told me the story of how she built it, and told me to keep it secret. Now, whenever I need a moment to myself, I come here.”
Javadi placed a gentle hand on his arm, “Thank you for showing it to me.” She offered a sincere look, one composed of complete honesty.
Mateo could only give her a small smile before turning back to the stars.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood there, listening to the whistle of the wind, chirping crickets, and the buzz of the lights. She followed the thick black string from tree to tree, then observed how the nightly summer breeze brushed the long strands of grass every which way or how the misty moon shone overhead. That’s when she realized, for the first time in her entire life, her mind was quiet. No worries. No planning. No panic. In this moment, there were no consequences for breathing.
Mateo heard her sniffle. It prompted him to ask, “Are you okay?”
Javadi used the cuffs of her thin knit cardigan to wipe away her tears, “Yeah, I’m fine…this is the best moment of my entire life.” She pressed her face into the palms of her hands, trying to calm herself down, but failing.
Mateo joked, “What? You’ve never seen stars before?”
Javadi laughed, still sniffling, “I’ve never been this happy before…” She immediately regretted admitting so, but she couldn’t take it back, and she definitely couldn’t claim that it wasn’t true.
Mateo ever so slightly turned towards her, speaking so softly she almost didn’t hear him, “Victoria?”
She felt warmed enough to confess, “I’ve never had anything of my own, not even my mind. In fact, my mind was the first thing I—I’m a certified genius—a child prodigy. And my parents…they love me, but they never let me be anything else.” Heavy tears fell from her eyes. “Everyone I know expects me to do these amazing things and be perfect, and I…I am not perfect. I just wanted to be a kid. That’s why I came here, to be a counselor. I just wanted one summer where I’m more than just my brain.” Finally saying it all out loud, Javadi felt as if she could fly.
Mateo wiped away the tear that settled on her jaw, gaining her attention. It broke his heart to see her glossy doe eyes, usually wide with wonder, now swelling with heartache. He told her, “I know we’ve only known each other for two days, but you’ve already proven that you are so much more than what some IQ test says.” Javadi’s eyes narrowed with uncertainty, but Mateo insisted, “I’ve seen the way you care for the campers, and I see how safe and comfortable they feel with you. You never hesitate to lend a helping hand or face a challenge, even as trivial as settling an argument between Shen and Ellis, which none of us are brave enough to do…” That earned him a laugh, “You’re all heart to me, Victoria.”
She whispered, “I can’t tell you how much that means to me, Mateo.” Then she smiled. It was weak, but it was still a smile.
He assured her, “You don’t have to.”
-