Chapter Text
Nicole wanted to get off the bus. Or perhaps make it stop and not move for a few years. She closed her eyes but the humming of the engine was too obvious through the seats to ignore and even though they were going over the open plains the ride seemed ridiculously bumpy. The window was cold against her temple but she felt like her brain would fry with all the noise from her fellow passengers. Fellow campers.
“Fuck,” Nicole mumbled into her hoodie.
It will be fun, Nicole! Her dad had said. It’s this camp thing or coming with us to the solstice festival. Her mom had said. Nicole had said nothing. You’ll meet plenty of new people! Her dad had said like it was the best thing in the world.
The truth was Nicole was tired of new people. Since she was six they hadn’t stayed in the same place for more than two years at the most. She had switched schools more times than there were NCIS seasons, and for the last year they hadn’t been settled long enough for Nicole to play more than 2 games with the same sports team. And she wasn’t picky when it came to sports. She was flexible for whatever game involving a ball was in season. One or two coaches had told her to focus her ambition, but Nicole had just shrugged and ran laps instead of going home.
The scenery outside the window changed from fields of nothing to scattered houses and stables and the bus slowed and turned into a gas station that looked like it had survived the apocalypse.
“Okay everyone!” the counsellor sitting at the front yelled in the mic. “Last stop before we reach camp. Just picking up the last few campers.” The woman sounded cheery and Nicole felt bad for her, poor asshole having to look after unwanted teens over the holidays.
The driver hit the breaks hard and made Nicole, and by the sound of it a few others, fall forward in their seats. The bus door creaked open and the bus driver hollered at someone to get on.
“Waverly, stop pushing my ass!” A girl in a leather jacket and a scowl came into view just as Nicole got upright again.
“I don’t trust you not to bail on me,” another girl came in behind the first, and Nicole’s head fell forward again towards the seat in front of her.
No. Nope. No. She thought as she closed her eyes and tried not to whine. The first girl had been cute but the second one with her pink earmuffs and stubborn expression was plain adorable. With a petite frame, soft looking light brown hair that went all the way to her waist and a body language and voice that just yelled mischief meant Nicole was done for. She would be at this camp for two weeks over Christmas and then likely never see these kids again.
I am too gay for this. She mentally told her shoes, not daring to look up.
The sound of a man speaking with a drawl, definitely not native to the area, made Nicole glance up anyway. After the two girls another passenger boarded the bus. He was definitely too old to be in high school, so Nicole guessed he was one of the counsellors, but in no way did he look like a responsible adult. He wore a waistcoat and hat, cigarette behind the ear and the start of a beard. Nicole instantly didn’t like him. He moved with a confidence she envied but he also smelled like home-made liquor and smoke.
She’d had to wash her own coat twice to get the smell of cats and cigarette smoke out of it after finding it in a thrift store, then she’d done the mistake of letting it dry in the kitchen of their apartment and then having to wash it again to get the smell of pot out of it.
The smell of the unwashed counsellor made Nicole think of home. Which was one thing she sincerely hoped to avoid until the new year.
“Excuse me?”
Nicole nearly jumped out of her skin.
“May I sit here? My sister is being a grump and I wanted to get some reading done, so I promise I won’t bother you.” The girl from before asked the boy sitting across the isle from Nicole.
“No no problem! I mean yes absolutely! I can move if you want the whole seat?” The guy rambled but the girl sat down before he could do so.
“First time at camp? I’m Waverly,” the girl said and gracefully removed her coat, exposing a knitted crop top jumper and high waisted jeans hugging a petite body. Nicole quickly turned her reddening face towards the window.
“Yes Jeremy!” He half yelled and the girl giggled. Adorably. “Sorry, I’m nervous.” The boy seemed to try calm himself. “I’m Jeremy and yes this is my first time at camp. I’ve been to summer camp before but now my dad is traveling and he couldn’t bring me so here I am.”
Nicole wished she could see their faces but the sun was still high outside, limiting the reflection in the window.
“Hey can I sit here?”
Nicole whipped around. This time it was her being addressed. “Sure.”
“Good. Waverly left her stuff all over the seats and if I have to see one more book this year I’m going to punch someone.”
“Better not then.”
“I don’t mean to be an asshole. If you want to read, you can.”
Out of all the things coming out of the girl looking like she might actually punch someone for fun, reassurance wasn’t one of the things Nicole expected.
“Don’t worry, my book is at the bottom of my bag, under my baseball glove.” But before Nicole could continue the girl made a loud noise of exasperation.
“A healthy one, no!” she groaned. “Jocks are the worst.”
“But we have good stamina,” Nicole smirked.
The girl snorted. “You all think you do.” She leaned back in her seat, evidently decided on keeping the seat. “I’m Wynonna and this is my second year of Christmas jail. You?”
“Nicole. And this is my first year. Both jail camp and Christmas.”
“Jewish?”
“Hippie Parents.”
It was true. Nicole had never really celebrated Christmas. Instead people assumed her family celebrated the light and the harvest cycle, but her parents had never been stable enough for that. They were more the kind of people who had very grand ideas and ideals about world peace, freedom of speech but a general hate for any kind of rule or tradition.
“That sounds fun but I’m going to assume it isn’t since you’re here.”
“Nope.” Nicole said and was glad Wynonna’s only response was a nod.
Wynonna ended up falling asleep on her shoulder and Nicole decided she liked her. She would be one of those people on a chart that read looks like she could kill you, is actually a cinnamon roll. And something Nicole had learned through all her years of transfers was that regardless how brief your friendship would be, allies were important. Their conversation also helped distract her from the smell of the cowboy sleeping in the seat in front of her so that by the time Wynonna started to snore the smell had melted into the general scent of bus.
The arrival of the new counsellor seemed to have made the first one realise she didn’t need to be the pep-squad. Instead of the whole bus being jolted by eardrum-crushing songs every few miles the bus settled in blobs of chatter, music leaking from headphones and snores. Nicole had completely zoned out but was brought back by Waverly and Jeremy giggling over something. When she focused she realised that Waverly had started reading out loud from her book and with a glance their way she saw Waverly immersed fully in the story while Jeremy fiddled with a Rubik’s cube, evidently listening intently.
Once she realised, Nicole didn’t feel bad for listening in too. She couldn’t reach after her own book, that did lie in the bottom of her rucksack, without waking Wynonna so instead she let her sleep, and listened to Waverly’s voice. The way she randomly gave the different characters different accents didn’t at all help cool down the warm feeling that had gathered in Nicole’s chest because of the other girl.
The dark fell quickly and with no lights along the road Nicole was unable to spot any signs from her place by the window and the only landmark available to her were the thick woods that had marked the edge of the road for the last half an hour. She could feel that they were gaining altitude but Nicole had no idea if they would go down again before arrival or if camp was situated at the top of a mountain. The brochure had been vague about directions, simply stating that further directions could be given on request but that the best way to camp was by camp bus. She’d tried googling Camp Purgatory but the only information available was that of schools and councils recommending the camp as a retreat for teenagers from all paths of life. Which essentially meant they’d take anyone as long as the fee was paid by guardian or state.
She’d managed to zone out again, and after she’d taken a few not too deep breaths and dug the heel of her palm into her knee she realised Waverly had stopped reading and she couldn’t see anything but her own reflection outside the window. It had grown cold on the bus and most of its passengers had fallen asleep. There were still some in the back that seemed unable to stop talking but they must have changed to a subject, wishing not to be overheard, that their voices had lowered enough for Nicole to mostly tune it out. Nicole generally liked knowing what was going on but listening to kids who thought hogging the place next to the bus toilet was cool wasn’t in Nicole’s interest.
The lights came on in centre isle and the counsellor’s mic screeched for their attention.
“We’re now rolling into Camp Purgatory, everyone! Gather your things and make sure you don’t forget anything behind. The first thing on our itinerary for tonight is the welcome dinner and after that when everyone’s arrived we’ll get you all to your cabins to settle in!”
“That mic will show up boiled to tacos if she doesn’t lower the volume,” Wynonna grunted from Nicole’s shoulder. “Here we go, Red. Christmas jail awaits.”
Nicole hadn’t really known what to expect so she wasn’t surprised when she climbed off the bus after Wynonna and landed on a ploughed dirt floor lit up by beams like those at the side of football stadiums. The clash between modern and ancient seemed to go on from there because scattered around them were a mix of what could only be described as smaller bunker buildings, two large barns and a log house with a wooden porch stretching around it. The place looked like it should smell of horse, but Nicole couldn’t smell much of anything in the icy cold air.
Someone cleared their throat and a middle-aged man in a cowboy hat and kakis took Nicole’s attention.
“Well, welcome everyone,” he started gruffly. “I am Camp Director Randy Nedley. Dinner is in the big house and everyone remove their shoes like civilized people.”
Wynonna leaned her head towards Nicole as if to say something but a scream from behind made them both whip around. Nicole about had the time to realise that a skinny blonde boy in glasses had put snow down Waverly’s neck when Wynonna punched him square in the face and he fell to the ground like a rag doll.
“Wynonna, stop!” Nicole shouted and got between them, trying to keep her from punching him again.
“Bitch!” the boy shouted from the ground.
“Let off Waverly you piece of shit!” Wynonna yelled past Nicole.
“EARP!”
Everyone got quiet for a moment. The only sound coming from Waverly’s whimpers as she and Jeremy tried to get the snow out of her scarf.
The director of the camp was with them in a flash and took Nicole’s place in front of Wynonna.
“For Christ sake, Earp. You hardly had time to get off the bus!”
“That little creep hurt my sister!”
“I was only messing around! I was being friendly!” The boy yelled from behind Nicole and she had to stop herself from not groaning out loud but the fire in Wynonna’s eyes were tall enough for the both of them.
“My office now,” Nedley interrupted before the screaming match could continue. “Earp, Waverly and Tucker.” To Nicole’s amazement he sounded more tired than angry.
It took a few moments for the other counsellors to get the remaining campers’ attention. Especially since the smoke-smelling counsellor lit a cigarette and informed those in his proximity that Wynonna had actually very poor technique and could have done a lot more damage with some training. Eventually they were all ushered into the mess hall at the big house, however Nicole had difficulty focusing on what happened around her and a lump started growing in her chest and she had to remind herself constantly to unclench her jaw.
The room was large with a high beamed ceiling and rows of wooden tables with school kitchen style dishes with what looked like macaroni and cheese on them. Nicole had been hungry before but now felt uneasy about eating after what had just happened.
“Can I sit with you?”
Nicole jumped. It was the boy that had been sitting next to Waverly on the bus. She gestured for him to sit down opposite her.
“You spoke to Wynonna on the bus, right?”
Nicole nodded.
“Hey Waverly!” Jeremy suddenly shouted over Nicole’s shoulder and as she turned around, she could see Waverly giving them a small wave and after a nod from Nedley move towards them, Wynonna in tow by the hand.
“Everything okay? That was fast?” Nicole asked Wynonna but Waverly answered for her.
“That shit ticket was reminded that calling the police meant actually talking to the police and since he has a record that didn’t seem to please him too much.”
“So they just let you go?” Jeremy smiled widely.
“Dish duty for two days,” Wynonna grumbled. “I bet I can make that one though, the kitchen staff hate me here.”
The knot in Nicole’s chest loosened and she was able to load some food onto a plate.
“For what it’s worth I think you did the right thing.”
“You were very fast to turn against me there, Red.”
“Wynonna, I was fast to try and make you not beat him worse. That one punch he got he totally deserved.” Nicole meant it.
Wynonna narrowed her eyes at her but ended up shrugging it off.
They ate dinner together and the sisters informed the newcomers of what life at camp would look like, which was still hard to grasp since they had vastly different ideas about what counted as fun and what didn’t. The one thing the sisters were in total agreement on was that the food was alright, and that camp was better than home. Nicole silently agreed. It helped thinking that instead of eating macaroni and cheese with a few, maybe, crazy people at clean camp in the mountains, she could be in her parents’ van, going god knew where and preparing for two weeks of irregular and non-existent meals along with fights, endless rants on the issues with the state and Nicole’s grandparents.
By the time Nicole realised that she and Waverly had never actually introduced themselves it seemed too late to do so. They were already talking and teasing so the idea seemed redundant but also like they’d missed a step and Nicole felt a bit lost in the dance. Wynonna having the personality she did helped, and Jeremy’s tendency to ramble filled every possible silence. She was grateful though that dinner was a relatively short affair and that the room soon filled with information about cabins, shower blocks, activities and mealtimes. They were ushered outside again by the bus counsellor who seemed to have regained her cheerleading personality. For the life of her Nicole couldn’t remember her name but the prospect of a lecture or, maybe worse, name songs, made her refrain from asking.
Nicole had expected to sleep in an open space cabin with bunk beds. She was right about the cabin part but once she stepped inside, she realised it had been remodelled to keep two small bedrooms with twin beds, a kitchen, bathroom and living room. The space was slightly cramped and none of the furniture matched but it looked surprisingly alright.
“No late night wanders!” the peppy bus counsellor shouted from behind Nicole he bumped into Wynonna, not having realised they’d been followed inside. “Also thank you, Nicole! For staying with the Earps. No one else wanted to but giving them the place to themselves seemed like a reward.” She whispered this loudly to Nicole as if the two sisters wouldn’t be able to hear her.
Nicole raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”
“Goodnight everyone and see you tomorrow at breakfast!” She continued on with her loud half scream. “I’ll be staying in the counsellors’ cabin behind the big house so if you need me just come and knock!”
Wynonna removed her hands from her ears after the door was slammed behind the woman.
“We will all be deaf if we survive this,” she said.
“She’s not so bad,” Waverly tried but Wynonna ignored her.
“Red!” she shouted instead. “You’re with me. But I get the bed by the door.”
The bed was narrow and harder than the bed Nicole slept on at home. But the room had a heater that seemed to be programmed for blizzard season so the room was comfortably warm and the neither Nicole nor Wynonna had touched the extra blankets available in the cupboard. Wynonna had crashed on the bed fully clothed after taking a swing from a hidden whiskey bottle as way of cleaning her teeth. That left Nicole enough room to change into sweats and t-shirt to sleep in and put some of her things in the drawer under her bed.
She met Waverly in the bathroom while brushing her teeth and had an awkward dance with her to determine whether they could share the space or not.
This was one of the things that made Nicole question anyone who claimed to love meeting new people. You never knew where people’s boundaries were and before you could figure that out everything was just awkward and hesitant. Nicole had once swung up her legs in the lap of a classmate in the first week of school and gotten a startled stiff response, making her question her every move for the rest of the week, trying to find out if they were okay or not.
Waverly didn’t seem to mind though. She just smiled and waved good night when Nicole took her turn to use the bathroom after her. Which didn’t make Nicole feel any less nervous. She usually took most of her showers at school and changed around other people all the time, yet just standing next to Waverly fully dressed in pyjamas, felt too intimate and nerve wracking.
By the time she turned off the light her heart was hammering in her chest and sleep felt a million miles away. She tried grounding herself with cataloguing the unfamiliar sound of her surroundings. Wynonna was breathing heavily but not quite snoring. The space heater hummed every few minutes but other than that the house was quiet. Waverly was sleeping in the room next door but Nicole couldn’t hear anything from that room. When her eyes had adjusted to the dark she could see almost clearly outside. The big beams had been turned off but the porch light from the big house was lit and reflected its yellowish light in the snow, creating a semi clear view of the space outside. She saw light coming from two other cabins and the beams from the windows created long, sharp shadows over the snow.
Her parents had always told ghost stories and tales of the supernatural, making Nicole a firm realist and believer in what she could see. Trouble was she was definitely seeing movement outside that wasn’t shadow. She figured some of the other kids had taken the first chance they got to explore the area without adult supervision. She just wished they’d been stupid enough to bring their phones to use as flashlights, so she’d be able to tell for sure. A piece of her heart hurt at the idea of it being a cat forgotten outside in the snow.
She lay down and tried to sleep. But her thoughts kept swimming and her brain refused to shut down. She could go out to the living room and do push-ups and sit-ups until she was tired enough to at least lay still but she feared it would have the opposite effect and wake her up even more.
A scratch came from outside her window. Nicole ignored it. Then she heard it again along with a small whimper.
“Damnit,” she whispered and got up, took her boots on without socks first and grabbed her hoodie.
Now there were no lights from any of the other cabins that Nicole could see and the only light were the porch light from the big house two hundred yards away. She stood still and listened but heard nothing.
“Typical,” she murmured but didn’t go inside straight away. The moon hung low over the trees and when she looked up the sky was scattered with stars. For the first time since she arrived, she felt like she breathed calm. She rested her head back and kept looking at the stars until she felt dizzy and shivered with cold.
A noise like snow falling off a branch made her look back down.
Nothing.
She started going back inside when she heard a weak mew from round the corner of the cabin towards the woods where Waverly’s window ought to be. She changed direction and walked towards the noise instead, now really shivering with the cold but determined to see if it really was a cat or just a curious deer or something. How deer sounds could be mistaken for a cat Nicole didn’t have time to think through before she saw a splash of blood in the snow with a trail leading into the woods.