Chapter Text
Lydia willed herself to relax as she made her way down the winding wooded path towards the camps’ entrance. This was her first year attending summer stock, having finally aged out of the summer program at the Rydell Community Theatre that she’d been attending for the last decade. Her parents had been expecting her to get a job this summer, but Lydia had outright refused. She wasn’t about to spend her summer working some mindless, dead-end job when she could be at one of the best youth theatre programs in the country making connections that would help her get out of Rydell one day. She had had to beg her parents for three months, babysit her little sister for free, and agree to extra chores, before her parents had caved in and agreed to let her spend her summer doing what she loved. To say she was excited was an understatement.
Looking around at all the other kids as she walked through the camps’ entrance, though, she had to admit, she was also really nervous. Most of the other kids had been coming here since they were fourteen (the youngest age at which you can attend) and it was clear they were all very close. The two years Lydia had missed put her at a disadvantage in the social department, and she already wasn’t the best at making friends. Most people tended to find her sort of prickly, which usually suited her just fine – she didn’t like most people. However, if she was going to be spending the next three months here, she wanted to make some friends, even if she found the prospect frightening.
You’ll be fine.
She willed herself to believe it as she looked around for where to check in. She spotted a woman with a clipboard and started to make her way over to her, but a screech of excitement from behind her made her stop. She turned to see a short girl with two intricate braids in her hair rush past her and practically tackle two girls that were standing further down the path. Their squeals of joy at being reunited filled Lydia with jealousy and she felt her ears burn.
She shook off the feeling and turned around again, making her way over to the woman holding the clipboard. “Hello dear, you must be new. I’m Ms. Mills, the camp coordinator.” The woman extended her hand, and Lydia took it, shaking it firmly. “Now, if you want to just tell me your name we’ll get you checked in and point you towards your cabin!”
Lydia gave Ms. Mills her name and the woman checked her list. “Ah, here you are! Looks like you’ll be staying in the Oscar Wilde cabin.” At Lydia’s bemused look, she added, “All of the cabins here are named after prominent actors, playwrights, directors, etcetera. Now, your cabin shouldn’t be too hard to find. It’s all the way down this path and to the left. If you hit the lake you’ve gone too far. Here’s a camp map just in case.” Lydia smiled at the woman and thanked her, taking the offered map before turning to head down the path toward her cabin.
“Oh! Hello Winifred, it’s so good to see you!” Ms. Mills turned and stalled Lydia with a hand to her forearm. “Hold on just a moment dear, I want to introduce you to some other campers.” Lydia turned around to see the short girl from earlier flanked by her two friends. Despite being several inches shorter than them, the girl had slung her arms over her friends shoulders and was standing on her tip toes, grinning at Lydia lazily. “Winifred, I want to introduce you to our new camper, Lydia.” Ms. Mills smiled and gently pushed Lydia forward a step, as though she were presenting her.
“Aw, c’mon Ms. Mills,” the girl said, scrunching her nose in annoyance, “you know I hate that name!” She stepped forward, disentangling herself from her friends and extending a hand to Lydia. “I’m Freddie,” the girl said, looking pointedly at Ms. Mills who tsked in disapproval. “This is Eleanor and Peggy,” she nodded back towards each of her friends as she introduced them, who waved and nodded in turn.
“Nice to meet you,” Lydia said, taking the offered hand and trying her hardest not to blush. Something about this girl was unnerving, yet she had to admit, highly intriguing at the same time.
“So,” Freddie said, dropping Lydia’s hand and looking at Ms. Mills, “which cabin are we in this year?” She bounced on her toes excitedly while Ms. Mills inspected her clipboard once again. “You girls are in the Judy Garland cabin,” Ms. Mills said, and Freddie turned to her friends giddily, who squealed again and began jumping and holding hands. These girls certainly were excitable, a trait which Lydia usually found off-putting, but in this instance she found herself smiling at their display of joy.
“Judy Garland is like Freddie’s queen,” the girl called Eleanor said to Lydia as way of explanation. “She’s gonna be just as famous as her someday.” Peggy nodded in agreement and added, “She’s already more talented. You should hear her sing!” Lydia cocked an eyebrow and smiled politely. Judy Garland may be Freddie’s queen, but it was clear from the way they exalted her that Freddie was Eleanor and Peggy’s.
Lydia turned to look at the monarch in question, who, to her credit, had the grace to look embarrassed by her friends’ praises. “All right, all right, enough,” Freddie said, elbowing her friends good naturedly. “What cabin are you in Lydia?”
“Oscar Wilde.”
“Oh my gosh, lucky!” Freddie cried, grabbing one of Lydia’s hands and grasping it with her own in excitement. “I know the best secret rehearsal space near there,” she added conspiratorially.
“Really?” Lydia replied, reclaiming her hand and clasping them behind her back. “Maybe you can show me some time.”
“Maybe,” Freddie responded, smirking and crossing her arms, looking at Lydia as though she were sizing her up. Lydia blushed under her gaze and diverted her eyes downward.
What is this girls’ deal?
Before Lydia had time to ponder that thought any further, Ms. Mills was urging them toward their cabins. “The welcome dinner is in an hour, and you’ll want to get settled in first.”
“Judy Garland is on the way to Oscar Wilde,” Freddie said, nudging Lydia in the side. “Wanna walk with us for a bit?”
“Sure,” Lydia responded with a smile, “I’d like that.” With that, the four girls started down the long path toward the cabins.
Maybe making friends won’t be so hard after all.