her friends and all the attention she seemed to want.
And I didn’t need Gollum to catch me with her or, worse, that TV network Helena warned me about. Alex played me, and I’d lost.
Even though I had every right to be, I wasn’t so much angry with her. I was mostly mad at my dumbass self.
Alex
“Okay, girls, let’s move it out!” Emily yanked the bullhorn away from her mouth and clamped a hand over her slipping beret. Its dark color matched her neck scarf, off-the-shoulder shirt, ankle-length pants, and flats. She looked like she’d stepped out of an old-time movie, which was completely in keeping with today’s field trip. After getting permission from our parents, our cabin and a handful of other kids were going to be extras in Mine Forever . My mother had come through with a fax last night, just when I’d been plotting how to fake her signature and plant a form in the administration office myself. I wondered how much she had ticked off Dad for allowing me to do something he’d probably call “frivolous.” But today, I wasn’t going to waste time thinking about it.
A current of excitement rushed through me as I dashed down the porch steps into the dawning light. A wind came up and blew out of the woods toward me, carrying with it the chill scent of pine needles, damp earth, and the sweet smell of honeysuckle. It felt like a fresh start, and maybe, after three days of being taunted by Vijay and avoided by Javier, getting away from camp was exactly what I needed.
Javier.
My heart still squeezed up tight when I thought about how we’d parted. I’d made a quick trip to his empty cabin this morning, knowing the Warriors’ Warden guys usually went running as a group. Javier, I’d guessed, would be at work in the kitchen, and I was right—the coast had been clear. I’d left him the Venezuelan cookbook my mom had sent me, a perfect Secret Camp Angel gift. He’d probably know it was me, but I didn’t care.
What had surprised me about my stealthy mission had been seeing he’d kept the grass bracelet I’d woven for him. It hung around the wooden post of his bed. I hoped it was a sign he didn’t hate me.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this!” Trinity practically skipped beside me, her long blonde dreadlocks bouncing. I couldn’t read auras the way she claimed to, but I could tell when someone glowed with happiness. She had a new sketchpad tucked under one arm as we headed through camp toward the mini-bus.
Behind us, Siobhan and Piper tested out their old skills at leap-frog, a game that was working until Jackie came along and practically crushed tiny Siobhan as she vaulted over her back. They collapsed in a pile of giggles.
Trinity pulled her hair back into a bun. “Do you think this will fit under a bonnet?”
I laughed. “A big one, maybe. But it’s worth a shot. Plus, the director is going to take one look at you, fall madly in love and say, ‘Darling, you must be in all my movies.’”
She laughed. “Are you kidding me? I’m not the drama queen around here.”
I peered behind me. “Drama queen? None of those in Munchies’ Manor.”
That set off more laughter as the other girls caught up to us. Yeah, I got it. They all thought I was the reigning performer in the cabin. They wouldn’t even recognize the girl I was back home: Alex the Afterthought. The girl most likely to be swept under the rug.
When we boarded the van, I spotted a couple of the Diva girls and two of the boys from Wander Inn already in their seats. Thankfully, Vijay was not among the small group. Hannah and Kayla were there, and they sat next to Julian and Garrett. Hannah and Julian spoke quietly to each other in the back row.
How did such a great guy end up with the camp queen of mean? It was a mystery I’d solve sooner or later. If Hannah could snag a nice guy, surely I could, too.
“None of the Warriors came?” Jackie observed, dropping into a seat beside Yasmine. “Big surprise there.”
“Why?”
And I didn’t need Gollum to catch me with her or, worse, that TV network Helena warned me about. Alex played me, and I’d lost.
Even though I had every right to be, I wasn’t so much angry with her. I was mostly mad at my dumbass self.
Alex
“Okay, girls, let’s move it out!” Emily yanked the bullhorn away from her mouth and clamped a hand over her slipping beret. Its dark color matched her neck scarf, off-the-shoulder shirt, ankle-length pants, and flats. She looked like she’d stepped out of an old-time movie, which was completely in keeping with today’s field trip. After getting permission from our parents, our cabin and a handful of other kids were going to be extras in Mine Forever . My mother had come through with a fax last night, just when I’d been plotting how to fake her signature and plant a form in the administration office myself. I wondered how much she had ticked off Dad for allowing me to do something he’d probably call “frivolous.” But today, I wasn’t going to waste time thinking about it.
A current of excitement rushed through me as I dashed down the porch steps into the dawning light. A wind came up and blew out of the woods toward me, carrying with it the chill scent of pine needles, damp earth, and the sweet smell of honeysuckle. It felt like a fresh start, and maybe, after three days of being taunted by Vijay and avoided by Javier, getting away from camp was exactly what I needed.
Javier.
My heart still squeezed up tight when I thought about how we’d parted. I’d made a quick trip to his empty cabin this morning, knowing the Warriors’ Warden guys usually went running as a group. Javier, I’d guessed, would be at work in the kitchen, and I was right—the coast had been clear. I’d left him the Venezuelan cookbook my mom had sent me, a perfect Secret Camp Angel gift. He’d probably know it was me, but I didn’t care.
What had surprised me about my stealthy mission had been seeing he’d kept the grass bracelet I’d woven for him. It hung around the wooden post of his bed. I hoped it was a sign he didn’t hate me.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this!” Trinity practically skipped beside me, her long blonde dreadlocks bouncing. I couldn’t read auras the way she claimed to, but I could tell when someone glowed with happiness. She had a new sketchpad tucked under one arm as we headed through camp toward the mini-bus.
Behind us, Siobhan and Piper tested out their old skills at leap-frog, a game that was working until Jackie came along and practically crushed tiny Siobhan as she vaulted over her back. They collapsed in a pile of giggles.
Trinity pulled her hair back into a bun. “Do you think this will fit under a bonnet?”
I laughed. “A big one, maybe. But it’s worth a shot. Plus, the director is going to take one look at you, fall madly in love and say, ‘Darling, you must be in all my movies.’”
She laughed. “Are you kidding me? I’m not the drama queen around here.”
I peered behind me. “Drama queen? None of those in Munchies’ Manor.”
That set off more laughter as the other girls caught up to us. Yeah, I got it. They all thought I was the reigning performer in the cabin. They wouldn’t even recognize the girl I was back home: Alex the Afterthought. The girl most likely to be swept under the rug.
When we boarded the van, I spotted a couple of the Diva girls and two of the boys from Wander Inn already in their seats. Thankfully, Vijay was not among the small group. Hannah and Kayla were there, and they sat next to Julian and Garrett. Hannah and Julian spoke quietly to each other in the back row.
How did such a great guy end up with the camp queen of mean? It was a mystery I’d solve sooner or later. If Hannah could snag a nice guy, surely I could, too.
“None of the Warriors came?” Jackie observed, dropping into a seat beside Yasmine. “Big surprise there.”
“Why?”
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