prayed with all of them. They all promised to serve God more wholeheartedly than ever. Carlie knew that these weren’t just words. She knew that she meant it — all of it.
Then, after Cory said “amen,” Carlie went straight to Chelsea. “I’m really, really sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t know why I was so mean to you earlier tonight, but I am really, really sorry. And I want you to forgive me. And I totally forgive you. And I want us to be friends and —” But before she could finish, Chelsea was hugging her.
“I’m sorry too, Carlie. I feel really bad about everything. And I know I’m a mean, horrible, selfish person. I was jealous of you, Carlie. And I think I actually wanted you to get hurt, and everything you said about me was true and I don’t deserve to —”
“Okay, okay,” said Carlie, stepping back. “But don’t be so hard on yourself, Chelsea.”
“What about what Cory said? What about bringing our messes out into the light?”
Carlie laughed now. “Yes. You’re right.”
Just then Emily, Morgan, and Amy joined them. All the girls were happily talking about how things were going to be different between them — how important their friendship was and how they wanted to treat each other better. Soonthey were all in a group hug, and Carlie was so thankful she hadn’t gone home. And she was so thankful for these four girls — and their Rainbow Bus club. She couldn’t believe how close they had come to losing it up here on the mountain. But now she thought they’d be closer than ever when they went home.
chapter twelve
Later on they all drifted over to the games room where kids took turns playing pool, ping-pong, or video games. And while Carlie tried to stay involved with her friends, she was getting tired and her arm was starting to ache again. So she sat down with a soda and just watched the buzz of activity all around her.
“Hey,” said Whitney as she joined her. “What’s up?”
Carlie shrugged. “Not much. I guess I’m kinda tired.”
“How’s the arm?”
“A little sore.”
“That’s too bad. Do you wish you’d gone home?”
“No …” said Carlie slowly. “Not at all. I’m really glad I stayed. Just to be here for Cory’s talk tonight was awesome. And then being with my friends … well, it’s worth it.”
Whitney nodded. “I saw you and your friends afterward. To be honest, I think I was a little jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Yeah. I mean, I know you and your friends were kind of in a squabble, but it seems like you guys really love each other.”
“We do.”
“And Amy told me about your club and your clubhouse and everything.”
“Did you think it was silly?”
“Not at all. I think it sounds pretty cool. I think you’re lucky.”
Suddenly Carlie felt uncertain. Was Whitney hinting that she wanted to be involved? But, even if that was the case, it was a decision that would have to be made by the group. Just the same, she knew she would bring it up — when they got back home anyway. But now it was time to go back to the cabins. Janna and Cory were going around and telling kids that it was time to call it a night, and Carlie was glad.
“Janna’s going to talk about boys,” said Amy with excitement as they walked back to the cabin.
“How do you know?” asked Emily.
“She told me,” said Amy.
“She told me too,” admitted Carlie.
“This is going to be good,” said Amy.
But all Carlie could think about was sleep. She just wanted to crawl into her bunk and close her eyes. And that’s just what she did when they got back to the warm cabin. She tried to listen as Janna talked to the girls. Still, she realized it wasn’t much different than what Janna had said to her on their way home from the clinic. Andit wasn’t that much different from what Carlie already believed in her heart. Even though she had learned to appreciate boys, including Enrico, in a new way, she had no interest in anything beyond friendship.
“There
Then, after Cory said “amen,” Carlie went straight to Chelsea. “I’m really, really sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t know why I was so mean to you earlier tonight, but I am really, really sorry. And I want you to forgive me. And I totally forgive you. And I want us to be friends and —” But before she could finish, Chelsea was hugging her.
“I’m sorry too, Carlie. I feel really bad about everything. And I know I’m a mean, horrible, selfish person. I was jealous of you, Carlie. And I think I actually wanted you to get hurt, and everything you said about me was true and I don’t deserve to —”
“Okay, okay,” said Carlie, stepping back. “But don’t be so hard on yourself, Chelsea.”
“What about what Cory said? What about bringing our messes out into the light?”
Carlie laughed now. “Yes. You’re right.”
Just then Emily, Morgan, and Amy joined them. All the girls were happily talking about how things were going to be different between them — how important their friendship was and how they wanted to treat each other better. Soonthey were all in a group hug, and Carlie was so thankful she hadn’t gone home. And she was so thankful for these four girls — and their Rainbow Bus club. She couldn’t believe how close they had come to losing it up here on the mountain. But now she thought they’d be closer than ever when they went home.
chapter twelve
Later on they all drifted over to the games room where kids took turns playing pool, ping-pong, or video games. And while Carlie tried to stay involved with her friends, she was getting tired and her arm was starting to ache again. So she sat down with a soda and just watched the buzz of activity all around her.
“Hey,” said Whitney as she joined her. “What’s up?”
Carlie shrugged. “Not much. I guess I’m kinda tired.”
“How’s the arm?”
“A little sore.”
“That’s too bad. Do you wish you’d gone home?”
“No …” said Carlie slowly. “Not at all. I’m really glad I stayed. Just to be here for Cory’s talk tonight was awesome. And then being with my friends … well, it’s worth it.”
Whitney nodded. “I saw you and your friends afterward. To be honest, I think I was a little jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Yeah. I mean, I know you and your friends were kind of in a squabble, but it seems like you guys really love each other.”
“We do.”
“And Amy told me about your club and your clubhouse and everything.”
“Did you think it was silly?”
“Not at all. I think it sounds pretty cool. I think you’re lucky.”
Suddenly Carlie felt uncertain. Was Whitney hinting that she wanted to be involved? But, even if that was the case, it was a decision that would have to be made by the group. Just the same, she knew she would bring it up — when they got back home anyway. But now it was time to go back to the cabins. Janna and Cory were going around and telling kids that it was time to call it a night, and Carlie was glad.
“Janna’s going to talk about boys,” said Amy with excitement as they walked back to the cabin.
“How do you know?” asked Emily.
“She told me,” said Amy.
“She told me too,” admitted Carlie.
“This is going to be good,” said Amy.
But all Carlie could think about was sleep. She just wanted to crawl into her bunk and close her eyes. And that’s just what she did when they got back to the warm cabin. She tried to listen as Janna talked to the girls. Still, she realized it wasn’t much different than what Janna had said to her on their way home from the clinic. Andit wasn’t that much different from what Carlie already believed in her heart. Even though she had learned to appreciate boys, including Enrico, in a new way, she had no interest in anything beyond friendship.
“There
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