Peter Pan . It was 3Câs shining night.
Brynn had the part of a Lost Boy, and Grace got to be Wendy. Brynn had actually been really cool when Grace beat her out for that main role. She seemed really happy to be a Lost Boy, surprisingly, and, un surprisingly, was putting a ton of effort into rehearsals, fixing the set, and all kinds of other play-related stuff.
âSure, of course. I thought I already was,â Alex said.
âYou are the sweetest, I swear,â Julie said. âAnyway, thanks. Natalie, Alyssa and Candace are helping out, too. The four of you need you to come to the planning meeting tomorrow night with the rest of us counselors. Itâll be fun. Weâre going to play Scrabble and stuff after we figure out the menu and plan the desserts. I always like you to have a say on those things, Alex.â
She was so happy to be included in any plans that involved the counselors. Alex definitely wanted to be a CIT in a few years, and she thought sheâd be really good at it. She loved organizing as many things as possible. With her newly shaped nailsâshe had to admit they looked pretty goodâAlex went back to the bunk in a great mood.
Back at 3C, not even Chelsea could ruin Alexâs spirits. She and Brynn would work out their differences; Alex was hopeful. Even if Julie hadnât noticedâor given Alex any adviceâAlex knew how strong their friendship really was.
âSo, what did Julie want, Alex?â Chelsea asked, getting in her face.
âOh, Iâm going to help with the formal banquet,â she answered as Chelsea inspected Alexâs nails.
âMe too!â Candace yelled enthusiastically. She was too sweet for her own good, but Alex felt kind of sorry for her, too. Candace never had an original thoughtâever. At least Candace was good at telling ghost stories. Apparently, sheâd learned them all from her older brother.
âOf course you are, Miss Perfect Alex,â Chelsea said. âYouâre always doing whatever you can to kiss the counselorsâ butts. Just like Natalie and Alyssa and Candace.â
âPlease, Chelsea,â Natalie said, sitting on her bottom bunk on the other side of the room. âWhatâs your problem?â
Alex was glad Nat had chimed in. She didnât know how to react to Chelsea. Today of all days she really wasnât prepared for extra bunk drama.
âYou need to mind your own business,â Alex said, once she had regained her composure. She looked Chelsea dead in the eye.
The rest of the girlsâ mouths hung open. But not Brynn. Brynn didnât stand up for Alex. Alex couldnât believe her supposed best friend didnât have her back. Alex really did start feeling sick to her stomach. She didnât even want to be in the scavenger hunt anymore.
âDonât tell me what to do,â Chelsea said while Karen ran up to her and tried to distract her. Karen attempted to make Chelsea sit down by offering to French braid her hair. Chelsea finally did sit down, but that didnât mean she would shut up.
âThen donât get in my face,â Alex said, wishing she were the kind of person who could give Chelseaâs long blond hair a nice short trim in the middle of the night. She hated that this fight was escalatingâbut Chelsea had managed to push just the wrong button. And right when Alex had been feeling a little bit better . . .
âDonât be such a drama queen,â Chelsea added. âEveryone, just relax. I didnât mean what I said. It was rude.â
âYou donât say,â Alex spat.
âWhatever,â Chelsea said, over it and preoccupied with Karenâs hairstylings.
Everyone was deadly quiet. After a beat, they tried to go back to hanging out.
Alex looked up to see Brynn walking toward her. Jenna, Jessie, and Candace perked up, watching.
Alex shot them a meaningful look, and they got the hint to mind their own business.
Abby Weeks
Dorothy Eden
Emma Rose
Rachel Vail
Rudolph Chelminski
Teju Cole
Yasmine Galenorn
LLC Melange Books
William W. Johnstone
Shaun Hutson