Read Online Five Summers by Una LaMarche - Free Book Online

Maddie said. “It was
very
illicit.”
    “Ew!” Jo said, looking stricken.
    “They were only a year apart in age,” Maddie said.
    “Still,” Jo shuddered. Maddie shrugged. Mack was trying to start a sing-along round of “Make New Friends.”
    “We’re just looking out for you,” Skylar whispered to Emma, the fire reflecting in her eyes. “Adam’s cute and funny, but he’s so immature. Everything he does and says is just to look cool.”
    “I know,” Emma said defensively. She thought it was weird that Skylar was suddenly acting so protective, when just last summer she’d offered her five dollars to kiss Adam. (Okay, to be fair, Skylar had bet
against
Emma, but it had still seemed encouraging at the time.)
    “I just don’t want him to play with you,” Skylar said, giving Emma a squeeze. “Even if he’s just your friend.” Then it was their turn to sing.
    “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold . . .” As soon as the round passed, Emma turned back to Skylar.
    “I’m fine, I promise,” she whispered. “There’s no playing going on. I’m out of the game. I forfeit.”
    “Okay, I’ll back off,” Skylar said, looking a little skeptical. “But just remember, it’s our last summer. It should be about
us
.”
    A few seconds later, Adam returned with two sticks speared with marshmallows. “M’ladies,” he greeted them as he sat back down. “Anybody up for a joust?” He jabbed the sticks in the air, imitating a fencer. “No one?”
    Jo rolled her eyes, and then she, Maddie, and Skylar joined in on a boisterous song about Johnny Appleseed. Emma knew the words, but she was distracted.
    “You know,” she said, leaning over to Adam, who was just mouthing along. “You can just be normal. You don’t have to try so hard.” He started to grin, and Emma could see the wheels turning in his head, crafting the perfect snappy comeback. But then he stopped. The smile disappeared and he fell silent.
    “I know,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I just . . . it feels like every year I want to try something different. Be someone different, I guess.” Emma looked down at her dress. A stray thread spiraled down from the hem; she’d probably snagged it on a branch.
    “Someone better,” she said. Adam looked at her and smiled, a genuine smile this time, with no trace of his former teasing.
    “Exactly.”
    “Well, we’re seniors now,” she said slowly. “So that means we’re automatically better. Right?”
    “If only it were that easy.” He blew on the roasted marshmallows and handed one stick to Emma, and she took them, grateful for the warmth. (Jo had been right after all—she
was
cold.) “To being better,” Adam said, holding up his stick like a champagne flute.
    “To the best summer ever,” Emma amended, tipping her marshmallows at him.
    “I like your dress, by the way,” he said.
    She smiled and looked into the fire as she waited for her turn to sing again. Maybe she’d lied to Skylar without meaning to. Maybe she wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

Jo

    Reunion: Day 1
    JO STOOD ON THE BASKETBALL COURT LOOKING OUT at the crowd of former campers assembled on the Green. According to her clipboard spreadsheet, there were almost two hundred reunion attendees, the biggest turnout in Camp Nedoba’s short history. And since so many of the former campers came from her graduating year, her dad had put Jo in charge of event planning for the entire weekend. She was both thrilled and overwhelmed. It was the best gift her father had given her since he’d set up a Frisbee golf course in their backyard for her twelfth birthday, but it was also a huge responsibility. She couldn’t screw this up.
    The dry July heat was unrelenting, and playing hacky sack with Nate had just made her sweatier. She mopped her forehead with her shirt sleeve. People were getting restless.
    “Testing, testing, one, two, three.” Jo tapped her megaphone, eliciting a squeal of feedback.