Read Online Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita - Free Book Online Page A

problems and is always sneaking out to hook up with guys. Grace is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She so can’t handle the strains of being a CIT. And Emily Kate, well, let’s just say she’s too boring to even discuss.” Ashley laughed. “Then there’s Sam. She’s bizarre. She’s always going off on her own and no one knows where she goes. She’s trying to fit in, but the truth is no one in our bunk even talks to her.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, but I could still hear her. “She’s a complete outcast.”
    My blood was pumping. I didn’t want an invite to Ashley’s stupid party, but when she blatantly lied about my friends, I had to say something. Ashley was still talking when I approached her group and the girls saw me before Ashley did. “Hey,” I said, startling her. I was smiling broadly. “How are you doing, Ash?”
    “Oh, hey, Sam.” Ashley looked nervous. It was the first time I’d ever caught her off guard.
    “I thought I’d see if you wanted to borrow any sunscreen.” I held up my bottle. “We all know how red you get if you don’t put it on.” I looked at the other girls. “She looked like a lobster the other night and we did all we could with concealer, but it didn’t help.” I was surprised at how good my jab sounded.
    “I’ve got my own sunblock, thanks,” Ashley snapped and gave me a tight smile. “But since we’re being all friendly, I should probably tell you something.” She looked me up and down. “I think your bathing suit shrunk. It’s kind of tight around the belly.” She made a face. “Unless you’ve gained weight. I mean, you have eaten an awful lot of carbs lately. It’s not surprising. Since it’s your first year at camp, you don’t know how to eat right, but don’t worry, sweetie, I’m sure no one other than me even noticed your tire.” A few of the girls giggled. My face flushed.
    “Sam? I could really use your help over here,” I heard Donovan yell from the water. The girls were all splashing around so much I could barely see him.
    “Sure,” I said, not looking at Ashley. My brief moment of confidence was gone and all I could do was meekly retreat. “Talk to you guys later,” I mumbled.
    “I hope so!” Ashley sang.
    As I approached the water, I turned around and saw Ashley and her posse huddled deep in conversation on their matching hot pink towels. Court called Ash’s friends the Beach Blanket Brigade because they always placed their towels on the same spot on the beach, and if anyone else tried to sit there, they threw a fit. Apparently the location of towels was pretty important at the lakefront. Me, I could care less where I threw my towel, just as long as it was there when I got back.
    “So what are we doing?” I asked Donovan when I had made my way into the water. The girls were all holding on to the dock as they waited for further instruction. There were ropes that enclosed the shallow and the deep ends and two lap lanes were roped off for free swim. As much as I liked doing laps, I couldn’t face the thought of doing them in a lake with water so murky you couldn’t see the bottom. Grace swore the lake was clean, but I was freaked out by the possibility of brushing against a fish while I swam.
    “Practicing our breaststroke,” Donovan said, and made the motion with his muscular arms. Even the six-year-olds took notice. “Why don’t you start working with each girl one by one?”
    “Sure,” I agreed.
    The class moved quickly. I helped Mackenzie practice floating on her back, worked with Callie on swimming underwater, and helped Serena with her breaststroke. Donovan used me as his assistant to teach the girls what to do if they were having trouble in the water and how to signal him. Then Donovan pretended to rescue me and bring me back to shore. I couldn’t help but keep looking back at Ashley and her buddies, but it was growing harder and harder to see them. The lakefront had gotten pretty crowded with other classes