Read Online The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams - Free Book Online Page B

shadows on her face, giving her a sinister look, like the killer in one of Fred’s scarier ghost stories.
    â€œHey,” she said cheerily, throwing back her hood and restoring her usually more angelic appearance. “Good job, Katie Bell. Y’all were hilarious. Never would have thought you could pull off drag.”
    Katie Bell had played the song’s love interest—a Brownie.
    â€œMaybe you can teach drama next year?” Winn joked.
    â€œMaybe,” Katie Bell replied humorlessly.
    Winn’s smile froze, her eyebrows raised quizzically at Katie Bell’s shortness. “ O -kay,” she said.
    A couple of campers passed through the circle of light with their arms around each other’s shoulders, laughing as they slogged up the hill. It was a stark contrast to the arctic chill currently emanating from Winn and Katie Bell.
    â€œAnyway . . .” Winn continued, looking at me, “I’ll see you later, Helena?”
    She said this deliberately, with a wink in her voice, not knowing Katie Bell already knew what she was trying to say without saying it. I could feel Katie Bell bristle beside me.
    â€œYeah.” I made my voice as colorless and neutral as possible. “I’ll meet y’all at the Mess after Taps,” I said quickly.
    Winn nodded and jogged off to catch up with Lizbeth.
    â€œI think I need a Tums,” Katie Bell said suddenly.
    â€œWhy?” I asked, confused.
    â€œMust be the baked beans. I’m gonna run down to the Mansion.” It wasn’t exactly a strange thing to do. A lot of us got heartburn from Rosie and Tee’s cooking. Tums were handed out like after-dinner mints at the infirmary.
    â€œOkay.” I shrugged. “Well, do you want me to come get you later? After . . .”
    â€œSure,” she answered. “Yeah. Come wake me up, definitely. Have fun.”
    â€œAll right. Feel better,” I said, but it was to the back of her sweatshirt. She had already turned to walk quickly to the Mansion.
    â€œShhhhhh!”
    Six of us were creeping along the path that led from the riflery range to the lake and circled around to the swim dock. The rest of the counselors at the range had bailed. We tiptoed single file. All I could see was Winn’s back shaking with the giggles in front of me.
    â€œShhhh,” Sarah whispered again, laughing even as she scolded us. “Sound carries over water!”
    Winn turned to fake a serious face. In front of us, Buzz and another Brownie, Nate, led on. Behind me, Ransome accidentally stepped on the heel of my flip-flop.
    â€œSorry,” he whispered.
    â€œIt’s okay,” I whispered back.
    Finally, the trail opened onto the main path to the lake. Crouching low, we snuck across the clearing and down to the dock. The water stretched out peacefully before us.
    Ransome had made good on his threat: we were going skinny-dipping.
    â€œI can’t believe we’re doing this,” I murmured, watching nervously as everyone started to remove their shoes.
    Ransome, standing beside me with a boot in his hand, paused. “Are you scared?” he asked. As far as I could tell, he wasn’t teasing; he was serious. The concern was sweet.
    And yes, I was scared. The thought of being naked in a big dark lake with the fish and snakes I was sure lived there . . . yeah, it kinda scared me. Wasn’t this how Jaws started? But what freaked me out more was the thought of shucking my clothes and standing buck naked in front of Ransome and the other Brownies, even if for only a second.
    My pulse quickened, the blood beating through my head and chest, as I realized Ransome would be naked too. Nothing between us but moonlight and water. Suddenly the idea that had seemed so carefree and fun at the riflery range was a lot more fraught with anxiety than I’d imagined.
    Then again, wasn’t this exactly the kind of scene I’d always fantasized about? A playful,