Read Online Twelve by Lauren Myracle - Free Book Online Page B

the counselors’ table.
    â€œUm . . . to check on our arts-and-crafts projects,” I improvised.
    â€œBe back in time for your afternoon activity!” she called. “And don’t forget—we’re doing barges tonight!”
    â€œWhat does she mean, ‘barges’?” I asked Jaden, since this was her third summer. We fast-walked down toward the lake, leading the rest of the pack.
    â€œThose little boats we made out of tree bark,” she said. “Remember? We’re going to melt candles onto them and float them down the river. It’s so pretty.”
    â€œOh,” I said. We got to the lake and squelched our way to the tucked-away niche beyond the dock. It wasn’t perfectly blocked off from the camp, but pretty much so. The others clumped around us. Amanda was slightly out of breath. She raised her eyebrows, like are you really going to go through with this?
    â€œWell . . .” I said. My heart pounded. “Here goes nothing! ” I pulled off my shirt and bra and stepped out of my shorts and undies. Quick quick quick, because I was aware of everyone staring. I splashed into the lake—cold! cold!— and then I was doing it, skinny-dipping, with water swirling all about.
    â€œCome on in!” I called. Adrenaline surged through me. “It’s awesome, I swear!”
    Jessica hesitated, then peeled off her clothes and plunged in. Then Jaden, and then Madison, although she kept her underwear on until she was submerged, and only when she was fully covered did she toss them onto the bank. She forgot, apparently, that eventually she’d have to get out.
    â€œA man da!” I cried. “Come on !”
    â€œI can’t!” she cried. “I’m too much of a wimp!”
    â€œNo, you’re not,” I said. I got stern, to the delight of the others. “Get in right this second, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”
    Amanda took her shirt off, then her shorts. Her undies matched her bra. Both had pink flowers.
    â€œCan’t I just get in like this?” she asked.
    â€œNoooo!” we said.
    She gnawed on her thumbnail, her other arm wrapped around her ribs. Then she turned sideways and slipped off her undies. Last of all came her bra, and I saw that I’d been wrong about her not needing one. Crossing both arms over her chest, she ran squealing into the water.
    â€œ Yes! ” I said when she reached the rest of us. I slapped her a slippery high five.
    A stick-snapping sound came from the bank, and Amy emerged from the trees. “What in the world is going on here?” she demanded.
    Everyone shrieked. It was like at a slumber party, where someone’s dad says “Boo” right at the scary part of a movie.
    â€œIt’s Amy!” Madison cried unnecessarily. “Hide!”
    â€œWhere, you dork?” Jessica said. Although even she ducked down to her chin in the water. We all did.
    â€œWhose idea was this?” Amy said. She zeroed in on me. “Let me guess. Winnie?”
    I straightened my spine, but kept my chest submerged. “I cannot tell a lie,” I said. “It was . . . Amanda!”
    â€œ What?! ” Amanda screeched.
    Jessica and Jaden cracked up. Madison snorted out a snot bubble.
    â€œUm, just kidding?” I said. I grinned hopefully.
    Amy stayed mean for only a second. “Well, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” she said, pulling off her rugby. Everyone shrieked again. Her breasts really were ginormous.
    She stripped off the rest of her clothes and splashed into the lake, and for once I didn’t make jokes about things I shouldn’t have, like the bruise above her nipple that looked like a bite mark. I could have said plenty about that. I could have made everybody laugh. But I didn’t need to. It was enough, just swimming naked in the water.
    That night, I sniffled along with the others as we set our bark boats afloat