Today I'm going to summer camp for the sixth year straight. Everyone likes talking about it as a hindrance, as something they have to do because their parents want to or as a way to socialize. In my case, however, it's different. To me, it's like a mystical experience. It's a way to get back in track after roasting my brain cells in school between incompetent professors and stuck-up classmates.

Except one, Katy Santos. We've stuck together since elementary school, and have always shared every single class. It all started when I accidentally broke her nose during the usual dodgeball game on a cold Friday afternoon. I had single handedly taken out half of the class, and my team was close to victory. We were the favorites since Haylee Duckett, the captain chosen by our teacher, and I were the best at dodgeball in our class.

I just needed to hit Katy, or make sure Haylee would catch her throw, and then we'd win. I did aim at Katy, but only meant to hit her back or some other body part that wouldn't hurt too much. Instead, the ball went straight to her nose. Although I won, I didn't feel like celebrating.

I remember that Katy had come for me after getting medicated and yelled that my last throw was "unfair" and "a low blow." I had tried to apologize by then, but she wouldn't have any of it and retaliated. She had in turn hit my head hard with the same ball I threw at her.

Our mutual ill feelings wouldn't last long, by the way. The following day, she had already forgiven me. Time passed, and we became inseparable, to the point that the other kids I used to hang out with during recess started resenting me and, as a result, distancing themselves from me.

Haylee was the most vocal in belittling me, citing that I couldn't and shouldn't hang out with a loser such as Katy. While I did put her in her place, it was Katy who shut her down for once. "You're acting like that because you can't keep friends for your own sake!" she had stated, making the entire class go quiet.

Since then, Haylee had become even more insufferable, gossiping about me or Katy, or making sure none of her clique would approach us. We lost track of her when she moved states in sixth grade, and I'm still thankful for that. She had such a puncheable face that she'd tattle on me every time Katy or I taunted her.

Even though she's now a remnant of my past, I've met other prissy bitches like Haylee over the years. While I don't really mingle at lot at camps, something I usually do there is playing pranks on everyone. This earned me a lot of enemies, so far, but made my bond with Katy even stronger. There are barely any pranks we have yet to try, well, if we don't count the deadly ones we only see on TV.

Hopefully, we don't have to resort to those this year—that is, if we don't run out of ideas or patience.

***

"Have some pie, darling. You'll need it for your trip." Mom hands me a small Tupperware box containing a slice of apple pie.

I smile. "Thank you, Mom. I didn't forget when I arrived at camp, starving..." As I taunt her, Mom gives me a stern glare, but this doesn't stop me from mimicking her and then laughing. Her glare softens, yet I still keep teasing her. "Oh, come on, it's true. I-"

Mom cuts me off, raising a finger. "Just take the pie and go, Lilah. You're running late." She's right. I need to be at the bus station in... twenty minutes. This time I really need a miracle to be in time. What's worse is that I haven't even finished packing yet.

Dad passes me, one of my bags in hand. "When you're done teasing your mother, take that other bag, okay? I'm waiting for you at the car. Don't be late like last year." I should've known... I tend to be late on a number of instances, for which Dad has scolded me a lot of times.

Last year, I missed the bus to the camp because I slept until thirty minutes before the time I was supposed to be at the bus station and, despite my best efforts to rush through things, I still couldn't be there on time. As a result, Dad had to take me to camp himself and was pissed off at me for that. This made him distrust me over punctuality even more, and, to be fair, he's right.

I literally run to pick what's left to pack, dress myself and rush towards Dad's car. I retreat back as he frowns at me and choose to take the back seat. He, however, teases me. "Come on, Lilah, I don't bite. Let's just forget what happened last year, okay?" He starts the car and won't stop calling me mopey just because I fear being late.

"Dad, come on, how many more times do I have to apologize for last year?" I sigh, but he won't relent. I get he wants me to learn how to be punctual for once, but this is so getting out of hand.

"Relax. We're only ten minutes away from the bus station. This year, you'll be on time." He'd better be right, or else he'll keep nagging at me for my tardiness forever. How am I supposed to fix it if he taunts me instead of proactively helping me to be on time?

The rest of the trip goes without any issues, and we finally arrive at the bus station at the allotted time. Surprisingly, it's not me who's late. The bus is.

"I have to go, darling. Don't forget to text Mom and me when you're there. Bye!" Dad leaves without letting me say goodbye properly. Perhaps he's busy with his friends at some gaming livestream event on Twitch, or at some obscure comic fair. He's the ultimate geek. If he doesn't catch up with the latest news about the most in videogame sagas or the newest chapter of the manga of the moment, he'll freak out.

Anyway, as he's gone, I feel someone tapping my shoulder. I turn and let out a squeal. "Katy! Here you are!" She squeals back, but I immediately turn serious. "Flash news: the bus is late."

"No fucking way!" she exclaims, gesturing at the empty valet. "It's like karma wants to make up with you after you missed the bus!" I know she's kidding, but, come on, the wait is painful. Even though I can count on Katy's company, she doesn't fancy this place either. It's so boring. There's nothing here, not even a bar or the toilet.

"Okay, if the bus isn't here within ten minutes, I think I'm gonna freak out!" says Katy again. "I mean, why today? It's camp day! Imagine if we're late because of that, and we get stuck in the worst cabin." To be honest, I don't think we'll end up in a bad cabin. Maybe we'll find someone who can stand our pranks or just an expert in heartbreak.

The only way to find out is to actually live the moment.