"Alexis... Alexis... Alexis..."

My eyes blink. Once. Twice. Thrice.

Sunlight streams over the vast, open fields surrounding Camp Albanica. Counsellors and campers alike run to and from the various common areas or to the trails that lead to the cabins. Some move with great effort under the weight of their bags whilst others run so fast it's a hazard. Amongst it all are the counsellors trying to gain control of the medley.

However, I stand still. Lost in a time warp. Unable to hear anything. Frozen in a blur.

Colton Moreno.

Two, similar figures stand in my peripheral vision. They talk to each other animatedly.

Colton Moreno.

"Alexis!" I jump with a start.

Ashlynn. Brooklynn. Camp. Counselling.

"Huh?"

"Oh Lexi, I thought we'd lost you for a second there! What were you thinking about?" Ashlynn frowns, eyeing me with concern.

"Oh, what? No. I'm fine just a little tired I guess. The trip from San Diego to here is a long seventeen hours and you know how I get on long trips. I can't sleep for the life of me!" I say, with a little too much perk.

Their gazes lock on me with disbelief. "No, seriously, I'm fine."

"Alexis, we saw Colton walk past too–"

"Brooklynn, I'm fine."

When it seems, Brooklynn is about to speak again, Colton's best friend, Tanner, approaches us. Grinning widely, he walks with a jump to his step and almost instantly the fog in my brain clears up. I feel lighter, happier.

"Howdy, girls!"

"Hey Tanner." I smile. "What can we do for you?"

"I need help... I seem to have lost my campers." Scratching his sandy hair, his cheeks turn scarlett but never the less his beamer is still intact, he never stops smiling. Explains his sharp jaw.

"How on earth did you manage that in less than an hour? And how do you even know what campers you have?"

"It's easier than you think..."

"Seriously tanner?" Brooklynn tries again.

"Well, I may or may not have begged Gianna to give me my camper rota earlier so I could beat my fellow counsellor in the race to become favourite counsellor?" the words tumble out of his mouth quicker than lightening.

"And?"

"How do you know there's an and?"

"Because you still haven't explained how you lost them," Brooklyn deadpans.

"Oh, right. Okay, so we were racing each other around the camp ground and then I might've got too into it? Because the next thing I know I've won the race but my campers are nowhere in sight. I have no clue what happened!" It took all my might not to burst out laughing at the confused look in his hazel eyes.

"Tanner?"

"Yeah?"

"They have tiny legs..." Ashlynn trails off.

"So?"

"You're a six-foot giant with huge, long legs!" Ashlynn chuckles.

"Um... so?"

"Okay, never mind then. Where's the finish line?" I ask.

"The Dinner Hall so we'd be in time for the opening ceremony."

"So, maybe that would be the best place to start considering they could take far longer than you?"

"You're so right Lexi! How come I never thought of that?" All we can do is shrug, our bodies vibrating with laughter. "This way!"

Five minutes along the trail made of sand and grail, and we arrive at the Dinner hall. To nobody's surprise, although maybe Tanner's, six children stand looking around with puzzle.

"There you are!" Tanner separates himself from us and runs over to them, visibly sighing with relief. "I'm so sorry but at least I'm still your favourite counsellor, right?"

Edging away from tanner ever so slightly they nod their heads slowly. I bet you anything Gianna's going to have complaints from 'concerned' mothers tomorrow.

Ashlynn, Brooklynn and I share a secret smile before entering the Dinner Hall and leaving Tanner be. Albeit, probably not our best idea.

Seeing Natalia and Vivian sitting at a picnic table outside we make our way over. Voices fly around us everywhere filled with excitement and happiness, each and every person sporting a grin, the Colorado sun beating down on them. Soon, their pale complexions would be replaced with healthy glow's and they'd return home at the end of the summer with far more freckles than they came with. But Tanner would always be the tan-est.

Finally reaching them, we settle onto the bench and get comfortable. "It's good to see you guys again!"

"It's good to see you too, Ashley." Vivian's eyes crinkle in delight before greeting Brooklynn and I. Natalia doing the same. 

"Oh! You'll never believe what I found out!"

"What did you find out Nat?" Vivian asks, a knowing look behind her glasses.

"Colton Moreno is back!"

"Natalia! Don't be so blunt about it!"

"Sure, Natalia could've worded it better but Ashlynn, we do need to talk about this," Brooklynn murmurs.

Four heads turn to stare at me.  "What? Is there something on my face?"

"Stop being so difficult Lexi." Stop being so difficult Lexi. Bleh.

I sigh. "What's there to talk about Brooke? I can't fathom him out any better than you can."

Standing up, I swing my leg back over the bench and clamber out, walking over to the open doors that lead to the indoor canteen and hall.

I don't expect the other girls to understand and that's fine. But sometimes I just wish they didn't make such a big deal about it. Surely if we make the problem seem smaller than it is, it won't seem so monstrous?

"Why look what the wind brought in! It's Lexi Davis!" a gruff voice shouts from the kitchen.

"Al! How are you?"

"I'm doing good doll, apart from Gianna trying to convert me to Vegetarianism. I'm a man who loves meat, how hard is that tae understand!" He chuckles, leaning his stock upper half over the serving hatch. "How are ye? Where's the rest of your scrawny pals? Am needin' to feed you all up good!"

"We're not scrawny, Al! Just because we don't come back for second helpings doesn't mean we don't eat enough, heck, I went up a temporary dress size last summer with all the food you were giving me!"

"Ah, that's what a like tae hear. But ya never answered ma question, how are ye?"

Toeing the ground, I look away. I could never lie to Al, he's like a second father to me. Heck, I see him more than I do my real one. "I'm good... actually did you hear that Natalia's father is doing a lot better now? He's a couple of months' cancer free!"

Al looks at me with concern. "Yeah, Nat stopped by earlier... Lexi, ye know I'm always here for ye?"

"I know Al, I know."

"Well, aw right then. Hey, did a tell ye abou' Tanner comin' in here earlier mumblin' abou' losin' his duffel bag? Turns oot it was still in his ma's trunk. That lad would hav' lost his head by now if it wasnae screwed on." Laughing, Al continues to tell me his famous stories brightening my day up again. I could always count on Al.

"I hope you're not gossiping about me, Albert." Gianna tuts, entering through the back of the kitchen to the Serving Hatch. She catches my eye and winks.

"Who? Meh? Naw!"

"Albert, you're always gossiping about me."

"A don' knaw who told ye that but they're lyin'."

"Albert, no one told me, I keep catching you in the middle of the crime."

Al blushes and he scratches his (nearly bald) head. "S'pose a did do it, a would only be doin' it 'cause ye stopped buyin' in biscuits!"

"Because the doctor told you to cut out junk food!"

"So? What does he knaw?"

Gianna and Albert definitely created the phrase 'like an old married couple' because, simply, they are one. Well, they might just be old if Gianna stops buying in bacon, that's for sure.

Turning to me, Gianna smirks, her green eyes flashing and complimenting her red hair. "See what I've to put up with? Anyway, we've got a opening ceremony to hold, see you after?"

"For sure." I grin, walking back outside to the girls.

"Brookie's sorry, Lexi!" Ashlynn rushes to say when I sit back down.

"I'm sure she is." I laugh. "But it's fine. The opening ceremony's about to begin anyway."

Brooklynn locks eyes with me for a few seconds, an agonizing few seconds at that. Her head bobs slightly with the sign I was looking for; we're good.

"Girls and boys, counsellors alike, it's the moment you've all been waiting for... the opening ceremony!" Gianna's soft voice bellows over the intercom system surrounding the camp ground. She stands on a small, makeshift stage armed with a microphone in one hand and a clipboard in the other. "Or should I say, it's the rota you've all been waiting for?"

Cheers erupt from both inside and outside the hall, campers banging their feet or dinner trays onto table to create as much noise as possible.

"Simmer down now!" Gianna tries but to no avail.

Al steps up on to the platform, stealing the mic in the process. "Oi!" his voice thunders across our heads, silencing us, "That's betta." He chuckles stepping back down.

"As I was saying, we all know what you've been waiting for but I'm afraid you're going to have to wait a little longer while I go over some important announcements." She teases, some older guys in the back 'booing' her.

"But only because I have some exciting news! This year we're going to do it a little differently. Albeit, the counsellors will be still in charge of one group, you will join up with another, different counsellor and their group each week to take part in activities!" At this, the air fills with whispers of curiosity. "But that's not all. The annual end of summer tally will still be in place and the group that gain the most wins or points in each activity will get to camp under the stars for a night and come back next year for free... assuming they want to!"

Naturally, the noise starts up again, campers letting their excitement be known. One older boy shouts above the racket, "Hey, I want money if I win! I'm broke!" Aren't we all?

"Aye, aw righ'. We'll give ye a special prize just for ye then, O'brien?"

"Alright enough boys. The rota will be posted in the Administration Office where you can look at it in an orderly fashion before counsellors start role call. Well, I guess that's all! I hope everyone has a splendid time here at Camp Albanica and just know that I'm always here if you need anything," Gianna says, stepping off the stage with a smile, signalling the end of the ceremony and allowing us to go back to chatting. Although with more energy this time.

"Who do you think will win this year?" Natalia asks.

"Probably Colton now he's back..." Vivian trails off, the air becoming awkward.

"Oh yeah, didn't he win every year?" I force a smile.

"Yeah, he did."

"Hey, Brooke, imagine if you get paired up with Braden? Maybe he'll grow on you and you'll finally go out with him." Ashlynn giggles.

"Oh, kill me now."

Despite the juicy topic of Brooklynn's love life on the table, I can't pay attention. All I can think about is how Colton won every single year he was here. In fact, he was desperate to win every year. Why? What is he hiding?

hey guys... i'm back!

and with an update today as promised. i think that deserves around of applause, don't you?

anyway, tell me what you think, i'd love to here!

see you next friday!

______
let's play a game! i'll give you the first 8 words and then u guys get 3 words: 1 comment each. you basically just have to continue the story on. so, here I go,

there once was a girl named Ally and...

i'm interested to see what happens!
______
Qotc: what's your second favourite movie?

_______
cotc: had to be by NightmareAtBay - i always love your witty remarks!

______
that's all for now guys, stay tuned!

xoxo,

jessie.