~ Bowser's POV ~

One week.

One week has passed since I first arrived in Camp Tanooki, and I still hate it as much as I did before. I have no friends, not that I want any. Everyone knows I'm not happy here, even the counselors.

It's about 5 a.m. now, so everyone is still asleep. Maybe discomfort caused me to wake up a little early.

Like most of the previous nights I've spent here, I stayed up until around 2 a.m. I would have stayed up with my music playing at full volume, but that only happened on the first night. After that, our cabin counselor told me not to play my music like that anymore. Of course, I don't have to listen to him if I don't want to but... There are other ways to give people a hard time. So I stay up until 2 a.m. every night, hearing nothing but the sounds of nature or whatever you'd like to call them.

I decide to think a little bit, because I don't have anything better to do.

I'm not 100% cruel, and I say this because I'm sure you thought I was. I admit, maybe I've been too harsh on everyone around me. I'm acting the way I am because I have no clue how everyone else is so comfortable and happy here. Am I the only person who is here against his will? I envy those who got to choose how to spend their summer, including the people who came to Camp Tanooki because they wanted to. I'm pissed at my parents, but mostly my dad, for planning my summer for me. I'm nearly seventeen, I should get to make my own choices already! I can't stand being the only person who feels like this, so that may be why I'm being so unfriendly.

Okay, but I understand that people are paying a thousand or more coins for us to be here... And the campers, much like me, deserve a great summer. So I'll only open up to people on one condition.

They have to try befriending me first.

But unfortunately for everyone else, it takes me forever to consider someone a friend.

~ DK's POV ~

It's 7 a.m, and my cabinmates and I are getting ready to go to the place where we'll eat breakfast.

Besides my cabinmates, the people I talk to most are Toad and Wario. I hang with them at meals and group gatherings, and they're pretty cool to be around. Toad and Wario are more athletic than not, like me, and they don't talk badly about others as much as most people do.

Yesterday, they suggested that I should do something certain and I will do that today... In a few minutes, actually.

My cabinmates and I finally leave the cabin and begin walking to our destination, being led by Elliott. I wait for Mario and Waluigi to walk ahead of me, while Bowser stays behind everyone as usual. Mario and Waluigi are also cool, by the way.

I wait a minute or two before turning and looking backwards to face Bowser.

"Hi," I say.

"What?" Bowser mutters.

"Wanna stay with Toad, Wario, and I for breakfast?" I ask.

"Why should I?" Bowser responds. He's obviously annoyed. But then again, when is he not?

"I guess that means no. But, you are always welcome to hang out with us," I genuinely state.

Bowser just shrugs, ending our very short and probably only conversation.

I jog to Mario and Waluigi to join their conversation. Good thing I'm already friends with them.

As for Bowser... At least I tried to be friendly.

Soon, we arrive at our meals place and I look for Toad and Wario. Once I see them, I sit next to them at the table.

"Hey," Toad says. I nod at him and Wario.

"How's your cabin doing?" Wario questions.

"They're the same as usual. Pretty fun to talk to," I answer, clearly referring to Mario and Waluigi. "How's yours?"

"Well, you know what Bones and Boo are like. They barely speak to anyone besides each other," Toad states. "I kind of want to be friends with them though."

"Of course Toad, you want to be friends with everyone," Wario chuckles and turns to me. "Have you spoken to Bowser?"

"Umm, sort of," I reply. "I invited him to stay with us, but he didn't take the offer very well."

"At least you did what you could," Toad tells me after taking a bite of his hotdog. "It isn't your fault that he doesn't want to hang out with us. Maybe he'll want to later on."

"Maybe," I say. Then, all three of us continue eating our hotdogs in a comfortable silence.

~ Rosalina's POV ~

"We're going kayaking!" Elaine says cheerfully. "Two of you can go together in one, and the other person can go with me in another." We had arrived at a different lake... How many lakes are here anyway? I'm not complaining though, this particular one that we're at is really pretty.

"I can go with you, Elaine," Pauline smiles. She has been pretty nice to Tiny and I so far. Pauline looks like she would be a mean girl, but she really isn't one.

We take two kayaks into the lake. I get into one, and Tiny gets in behind me.

"Girls, we'll be in this area for about an hour so feel free to do whatever you want as long as you do it here!" Elaine calls out to us. Tiny and I nod in response.

After five minutes of silence between the two of us, Tiny speaks up.

"I think it's SO cute that Pauline likes Mario," she states. "Don't you?"

"Actually, I do," I reply.

Tiny is my closest friend in Camp Tanooki so far. One thing I learned about her is that she is a hopeless romantic. But like me, she doesn't have a real love life of her own.

"But, guess what I've noticed?" Tiny asks in a bit of a sing-song tone.

"What?" I say.

"Ever since the first day at camp, Mario has been staring at you on and off!" Tiny giggles. I get so startled that I nearly drop my paddle.

"Huh?" is all I can say.

"Yeah! He stares at you and smiles for a good five seconds before turning away and going back to whatever he was doing before," Tiny informs me.

"Okay, that's weird," I respond.

"Maybe he likes you," Tiny says.

"He doesn't," I state. "Maybe I looked weird or something, that's why he was staring at me. Or maybe you're exaggerating."

Mario can't like me. I don't like him in that way, I've barely talked to him! How would I deal with it if he liked me? Besides, he wouldn't go for someone like me. I'm not crush material. Ugh, now I'm frustrated. This is what happens when I rarely interact with people in my age group.

"Rosie, I'm not exaggerating," Tiny snaps me out of my thoughts. "I'll tell you next time I see it happening. And if he does like you, that's not a bad thing."

"I'm still not sure if I believe you, but okay," I shrug. "And don't let your little rumors-"

"They aren't rumors if they're true!" Tiny interrupted me in an attempt to defend herself.

"Anyways, don't let them reach Pauline. She wouldn't be happy," I say.

"Okay, I won't tell anyone else," Tiny smiles. "It really seems like you believe me though."

"I don't," I state.

And I'm not lying at all.

I'm so sorry for taking such a long time to update!!! I don't have an excuse, especially because I'm not very busy since I'm on summer break. I simply didn't get ideas right away. But I hope you liked this chapter! I'll try to get the next chapter up sooner but no promises. Who are your favorite characters so far? Tell me in the comments. Btw I feel kinda old, at least on Wattpad. Because as of yesterday, I've been on Wattpad for two whole years! And if you want me to be completely honest, I have no clue if I'll make it to my THIRD Wattpad anniversary or not... Anyways please add, comment, vote, etc. Thanks!

- @pinkandpeachy