Sunlight shone through my eyelids as Mykayla dragged open the curtains. I groaned and burrowed into my covers.

"Come on, girls, it's your last day! Let's make it the best one."

The bunk bed shook as Leila climbed down from above, the metal steps whistling as she came.

"That's it, Leila," Mykayla said. "The rest of you, hurry up!"

I sighed, pulling the covers from over my head. The cool air from the open door wrapped around me and I shivered. The cold mornings are one thing I won't miss, I thought to myself. I climbed out of the bed, the wooden floor freezing the bottom of my feet. My legs were still sore from all of yesterday's hiking and I felt I was going to collapse with each step.

Back home meant friendship problems and loneliness. Here, I was free of any trouble. It's funny how I was so nervous about coming to D. Smith, but now I don't want to leave it.

Isabelle and Avani had both crawled out of bed, looking as tired as me. Avani's hair was a black squirrel's nest while Isabelle's eyes refused to stay open.

"I'm going to wait outside. In ten minutes you should be all dressed and brushed to set up breakfast." Mykayla strided out of the room.

"Right, it's our turn," Isabelle whispered.

"I'm already dressed," Leila said. Her tie-dye shirt and jeans sparkled in the morning sunlight.

I dragged my clothing bag from under the bunk bed and gathered my clothes for the day.

~~~

"I was beginning to think you would never come out," Mykayla said as Avani stepped down the stairs.

"I couldn't decide which headband to wear. In the end, I decided you can't go wrong with light blue." Avani pointed to the light blue headband wrapped around her hair, two strands hanging on either shoulder.

"We should get going," Isabelle said. "We have ten minutes before everyone else needs to come."

With a last glance at the cabin, I headed to the lodge with the others. I was surprised by how quickly the week passed. One moment I just got there, the next, leaving. We did a painful amount of hiking and Mykayla was not one to rest, but I felt happy. I didn't have to worry about losing friends or being alone. Isabelle, Leila, and Avani were always there to talk to and hang out with.

We walked through the doorway, the air warmer and less crisp as outside. Sweet syrup filled my senses and I relaxed. The smell reminded me of the pancakes my dad made at home. The tables and benches were all slid to one side of the room. It was our job to pull them into two rows. Without any words, we began our task.

As we pushed the last table into place, the first group came in. They headed straight for the counter where plates of pancakes were laid.

Breakfast went by like a breeze. Everybody talked about their plans for the weekend and what they would do with their parents when they got home. I wasn't sure what I would be doing, but I would treat my mom a whole lot better. It took time to adjust to not having her support.

The trees sheltered us from the wind as we walked through the forest to the pond after eating. The little noises of burrowing creatures and rustling leaves sounded in my ears. Red, yellow, and brown leaves littered the ground, making it hard to see the trail. I was glad Mykayla showed us the way.

The wind strengthened as the trees opened up around a small pond with a boardwalk circling the water. We paused as Mykayla passed out magnifying glasses. "Be careful," she said. "These are the expensive kind."

"We will protect these tools with our lives," Avani promised.

Mykayla chuckled. "I'm sure you will."

I followed the path down to the pond cautiously. I heard rumors about Mckenzie losing his shoe and Mia dropping her hair elastic in this pond. As I stepped onto the boardwalk, I crouched down and put the magnifier to my eyes. If the green water looked gross before, it was even worse up close. Little specks zoomed around the sticky-looking gloop. The buzzing sound didn't help.

Bzz. Bzzzzz. I dropped my magnifying glass with a scream as a large insect flickered by my nose. Sploosh. The glass crashed into the water and I scooped it up as fast as I could. The icky water soaked into my hand and I grimaced as I pulled out the wet magnifier glass.

"That wasn't good," Isabelle said from the other side of me.

I nodded in agreement, flashing a look at Mykayla. Luckily, she was busy talking with Avani and hadn't noticed the commotion. I rubbed the water off with my jeans and continued walking like nothing happened.

~~~

I had never been so glad to see the lodge, to see the wood walls shining in the sun and the door opened in welcome. The rest of the time at the pond was as gross as the beginning to the point I never wanted to see it again. Before lunch, we took a quick stop to wash the ick from our hands. Then we headed for the dining area, triumphant. Despite the fact the pond was disgusting, none of us lost anything like other groups were rumored to have done.

I hadn't gotten too far into my pork chops and applesauce when a high pitched wailing echoed throughout the room. I whirled around trying to locate the source. There. Heimo, a squat boy in my class was crying, no, having a tantrum in the middle of the floor. His usually pale face was burning red and tears streamed down his cheeks. Is this what I looked like at ballet? Ms. Isola crouched down beside him, whispering words to him, but her attempts were fruitless. Everybody in the whole room froze by then and no one dared to move.

"I called his parents," Ms. Raven said from the right of the doorway. She had to shout to be heard. "His parents are coming to pick him up."

Ms. Isola nodded, her eyes narrowing. She forced the boy to stand and walked him out the door with Ms. Raven on their heels.

For two seconds there was silence, then the room erupted into whisper.

"I feel bad for him," Avani said from across the table.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's hard being so far from home. I've felt like breaking down like that a few times."

Our eyes met, my blue to her brown. We both smiled. It was the first time in a long time we were friends again.