"James Potter," their fourth and final cabin mate introduces. 

James struts into the center of the cabin with two hefty bags on either shoulder. He radiates confidence, bordering arrogance, demanding everybody's attention the moment he steps into a room. Unkept, raven black hair lays atop his head, curling at the nape of his neck; it looks as if he's never brushed it a day in his life. He wears white shorts that stop at mid-thigh with a blue cotton t-shirt tucked into the waistband. Circular rimmed glasses frame his sun-kissed face, accentuating his hazel eyes that are bright with excitement. 

Everything about James reminds Remus of the jocks from school who find it a hobby to pick on him. He's inclined to dislike the boy, despite having just met. Luna would probably have a crush on him, though, Remus thinks. With a pretty face, million dollar smile, and the physique of an athlete, James appears to have everything going for him.

"Which bed is mine?" James asks.

"Uh, that one," Sirius answers, pointing to the bunk above Peter's.

"Brilliant." James eagerly climbs the ladder, plopping onto the thin mattress comfortably. He hangs his legs over the edge and swings them back and forth. "Are you guys new? I don't remember you from last year." The three boys nod in response. "Oh that's cool. This is my third year here." His gaze darts to each of them, desperate for conversation. 

When nobody says another word, James lets out a defeated sigh. He presses his lips together in thought as he thinks of a new topic to break the ice. The sound of a zipper rips through the air, catching his attention. James's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets when he sees what Sirius pulls out of his backpack.

"No way!" James exclaims. He wriggles his way under the railing of his bed and jumps onto the floor, immediately rushing to Sirius's bunk. He hops onto the ladder, popping his head up to get a better glimpse. "You like comics?" 

Sirius nods eagerly, pulling out the rest of the comic books he'd packed into his bag. "I collect them," he says.

"Wicked. Can I see?" 

James climbs the rest of the way up, causing the mattress to dip over Remus's head. Two pairs of legs appear over the edge of the top bunk. Dirty shoes with loosely tied laces swing causally as discussion of The Flash and Spider-Man ensue. The sound of their chatter livens up the room. Even Peter joins their conversation - apparently, his favorite superhero is Ironman. 

Remus pushes himself against the wall in his bed, feeling a tug in his chest. Just as he imagined - the boys would all become friends and once again, he'd be the outsider. 

He runs his finger over the smooth edges of the postcards, letting his mind wander to his best friend back at home. Luna's very similar to him, in many ways; she jokes that they're secretly the same person. If she were at camp, he's certain it would make the summer ten times more fun. But for now, postcards will have to suffice as means of communication. 

James's head appears upside down from the bunk above; his hair sticks out in every direction, much like a troll, and his glasses slide down the bridge of his nose. "Hey Re-moose, who's your favorite superhero?" he asks. 

Remus blushes at the mispronunciation of his name. "It's Remus, actually," he corrects. "And I don't have one." His bookshelf at home is filled with novels rather than comics. 

"What! You've gotta have one, mate."

"I guess Superman is cool." And the only superhero Remus actually knows. 

"You know, people say I kind of look like Clark Kent." Remus can't tell if he's joking or not. 

"They do not," Sirius mutters from above with disbelief. 

"Do too!" James's head disappears from Remus's view. "It's the glasses, I swear!"

Sirius and James's bickering sounds like two brothers and any indication that they've just met is long gone. The bunkbed rocks side to side as they wrestle, eliciting a minor fear in Remus that he's about to become a pancake. The bed comes to a standstill when the door opens. 

"Hey campers!" a tall, dark-skinned man exclaims with too much enthusiasm for one person. He steps into the cabin wearing one of the juniper green shirts Remus saw other adults wearing earlier. A clipboard is clutched in his left hand and a stack of red t-shirts in the other. "My name's Douglas, and I'll be your camp counselor this summer!" He holds the clipboard up to his face, peering over the top at the boys. "Alright, I'm just taking attendance. Sirius Black?" 

"Here," Sirius calls back. 

Douglas makes a checkmark on the paper. "Remus Lupin?" Remus raises his hand. Check. "Peter Pettigrew?" 

"Here," Peter says from his spot at one of the desks. 

"James Potter?"

"Here," James shouts.  

"Right on. Good to see you again, Potter." Douglas clicks the top of his pen, tucking it safely into the pocket of his shirt. "In ten minutes, we'll all meet outside at the campfire to go over the basics of camp. Welcome to the Team Red!" He tosses the stack of shirts onto the desk before shutting the door with a rickety slam.

"Team Red?" Peter questions, sorting through the shirts left to his side.

"There are eight teams at camp all sorted by colors," James begins to explain. "I was team purple my first year, but this is my second year being team red." 

Remus scoots to the edge of his bed to engage in the conversation; he twists his head upwards to see Sirius and James sitting side by side. 

"There are a lot of competitions and stuff to gain team points," James continues. "At the end of the summer, the team with the most points wins a trophy and gets their picture on the wall of fame in the Mess Hall. And major bragging rights." He scowls. "Last year the yellow team won but I know they cheated!"

"What kind of competitions?" Remus asks, surprising himself with his newfound interest. 

James glances down at Remus as he lists off some of the activities, "There's a canoe race, scavenger hunt, archery, swimming - just about anything you could think of. I'm the reigning archery champion, just saying."

Sirius snorts at the claim. He climbs down the ladder carefully, grabbing one of the shirts for himself. "Here," he says, handing one to Remus. 

James hops down from the bunk, only to see his shirt flying right at his face. "Oi!" he shouts, yanking it off and readjusting his glasses. 

The four stand in the center of the cabin facing each other, all holding their new shirts in hand. Remus sheepishly toys with the fabric, not wanting to be the first to change in front of them; Peter seems to have the same thoughts. 

"We can all turn around and change," James suggests, noticing the apprehension from his cabin mates. 

In synch, they all turn to face a corner of the room. Remus quickly discards his shirt and slips on the new red one. He's never felt comfortable in his own skin. His lanky, too tall frame makes him an easy target to beat up. The bullies at school call him a toothpick. 

"Are we all good?" James asks. 

A murmur of consensus is made, and all four boys turn back around to face each other. Remus survey's the others, then down at his own shirt with the camp's logo on the front. The bright red makes him look exceptionally paler than he already is. 

Not long after, a sharp whistle can be heard from outside. Boys shuffle out from the five cabins, all wearing the same shirt. They crowd around the fire pit, squinting against the blaring sunlight. Douglas and another woman in the same green counselor shirt stand a few feet in front with dazzling smiles. Remus can't imagine being that happy all the time. He lifts his hand over his eyes to shield the sun from his eyes. 

"If you didn't already know, I'm Dawn and that's Douglas," the woman introduces. Her curly black hair is swept up into a ponytail and a red visor is wrapped around her head. Douglas stands to her side, now wearing a pair of black sunglasses. "Welcome to Team Red! How many of you are new this summer?" Remus tentatively raises his hand, peering over his shoulder to see that at least half of the boys do as well, including Peter and Sirius. "We're here to help you guys have the best summer ever."

"A few rules, first," Douglas says, his voice booming as if he's speaking into a microphone. "Breakfast is at eight every morning in the Mess Hall. Follow the trails and don't get lost."

"Always travel with a buddy!" Dawn adds. 

"You are free to sign up for any daily activities, but make sure that you don't miss your allotted time. Lunch is at noon, followed by a team meeting right here. At four o'clock every day we will practice for the Camp Olympics."

"Every Friday we will compete against the seven other teams in camp in different challenges. Points are awarded for teamwork, sportsmanship, and of course, winning. The team at the end of the summer with the most points wins the Camp Lakota trophy!" 

"Not to put any pressure, but I've never been on a losing team before," Douglas says with a smirk. "I'm counting on all of you to bring that trophy home."

"And have fun!" Dawn adds with a thumbs up. 

"After the Olympics, dinner is at six. Campfire and jamboree go until eight, and curfew is at nine. Anybody who breaks curfew, unless a dire emergency, will be thrown into the lake."

A few of the boys let out a low chuckle. Remus forces a laugh to tag along, though his heart beings to beat a little faster. Just beyond the trees, the lake glimmers, as if winking at Remus. 

"He's just kidding," Dawn interjects, nudging Douglas light-heartedly. "But there will be consequences for breaking curfew. For now, we're going to take a quick tour of the camp before we let you loose."

As one large unit, Team Red follows behind Dawn and Douglas through the trails. The other boys are roughly around the same age, ranging from 10 to 14. James recognizes a few, striking causal conversation with them, but mainly sticks with Remus, Sirius, and Peter. Secretly, Remus is grateful James hasn't ditched them for his old friends. 

Different activity sites are set up all over the woods. They walk past the archery targets and rock climbing wall, both on the same side as their cabins. The girl's cabins are located on the other side of camp along with the fencing ring and badminton courts. They head towards the lake, passing another group of boys all wearing yellow shirts. 

"Glad we're not those chumps," James mumbles to Peter. "Yellow is so not my color."

Down by the lake, the sandy shore is set up with two volleyball nets. Canoes and kayaks in every color are stacked along the docks as well as a few paddle boats. Remus toys with the hem of his shirt as they approach the water. Out past the buoy is an inflatable climbing wall that make his knees go weak.

"That's the best game of all," James whispers to Remus. "King of the Hill."

"Cool," is all Remus manages to utter. 

Douglas and Dawn lead them down the lake towards the Recreational Hall. A few of the other boys splash around in the shallows of the lake to cool off. Remus is hesitant when James and Peter take off into the water; he waits for Sirius to join them, too, but he never does. Remus doesn't say anything, but the appreciation is expressed through a single look. Together, they walk with their feet sinking into the sand until the end of the tour. 

* * *

At six o'clock, all the campers decked in their team colors join in the Mess Hall for dinner. A smokey scent fills the air, causing Remus's stomach to grumble viciously. Tables run along the farthest wall, piled high with delectable, barbecued burgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches. Side dishes of creamed corn and mashed potatoes emit waves of steam that carry their savory flavor to Remus as he waits in line. It reminds him of his mum's cooking and the nights when Luna came over for dinner. 

The tables aren't assigned, making the room a jumble of color. Remus strengthens the grip on his loaded plate as he navigates his way to the table Peter and Sirius secured. Just as he spots Sirius's face, a large body backs into him causing Remus to spill red Kool-Aid over himself. Remus's jaw drops in pure terror when the bulky boy faces him with a scowl. 

"Watch it loser," he sneers. 

"Eat my shorts," James retorts, appearing behind Remus. He places a friendly hand on Remus's shoulder and urges him to sit down across from Sirius and Peter. "Don't mind Mulciber, he's the biggest git around." 

Sirius slides a napkin across the table towards Remus. Thankfully, the Kool-Aid blends in with his shirt, and the stain is unnoticeable. With every dab of the napkin against his chest, Remus can feel his heartbeat still racing. Confrontation has never been a strong suit of his. 

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" Sirius asks, changing the subject. 

Go home, Remus thinks to himself. 

Between mouthfuls of mashed potatoes, James mutters, "I say we go swimming first."

"Kayaking sounds fun, too," Peter offers as a second idea. 

Remus doesn't reply to either, choosing to eat in silence. He prods his fork at his corn. When he looks up, Sirius catches his stare briefly before looking away with the blink of an eye. For the remainder of dinner, Remus barely eats while the others discuss their plans tomorrow. 

After all the plates are cleared away, the sun is already setting on the horizon. Warm hues of soft honey and pastel pink paint the sky and reflect over the lake. When the campers exit the Mess Hall, they're greeted to a blazing bonfire. Flames dance in the fire pit, blasting heatwaves that warm the faces of kids surrounding it. Clouds of smoke expel from the fire, drifting over the treetops and disappearing into the night. 

Remus is about to follow James and Peter towards the s'mores stand when he notices Sirius walk off in the opposite direction. Curiously, Remus picks up a light jog to catch up with him.

"Hey," Remus says, reaching out a hand to tap his shoulder. "You want to roast marshmallows?"

"I'm not a fan of s'mores," Sirius tells him, kicking the dirt with his shoe. 

Remus slumps his shoulders; the words seem half-truthful, but he doesn't press on the matter. "I'll wait with you while James and Peter make theirs," he says. 

"You don't have to."

"It's alright, I don't like marshmallows either." 

Remus seeks out the nearest log and takes a seat. Sirius walks around to the other side, sitting down to face the opposite direction. The bonfire looms behind Sirius's back, just as the lake rests idly behind Remus's. No words are exchanged in their brief moment together. As the sun dips below the horizon and the moon takes its place, night hums to life. Crickets in the bushes chirp to their own rhythm. Croaking bullfrogs find lodging on lily pads near the docks. And as the last of the daylight is finally submerged, the stars twinkle overhead. 

At curfew, Remus all but collapses onto his bed. The thin mattress provides little comfort, but exhaustion overpowers the lack of luxury. With the minimal strength he has left, Remus pulls out one of the postcards he'd left at the foot of his bed and writes.

Luna,

My first day of summer camp was just as horrible as I imagined it to be. The bus ride was never ending torture. I tripped and fell within the first five minutes being here. At dinner, some kid bumped into me and I spilt Kool-Aid all over myself. I'm off to a great start. Tomorrow we sign up for activities. I reckon you'd be great at archery. We're all assigned to colored cabins - I'm on Team Red. I have three other cabin mates, too. Peter's is really shy, but I think he'll warm up to everyone eventually. There's a kid named James, and I'm convinced he only talks because he loves the sound of his voice. And then there's Sirius. He kind of reminds me of you. I wish you were here with me. I know you'd make the summer so much more fun. One day down - only 55 more to go. See you soon!

Remus

Remus caps his pen and tucks the postcard safely under his pillow. He rolls onto his back, staring up at the mattress hovering over him. James is the last one into bed; he flips off the light switch before climbing up the ladder. A single oscillating fan gives the cabin some sort of comfort and provides white noise that Peter claims he likes to sleep to.

"Night, Peter," James calls out in the dark. 

"Night, Remus," Peter says with a yawn.

Remus's eyes grow heavier by the second, but manages to say, "Night, Sirius."

"Night, James," Sirius finishes off. 

With one last heavy breath, Remus closes his eyes and falls into a deep, well needed slumber.