Page 24 of Bring me Back

“Camp?” One kid asked, looking between Mrs. Carr and Daniel.

“What kind of camp?” Asked the other.

Daniel’s gaze zoomed on Mrs. Carr. “That one it’s not just about the competition. At the camp, they can get feedback. Isn’t that a good thing? For them to get advice?”

“Still, measuring one’s effort sounds horrific.”

Well, Mrs. Carr and I had very different opinions of what horrific truly meant. I watched for Daniel’s reactions. I hadn’t read the brochures he gave to Mrs. Carr, and it surprised me he was pushing for a camp. I couldn’t stop wondering what his motives were. But one thing I knew, Daniel was the practical side of the duo. He was trying to get the play off the ground even when he had to fight Mrs. Carr.

“Where’s the camp?” the girl who played Helena asked when the adults kept glaring at each other.

“Spring’s Harbor,” Mrs. Carr finally replied.

My mouth fell open, and I leaned forward, my arms resting on the back of the seat in front of me. Spring’s Harbor was a small town near Bluehaven known for its lakes and hot springs. It was a beautiful and a popular destination.

“And what will we be doing at the camp?” Adam asked.

“Working on your craft,” Mrs. Carr’s reply made Adam twist his nose.

“The camp is not guaranteed,” she addressed them all. “Once we enter our school in the competition, we’ll have little time to work on our play and they’ll send a committee to evaluate our progress. We have to wow them. It’s a group effort.”

The kids looked at one another. I heard them murmur between themselves and I held my breath. I was sure telling them about hard work wasn’t a way to get teenagers involved, but maybe the promise of hot springs was enough to tip the scales. I bit down on my bottom lip as one kid timidly raised his hand, “And if we do a good job for the committee, then we’ll go to the camp?”

Mrs. Carr dipped her chin. “There are teachers and theater experts at the camp. It’s a good program,” she offered.

“Can we swim in the hot springs?” another kid asked.

I held my breath and a laugh. Oh boy, Mrs. Carr didnotlike that. I could tell even from afar. But eventually, she tipped her head to the side. “But of course.”

A second later, Adam spoke for them all. “I’ll say we do it. What do we have to lose?”

He was the jock though, he was used to competition. I was watching for the shy kids. Tommy, Seth and the girl who played Helena, Nova.

But one by one, they nodded.

“Is everyone sure? I don’t want you to feel pressure and—”

They interrupted her to say yes.

I chuckled. Mrs. Carr seemed finally convinced. When I looked up at Daniel, he was smiling too.

Iparked my car eyeing the lone figure waiting by the backdoors. It was fifteen minutes before the bell rang and Hallie was waiting to venture through the halls. With a smile playing on my lips, I threw my head out the window, calling her attention.

“You should bring a book or something.”

Her cute nose wrinkled. “I’m not a very good reader. I keep forgetting I’m reading something and then I forget all about the plot…” she waved her hands.

I grinned at her, tipping my head toward the passenger seat, begging her to take my offer. I followed her expression as she realized what I was asking, and I kept myself frozen, trying my hardest not to make sudden moves. Hallie was skittish. I won a little of her trust, and for a while it seemed amazing, but we still weren’t progressing. She was wary, quiet and distant as she always was, but I wanted to be the reason she let those things go.

Ambitious, of me. But I couldn’t help but hope.

She had one leg propped on the wall behind her and when that leg moved back, removing her from the wall, I breathed relieved. Doing my best not to show how pleased I was, I unlocked the door and a second later it swung open and her sweet smell invaded my car.

“What about music?” I asked, going for the radio as she let her bag fall to the floor between her legs. “It must be better than social media.”

I turned on a station I liked and glanced in her direction in time to see her smiling at me. “Do you think that’s what I do on my phone?”

“Scrolling isn’t what we all do?”

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