Page 2 of Beyond the Summer

"You have a group text and you're still not sure he's your friend?"

"Aiden and Jay added me," I grumped."Too bad they had to do internships this year.Is Parker my co-counselor again?"

"No.We have two new counselors in your cabin with Parker: Ravi Shah and Sutton Holm.They're both Stanford students, so I suppose word's getting out on campus that this is a fun summer job.I paired you with Sutton because he's outgoing and friendly.You won't have to talk to the kids."

I flipped my stepbrother off, and he grinned.

"Kidding.I know you bond with the kids, even though you're surly about it.And I'm counting on you and Parker to show the new guys the ropes, mentor them.I think they both have something fantastic to offer the camp, if you can bring it out of them."

As Matt told me more about my new co-counselors, my mind wandered to the thing I'd been most worried about this summer: enduring camp without Aiden and Jay.They'd been the first good friends I'd ever made at camp, and I'd been going to Eagle Ridge since I was old enough to attend.I'd never quite fit in, never found a place for myself, or made lasting friendships.

"You'll do fine," Matt said, rubbing my shoulder."I know you have it in you to lead.You know the sports and activities we do inside and out.Get out of your head and stop over-analyzing everything everyone says."

"How could you possibly be so sure I have it in me to lead?"

Matt laughed."You were bossy as hell when you were younger.Don't you remember that?Harness some of that weirdly controlling energy."

"That was when you were screwing up my Legos.It's different!"I protested.

"Whatever.Pretend this guy is rearranging your perfectly organized Lego drawers, then.Or your bookshelves!Imagine he's put a fantasy book in the paranormal romance section.Give him the stern lecture you gave me when I asked if Mages of Aleron was like Lord of the Rings."Matt slapped his hands to his cheeks in a mockery of a shocked expression.

"How come everyone else gets wisdom from you, and all I get is this?"

Matt beamed."So you think I'm wise?Noted."

"That was your takeaway?"I grumped, grabbing my crate of books."Go, do other things.I'm going to settle in."Still laughing, he walked out to the porch and grabbed my second duffel, grunting at the weight of it.He leaned over and unzipped it, frowning at the contents.

"Shit, more books!Why did you pack so many books?Your cabin is a short walk down the lake path."

"I'm having my roof redone while camp is in session.I couldn't risk any of my favorites," I said."Now, let me get organized.Go do your camp director bullshit.What's under here?Your entire collection of markers?"

"Hands off my stuff!"

Matt was still laughing when he turned and walked out the door, telling me I'd better get my impressive collection of sketchbooks organized and out of the way before my co-counselors showed up.

I opened a few windows, trying to get the musty odor of the cabin out, and began to set up my space.One perk of living down the path was that I got to arrive first and claim the best bunk.Of course, it would have been much better to go home at night, but my stepfather insisted that I stay on camp property while working as a counselor.I needed to be nearby in case there was an emergency with the campers I was responsible for.Or so they said—I half suspected that they just wanted me to socialize.

The campers' cabins sat in a half-circle around a big green where the kids played and did activities, and the counselors' cabins were tucked into the trees across the path, a short distance from the campers.Each housed four counselors who were assigned to two cabins worth of campers.The cabins were modest in size, with rustic accommodation—each had two bunk beds, a small sitting area, and a tiny bathroom with no shower.We had to walk to the communal bathrooms for a shower or hot water.

I picked a top bunk, the same one I'd had last year.I preferred that bed because it was tucked partway into a small nook beside the bathroom, so it felt a bit more private, even if there was only 8 inches of wall making it feel that way.There was a little niche in the wall next to the top bunk where I could stash my books and drawing supplies.As I worked to arrange my books and sketchbooks, I wondered about my new co-counselor.His name sounded familiar somehow, but I couldn't place it.Sutton Holm.

I put a memory foam mattress pad over the crappy camp mattress and tucked my sheets in, then added some pillows and three super warm comforters, because it got cold at night and the camp didn't have heaters.Satisfied, I hopped down and unpacked my clothes, claiming my share of the drawers in the dresser between the two beds.By the time I finished unpacking, the camp was stirring to life, with signs of staff arriving everywhere, but my co-counselors had yet to show, so I headed down to Eagle Lake.The pristine beauty of the lake, surrounded by thick forests and towering mountains, always calmed my nerves.And right now, I desperately needed to calm my anxiety over the start of camp.

The start of things was the worst.Too many unknowns.

The scent of pine and damp earth filled my nostrils as I strolled alone through the quiet camp, waving to the few people I passed on my way to the lake.The memory of last summer's chaotic days at Camp Eagle Ridge still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of uncertainty about what lay ahead this time around.

I loved nature and being outdoors, but the social aspect of summer camp had always been challenging for me.Last year had been different, and it had all been because of Jay, who'd quickly become one of my closest friends.Through Jay, I'd finally gotten to know Aiden and Parker, and that had been a shift for me.After years of assuming the popular kids didn't even notice me, I'd made friends with two of the most popular at camp.Sort of.

Continuing down the path, I found myself drawn to Eagle Lake, its calm waters glistening beneath the warm sunlight.Solitude beckoned me, and reading was always a respite from the anxiety that seemed to cling to me.

I was supposed to be attending the welcome events for the camp counselors, but I knew Matt wouldn't expect me to show up—he was well aware of my penchant for getting lost in books.As I settled at the end of the dock, legs dangling above the water, I pulled out my latest fantasy book and flipped open to my bookmark.

But no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept circling back to the changes this new summer would bring.Aiden and Jay were gone.What if I didn't like their replacements as much?What if Parker didn't want to hang out with me without Aiden's and Jay's influence?As much as I tried to will myself back into the world of sexy elves and mages, the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at me, making it impossible to escape into my book.

I gave up, snapping the book shut and tucking it under my arm.It was time to rip off the Band-Aid, to stop panicking, and meet the people who would share a cabin with me all summer.As I approached our assigned cabin, the knot of anxiety tightened in my chest.My hand trembled slightly as I reached out to grip the door handle, taking a deep breath before pulling it open.

There was only one person inside—a man I didn't recognize.He had the build of an athlete.He wasn't that much taller than my 5'11", but he was all muscle, big and bulky, and more than a little intimidating.His sweatshirt said Stanford Rugby on it, so I supposed he was an athlete.

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