Page 74 of Nerdplay
“Do you honestly believe that?”
The tension eases from my shoulders. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Has he given you any reason not to trust him?”
I arch an eyebrow. “Apart from the whole registering under false pretenses?”
“If there’s one thing we know it’s that bad guys can turn away from the dark side. Try to remember that.”
“I’ll bear that in mind. See you later, Adam.”
* * *
Capture the Flag starts after sunset. Olivia opts for movie night with Ben and Adam, but the other campers choose the outdoor activity.
As soon as I finish explaining the rules, Charlie objects. “I’m a lawyer. I can’t steal.”
“Funny words from a guy who’s trying to steal my land out from under me.”
“Point taken.”
We split into two teams. My team has a Care Bear flag and Hunter’s team has a Smurfs flag. I offer a brief overview of the rules for Charlie’s sake, explaining that each team stores their flag at their hidden headquarters. Members of the opposite team have to find the location and steal the flag. Whichever team returns to their headquarters with the other team’s flag first wins.
I offer to hide our flag, and my teammates offer to act as decoys and defense. To my surprise, Charlie chooses to accompany me to the hiding spot and act as a lookout.
“I already know where I’m hiding it,” I tell him as we traipse through the woods. We share one flashlight between us.
“You can pick any tree,” Charlie says. “It’ll be impossible to find a scrap of material in the middle of these woods in the dark.”
“You only say that because you haven’t played in the pitch black with Hunter. I swear he has night vision.”
“More like night-vision goggles.”
“Fair.” I become acutely aware of his presence beside me. We’re walking so close together that his arm keeps brushing against mine.
“What happened with the Mumford guy?”
His question throws me for a loop. “What?”
“The former owner of the Mumford T-shirt. Ex-boyfriend?”
I steal a glance at him. “You caught that, huh?”
“It was hard to miss.” He shines the light under his chin and produces a monstrous laugh.
I don’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. “Is that supposed to be scary?”
He shifts the flashlight away from his face and I scream.
“What?” he shouts, clearly unnerved by the high-pitched sound. I don’t blame him. I scared myself.
“It’s a tick!” I flick the insect off his arm before it has a chance to burrow.
Charlie stares at the red mark on his skin. “Where’ve you been hiding those fast reflexes? That was superhero level.”
“Any superhero in particular?”
I can see his gears churning as he struggles to come up with an answer. “Um, Batman?”
