Page 51 of Nerdplay
“Damn, Chucky,” Charlie says. “Not you again.”
Okay, he doesn’t sound terribly frightened. I can expose myself without giving him a heart attack. I poke my head out from behind the curtain.
“Charlie…” As I start to emerge from the shower, he unleashes a blood-curdling scream. I grab the boat-inspired curtain with such force that I manage to yank it off the clips. I fall out of the shower and onto the bathroom floor, wrapped like a nautical mummy. I’m battered and likely bruised, but I cannot stop laughing.
“Holy shit, Cricket. Is that you?”
I emit some sort of sound that’s a cross between a snicker and a cry of pain.
Charlie tugs at the curtain until I’m able to emerge from my makeshift cocoon. “What in the hell are you doing in my bathroom?”
I catch my breath. “I was setting up Chucky when you came back. I didn’t know where else to go. I couldn’t exactly climb out the window.” When I dare to glance up, I see him grinning at me.
“Would you like a hand?”
“Only if you washed it first.”
“I haven’t been to the bathroom yet. That’s why I came in here before I was scared out of my wits.” He pulls me to my feet with his clean hand.
“I only intended for Chucky to scare you. I planned to be long gone.” I pause. “Or at least outside your cabin listening to the sounds of discovery.”
“And recording them for posterity I would imagine.” He actually sounds amused.
“I’m sorry for sneaking into your cabin. I know it isn’t very professional.”
“I believe it violates several camp rules and regulations.”
I lower my head. “I know. Again, I’m very sorry.”
“Do you promise not to do it again?”
I look from Chucky to Charlie, reluctant. “If you insist.”
“I’d like to keep Chucky with me from now on, if you don’t mind.”
“Like a hostage?”
“Something like that.”
“You really are attached to him,” I murmur, recalling Adam’s insight. I’m surprised, but I’m more relieved that he isn’t going to make an issue of my trespassing. I take the win.
“You won’t do anything horrible to him, will you?”
Charlie gnaws his lip. “You’re worried I’ll do something horrible to the doll threatening me with the butcher knife?”
“Technically it’s a vegetable peeler…”
He holds up a hand. “I solemnly swear to do no harm to Chucky. Will that do?”
“Yes.” Now that the uncomfortable has passed, I realize we’re crammed together in his tiny bathroom. Cue new uncomfortable moment.
“In exchange for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Twice now Ben has mentioned a mysterious prank that I won’t see coming. Could you kindly make that go away? Every time I turn a corner, I expect to be confronted with some crazy prank I can’t even predict.” He gestures to the shower. “I’m not a big fan of surprises.”
“No promises, but I’ll see what I can do.”
