Page 47 of Lady and the Camp
“No offense, but you seem like you can afford to buy things instead of dig through trash.”
“It’s incredible what’s considered ‘trash.’ Once we found an open box of brand name tank tops sealed in individual plastic wrapping. What reason is there to pitch brand new clothes into the trash?”
“Maybe it was a mistake.”
“Their loss, our gain. We outfitted the fifth floor of our dorm with free tanks. We were like the Robin Hood of fashion. Sneaking with a mission.”
“More like stealing.” Lucas huffed out a breath. “I wouldn’t exactly call that noble.”
We kept going to that outlet mall until security chased us off. Our last time there, a padlock secured the dumpster.
Yes, we’d risked getting in trouble, but something felt really good about taking commercial excess and giving it away. Maybe we would have been more like Robin Hood if we’d donated the clothes to a shelter instead of our dormmates. We may have called ourselves broke college students, but we were attending a university many people didn’t have access to because of the cost.
Something deeper pinged at me, a concept I couldn’t fully grasp. The thrill of the find fulfilled one part, but the joy of giving things away was what resonated. It was one of those moments I wouldn’t forget.
“Earth to Hudson.” Lucas cut into my thoughts. “Someone’s out there. We need to go.”
I glanced every direction. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“You’re off in la-la land.” He took me by the arm and pulled us down the hill toward the Training Center. My foot made contact with a stick, resulting in a snap.
“Who’s there?” a voice called out. A guy, likely a camp staffer. Footsteps grew louder. Nearer.
Lucas’ grip tightened. He made a zipping motion across his lips. We were close, so close his breath tickled my neck. My heart drummed. He could probably make out the beat, it hit so loud.
The outline of his face came into focus. Determined, steady, annoyed.
This was so much better than scouring the internet.
The footsteps retreated. We were safe.
Lucas relaxed beside me. “We’re leaving. Now.”
I wasn’t ready. “We need to leave our mark. Show them we were here.” If I couldn’t make my own mark out there in the beauty world for the time being, at least I could do it for our camp.
Forget waiting on Lucas, he’d only say no. I dashed toward the next group of trees, keeping my flashlight off and watching each step.Aha. The lodge, within site. Our final destination.
A quick peek behind found Lucas waving me toward him. Nope. Onward.
I scanned the area again. No sign of human life. The lone staffer appeared to have returned to the dorm.
I crossed the next length of open land at a quick walk. Running was too suspicious. Finally, I reached the massive lodge where the covered porch extended fully across the rear side of the building facing the lake. Stairs opened up at the end in front of me. I crouched in the shadows.
A scuffle sounded behind me. Lucas. “I can’t believe you. What’s this about making a mark?”
“I swiped a Sharpie from the craft bin. I want to draw a junebug somewhere.”
“You want to deface private property.”
Sure, if you put it that way.“Yes.”
I scooted toward the stairs, uncapped the marker, and started drawing on the wooden step.
Lucas peered over my shoulder. “That’s a lady bug.”
Okay, well, I guess I didn’t know what a junebug actually looked like. “Good enough for me.” If I’d had my phone, I’d have snapped a selfie. Instead, I took in the moment, breathed the fresh air, and smiled at my partner in crime. Agent Mulder would be so happy I was out here living life.
Lucas growled.
