"Where's the little twerp?"

I looked up, milk dribbling from my chin.

Ellie folded the corner of her book and looked up, exasperated. "What's the matter now?"

In the archway leading to the foyer, Sawyer stood in her pajamas, looking absolutely livid. She glared and pointed an accusatory finger at me. "What did you do?" She growled, looking ready to pounce.

I blinked. "Me?" I checked my shoulders like I would in a soccer game. "What do I have to do with anything?"

She grit her teeth. "Where the hell did you put my stuff?"

"Ellie!" I put my hand to my heart. "Do you hear that language? There are little ears in the room." I pointed to Madi who was preoccupied with her phone per usual, laying on the couch.

Without looking up, she said, "Screw off."

I snickered and shoveled another spoonful of cereal into my mouth.

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Amily, now is not the time."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "There's always time for short jokes."

"Hello?" Sawyer shouted, clapping her hands. "Focus! Where is my stuff?"

I picked up my glass of orange juice and took a nice, long sip. Over the bottom of the cup, I made direct eye contact with the red-faced junior. "How should I know?"

She stormed towards me and slammed her hands on the table. I flinched, choking on my drink. "I'm not stupid," she hissed.

I coughed and cleared my throat. "That's debatable."

"Ooookay!" Ellie jumped up. She circled the table and put her hands on Sawyer's shoulders. I didn't miss the stop-this-or-I-will-beat-you look she gave me when Sawyer couldn't see her. "Let's go look for your stuff." She guided the ticking time bomb towards the front door and didn't break eye contact with me.

I had the decency to give her a sheepish smile before going back to my cereal. Gil walked in, Fudgsicle in hand. "Who's clothes are hanging over the lake?"

Sawyer spun around, clawing at the doorway to propel her. "What?"

Gil pointed out the kitchen window that looked out at the lake. "See that like rope going across? It's made of someone's clothes."

"Seriously?" I jumped up and looked out the window. I pretended to be in awe when really, I was just admiring my handiwork. "Sawyer, aren't you looking for your clothes?"

She stormed outside.

Gil laughed. "That was totally worth it." She pointed at Sawyer who was waving her hands angrily and motioning towards the house.

I laughed. "Wait 'til she finds the rest of her stuff."

Sawyer's eyes locked with mine.

I ducked away from the window, trying to contain my laughter. I had a feeling who Sawyer was ranting about.

Gil and I high-fived. "Sooo . . . where'd you get that Fudgsicle?" I asked.

She pointed towards the backdoor. "The freezer out back."

I jumped up. "I want one."

We walked to the back and pushed the screen door open. The girls circled around a table looked up from their card game and said a mix of good mornings. Gil and I murmured greetings back. The freshman lead me to the freezer, and I used both hands to pry it open. I grabbed the box of chocolate popsicles and pulled it out.

Claire cleared her throat. "Don't you think it's a little early for those?"

I pointed to Gil who had the last bit of her's dripping on her knuckles. "Gilly's already had one."

Gil slurped the ice cream off her hand and tossed the popsicle stick at a nearby trash can. It bounced off the side. "It's never too early," she said, picking up her trash and dropping it in the can. "Ams, grab me another one."

I grabbed two and put the box back in the freezer, shutting the door. Claire chuckled and went back to her game.

I took off the wrapper and threw it in the trash can. Gil did the same. I go back into the freezer and pull out one more chocolate popsicle. Gil looked at me confused. "Who's that for?" She asked.

"Sierra," I said simply. "Where is she?"

Gil snorted. "Running."

"Ew." I scrunched my nose up. "I'm not surprised." I opened the freezer door for the third time and put the popsicle back. "She doesn't deserve an eight A.M. popsicle."

"Accurate," Gil agreed.

By the time lunch time came around, the cabin's atmosphere went from mellow to wild. What could you expect from eighteen high school girls?

I laughed as Sarah surfaced, holding her middle finger close to her chest so no one but me would see. She treaded in the lake, her hair and clothes matted skin tight to her body. Suddenly, I was pushed and sent clumsily into the cold water. The second I surfaced and breathed, Sarah took the opportunity to tackle me deeper underwater.

When she let me go, I swam up as fast as I could, feeling my lungs burning. I managed to swim to the grass outline and climb out. Sarah was already out, shivering and hugging herself. Gracie was beside her, dry and chuckling. "I could've died, and you two would've been charged with my murder," I said matter-of-factly, coughing on the water I swallowed.

Sarah rolled her eyes, her teeth chattering. "D-don't be s-so d-dra-matic."

I crossed my arms, squirming as a rush of chills runs up my spine.

She rolled her eyes. "Ouch. You really think I'd let you drown?"

Gracie piped up, "I know CPR."

A loud clanging sound drew all of our attention to the house. "Lunch! Better hurry before Sierra eats it all!"

My dramatic "near" death experience long forgotten, I sprinted to the house. "I swear to God, Sierra Gains! If the mac'n'cheese is gone I'm disowning you!"

———

"Where did you get that?" Sarah snapped, swiping the can from my hand and inspecting the label like she couldn't read it before.

I glanced around quickly. "Relax," I hissed. "You act like I stole a beer."

"You know you're not supposed to have caffeine. Is this all you've had?" She interrogated.

I looked at her as seriously as I could. "That's it. Just what's gone from that can."

She narrowed her eyes and scoffed. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying," I insisted.

She didn't buy it.

"It's not that big of a deal." I pouted. "You're not gonna tell are you?"

She stared at me, drumming her fingers on the can. "Hey, guys," Aspen greeted. Before she could pass, she slowed down with a concerned look. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Sarah dismissed with a forced smile. "Don't worry, we're just talking."

Aspen bit her lip but nodded reluctantly and left us alone. Sarah watched the junior turn the corner before she turned back to me and glared. I groaned. "Why do you care? I thought you were my friend."

She raised her eyebrows. "Yeah and as your friend, I don't want you getting your stupid ass in trouble."

I rolled my eyes and slumped in my chair. "Why would I get in trouble?"

She held the can higher for emphasis.

I crossed my arms. "This is ridiculous. Everyone drinks caffeine."

"Not everyone gets super hyper and crashes."

I scoffed, "Whatever."

"Whatever," she mocked. I poked my tongue at her. She smirked and grabbed my wrist, pulling me out of my seat. "Come on we're going for a walk."

"A walk?" I moaned. "I don't want to go on a walk!"

———

"Amily Bryn. Do you need to hold my hand?"

I laughed giddily and jumped off the rock I was balancing on. Sarah was twenty yards behind me and just for the heck of it, I made it thirty. I was making fun of jumping on everything I could and shouting "parkour" with unneeded intensity.

I let Sarah catch up to me, and the minute she did I started talking. "Do you like tenth grade?"

"I guess. It's a lot of work."

I picked up a rock and threw it. "Is it hard?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes."

"When Ash was in tenth grade, I was in . . ." I paused, trying to do the math in my head.

"Seventh," the sophomore supplied.

I snorted, "Yeah and you were in eighth. Anyways, I feel like Ash always feels a lot older than she actually is. I thought she was practically an adult when she was in tenth." I kicked a pebble, kicking up a cloud of dirt. "Now that I'm gonna be in tenth, it doesn't feel so old. I still feel like a kid." I scrunched my face. "Did that make sense?"

Sarah laughed. "Yes. That's because you are a kid."

I rolled my eyes and pushed on her shoulder. "I'm only like a year younger than you."

"Almost two, buddy."

I laughed. "Oh yeah, I forgot you were old." I counted on my fingers and smirked. "One year and nine months. That's only three quarters of a year."

She put her arm around my shoulder. "That rounds to another year."

"That's not how it works." I smirked and poked her rib.

She pulled her arm to her chest and locked me in a headlock. "I think it is."

I squealed and tried to squirm out of her hold. She always did this to me! "Sarahhh!" I whined. All I had was a view of the ground and—

Oh my God!

"Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!" I managed to pop my head out of her hold and fall back on my butt.

She stepped back with a disturbed look on her face. I squatted and stared at the pinky-sized reptile sitting in the middle of the dirt path. She bent to get a closer look. "Is that a lizard?"

I giggled. "No, it's an elephant," I snorted.

She glared at me and gave me a nudge. "Shut up. You never know. It could be like a salamander."

I shook my head. "Salamander's are different." I reached out slowly and pinched the lizard's middle. As I lifted it off the ground, it squirmed and flicked it's tail, moving it's feet like it was trying to run away.

Sarah gagged. "Ew! Don't touch it. Put it down!"

"It won't bite," I said casually. "Or poison you or anything like that."

She scrunched her nose in disgust. "It's just gross."

I put the lizard closer to her face and the tail flicked her cheek. She screamed and stumbled back so fast, she tripped over her own feet. I laughed and put the lizard down on my open palm. It scurried up my forearm.

She speed-walked back the way we came. "If we're gone too long, people will start to worry."

I laughed knowing she just didn't want to be out here any longer. I trailed behind her, letting the lizard crawl up my forearm and sit on my shoulder. He got a little curious and crawled into the collar of my shirt and got stuck in my sports bra. He's still alive, and I gave him a lecture about respecting women and their bodies. I think he got the message.

The walk back felt a lot longer. Sarah had to stop a couple times to let me catch up. She kept telling me to walk faster, but I couldn't get myself to. I felt sluggish from the long walk we had taken.

When the forest opened and the dirt turned to gravel, Sarah glanced back at me for the umpteenth time. With an adoring smirk, she asked, "Do you want a piggy back ride?"

I nodded. Holding Larry (that's what I named the lizard), I climbed onto Sarah's back. She jumped, adjusting me, and walked up to the house. I rested my head against her shoulder, keeping the reptile close to my chest.

Sarah climbed the wooden front porch steps with ease. "Is she sleeping?" I heard Ash ask.

I lifted my head and rubbed my eyes with the hand without the lizard. "No. M'awake," I mumbled. Ash, along with some other girls, were arranged on the porch chatting.

Jessie teased Sarah, "What'd you do to the poor girl?"

Sarah snorted. "Gave her exercise."

I held up my cupped hand. "Look. This is Larry?"

Jessie stood up and peered at the small creature. "Aw! Look at the lil' thang. Ash, your girl tamed a lizard."

Ash laughed, shaking her head. "Only my girl, only my girl."

Coach Katherine leaned out the front door and called, "Let's gather for dinner." She went back inside to finish preparing.

Sarah hiked me up. "Great. I'm starving." She pulled open the front door.

"Woah, wait." Ellie jumped up. "Why don't we put that lizard down before it gets loose in the cabin."

I pulled Larry against my chest. "No!"

"Amily."

I immediately turn and look at Ash.

"None of that attitude. Ellie told you very kindly to let the lizard go. He probably wants to go home to his family."

I glowered at her firm voice. "No. He's stayin' with me," I said in my version of a stern tone. Sarah tapped my leg warningly. I didn't care.

Ash sighed she made eye contact with Sarah, and they seemed to have a silent conversation. I got impatient and shifted heatedly. "Larry wants to stay with me," I whined.

My senior buddy said, "Sarah why don't you and the girls go inside while I talk to Ms. Amily."

Gently, Sarah crouches and let's me slide off her back. I step to the ground and immediately cross my arms, still cupping the reptile. The screen door squeaks as all the girls file in until it's just me and Ash outside.

The older girl closed the space between us and leaned in close, so I could hear her scarily quiet tone. "Amily Bryn. You are going to let the lizard go, wash up for dinner, and eat with the team and behave yourself the way I know you can." Her eyes tried to hold contact with mine, but I refused, squeezing my eyes shut and shaking my head. Her hand was firmly on my shoulder.

"No! No! No!" I tried to wiggle away from her hand but she remained firm.

"Young lady, look at me."

Tearfully, I opened my eyes and looked at her.

"You are being very disobedient and disrespectful. You do not speak to me that way. You are very close to earning yourself a trip over my knee."

I whined and squirmed more. "Nooo!" I cried. "You're mean! Stop it! You're so, so, so mean!"

She ignored my cries. "Amily Bryn. Listen very carefully. I'm going to count to three. For every second after three that you don't let the lizard go and continue to disobey me, you will spend a minute in the corner." She hooked her finger under my chin and forced me to look at her. "Do you understand?"

I just cried and tried to jerk away from her.

She sighed. "One . . . Two . . ."

I dropped to the floor and kicked my heel against the wooden porch. "Stoooop!" I shouted over her, trying to interrupt her count.

She just continued, "Three . . . Four . . . Five . . ."

I found myself screaming and crying. I sobbed and laid on the porch overwhelmed with emotions that didn't really make sense.

She just kept looking at me sadly and didn't stop counting. "Six . . . Seven . . . Eight . . ."

I reluctantly let the pinky-sized reptile go. He quickly shimmied away from me. I rubbed my eyes, still crying and hiccuping. Ash helped me sit up and scooped me into her arms. I wrapped my legs around her torso and my arms around her neck. She whispered in my ear. "Thank you, babygirl. I know you're tired, baby, but we need to have a talk."

Still crying and mind foggy, I clung to her and let her carry me upstairs. I had an idea what she meant by talk.

A/N:
Thanks for continuing to read guys! That means a lot! I was hoping I could get an idea what you guys are liking about certain chapters and not liking about others so I can continue to improve the content going forward. This one was going to be way longer but even cut down, it's longer than I anticipated. I don't know if I really liked where I left it off but oh well. Please comment and let me know what you guys are thinking!

Question: What do you like about certain chapters? What do you dislike about certain chapters?