Camp King Part 1 - Yellow School Bus
The bus rattled as it went over the rocky road. This stretch wasn't used enough to require a paved road. Spencer glared out the window. She had been forced to come to Camp King. It was meant for children to become more in touch with nature.
"Five more minutes." The bus driver croaked out. She had been silent the entire ride, well, other than the occasional grunts heard when Spencer had put her feet on the seat. As her eyes stayed glued on the window, the sea of emerald changed slightly as it thinned out to reveal cabins and kids of various sizes.
Once the bus came to a halt, the bus driver stood up, her towering frame taking up much of the aisle. Her eyes darted from Y/n to the open door before sitting down again. Spencer got the message and began to grab her bags. Hopping off the bus, she was met by a man who looked no older than twenty holding a clipboard and a smile that was too tight.
"Hi! Welcome to Camp King! I'm Adam and I'm the Camp director," he introduced before leading her down a trail. The sounds of twelve year old's acting as a background noise as he continued on about the history of the camp. "And so it was founded by Francis King in 1902 as a way for his children to connect to others their age. As I'm sure you know the age limit here is eight to twelve. This year we have almost sixty kids but don't worry we split them up to make them more manageable."
She nodded along listening but clearly not wanting to be there. Spencer hated being here but she knew that if she played polite it would end better for her. Especially with how her mum was breathing down her neck.
"And here is your cabin! You and the other female counselors stay here. You're just in time for lunch if you want to drop off your stuff then head to the mess hall?" He offered.
She nodded and did as told. Throwing the oversized backpack on a bed Spencer noted how only one other bed was in use. The cabin was better than she had imagined. A working bathroom and heaters were in view. Taking out her glasses case she took out the cloth and cleaned them.
It was a habit she had adopted from her father. The two of them are unable to enter a new place without cleaning their glasses. Walking back out she followed the directions written on wooden arrows nailed to trees. Finding the large building with plenty of kids wandering in. She held her glasses case, her grip tight.
Going in it reminded her of the cafeteria in high-school. She wiped off her glasses and got in line. Noticing how loud the two men in front of her were. One had his head back he was laughing so hard while the other continued to tell his story.
Adrian smiled watching his friend laugh, he tried to keep telling the story but the sound of his booming laughter had him distracted. He looked around seeing the table him and his group usually sat at was filling up, making a scan of the room he saw an unfamiliar woman just behind Sam. Giving her a small smile she returned a tight lipped one.
She was pretty in an odd way, she had a resting annoyed face and just radiated a "Go away" vibe. One thing he noticed was that unlike most of the other girls she was dressed in jeans and a cropped hoodie. It got hot in the afternoons so most of the campers where dressed for the weather in shorts and t shirts. He tore his eyes away and to Sam who was handing him a tray.
"Did you have lunches like this in Russia?" Sam asked as the two began to load on items. Adrian wanted to roll his eyes but didn't. In a camp of of sixty something people he was one of eight not from the United States. He was constantly asked questions such as that. One girl had even asked if Russia had Wi-Fi yet. Being the nice guy he was he never let on that the questions frustrated him.
"Yeah depends on the school, I was a bag lunch kid though." He told his new friend. Camp had only been in session for a week and Adrian had already had made friends with the other counsellors.
His closest friend being Sam. He was apparently a big shot back in his home town and his ego was a result. Adrian's other friends were Becca, Tyler, and Sophia. They were all popular at their own schools ranging from a hippie art school to a prestigious business school. Once the two return to the table Tyler immediately asks the question on Adrian's mind
"Whose the new girl? A bit late to camp don't you think?" The others turning to take another look at her. Becca scrunching her nose at the sight of the girl. She had noticed Adrian staring at her earlier and was already becoming jealous.
"She looks like a bitch." She said plainly, the other girl giggling. This was something Adrian disagreed with but bit his tongue. He saw her more as a black cat character. Simply wanting to be left alone. Maybe this was just the norm, being mean?
Once Spencer grabbed her food she wandered off finding a table. Empty of campers and only a few chairs. The food was bland and the portions were small but they were better than starving she thought to herself. Almost as soon as she finished her plate did Adam come to the front of the room, gaining everyone's attention by blowing a whistle.
"Alright campers! We have a late addition to the leaders but we are happy to have her regardless." He gestured to Spencer "This is Spencer and she will be the new archery instructor!" He cheered some of the campers clapping while most of them just turned to the woman sitting alone. She put up her hand to wave.
After lunch the kids were split into different groups with a much smaller group hovering around Spencer's table. Taking them to the archery range that she was shown on the tour she began to talk to the kids. Getting to know their names and ages.
"Damn you're nine?" she asked one kid who was taller than she was "I thought you were like at least fifteen." The others laughing at the comment but the little boy taking it as a huge compliment. Teaching them archery was easy to Spencer, she loved the art of a bow and having invested students made it even easier. "Make sure your shoulder is back but not pulled." She lightly shifted one of the girls posture allowing her to hold the bow more comfortably. The kids began to shoot the arrows, the older ones being able to hit the target more often than the younger.
"Can you hit the bullseye?" One of the young girls asked Spencer, she took out one of the bows made for an adult and lined up, taking a deep breath in as she adjusted her posture she let out the breath the arrow hit the direct center of the bullseye making all seven of the kids let out small gasps. This continued for an hour before a new group came along with one of the female counsellors. She had dark brown hair and her hands were stained with paint and marker ink.
"Okay kids! I'm passing you off to Spencer." The new group immediately running over to the bows and arrows as the current group put them away giving the blonde woman happy waves as they followed with the girl counsellor. Spencer expected her to introduce herself, not really minding she began to talk to the new group of kids.
This repeated again an hour later, meeting the new group and teaching them the basics. It was now dinner time and Spencer and the third group made their way to the mess hall. Everyone much more chatty than at lunch she noted. Taking the same seat as at lunch a few of the children from her first groups hovered around the table.
"Uhm Spencer," She looked up at them, her glasses slipping down a bit. "Can we sit with you?" She nodded and all the kids sat down and began to bombard her with questions.
"How did you get so good at archery?"
"Why are you late to camp?"
"Are you a natural blonde?"
The last one had her let out a chuckle, she tried to answer them all. She was surprised they were so curious, but she supposed at their age she would be just as inquisitive. Though she would have kept them to herself. Spencer was a quiet girl, not quite shy just not one to speak unless necessary.
"Oh I got into archery when I was younger because my parents thought it would be a good way to manage stress. I am actually supposed to compete in next years summer Olympics." All the kids marveling at the woman in front of them. "Though I will be representing Canada"
"Is that why you were late to camp?" The eldest kid asked her nodding again taking a bite of the macaroni and cheese on her plate.
"Flew in from Vancouver two days ago. I didn't know I was late until this morning." The kids all sharing what part of New York they were from. Her asking the children about themselves as they ate. She was smiling as one of the younger kids explained how he was half Canadian because his parents were from Vermont.
Adrian wanted to walk over and say hi. Just to walk up and introduce himself or something. Anything. And yet he doesn't, he is sat with the other counsellors. Sophia was talking about the play one of the groups put on today. The others listening to her story, Adrian tried to understand where it was going but missed the point.
"You're staring dude." Sam said from next to him, cutting off Sophia, "Why don't you go ask her to sit with us? I'm sure she wouldn't mind sitting with the big kids." He joked, urging Adrian to go over. All four of the adults were curious about her but all bit their tongues. Hiding behind jealousy or uncaring.
"You think I should?" he asked raising an eye brow "Is that okay with everyone?" earning faint yesses from the group. Except Becca who rather than answering turned away. She had hoped he would pick up on her body language and not go. Pushing himself up and walking over Adrian's palms became warm. Standing next to Spencer she looked up at the man.
