#libbie brewer

The lull between move in time and the Welcome Roundup expired quickly, and before anyone knew it, everyone was gathered around the stage eager to be introduced to the counselors and the itinerary for their week at camp.

"Good morning and sul, sul, Camp Longhorn campers! I'm Head Counselor Hecking, and I'm so excited that we're all going to be spending the week together!" Head Counselor Hecking gave them the warmest and most enthusiastic welcome.

"The theme for your week is adventure and discovery. We are going to realize that theme with one structured event a day. We're talking motor advancement through swim time and treehouse building, creative development in the art center, and athletic gains hiking and tree climbing."

"Outside of structured events, you'll have free time to explore activities individually and make friends with your fellow campers. And don't neglect that part, campers! You may only be here a week, but the friendships you make here will last you a lifetime."

"Now here to assist me in guiding you all through this amazing week are my junior counselors standing next to me. Each one of them will be in charge of your guided events and will be on standby if you need help during your free time. Give Libbie, Daniel, M, and Evie a hearty sul sul!"

All of the campers gave the counselors their heartiest sul suls, but one hello in particular immediately caught Evie's eye.

It was Cordelia, waving to what would seem only one counselor in particular, and Evie could tell exactly where her gaze was fixated.

After she noticed Cordelia's infatuated gaze, she couldn't ignore it for the rest of the roundup.

For the rest of Head Counselor Hecking's speech, she witnessed Cordelia sighing over and over with her lovesick stricken stare focused only on one person.

And the most frustrating part was that Mimi seemed completely oblivious to it.

Again.

"Did I just hear my name?" Daniel said as he plopped himself beside them. "Hopefully only good things are being said." He teased.

"No one's talking about you, Daniel. Evie and I were just girl chatting, right Evie?"

"Sure." Evie would keep Libbie's secret crush quiet, for now.

"Well, while you two were girl chatting, I was suncreening to keep all of this burn free. Where's M at? Doing the same thing?"

"No. I don't think so." Evie spoke up. "They went to go see Head Counselor Hecking about a mix up with their swimsuit. They should be here soon."

"Well, don't you ladies worry. I'm more than enough to keep you company till they get here."

"Entertained? Daniel, I think you're confused." Evie rose an eyebrow.

"Evie's right, Daniel. We're supposed to be watching the kids." Libbie giggled.

"Well, I can do both!" He assured.

Back at camp, the counselors had gathered the kids together for a swim in the lake. Evie and Libbie watched over the campers while they waited on Daniel and Mimi to join them. While they waited, the two chatted and Evie made an effort to get to know Libbie.

"So, you say you're from a small town, but how small are we talking?"

"Meadowdale? It's super small! We only have one traffic light." Libbie laughed. "It's right between Brindleton and Henford, blink and you'll miss it."

"It's near Brindleton? No way, that's where I'm from!"

"Really?! That's a 3 hour drive from where I live. After camp, we could hang out. Ya know, if you want to."

"Well, I don't exactly live there anymore. My parents are still there, but M and I live in Newcrest together now."

"Oh. That must be so nice." Libbie swooned.

"The two of you are so sweet together. You're so lucky, Evie. The way M looks at you, ugh, I wish I had a boyfriend who'd look at me like that."

"Oh? Well, what about Daniel?"

"What about him?"

"You like him right? You think he's cute?" Evie gave her a knowing glance.

"What? I only said that because girls at my school think he's cute I don't…"

Evie's look deepened.

"I mean, what's there to like anyway? Not his stupid cute smile, or his dumb cute nose ring, or that mole just under his lip. Daniel isn't cute at all."

After checking out with their items from the lingerie store, they headed over to one of the neighboring cafes for a quick bite to eat.

Evie was really enjoying her time out with Libbie and was hoping to continue to get to know each other better.

"So, about your crush on Daniel." Evie dived into the deep end.

"Wha-what?"

"You don't have to keep it a secret. To be honest it's been pretty obvious you feel that way about him. Have you ever considered just telling him?"

"Oh, no, I could never do that."

"Why not?"

"Well, because I don't think he likes me like that."

"Says, who?"

"Everybody? People don't tend to like me. I can be a little annoying, and well, Daniel, his bedroom walls are filled with all these pinup girls with perfect bodies and blonde hair. I don't look like that."

"Libbie, nobody looks like that. Not even those girls. But besides that, Daniel would be crazy not to like you. You're cute and funny and really pretty. You've got a lot to offer."

"I do?"

"Mmhmm. And I bet Daniel knows it too. He's just too big a dummy to do anything about it"

"Well, how do you get someone to wanna do something about it? I mean, well, how did you get M to notice you in a more than a friend way?"

"Oh." Evie felt taken off guard. "That's, uh, that's kind of an old funny story."

"Tell me about it! Please?"

So after another browse of the racks, Libbie did just that. This time after going into the changing room, it didn't take too much prodding to get her to come out.

"Now I know this one isn't as revealing as the other one, and maybe it's not sexy, but I guess this is sexy for me."

"I think you look very cute." Evie said with a smile.

"Cute? So that's bad."

"No, not at all. You said that you felt sexy, right? Well if this is what makes you feel sexy, then it's perfect."

"Really?"

"Absolutely! You should totally buy it."

"Buy it? But I don't have anyone to wear it for."

"That doesn't matter. Wear it for yourself. I like to look sexy for M, but that doesn't mean I don't also like to look and feel sexy for myself. Every girl deserves that."

After a lot of prompting and prodding, Evie was finally able to convince Libbie to reluctantly try on some lingerie. So into the dressing room she went while Evie patiently waited for her transformation.

"Libbie, you've been in there long enough. Come on out!" Evie called to her

"I…I can't." Evie could just barely hear her through the door, just above a whisper.

"What do you mean you can't? Does it not fit?"

"It fits, it's just, I don't really feel comfortable. I think, I probably look silly."

"There's no way! Come on out. I promise to be gentle."

After a lot more persuading, Evie finally managed to get Libbie to leave the dressing room.

"I….I look dumb, don't I." Libbie said bashfully.

"Dumb? That's a funny way of saying hot." Evie squealed.

"You're just saying that. My body isn't like yours. I'm not—"

"Built like a banana? Libbie, you've got an amazing body. I wish I had curves like yours."

"You do?"

"Are you kidding? Don't you feel sexy in that?"

"Well, actually, I feel a little naked. I dunno, maybe I'm not meant for lacey things like this. I don't have your confidence."

"You know there's more than one way to be sexy, Libbie. It's OK if you don't quite feel comfortable in that piece, but how bout you pick out one that you think is sexy for you and try that on?"

"Sexy for me?" Libbie pondered.

Evie browsed the racks a bit until she found a few options that might work before heading off to the changing room.

As she admired herself in the mirror she tried to imagine Mimi's reaction. Maybe the right lingerie could help ease them into letting her touch them more.

She was hopeful modeling each one in front of Libbie would help her narrow down her choice.

"So, what do you think?" Evie struck a pose.

"Oh wow, Evie, you look umm…."

"Hot?"

"Well, lovely I think. Yes, you look lovely."

"Lovely?" Evie laughed. "Sounds like something my mother would say!"

"Oh, uh, is that bad?"

"Well, if M were to say I looked lovely when they see me, I'm not exactly sure that's the reaction I want. I want their heart to race when they see me. So this is definitely out."

"How about this one?" Evie had changed into the next option, a light green lacey one piece.

"Oh wow! That ones definitely, umm…"

"Sexy?"

"I was gonna say, spicier?"

"Libbie," Evie giggled, "You're not exactly inspiring confidence. I guess this one's out too."

By the time Evie made it out in option 3, she knew she was onto something as Libbie's face instantly turned red.

"So, hot enough for you?" She rose an eyebrow staring her down.

"O—oh my," Libbie got flustered. "That's….a lot of skin."

"Yeah, do you think M will like it?"

"Oh, umm, I dunno." Libbie could barely meet her eyes.

"Libbie you've gotta give me more than that. I know you come from a small town, but people get sexy for the ones they love where you come from, right?"

"Umm, well, I guess, I dunno."

"Have you never worn lingerie?"

"Well, I don't exactly have a boyfriend, so—"

"That doesn't matter. You don't need a boyfriend to wear sexy lingerie."

"Oh. Well, still, no."

"Well, then we need to fix that. Try something on."

"What?"

While Cordelia and Jordin were ready to go ahead with their plan, the weather said otherwise. The next day of camp was met with a drizzle, so Head Counselor Hecking led a day long mindfullness event, while the junior counselors got the day off. Perfect timing for a shopping trip.

The shopping options around Granite Falls weren't exactly varied, but Libbie and Evie hoped to get lucky at the neighboring strip mall lingirie shop.

"The Zoogle reviews aren't glowing, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing." Libbie reasoned when they entered the shop.

"If the stuff here isn't any good, then why bother?" Evie was already feeling nervous about the whole thing and Libbie bringing up reviews wasn't helping.

"Don't get down! We just got here. I'm sure they have some really nice stuff, so let's just try and find something."

Libbie was trying to lift her spirits, but Evie couldn't help but be on edge. Mimi and her had already had two major tiffs since camp started. She wanted to find something perfect to help start repairing some of their issues. Leaving anything up to chance was out of the question.

"Listen, I don't know a lot about love or relationships or anything, but I do know that Mom has always told me that mindset is everything. If you go into something gloomy then gloom is all you'll get, but if you enter with a smile everything will be bright. So how bout it?"

"Team smile?" Libbie rose her hand expecting Evie to meet her high five but was left hanging. "Or not?" She smiled nervously.