Page 8 of The Summer Intern

“Oh fuck, here we go again,” Oliver muttered, taking another bite of his sandwich.

“Convince me.How do we work music into a curriculum of hiking and rock climbing?”Matt asked, staring me down.Had his eyes always been that blue?

"Why?"

"You wanted to argue your point at the job fair, and the campus police ejected you before you could.So, convince me that you're right."

“But...You find me irritating.”

He bit his lower lip, glanced at Oliver, then nodded.“I do.”

“So, why do you care what I think?”

He shrugged, grinning.“I might not.Like I said, I’m waiting for you to convince me it could work.I'm skeptical.It sounds very expensive, for one thing, and we're on a rather tight budget.”

I let out a frustrated growl that only made Matt smile wider.What was I supposed to say?I didn't have a presentation prepared.

“Want me to show you to your cabin?”Matt asked.“Maybe you need a moment to prepare your argument.I'd be happy to show you the camp's facilities.”

“Maybe he needs to sleep on it,” Oliver volunteered, his eyes darting to me.“You know, he’s worn out from the car ride.”

Matt scratched his beard, then nodded.

four

Casey

Thecabinleftmuchto be desired, just a small rustic space with two beds, a tiny bathroom, and an even tinier shower, but at least it was warm, which was more than I could say for outside.And it was quiet.So quiet that I struggled to sleep; it was like my thoughts were echoing in my head — mostly thoughts of going back home and never thinking of this summer camp again.

By the time I woke, I felt certain that I was going to turn down Matt’s job offer.This camp was not at all my style, and Matt could find someone better qualified than a college junior to do whatever vague thing he needed done.

Though he might have to pay someone with real experience a bit more than he was offering me.

Was that why he was so keen on hiring me?I groaned and flopped over onto my stomach, covering my head with the blankets and wishing I could take back this whole weekend.

“So, you gonna take the job?”Oliver’s voice came from across the room.

“Of course I’m not going to take the job,” I grumped.“This camp is… in the wilderness.And Sutton is engaged, enjoying tropical paradise without me.”

Oliver laughed.“I’m not sure what Sutton’s engagement has to do with it.And I think it’s beautiful here.”

“Beautiful to look at a picture of.Deadly to live in.”

“Stop saying things in that weird ominous voice,” Oliver said.“It’s just a normal small town in the mountains.There is a tourist town just a few miles down the road, and we’re like two or three hours from Seattle at most.You’re acting like it’s the remote Alaskan wilderness.”

“I heard wildlife outside, Ollie.Wildlife!”

“Pretty sure that was a squirrel.We have squirrels at home.”

“Whatever.Matt is insufferable.”

“He seemed super nice to me.And think about how it would look on your resume,” Oliver said.

“I could get a job that would look nice on my resume anywhere!Preferably in a city!”

Oliver shook his head and pulled out a book, flipping it open to the first page.“Yeah, not like this.You’d be involved in building a whole new music and arts curriculum.That’s huge.Great for the resume.”

“Only if I can convince Matt to do it.”

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