Page 100 of Class Clown

“I’ve never been unpopular before,” I muttered. “I’m a delight.”

They agreed, as best friends must do.

“Have you talked to Nico about Kristy and how you’re feeling right now?” Hailey asked.

I shook my head even though it was still resting on the desk, and my skin pulled as it shifted back and forth. “No. I’ll talk to him tonight when he’s free. He has to be there for dinner and all the other things.”

“Plus, you’re avoiding being seen with him again, am I right?” Aryn asked.

“Yeah.”

“Middle school 101, avoid, avoid, avoid.” Meredith chuckled. “A classic play.”

“A necessary one.” I defended. “We are at work.”

“I’m agreeing with you,” Meredith stated.

“So, you have, what, one more week of camp?” Hailey asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you think things will smooth over by the time the last round of campers comes on Sunday?” Aryn asked.

“I have no idea. I was open and honest with Kristy, but she’s hurt, and she has a lot of allies here,” I replied.

“Classic middle sch- . . .” Meredith started

“Seriously, Mer, I thought you weren’t talking,” Aryn griped teasingly.

“This is me, zipping it,” Meredith huffed.

“What do I do, guys?” I asked. “I have apologized, and tried to explain. I’m worried about Nico too. He’s probably so embarrassed right now. He’s such a private person.”

“Look, in life we’re really good at doing the negative what-ifs. But there are positive what-ifs too,” Hailey said firmly. “What if he isn’t upset? What if he’s totally unaffected by this?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, stumped. “Every other guy I’ve been with would have been really upset.”

“What if he’s not?” Hailey pressed.

“What if he’s more worried about the fact that he hasn’t seen you since Kristy busted you guys, and he’s hoping you’re okay?” Aryn threw in.

“What if he’s served in the military and worse things have happened to him than a few gossipy camp counselors pouting because they didn’t get to play ‘love in the mountains’ with him?” Meredith said.

“Love in the mountains?” I gasped out a laugh.

The rest of them started laughing too, and before long the absurdity of it all caught up with me, until I was laughing hard.

Here I was, in my thirties, at a summer sleep-away camp, fighting with the other girls over the cute guy, and then feeling terrible for catching his eye and causing gossip.

“I still feel awful that I lied to Kristy and Gina and hurt their feelings,” I said when the laughter died down, “I don’t want to be that person. But I’m gaining some perspective here.”

“Of course we’re never out to hurt people,” Hailey agreed. “However, in two weeks from now none of this will matter much. That camp is a separate world, and soon you’ll all be back in your normal cities, back to your jobs and families, and camp will become a memory.”

“Too true,” Aryn cheered.

“So, speaking of normal cities . . .” Hailey drew it out, “are you brining Nico to yours? Because I need to meet the man.”

I cleared my throat. “I have no idea.”

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