Page 99 of Class Clown

Not wanting to cause more of a kerfuffle, I took my dinner tray down the hall to Cole’s office and sat behind his desk. Dinner alone was fair payment. I’d also avoid the flag ceremony and skits tonight, which to be fair I rarely showed up to anyhow. I didn’t want attention taken away from the campers on their last night.

As soon as I entered Cole’s office and my phone connected to WiFi, it started dinging like crazy, reminding me that I’d sent off that text to my friends about Quinn and never gotten back to fill them in. I hated vague, attention-seeking texts and social media posts, and here I’d gone and done it myself. I also hated liars and cheaters, and fibbers, and shady people, and I’d been shady for weeks.

I shoved my food away and rested my forehead on the desk, wondering who I was anymore. Summer camp had rocked my world, offering me the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and I wasn’t sure I liked it one bit.

With my phone on my lap, I scrolled through messages and a wave of homesickness hit as I saw their replies. They’d often circled the wagons around my antics, and I wanted to be circled again.

It was an hour later in Utah, on a Friday night, but I knew they’d be waiting for me to respond with more info, so I did.

Me: Sorry about that. Yes, Quinn has a person. He’s a forest ranger and really likes his little shadow. Also, I’m dating Nico. We’ve decided to give this thing between us a shot. Not sure I’d call him my boyfriend quite yet – doesn’t that require actual dates? So far all we do is sneak around and break young hearts. Word got out today and I’m the black sheep of the forest. I miss you guys so much.

Within a few seconds my phone rang, showing Aryn’s number, and I fumbled to answer quickly.

“Hey,” I said, and then my voice immediately broke on the emotion of the afternoon.

“Oh, Rubes,” she said kindly. “That was a really dramatic text.”

“Things have been pretty dramatic.”

“Hold on, I’m getting others on this call. You need your dragon sisters right now.”

The line went silent as she put me on hold to call the others, and I managed to dry away the tears that threatened and sit up straight in my chair. This was good. They’d make it better.

“Spill it,” Meredith’s voice came across the line, letting me know that others had joined.

I laughed. “Is everyone here?”

“No. Lizzie is camping out of range,” Aryn replied. “A hazard of being married to an off-grid tour guide. I have Meredith and Hailey here.”

“Hi, Ruby.” Hailey’s gentle, cultured voice came through and those tears were back.

“I need psychotherapy,” I whimpered.

Meredith laughed. “I always knew it would come to this. I have a few ideas.”

“Oh, shut it, Mer,” Aryn stated, and we all laughed. Even me.

“What’s going on?” Hailey asked.

I spilled it all. The kissing during Mission Impossible, his nightmare, him admitting his long-standing yearning for me (my words), me not telling Kristy and Gina and then getting busted, and so many other things I’d discovered about myself along the way. An entire novel’s worth of information was dropped at their feet, tear by tear, unfiltered thought by unfiltered thought, until ten minutes had passed and the fatigue had me slumping back to put my head on the desk.

“Okaaaaayyy,” Meredith responded, and I could picture her leaning back into the cushions of her couch, staring up at the ceiling. “I officially hand this one off. I’m listening only.”

Aryn giggled. “Finally, Rubes. You broke Meredith.”

“My silence is the supportive kind,” Meredith responded.

“Thanks, Mer,” I sniffled.

“So, Kristy is mad and word has spread?” Hailey clarified.

“Yeah.”

“And you’re eating dinner alone in Cole’s office, and missing the festivities tonight?” Aryn asked.

“Yeah.”

“Oof,” Meredith mumbled. “Welcome to my entire middle school experience. I’m sorry, Rubes, that stinks.”