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Kassandra gathers her bags from her bedroom as she hears May's honking in front of the building. 'Hang on woman!' she thinks, looking around her room to make sure she didn't forget anything. Satisfied that she has everything, Kassandra leaves her room, locks up the apartment, and hurries out to meet one of her best friends in a big hug, dropping her bags in the process. "May! It's been a long time!"
"Kassie, you don't have to remind me! Geez, did you bring enough stuff?" she asks, looking at what the other girl had lugged outside with her.
"What? As if you brought any less!"
May laughs. "All right! I just thought I would tease you a bit. So should we load up the car now or just stand here?"
Kassandra quickly scoops up her two duffle bags and suitcase and loads them into May's car, adding to the pile that is already there. "Ready to rock and roll?"
"Definitely," May responds, starting the car and heading towards the freeway. Once driving at a satisfying speed, May turns to Kassie. "So, any plans for this camp?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play innocent with me young lady. The last few years at camp, I remember you having a certain crush on a certain twin that you've hidden pretty well. This is our last year of being counselors so I figured you would have some sort of plan up your sleeve."
"I don't know at all what you are talking about," Kassandra replies, trying to look innocent.
"Right, sure you don't. I guess we'll just have to wait and see then, won't we?"
Kassie laughs. "I guess so!"
"Hurry up Joey! We're going to be late!" Jason yells after his twin who is taking his time finishing his packing. "I swear we can never go anywhere without you being late due to the amount of time you spend in front of that mirror!"
"Chill Jason! I'm hurrying, okay? I just want to make sure that I don't forget anything. Do you remember two summers ago when I forgot my sun block and my special box? Man, that was a bad summer," Joey returns, finally coming out of the bathroom.
Jason rolls his eyes at the mention of Joey's special box. "You know, there is a lot more to The Wild Woods camp than getting it on with girls."
"Right. You're just bitter because yours turned out to be a tramp."
Feeling the full impact of those words, Jason closes his eyes and tries to fight back the sad emotions overwhelming him. "Thanks Joey. As soon as I think I'm better, you have to remind me of Valerie and the heartache."
"Dude, I'm sorry man. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that I think this summer you should open your eyes and see what's there. I mean, there are plenty of girls there. Out of twelve female counselors, I'm pretty sure that you'll find someone to your liking. If not, there are always those campers!"
"Gross Joey. Not to mention that dating or one-night-standing campers are against the rules."
"Hah! Do you not recall that I lost my virginity as a fifteen year old boy to a camp counselor?"
"Ah, yes. Vivian right? I do remember that she got fired after that escapade with you."
"Did she? I didn't even notice," Joey says, picking up his bags from his bedroom and heading out to Jason's Jeep, which already contained Jason's bags. "I mean, that was the first summer I really noticed girls."
"No kidding. I do feel bad for those girls of yours you know."
"Well, what can I say? I wonder if there are going to be any new ones this summer."
"Who knows? You know how Kathy enjoys keeping us in surprise with who is coming and going, who has what days off together, and where we are staying."
"That's true. Well we at least know our little 'sister' will be there."
"Kassandra? She wouldn't miss her last summer being a counselor for the world. Man how fast the years have gone. It's going to be our last summer there too you know."
"Jason, we're going to be the oldest ones there you know. We are the seniors of the camp. I bet we can get away with more than before!"
"Don't count on it Joey. Besides, we shouldn't take advantage of the fact that Kathy needed more guys to be counselors and bent the age limit on counselors for us. It's a good paying job that we enjoy. Besides, it isn't like you had anything better to do with your time as it is."
"This is true. Anyway, I think it is time we head out. Ready to go?"
"Let's hit it!" Jason says, climbing into the driver's seat and heading away from their house that the two share and towards The Wild Woods.
May and Kassandra are unpacking in the female counselor cabin that was established for the first week of camp so everyone would be close together when they hear female shrieks from outside. Kassandra rolls her eyes. "The twins must be here. Those girls wouldn't scream for any other reason."
May laughs. "Man, you have been to this camp too long! You don't even get excited when hot guys are around."
"May, let me remind you that those two were the terrors in my seven year old life. They may only be one year older but trust me, in those days, they lived to make my life hell. More so Joey than Jason but it was not pleasant either way I remember it."
"Well, they seemed to have lessened their torture by the time I joined you at camp."
"Again, we were eleven when you showed up? Granted they did stop with all of the bug torture but that doesn't mean they didn't tease me still."
"I guess you're right," May responds, thinking back to that summer. "Man, it's hard to believe that we are leaving this place after this summer for good."
"I know. At least you and I live in the same place now so it isn't good-bye for us."
"True, but I do believe it will be good-bye to your twins."
"My twins? Just because they think of me as their little sister now does not mean they are my twins."
"Calm down! I was just teasing. Hey, why don't we go greet them? I'm sure they are anxious to see you."
"Right," Kassandra replies. "We'll see about that!"
The two girls head out of their room, which serves as the counselor's room during normal camp time, and out of the cabin. Instantly, Kassandra spots Jason and Joey and smiles broadly as she takes in the crowd of girls around them. 'So the insanity begins,' she thinks as she approaches.
Jason looks up from the new girl in front of him and spots Kassandra immediately. "Kassie!" he calls out as he runs forward and immediately embraces her in a big hug. "It's been too long. How have you been?"
"I've been good Jason. How have you been?" she asks, pulling away and smiling.
"Fairly well. I can't believe these next eight weeks will be our last."
"No kidding. But you know eight weeks is a long time."
Jason steps back and looks at Kassandra really for the first time and notes some changes. "What have you done to yourself Kassie? You look amazing."
Kassandra chuckles. "I had plastic surgery." When she sees the shocked and disbelieving look on Jason's face, she laughs. "Honestly, I just got into taking better care of myself last year. Working out, playing some sports, eating better, and trying to stress out less."
"Well you look fantastic kiddo."
Kassandra blushes at the compliment, which causes Jason to chuckle. "You really know how to charm a girl Jason. Speaking of, I see the twin phenomenon has broken out yet again."
"Hi Jason," May pipes in, causing Jason to tear his gaze from Kassandra to look at the petite girl.
"Hi May, how are you?" he asks, giving her a quick hug.
"I'm well. A bit uncomfortable though receiving those glares from the girls over there next to your brother."
Jason looks back and sees that all the girls around his twin seem simply enamored by him. "Hey Joey! Aren't you going to greet these two lovely ladies?"
Joey looks up and immediately leaves the presence of his fan club to walk over. "Hello May," he says, giving May a hug. Next, he turns his attention to the girl next to her and stops to stare. "Kassandra?"
The girl laughs. "Man, what is it with you two this summer? Hi Joey," she says, giving him a big hug, which he returns warmly.
"Wow, you have changed," he remarks, looking her over again. "Not quite that little pipsqueak of a girl we once knew when we were eight now are you?"
"Not quite."
Kathy walks outside from her office and smiles as she sees that most of the counselors are already standing around outside. "Attention please. We will be meeting in the auditorium in ten minutes. Please make sure you are prompt and ready to pay attention. Thank you."
"Do you want to head on over?" Jason asks, looking at the two girls.
"Sure," Kassandra responds, walking into the auditorium with May and Jason at her side.
Joey hangs back to walk with the other girls but never takes his eyes away from Kassandra. 'This is definitely going to be an awesome summer.'
"…and so I expect all counselors to be respectful of all camp rules. I do believe that all of you should have a wonderful summer along with the campers but you must understand that you are here to work and not to just have fun. Any questions?" Kathy asks, concluding the session on The Wild Woods camp rules.
"Have you already made the schedule and housing arrangements?" a girl calls out, who looks unfamiliar to Kassandra.
"Yes Steph. I am actually going to distribute those right now," Kathy answers, getting up to pass out the schedules of classes, events, days off, and the cabin assignments. "As usual, if you have any questions, please let me know."
"I get to teach the poetry class!" May whispers excitedly to Kassandra who smiles, looking at her own paper to find out what class she was given. 'Sailing?'
"Hey, we get to be co-teachers," Jason says, nudging her in the side. "I'm excited! We get to spend all summer on the water!"
Kassandra returns the smile and says, "That is true. I hope you brought your sun block!"
He chuckles remembering how sun burnt both he and Joey was that summer. "No worries there."
"What cabin do you have?"
"Eagle. I get the seventeen year olds. This ought to be fun. What about you?"
"Seventeen year old girls in the Fawn cabin."
"That's a nice cabin."
Kassandra gives him a look. "How do you know?"
Jason blushes and says, "I remember visiting you one day when you were housed there as a camper, remember? The day you fainted from the hike because you didn't bring enough water?"
"Oh geez, don't remind me of that day. That was pretty stupid of me."
"Well, you just didn't realize how hot it would be and how high up we were going. Everyone makes mistakes."
"You know, you were always there to help guide and protect me throughout our days here. Thank you," she says, realizing that Jason was always present in all of her camp memories, even the ones she would rather forget.
"You're welcome," he responds before quieting down, noting that Kathy was standing up at the front again.
"As usual, if you have an emergency, please contact me, Sally, or Bob right away. They are the co-directors of the camp and should be around shortly. Being the owner of The Wild Woods is a wonderful job for me but these two really do a lot of the work. If there are no more questions, you are all free to do what you would like for the rest of the evening. Breakfast is served at 7AM sharp so please be sure to wakeup on time. Our meeting tomorrow will start at 8AM. Please wear something comfortable and good hiking shoes. Good night."
As the counselors disperse, Jason, May, and Kassandra start heading towards the Tiger cabin where the two girls are staying. "See you in the morning?" he asks, earning nods from both girls. "Sweet dreams," he says before heading towards the Snake cabin where the guys were staying.
"Well, that was definitely an interesting start," May comments, catching Kassandra stare after Jason. "Man, you're in for a long and rough summer."
"Why do you say that?" Kassandra asks.
"I recognize that look you have on your face girl and the look on their faces once they saw the new you. You may be the one breaking the hearts this time around."
"Whatever. They are just good friends of mine. Nothing is going to happen."
"Right. We'll just see about that now won't we?"
"I guess so," Kassandra says, grabbing her shower tote and ducking into the bathroom before May could tease her any further.
'This definitely is going to be an interesting summer,' May thinks, smiling as she sees her best friend fleeing from her and her "suggestions."