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  The other bed is empty, Sawyer isn’t even here. I start to relax. Wait, I tense back up, so that means … I look back at Mark’s exposed chest. Courtney was here with him, not Sawyer. This fact does nothing to make me feel any better. I feel worse. It’s coming back to me, the two of them talking last night and Sawyer’s comment about Mark playing his cards right.

  Last week he was trying to kiss me, now he’s hooking up with someone the first weekend we’re here. I thought I was prepared to see Mark with someone else. Maybe I’m not.

  “Do you know where Sawyer is?” I ask.

  He pulls the blanket up to his neck and lies back down. “No,” he says closing his eyes.

  I don’t want to him to go back to sleep. Instead of asking if he’s still mad at me, I try pretending like everything is normal. “I’m hungry, want to go get something to eat?”

  “No.” He doesn’t even open his eyes.

  “But, I don’t want to go by myself.” I try sounding friendly, it comes out whiny. “Get up.”

  “If you don’t want to go by yourself then you shouldn’t have been such a bitch to your roommate or you should go look for your fire buddy.”

  Fire buddy? All I did was kiss someone. Sort of. Not like him who had done - who knows what. We do everything together and now, one hook-up with some slutty redhead and I’m given the boot. “Nice friendship,” I spit at him, turning to leave.

  “I’m not your friend, I’m your brother. Remember?” He lifts his head up and the look he gives me chills my insides.

  Outside frustrated tears pour from my eyes and I wipe them away furiously. He is still angry at me. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. This isn’t right. Two days here and everything changes. Yesterday he yelled at me and said I gave him nothing. Does he really think I give him nothing? I can’t leave with it like this between us. Turning around I run back to his cabin and walk in.

  “Mark, I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.” He doesn’t sit up, keeps his face covered with his pillow. “I’m gonna try and be a better friend. I mean it. I don’t know what I’d ever do if I lost you. You’re going away soon, we can’t waste time fighting.”

  Mark groans underneath the pillow. Slowly he sits up, dropping the pillow giving me a guilty look. “No, we can’t fight. I’m sorry. Last night was weird. Things are different here and we probably just have to get used to this place.”

  He’s right. Our weird arguments are just because we’re not used to camp yet. Plus hooking up with other people, even though we talked about it, it’s still kind of strange.

  I need food. All of this stress is most likely because of low blood sugar. “Are you sure you don’t want to eat?” I almost jump into his bed but then remember he isn’t dressed.

  “No, I’m exhausted. I was up most of the night,” he says, causing me to frown thinking about the reason he’s so tired. We look at each other and I feel my skin flush. Mark’s face shows he’s as embarrassed as I feel by this whole situation. I don’t want to talk anymore.

  “Bye,” I say, waving before getting the hell out of his cabin. Hopefully things don’t stay this awkward between us the entire summer.

  I’m ready to pass out from starvation. I decide to go check out the staff kitchen, see what kind of goodies it’s stocked with. The place is jammed. Looks like everyone else had the same idea. A group of the girls, including Tessa and Courtney, are gathered around a large metal table.

  “Cassie, come over, sit with us.” Courtney stands up from her seat and waves me over to join the group.

  I schlep over begrudgingly and sit, not making eye contact with the girl who made Mark tired. Shouldn’t she be home sleeping, not to mention showering?

  “We were just talking about your brother,” Courtney supplies after I’ve joined the group. She pushes a plate of sandwiches over to me. I grab one and tear into it, not even sure what kind it is. Ham, turkey, doesn’t matter.

  “Yes, he’s the newest addition to the hut club.” One of the girls laughs.

  “Stop Jena,” Courtney gasps. “That’s his sister. She doesn’t want to hear stuff like that about her brother.”

  I stop chewing. Mark went to the hut? What I saw this morning at his cabin, Courtney leaving, they had sex? Already? No, I don’t want to hear this. The food hasn’t even reached my stomach and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

  “Yeah, change the subject,” Tessa jumps in.

  “Well, here’s something,” Courtney glances around the room and lowers her voice. “Guess who got rejected when they invited someone to go down to the hut with them?”

  Everyone’s attention focuses on Courtney, ready for the juicy gossip. I listen through a fog of confused anger.

  “Last night, Brianne asked Tucker to meet there and he said no. She was mortified, she confronted him and he gave her some bullshit excuse that he was interested in someone and told her he wouldn’t be going down there this summer. Pfft, yeah right, like we believe that,” she snorts. Her lips twist up in a devious smile. “Someone else needs to try and ask him. I want to see if he says the same thing or if he was just brushing off Brianne.”

  “You know I’ll do it.” Jena, a thick, busty girl with dark hair, raises her hand to volunteer.

  “Yes, we all know you would…you’ve done it before. We need someone new, who wasn’t here last year.” Courtney looks over at Tessa. “I saw you talking to him last night, why don’t you do it and tell us what he says.”

  I stand up before Tessa gives an answer. “I’ll do it. Just tell me when.” Courtney will probably tell Mark. He can hear about me going to the hut and see how it feels. If he even cares.

  “Really? That’s awesome. You can do it tonight.” Courtney claps her hands. “And then you can report back to us tomorrow at lunch. If by some chance he gives you the same story, see what you can find out.”

  The talk at the table roars with excitement, ideas about what to wear, and what to say are being shouted in my direction. Jena is the most vocal speaking from first-hand experience and shares way too much information on some of Tucker’s intimate likes and dislikes.

  I wonder what I’m supposed to do if he actually takes me up on the offer. What will Sawyer do if he finds out I propositioned Tucker? Hopefully Tucker will turn me down, if he doesn’t I’ll surely be turning him down. I can just explain the situation to Sawyer if he finds out. What about Mark? I’m sure Courtney will tell Mark, but of course she’ll also tell him it’s not for real. I wish hearing about him going to the hut wasn’t for real.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Courtney’s looking directly at me.

  “No, I’m sorry, can you repeat it?” I say biting down on my bottom lip while thinking, Isn’t it time you go home and shower you dirty slut?

  Courtney goes on to repeat whatever nonsense she thinks I need to hear. I look around the table and notice Tessa is no longer there. The first night, Tessa and Tucker, I forgot about that. Great, just what me and her need, more tension between us.

  Tessa

  I’m able to slip away from the table unnoticed during all the commotion, but not before hearing Jena advise Cassie not to wear underwear. “Make sure you let him know you’re not,” she advised further.

  Dirty detailed stories are nothing new to me. In high school I heard them all the time. But I have to assume most people add details here and there on occasion to spice up these stories. There’s no way all of that stuff can be true. You don’t ever really know what goes on behind closed doors unless you’re there. That’s what I always told myself when I heard stories about Josh and that’s what I’m telling myself again now.

  I’m surprised Cassie volunteered, one because of Sawyer, and two because of her brother. Both guys might be really pissed at her for pulling a stunt like this. What will Cassie do if Tucker takes her up on her offer? I’m not overly worried. Cassie made it clear she wasn’t attracted to Tucker on the first night. But, still, you never know. Ashley had never been attracted to Josh and she hooked
up with him over and over. Last year at a party at Josh’s house he took Ashley up to his room right in front of me. It was devastating to see. I cried for days afterwards. Tonight, I’m going to stay in and not risk witnessing the same thing.

  While Cassie’s in the shower getting ready, I flip anxiously through the pages of a magazine I packed. At least whatever happens tonight I’ll get to know right away. Whether we’re speaking or not, I will make Cassie tell me the details when she gets in. Tonight will let me know if Tucker’s all talk or if he meant what he said about not going to the hut this summer.

  Cassie emerges from the bathroom in her beat up shorts, a stained hoodie and damp hair in a messy bun. Geez, this girl is a train wreck.

  “Is that what you’re wearing?” I turn my nose up showing I don’t approve.

  Cassie looks down and zips her sweatshirt up. “Yeah, why?”

  “You’re supposed to be seducing Tucker.”

  “Yeah, but I’m not going to really do anything with him if he says yes. I’m just doing it to see if he was telling the truth to Brianne or not.”

  I walk over to one of my drawers searching for the white shorts I packed. I find them and hand them over to Cassie. “Wear these.”

  Cassie takes the shorts from me holding them in front of her hips. She’s thin, but considerably taller than me so the shorts will be much shorter on her. “Why do you want me to wear these?” She eyes me suspiciously.

  “If you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right. Find out what kind of guy he really is. If he’s really just some horny loser, we can spread the word and maybe whoever the girl he’s interested in will find out and won’t get hurt.”

  Cassie’s face softens. “Do you have a shirt I can wear too?”

  I give her a tight black tank top and help her with that mop of hair. Clothes, hair, make-up, this is my specialty. When I’m finished with her, Cassie actually looks pretty, a little slutty, but that’s the point.

  “You’re definitely not coming?” Cassie asks.

  “No. I’m going to stay in. The kids are coming tomorrow and I want to get a good night’s sleep.” I give her a final once over and can see through the white shorts. You can’t wear a bold colored print underneath white. This girl knows nothing. Bold undies, white shorts, I mean this stuff is just basic fashion knowledge. “I can see your undies.”

  “Should I?” Cassie says apprehensively looking down.

  Oh, that’s right, Tucker’s weakness. Lovely. I nod my head. “Might as well.”

  A minute later Cassie steps out from the bathroom and tosses her undies on the bed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She gnaws at her thumb nail.

  “Make sure you tell him that you’re not wearing them.” My breath juts out in a tiny fearful stream. “Good Luck.”

  “I’ll do my best. I think you’re right about finding out what kind of guy he is, just in case we need to warn anyone.” Cassie shakes her head acknowledging she comprehends the girl I’m worried about is me.

  The door closes. All I can do now is wait.

  This morning after breakfast Tucker took me bowling. The bowling alley was dated and even though no one had been able to smoke there in years the place wreaked of stale cigarette smoke. A country music station blared through the old speakers crackling with static and we each traded in one sneaker for filthy red and yellow shoes with green laces. Neither of us were good bowlers. I won the second game we played with a score of forty two. Best day ever despite all my precautions about him. Now I just prettied up my roommate to go seduce him, encouraging her to go commando in my favorite white shorts. Yeah…so much for no drama this summer.

  Every noise causes me to jump. I run to the door twice to see if Cassie’s back yet. Hours go by and she never returns. It doesn’t look promising. What did I really expect? Sex wins every time. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. I can’t help it; I let a few tears slip out before falling asleep.

  Cassie

  I still can’t believe I’m doing this. I pick the shorts from my butt for about the millionth time and I haven’t even reached the lake yet. Without any undies on, they are a butt crack nightmare.

  No clue how I’m actually going to pull this off. What do I say? Hey Tucker want to go have sex? Then if he says yes, be like, no just kidding. Please, oh please, let this guy turn me down.

  “Hey.” I slow down, a bit taken off guard to be running into Tucker before even reaching the lake. He’s sitting all by himself. I suppose that should make this easier for me.

  “Hey.” He tips his head down. “Feeling any better today?”

  “I am. Thank you. Seriously, thank you for walking me back to my cabin last night. I was a mess.”

  “No problem at all.”

  Alright let’s start this. I try to look hot. One hand drops down to my hip and I bend one knee. “You should let me really thank you,” I say and I have a feeling the way my face looks doesn’t match the suggestive words I’m implying.

  Tucker scratches the whiskers on his cheek and grins at me. “How would you like to really thank me?”

  “Maybe, um, I don’t know.” I have no clue how to finish this sentence. I twist my shoulders in a flirty way. I think it’s flirty?

  “Is your bunk mate coming out tonight?” he asks, not seeming interested in my sexy flirts.

  “Nope. I’m all by myself.” I pull down on the shorts riding up my butt with both hands. “Sorry, I’m not wearing a thing under these shorts.” I almost laugh as I say it.

  “Oh yeah.” Tucker actually does laugh. “I imagine that’s a bit uncomfortable from the way you’re tugging on them.”

  Okay, this is so stupid, I can’t take this anymore. I need to finish this charade up, find out his answer and move on. “So you want to go to the hut with me for some crazy hot sex?” I ask real fast and tap my foot nervously.

  Tucker is still laughing. A little harder now. He stands up and walks closer to me. “I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. But you can do me a favor.” He shakes his head and lets out a little snort. “Next time you see all the girls, you tell them that I will not be going to the hut this summer, or any other summers for that matter. I got my eye on someone special. Make sure all the girls know, starting with your little roommate.” He nods his head down then walks off in the direction of the guys’ cabins, not the lake.

  Phew. That’s over with and he turned me down. Thank God. Good news for Tessa, I suppose.

  Unlike the last two nights at the lake there’s not too many people hanging out once I get down there. I guess that’s because the kids are coming in the morning and everyone wants a good night sleep.

  Sawyer is standing next to a small fire talking with Mark and Courtney. I walk over and give one big hello to all three of them.

  “What are you wearing? Damn girl, those shorts are insane.” Sawyer instantly pulls me into his side. His hand runs down over the backside of the short white shorts. “Cassie,” he groans. “Do not even tell me you got nothing on underneath these things.”

  Courtney puts her arms around Mark’s waist and giggles at us. Mark clenches his jaw looking down at my shorts, shakes his head and looks away. Why on earth would Sawyer announce something like that so loudly in front of others?

  Sawyer swoops me off my feet and tosses me over his shoulder exposing most of my bare ass towards Mark and Courtney. My hands fly up to try and cover it but it’s an awkward position and I can’t exactly reach. Sawyer gives my butt a hard smack. “I think I’m taking this girl for a walk into the woods.” He gives my butt a second smack.

  Courtney starts laughing even louder. “Geez, Sawyer. That’s Mark’s sister. You think he wants to see this shit?”

  Sawyer places me back down on my feet and faces Mark. “Aw hell, I don’t know what I was thinking. I keep forgetting she’s your sister.”

  “No, it’s fine with me. You guys go wherever. I think if the cabin’s empty me and Courtney might have to go take advantage of that.”
Mark pulls Courtney in and gives her a mouth devouring kiss right in front of me. Watching this kiss is even worse than watching as he kissed Tessa. Courtney slides her hands up Mark’s back pushing her body in close to his. As much as it sucks to watch, I can’t look away. Mark pulls back from Courtney for a brief second and our eyes connect. The blue eyes looking in my direction are so empty and unreadable. The strong connection we built over the last year seems lost. This isn’t supposed to happen. We’re friends. I kept it that way on purpose so this wouldn’t happen.

  “Come here you,” Sawyer growls, sweeping me back off the ground into the same position as before. “Have fun you guys, don’t do anything we wouldn’t do,” he yells over to the two attached again in a lip lock as he carries me over his shoulder through the trees.

  Once we reach a clearing Sawyer stops. His hand reaches right for the front button of my shorts. As Sawyer’s lips meet mine and his hands touch me, I can’t stop thinking about Mark. I pretend I don’t even know why.

  Tessa

  “Tessa, are you asleep?” Cassie nudges me awake.

  I open my eyes slowly and sit up. The light in our room is on. Cassie stands in front of me completely disheveled.

  “Sorry to wake you up. I want to tell you what happened.” The back of the white shorts are covered in dirt and her hair has a few leaves sticking out of it. “Tucker said no. I asked him if he wanted to go to the hut, I told him about the no undies, I really played it up. He was not biting. He gave me the same speech about being interested in someone and not going to the hut anymore. It was a little weird. I think he might have been on to the fact that it was some kind of test. But still I offered him sex and he said no and he did say there was someone special.”