Extra Credit #22
Page 11
“You’re forgetting who you’re talking to.
Celebrities don’t freak me out the way they do everyone else. They’re just average people like you and me.”
No one was a stranger to the fact that Natalie’s father was megastar Tad Maxwell, but sometimes Natalie felt the need to remind her friends that she wasn’t a gossip-obsessed fame-monger.
“How is it possible that I already got stung by a bee?”
Natalie and Sloan smiled in unison when they saw their friend Chelsea walking into the cabin, holding back her blond hair and pointing at her neck. “Is it bad? Don’t lie to me. I can take it.”
“It’s pretty standard for a bee sting, Chelse. Just red and puffy,” Sloan answered.
“Well, I can’t let the president’s daughter see me this way. She’ll think I’m a complete loser,” Chelsea said with a sigh.
“Oh, stop it. You look great!” Natalie flung her arms around Chelsea and pulled her in close for a hug.“I’ve missed you!”
Chelsea stared over Natalie’s shoulder at Sloan, confused. “Why is Natalie trying to squeeze me to death?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Sloan replied, giggling.
“I’m just psyched to be here, that’s all! Dr. Steve said on TV that the camp has a lot of new features, and this festival he mentioned sounds awesome, and there’s a chance that the president’s daughter will be staying in our bunk, and that the camp is growing, which means that maybe there will be a lot of new boys this year.” Natalie paused for a second to catch her breath. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are. Now release me from your choke hold—you’re going to kill me,” Chelsea croaked.
Natalie chuckled as Chelsea wiggled out of her embrace. “I can’t wait to see everyone at orientation.”
Sloan glanced at her watch. “Won’t be long now. Dr. Steve’s expecting us all at the new rotunda building at noon.”
“I heard it’s powered by solar panels on the roof,” Natalie said.
“Do they still have calamine lotion at the infirmary? Because I am in desperate need of some,” Chelsea said while scratching at her neck.
“If they do, I bet it’s organic,” Sloan said with a wink.
Natalie was buzzing with such excitement that she couldn’t sit still at the orientation meeting. She was surrounded by more of her good friends who had been slowly arriving at camp all morning—Jenna, Priya, Brynn, and Sarah—and the new rotunda building was absolutely amazing. The solar panels on the ceiling were made of a translucent material, so everyone could look up and gaze at the white, puffy clouds that were moving slowly through the perfectly blue sky.
“First day of camp is such a rush,” Jenna said as she retied one of her high-top sneakers.
“I wish Dr. Steve would get on with the show. We have so much to talk about!” said Priya.
“Never mind talking! Has anyone seen Tricia yet?” Chelsea said, her head pivoting back and forth as she checked out the crowd.
“Nope, not me,” replied Sarah.
“I haven’t, either,” Brynn chimed in.
“Maybe she’s in disguise!” Priya suggested.
Natalie chuckled, along with the rest of the girls. It was hard to imagine someone like Tricia bothering with li’l ol’ Camp Walla Walla.
Priya crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t laugh. I saw it in a movie once.”
“Whoa, check out the hottie over there,” Brynn said, pointing to a spot a few rows ahead of them.
Natalie peered over the heads of the campers sitting in front of her and caught a glimpse of a posse of boys sitting to the left of them. A very good-looking, brown-haired, olive-skinned boy that she had never seen before was talking with David and Jordan.
“Okay, I have to say it,” Sloan said with a wide grin. “Yuuuuum!”
Just as Natalie and the other girls burst out laughing, Dr. Steve stepped in front of the podium and tapped the microphone a few times to make sure it was on. Then he cleared his throat, causing some feedback to echo throughout the room. Natalie covered her ears and winced.
Well, that’s one way to get everyone’s attention.
“Sorry! Didn’t mean for that to happen,” Dr. Steve said in a flustered manner. He ran his fingers through his hair nervously and took a deep breath. “What I meant to say was: Welcome back to Camp Walla Walla, folks!”
Natalie clapped cheerfully with the rest of the campers. She scanned the crowd a bit more for familiar faces. Her eyes settled on Avery. What a relief it was not to feel stressed out by her anymore. Thank goodness that hatchet was buried.
“Now that we’re one of the greenest camps in America, we are fully equipped to conserve energy and use only natural resources,” Dr. Steve announced while members of the audience listened intently. “I’m sure all of you are going to like the improvements we’ve made.”
“When is he going to get to the good stuff?” Priya whispered into Natalie’s ear.
Natalie knew she was referring to Tricia, but Natalie was actually hoping Dr. Steve would talk more about the Green Festival, too. She was gradually going green at home and in school—she might have felt a little guilty if she was suddenly adding to her carbon footprint again.
“I’m also sure the word has spread that the president’s daughter, Tricia, is coming to Camp Walla Walla,” Dr. Steve said.
The audience erupted into wild applause. In fact, some girls jumped out of their chairs, shrieking like crazed fans.
“All right, settle down,” Dr. Steve said with a laugh. “Tricia was supposed to be here today, but she was on a goodwill tour with her father and her flight out from London was canceled due to poor weather. So she’s going to be delayed.”
The shrieking girls immediately groaned and sat down in disappointment.
“In the mean time, I am putting together a group that will help me plan the Green Festival, a weekend-long event featuring live entertainment, fresh organic food, and eco-conscious vendors,” Dr. Steve continued. “And, of course, the group will need a chairperson to lead them in the right direction.”
“Wow, that sounds so cool,” Sloan whispered to Natalie.
What was so unexpected, was that it sounded kind of cool to Natalie, too.