“You’re going to want to steer clear of the protein dish tonight.” Jude’s hot breath caused chill bumps to form on my neck.
“Yeah? Why?” I craned my neck towards the food table to avoid him noticing my reaction to his presence.
“Ground venison in the sauce.”
“Hmm, thanks for the head’s up.” Turning to face him, I noticed he already had his plate loaded with a rare slab of meat, a hunk of bread, and salad. “Why are you eating that? I thought you lived for game animals.”
“I can’t eat the tomato sauce.”
“Oh, well, hopefully they have a vegetarian option.”
“You might be eating plain noodles.”
“That works.” I’d reached the front of the line and picked up a tray. “Don’t wait for me. I’ll catch up.”
“That’s fine. I like talking to you.”
If it hadn’t been clear he liked me before, it was then, and the whole camp had a front row seat. Head high, I told myself. The rules didn’t prohibit us from talking to each other.
Taking our seats, we ate in silence till Frida joined us. “I hope I’m not the odd man out now.”
“Never,” I told her, wrapping one arm around her shoulders.
“You guys make the most unlikely pair.” Jude pointed between us.
“What, bad girls can’t have nice friends?” Frida kissed me on the cheek.
“Don’t call Camille a bad girl. She’s just shy.” Jude winked at me.
Frida rolled her eyes. “It’s always the quiet ones you should look out for.”
“You guys are the worst.” I half-stood, pretending to leave.
Frida pulled me back down. “How was your day? I heard about a cut”—she pointed at me—“and missing bracelet.” She eyed Jude over her glasses. “How was rappelling?”
“Terrifying,” I said as Jude exclaimed that it was awesome.
“Our group is going tomorrow. I can’t wait.” Frida wrapped noodles around her fork, dipped it in the meat sauce, and took a huge bite.
My stomach turned, and my noodles lost their appeal. “I’m done.” I stood, meaning to stow my plate.
“No, missy.” Frida grabbed my arm. “I’m not doing a kitchen run at midnight with you. Sit down and eat.”
Figuring she was right, I finished my plate while she caught us up on the camp gossip between bites.
“Good morning.” Jude’s voice rang out as I reached the food prep tent the next morning. “How are you? Did you sleep well?”
“I did, thanks. You?”
“Yep, I love how quiet it is out here.”
“The very thing I find unnerving.”
“Want some tea?” he asked. “I’m getting a cup for myself.”
“Sure, thanks.”
“I’ll be right back.” His eyes seemed to sparkle as a smile spread across his face.
“Well, someone’s got a boyfriend,” Beth Anne said as I joined her at the fruit station.
“It’s not like that.”
“He’s getting tea for you.”
“Okay, he’s being really sweet.”
“Just don’t get caught sucking face.”
“Eww, that just made that experience seem less appealing.”
I focused on not cutting my finger, and within minutes Jude appeared in front of us.
“Ladies.” He set a mug in front of me. “Jasmine, no sugar for you, and Beth Anne, two sugars for you.”
“Wow, impressive Jude, your mother must have raised you right.” Beth Anne lifted the mug to her lips.
Jude cleared his throat. “Actually, it was my grandmother.”
“Oh, my goodness.” Beth Anne clutched his forearm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“That’s okay.” He retreated to the meat-prep area, joining John and picking up a knife to cut the sausages.
“Well, that wasn’t awkward. Remind me to never talk to him again.” Beth Anne tossed me another pineapple.
Finishing our morning chores, our team gathered in the mess tent.
“Big day, team,” Allen called as he approached. “We’re cutting study sessions short for a drive to the coast. It’s going to be the only sunny day this week, and we’re taking advantage of it.”
“Whole camp?” Beth Anne asked.
“Whole camp,” Allen confirmed.
“Nice.” John jumped from the table. “It’ll be good to get out of here.”
“We’re getting a meal at a lodge near the beach, so we won’t be back till late. You’ll want to pack for a day trip.”
I spun my bracelet on my wrist, wondering how the day with Jude would play out. I liked spending time with him, but there was no point in getting attached. Eva’s voice descended on my psyche. “You think much too logically for a teenager,” she’d once told me.
Focusing on the prospect of a sunny day on the shore, I hurried through breakfast and packed my day bag with a wetsuit, flippers, snorkel gear, and an extra change of clothes.
“This is so awesome.” Frida ambushed me as I stuffed my backpack full. “I so need a day like this.”
Realizing Frida’s presence helped me with my space-from-Jude problem, I let out slow breath. “I’m glad we’re going to have some time together.”
“I knew you’d warm up to me.” She wrapped her arm around my neck and scrubbed her fist on my head.
“You have brothers, don’t you?” I asked, sliding out of her grip.
“Oh, God, three of them. How about you?”
“Just one. Hey, Jude told us this morning that his grandmother raised him. I think it’s kind of a touchy subject. I thought you’d want to know.”
“Wow, thanks for mentioning it. The likelihood of me putting my foot in my mouth with that one was high.”
As we made our way to the study tent, I saw the counselors loading kayaks onto the top of the bus. Sweet, I thought. Water sports I could do. Finding an empty computer, I started my work. My scores the past week were better than they’d been all year, and I figured being able to concentrate without thinking of the visions played a big part.
The bell rung at nine, and we gathered around the bus for a head count.
“We’re sitting together, right?” Frida linked her arm through mine.
“Course.”
We loaded the bus, with Jude and John taking the seat across from us.
“I get motion sick. Can I take the window seat?” Frida asked.
“Sure.” I let her slide in front of me. Sitting down, I noticed Jude’s long leg stretched into the aisle, and I tucked my feet under the seat in front of me.
Within minutes Frida started snoring beside me, and I fit my earbuds in my ears and closed my eyes. When the bus’s engine stopped, I opened my eyes to see the sun above the ocean.
Jude let out a long whistle. “I would pay a lot to see that view.”
I roused Frida and zipped up my jacket. Lifting my pack to my shoulders, I followed the others outside. We helped unload the kayaks and trekked them to the beach. Setting the boat on the sand, I walked to the water. Even with the sun nearly at its peak for the day, it hung low in the sky, giving the low clouds an orange hue. The water felt ice cold against my fingers, and I shivered.
“You’ve got tons of gear. Do you like love the water or something?” Frida joined me.
“Yeah, sorta, I guess. My friend loaned me all the gear. I’ve always wanted to go kayaking.” I started to braid my hair as we made our way to the others.
Once the counselors reviewed the rules and handed out lunches, we were released to wander in groups of three or more.
“Guess you guys are stuck with me.” Frida hooked her arm in Jude’s and mine.
“Jude might want to hang out with someone else, Frida. Why don’t we invite John to join us?”
“Works for me.” Jude motioned for John to join us.
“What are we doing first?” Frida asked as John approached.
There were a few seconds of silence as we looked at each other.
“Maybe we hike first and boat last in case we get wet,” I suggested.
“That makes sense.” Jude lifted his pack to his shoulders.
We turned south. Even though the cliffs rose sharply, the beach was wide and flat. It was low tide, and the sand was hard all the way up to the rocks, making it obvious the entire area would be underwater once the tide rose. Around a bend, a giant rectangular boulder sat alone at the edge of the water. Several smaller stones dotted the shore beyond.
Approaching the tall rock, Jude put his foot in a groove.
“I’m going up. Who’s with me?”
“I’m in.” John let his pack slide off and set it on the rocks, pulling ropes out.
“You guys brought climbing gear?” Frida asked.
“What did you bring?”
“A wetsuit, although it doesn’t look like we have any surfing waves today.”
As they unpacked the gear, several others joined us at the base of the rock. I looked at the top of the rock, at least seventy-five feet up. There were a lot of good holds, but just thinking of being halfway up the face had my pulse racing.
“Okay, who’s in?” Jude asked. “I think we should go one at a time.”
“Go for it.” I stepped back from the boulder.
Frida, Beth Anne, and I watched as Jude scaled the rock and John belayed.
“This is going to take a while. Are you guys going up?” I asked.
Each of them shook their heads, and we proceeded south. When the sand ran out, we found a trail, taking it to the top of one of the cliffs.
“You didn’t want to watch Jude and his muscles scale that rock?” Frida asked.
“I felt like we were wasting time.” I snapped some pictures of the coast. “Hey, you two get together.” I took a picture of them, and then we all huddled close to get a selfie.
“Let me see that.” Frida took the camera from me. Scanning to the north, she stopped. “Hey, Jude and John are on the top. Look.” She handed me the device.
Through the lens, I spotted them pacing the small space on top of the rock. Framing them, I took several close-ups and wider angles.
“I hope they’re good at getting down,” Frida commented as we made our way back down the trail.
“I’m pretty sure there’s nothing that Jude can’t do,” I commented.
“Speaking of Jude, how’s your cut?” Beth Anne asked.
“It’s completely gone.” I held my finger up in front of her face.
“Wow, you can’t even see the line. I thought it was way deeper.”
“Me, too.”
As we reached the beach, we headed back north to the towering rock form. Jude jumped the last several feet to the sand and ran towards us.
“That was awesome.” He shook out his arms and stretched his legs.
“Here.” I handed him a bottle of cranberry juice from my pack.
“Thanks. I think we should eat when John gets down.” He circled back to the bottom of the rock, watching John’s descent.
The group moved to the boulders lining the sand, and we took out our lunches. Finishing mine, I lay with my back on the rock, face to the sun.
“You got sunscreen? That white face of yours is going to fry,” Frida commented.
“Oh, yeah.” I slid some sunscreen from my bag and slathered it on my face and neck.
With the sun warming my body, I could have laid there the rest of the afternoon.
A shadow appeared over me. “So, are we kayaking?” Frida asked.
“I’m game.” I sat up and slid my sunglasses over my eyes.
The five of us—Frida, Beth Anne, John, Jude, and myself—hiked towards the buses.
“I got some shots of you guys on the top of the rock.” I showed Jude and John the frames.
“And I’m sequestering your camera.” Jude took it from me, snapping some pictures of the group. “Why do some people not like to be photographed?” he asked.
“Well, I can’t speak for other people, but I just don’t think I look good in pictures. Then I realize I look the same way I always do, and then I start believing I’m not attractive. It’s a vicious cycle.”
“Girls are the worst.” John caught up with us. “My sisters are so picky about pictures.”
“Some people like them. Like me.” Frida joined our line. “I think it’s fun to take pictures and make them look crazy.”
“I guess I’m too self-conscious.” I shook my head.
“I will never get that,” Jude commented.
“Well, Mr. Oozing Confidence, I’m surprised they even let you in this camp. So, if you’re schizophrenic like blondie here, what do you see when you have your episodes?” Frida challenged Jude.
“Freaky stuff, war, death.” He shuddered.
“All your worst fears?” Frida asked.
“I guess.”
“How about you Camille?” Frida spun to face me, hiking backwards in front of us.
I didn’t really feel like being specific. “I see these people and their lives.”
“These people are real? You know them?”
“No, pretend.” I hedged, realizing some little part of me still believed they might be real.
“And they do normal stuff?”
“Sometimes, but they are witches and vampires.”
“So, you’re into paranormal fiction?” She continued her interrogation.
“I guess. Who doesn’t want to be young forever?”
“Be young, but not forever,” Beth Anne said. “All the people you love would be gone.”
“But you find more people to love.” Frida spun to face forward.
“I’m with Beth Anne. I just want to have a good normal life,” John said.
“So, you’d become a vampire if they were real? Even with the drinking human blood thing?” Jude asked me.
“Ew, no. I’d want to be a non-human eating vampire.”
“Hey, there’s Inga, Janna, and Hilda,” Frida exclaimed, running in their direction with Beth Anne and John on her heels.
“So, what about being a vampire appeals to you the most?” Jude asked.
“You’re really taking this conversation seriously. Let’s see, photographic memory, speed, strength, immortality—that about sums it up.”
“So, you’re scared of getting old, losing all this?” He flexed his bicep.
“I’m just scared in general.” I couldn’t believe the words escaped my lips. What was it about this boy that made me say exactly how I felt? And was I really scared all the time? Certainly, my disease kept me figuratively looking over my shoulder. I spun the bracelet on my wrist. But maybe I’d be free of that with Dr. Antos’s lodestones. “I’m sorry. That was too intense.” I looked to his face, and his blue eyes bore into mine.
“You’re being honest. I think most people walk around scared.”
“But that’s what this trip is about, learning how to not be scared.”
“These give us control.” He held up his wrist, exposing the bracelet.
We’d reached the others, and I loaded the bus with the rest of the girls to change into wetsuits. The guys changed, and we hiked to the beach.
“We’re together, right?” Frida asked, hooking her arm in mine.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Fitting our life jackets on, we waded until the water reached our knees and then got into the boat. As it was low tide, and the breeze was light, the water stayed calm as we rowed north and then turned around and headed south again.
“This is awesome, I could do this all day,” Frida said.
“Or until my arms give out, which may be soon.”
“You’ve got to work on your upper body strength. When we get done with this camp, we should meet up at my gym on the weekends. I can’t have any puny friends.”
“Puny? Wow, thanks.”
“Just calling it as I see it.”
“The tide is coming in fast,” I commented as we floated to the top of the wave.
“It�
�s not much farther,” Frida told me.
I noted we weren’t too far north of the parking lot but had strayed farther from the shore. A cloud passed over the sun, and the winds started picking up, rocking the boat. Descending to the trough between the crests cut off our view of the other boats.
Friday glanced back at me. “I hope you got enough juice to get back.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, putting all my effort into my strokes. “Maybe we should cut over at a diagonal so the boat doesn’t tip on its side.”
Just then I heard a large whoosh of water, and our boat rose with the huge swell. Praying we’d be on the other side when the wave broke, I clutched my oar in one hand and the side of the kayak with the other.
“Oh, crap, we’re going over!” Frida yelled.
I’d been focused on holding on but looked up to see the wave breaking on my left. It tipped to its side and then flipped upside down. Releasing the oar, I pulled my legs out of the kayak and scanned the murky water around me. Seeing light above me, I swam to the surface. The kayak lay between me and the shore and I searched for Frida. Not seeing her, I kicked to the top of the wave and scanned the surface. I ducked under the water. With no sunlight and the silt-filled surf, I couldn’t see past my outstretched arm. As I peered around the black ocean, the cold permeated my suit. I pushed to the surface when I ran out of air.
With the boat just beyond arm’s reach, another large swell broke on top of me and slammed me back under the water. Surfacing and gasping for breath, I noticed the wave had sent the kayak zooming to shore. I spun in circles yelling for Frida, calling her name over and over.
An arm wrapped around my chest, and I turned to see Jude.
“We have to find Frida.”
“You’ve been in the water too long.”
“No.” I struggled in his arms. “We need to find Frida.” I pushed away from him and ducked under the water. Resurfacing, I waited for him. “I can’t see anything.”
“I think I see her, you get to the boat.” He let go and disappeared under the water.
Forcing my arms and legs to move, I backstroked to our kayak.
The Kingdom Journals Complete Series Box Set Page 34
