Chapter 5

JAVIER

Marina is full of so many surprises. Her bluntness when I called her out on avoiding me was incredible. She was definitely staring and admiring my physique. I like the fact that she's not immune to all my charms. I'm glad we were together for the day and that Nick guy was nowhere around her today. Before we reached the lake, one of Nick's friend called her aside. Julya! My phone beeped, I pulled it out to check it. It was a message from my teammate.

JB: Dude,where are you? You know you're our star player here and you just disappeared. You better get your ass down here.

Of course, my teammates are worried. I'm probably off the grid. I need to sort out myself first, I ignored the message. From the corner of my eye, I saw Bianca approaching. Its now or never! She flung her arms around me and pecked my lips. I noticed Marina watching us with a frown. 

"Bianca, can we talk?" I shrugged her hands off me. 

"Sure, whatever about" she replied grinning. I took her arm and led her away from the others. 

"Listen here, Bianca" she cut me off by planting her lips on mine with full force. I pushed her away from me. 

"What? I thought you pulled me out for a make-out sess" she whined. This girl is definitely something else. 

"No Bianca, that's not the reason. You need to stop acting like you own me. You need to stop acting like we're dating" I stated and she frowned. "But we're dating" she cried. 

"No we're not" I snapped and she gasped. "Look here Bianca, I never asked you out. Besides I have a girlfriend, I'm sorry if I have led you on in any way." She kept quiet, really quiet. It was beginning to freak me out, she should say something.

"So you are breaking up with me? Is it because of that roommate if yours? Is she the girlfriend?" She asked disgust laced in her voice. This was getting old real quick, What is it with girls and catching feelings? I raked my hair with my fingers in frustration.

"Bianca, we were never together."  

"You are the worst jerk of the lot" she huffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder before storming away. That went well, I think. I can only hope she doesn't go and cause more trouble for me or Marina. Marina was probably waiting for me. My assumptions were true as I found her waiting for me, a frown on her face. 

"Hey, is everything okay" I asked wondering if something happened while I was talking to Bianca. 

"Just peachy" she replied, visibly upset. I didn't like seeing her upset, I liked her cheerful persona, especially her smile. The way her nose crinkled and her blue eyes lit up with delight. 

"Let's go" she said heading in the direction of the lake.

When we arrived, other camp coordinators that would be learning with us had arrived. Our instructor, Mr Thomas taught us everything we needed to know for tomorrow's activity. He taught us how to conduct checks on the boat and engines before leaving the dock, how to patch a leak and how to start and stop the engine. He also taught us how to paddle and precautions while out on the lake. He also pointed out the best fishing points and gray areas to avoid. After giving us a rundown of everything, he allowed us to carry out test runs. When he was satisfied with our performance, he left us to our devices.

Nobody wanted to leave the lake side for fear of reassignment, so we just hung out. When the sun came up, the guys decided to splash around in the lake to cool off. I was sitting on the sand Trent and Jerry, when I heard whistles and catcalls. Some girls had begun to take off their clothes, I guess they also decided to take a dip in the lake.

 "Hey Javier, Trent, Jerry, come join us" Trent's cousin, Marcus called out to us. I didn't need much persuasion, the weather was hot and the water looked inviting.

As I pulled my shirt, there were whispers, hollers and whistling. When I pulled it off, I looked around and the girls and a few guys were ogling me. I smiled, I caught Marina also staring at me, I winked at her before pulling my pants before heading into the lake.

MARINA

'Javier is so gorgeous, he looks like a model' 

 'He is a model'     

'Nope he's a god' 'He is to die for! Check out his abs'

'He's got a gorgeous v-line, I think his chest is made out of iron' 

'I wouldn't mind rubbing certain parts with him'.

 'What if he has a girlfriend' 

'fuck his girlfriend, besides I don't think she would mind. Sharing is caring'

 The girls were in beginning to annoy me with their endless chatter about Javier. They simply have no regard about anybody. And what was Javier's problem. Taking off his shirt like that in public, the way he took it off looked like a strip tease. The jerk! But I'm not going to deny the fact that he is good looking. Too good looking, if you ask me. With his bronzed skin, definitely he tans well, washboard abs and defined muscles, he is HOT! He is also OFF LIMITS! 

 I quickly shook those thoughts out of my head. I can admire his physique but that's where I draw the line. After all the warning I gave him, he still took off with Bianca as soon as he laid eyes on her. I wonder if he took her aside to have a quickie or something. Whatever the case was, she was pretty upset afterwards. Maybe he disappointed her. I shuddered as I realized where my thoughts were heading. Its not right to fantasize about how good your roommate is in bed. Especially when that roommate is your best friend's boyfriend. 

Most people would condemn the camp authorities to put two opposite sex as camp coordinators in one cabin. But then again, Lily cabin is different from other cabins. I was supposed to share Lily cabin with a female coordinator but she canceled last minute. Then Javier showed up as a last minute volunteer. They probably should have put him in the cabin where other guys are and transferred a girl to my cabin but when you are talented as Javier and got rich parents, you basically make the rules. 

"Hey Marina, wait up" Julya called out and jogged over to meet me. 

"Where are you going" she asked. "Nowhere in particular."

Julya was one of Nick's friends from his school. She was a girl with an easygoing personality, something I admired about her. That and her sense of humor.

  "Those girls were starting to get on my nerves with their incessant chatter" she whined. 

"Javier this, Javier that, he is so gorgeous, so handsome. The way they were going on about him, one would think they have never seen a guy shirtless." 

We laughed as we approached the main camp center. We found Nick, Molly, Jason, Hannah and a bunch of other camp coordinators setting up a projector and some other stuff. 

"What's going on here?" Julya asked. 

"We're setting up everything for tonight. The kids are gonna watch a movie"  Jason replied. He had short, spiky brown hair and was also in the IT department like Nick.  

"What are we going to be doing?" I asked. For most of the camp, kids activity was separated from our activity. 

"Its a family movie, like a comedy or so. We're all gonna watch it. But there's also gonna be a fire and roasting of smores for any of us not interested in the movie" Molly replied. 

"Yeah, but we're never going to meet up with all the arrangements if you all keep wasting time gossiping" Bianca yelled. She was in charge of the team setting up for movie night. 

"We're a bit short of manpower, do you mind helping us set up seats" Hannah said ignoring Bianca. "Of course." Julya and I got to work arranging the seats but I didn't miss the stink eye Bianca shot me. What's her problem.

JAVIER

After the refreshing swim, I didn't see Marina anywhere. I wonder if she's still going to continue avoiding me. Not long after we came back from the lakeside, the kids came back for lunch. As always, Mess hall was in chaos with laughter, food flying, clinging of cutlery on plates, burping and slurping. Each cabin has their table and cabin coordinators are meant to help the kids with their meals. I still don't understand how a bunch of eight years old can't eat without getting food on themselves. What I really don't understand is why parents would send their kids to camp without training them on how to eat, maybe its so they won't have to deal with them over the summer.

Marina was having difficulty controlling the children who wanted to start a food fight. I recognized Gwen, the little troublemaker from this morning who didn't want to get up from bed. I spotted Ben about to throw some cheese at Gwen. 

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" I said and at once the table was quiet. The kids quickly sat down and if you didn't know, you would think they were well behaved kids who were not about to start a food fight. I sat down on the long bench on one side of the table. I glanced at Marina, her attention was on Tess who had gotten cheese all over her face. Tommy began to hack and cough before spitting out a fry which bounced off the table before hitting Marina. She closed her eyes, wincing in pain and left the table. I'm not sure but I think I saw her tears in her eyes before she left. All the kids froze after that incident. 

"I'm sorry" Tommy said. 

"Jones made a joke and I was laughing when the fry got caught in my throat."  

"Its okay, but you all will behave while I go find Marina" I said and they all nodded. I followed the route Marina followed when Scarlet appeared.    "Hey Javier, I was wondering- ".   

 "Not now" I cut her off and brushed her aside. I had to find Marina. I found her sitting by a corner of the main camp center, her back was to me but I could tell she was crying. The shaking of her shoulders and muffled sniffles. I quickly dug around in my pockets for a hanky. I walked to her as silently as I could so I wouldn't startle her. She looked up at me when I handed her the hanky. Her bloodshot eyes tore me to pieces, I really wished I could take away her pain. I don't think a fry hitting her hard in the face caused all those tears, it's something else.

"Why did you follow me?" She eyed me warily before taking the hanky. 

"I just wanted to know you're alright" I replied.   She blew her nose and I turned aside. 

"Why are you here?" She asked when she was done. 

"Like I said, I wanted to check- "   

"No!" She stated. I turned to look at her. 

"Tell me the reason you came to camp" she demanded. I recognized that look of determination in her eyes, I had seen it so many times in her brother. 

"The truth is I really don't know why I came to camp" I replied honestly. She stared intently at me,I felt she could see right into my dark, twisted soul. 

"My family is kinda dysfunctional at the moment." I looked at her but there was a faraway look in her eyes. 

"Its been that way now for some months, my little brother, Alex was involved in a hit-and-run. He was on his way home from piano lessons two blocks away. He was on the sides, just like a normal person when this drunk guy sent out of his way to hit him. He died before we get him to the hospital. He was the joy of the family, he was the glue that kept us together." I didn't even know she had a little brother.

"Ever since, my father became a workaholic coming home late. My mom comes home from work and buries herself in alcohol. Mason couldn't bear mom's alcoholic fits and moved out. Everyone has found something to do, they don't care anymore. I decided to come to camp, maybe I could find my own thing, but it's a flop too. Mason offered me to stay with him but I can't. Someone has to look after mom despite her alcoholic tendencies. And Britney doesn't even pick up my calls. I feel so alone." She sobbed into my shirt and I held her. I didn't know she was going through so much. She was always smiling. Why is Britney not replying Marina's calls, she has been updating her I*******m accounts with pictures everyday. I guess she is so busy hanging out with cheerleaders she has forgotten her best friend.

MARINA

I have never felt so embarrassed in my life. I sobbed my heart out to Javier and dozed off on him. He even let me sleep on him. I woke up a little after dark with a start and he stirred. I think he also fell asleep too. It was kinda awkward after that but we fell into comfortable silence as we walked to our Cabin.

Julya and Hannah had helped to organize the kids as I and Javier were gone. Julya had noticed when I ran off and was concerned. 

"I'm fine" I croaked when she asked me if I was alright. I realized my throat was parched, so I went to the kitchen to get some water. After drinking some water, I saw my reflection on a silver tray and I understood Julya's question. My eyes were sunken and my face was puffy, my hair was in disarray. I looked horrible, I felt worse as I remembered Javier saw me like this. As soon as we got back to the cabin, he went to his room, something about a shower. I think I also need a shower.

"Hannah and I are gonna take the children for the movie. I expect an explanation later." Julya said and left with the kids. I went to my room to get cleaned.  Most of the camp coordinators were by the fire, talking, laughing and roasting smores. Few were watching the movie with the kids. The IT dept. was also with the kids in case of an emergency, which meant I couldn't hang out with Nick, Julya or Jason. I looked around the campfire, I spotted Scarlet, Kayla, the girl with the purple hair and the rest of their clique. Experience has taught me its best to avoid them. I didn't know the rest of the coordinators, so this meant I was on my own, I guess I should be used to it by now. I sat down on a log staring at the fire, I felt someone sitting besides me. I looked up to see Javier in black as usual. We sat in silence for awhile before I decided to talk.

"You're not gonna tell anybody what I told you, right" I inquired."Not even Britney?" He asked. "No one from our school is meant to know. No one. Not even Britney."

   "I won't tell a soul"he replied. We kept quiet and watched the flames as they danced. "What happened to us, Marina? We used to be so close to each other, we used to tell each other secrets.".    "We grew up, I guess" I replied.   

 "Well, I don't want us to grow apart" I looked at him. He was not being serious at the moment, right? We were friends, best friends, once upon a time. Our parents were friends, we became close until middle school.  

 Puberty struck but he seemed to skip the awkward phases of transformation. Overnight, he became popular, his parents became wealthy and moved out of our neighborhood. We stopped talking to each other and the only reason he hangs around is because my brother is on his basketball team and recently, he's dating my best friend. 

"I don't think its possible. I mean so much has happened to us over the years, we can't just go back to the start and pretend our drift never happened" I exhaled.

"Fine then let's start over. What do you say?"

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