Shawnee Adams's Story

Erling boarded the bus that was to head to the camp. Sighing, he paused to look at whoever was already in the bus sitting. He noticed a dark-haired girl with tattoos absorbed in a book and a few other kids. He headed towards where the dark-haired girl was sitting and sat on the same row from her on the opposite side of the bus. He produced a folded letter from his jacket pocket and looked down at it in contemplation. After quietly putting it back in his pocket, he glanced towards the girl with some curiosity.
"Apologies," he said, raising an eyebrow. "But could that be Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray you are enjoying? His style of writing often produces such absorbed interest."

She jumped abit, surprised to hear a voice addressing her. as she pulled out her one earbud she looked at the cover then over at the boy addressing her "oh, um, I think so...I got it from my mum for the trip. It's pretty interesting I must say." She smiled at him and dog eared the page before closing it. "I'm quite abit of a reader..." She held out her hand towards him "I'm Shawnee by the way, but most people call me Sean."

"I'm Erling," he said, taking her hand. "I'm from Norway and I don't really belong here. I don't think.."
He paused, looking at her. "So, what kind of books do you like to read?"

She shrugged "I read anything, really. Just kind of an escape..." She then chuckled slightly "And don't worry Erling, it's summer camp...no one belongs here. But honestly all you can really do is suck it up and just think in 2 months we go home...plus it really isn't all that bad. My mum started sending me after my dad left and that was quite awhile ago. I met some nice people and as long as you don't anger anyone and stay under the radar..." She looked at him, a serious look on her face "And whatever you do don't anger the staff...that's a one way ticket home and kitchen duty all summer..."

"Oh, do you know someone who angered the staff? Or, perhaps yourself?"

She gasped dramatically and looked at him "Just cause i have the tattoos doesn't make me a trouble maker...I happen to hear a rumor awhile ago about a boy who messed with the wrong people and got his ass hauled back to his house. Apparently when his mum found out she smacked the crap out of him.
Oh and i'd be extra careful if i was you, i hear some people eat transfer students when the food gets low" She laughed abit and turned to look out the window, having not noticed the bus had begun it's journey.

Erling just looked at her, not knowing whether to laugh or look serious. For a while he sat speechless.
"Then I shall have to make an escape at some point. I've done it before somewhere, while in Norway. I can take you with me, but it may involve ingesting some bright-colored mushrooms though."

She laughed and looked back at him "Not happening dude, if i went home before camp was over for any reason, my mum would rip my hair out and hang my head on the wall...plus like i said, camp's pretty ok....And is that a term for drugs...?" She questioned him, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms

"Chlorophyllum molybdites, Boletus satanas, Boletus luridus, Boletus legaliae, Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Agaricus hondensis, Gomphus floccosus..." Erling murmurred with a scientific expression on his face. "Can cause upset stomach and vomiting. I know how to spot them."
"The Nurse's room is often a good place to start an escape while everyone's sleeping."

She shook her head "I think i'll pass on that for now, thanks..." She opened her book and started reading again "I think we'll be there in afew minutes, so make sure you have all your stuff or it's gonna be a long 2 months..."

"Wake me when we're there," he said, closing his eyes and trying to make himself comfortable for a quick nap.

She nodded "Sure...maybe..." She smiled and put her earbuds back in, giving the book her now undivided attention as most of the kids on the bus continued with whatever they happened to be doing on this trip. The bus continued down it's path on what would take about 20 minutes before it arrived.

After the time passed she eventually nudged him "We're here..." She said as she stood up, book in hand. As the others pushed and pulled on their way from the bus, she was pushed and pulled along with them, being forced from the bus by the power of camp teens. She hopped off the bus and looked around at the cabins, trees, other assorted buildings and the lake "Ah camp...we meet again you mosquito infested fugger..."

Erling awoke from his nap by Shawnee, rubbed his eyes and stepped off the bus with his belongings. He looked about, as if unsure of where to go. He glanced at Shawnee, who was a short distance away from him, as if wondering what she would do next.

She looked toward the cabins and began venturing towards them, meeting up with a girl in a majoras mask tshirt along the way. The greeted eachother and went to the girls cabin. Once in the cabin she got her own bunk and started setting up her stuff, pinning pictures, setting up her bed the way she wanted and then walked out and sat on the front porch

Erling went to the cabin where the fellas were going and laid his belongings on one of the beds. He sat on the edge of it and waited for the staff to show up. He pulled out the folded letter from his pocket and pondered over it, appearing to be hesitating whether to read it or not. He went to one of the windows and looked out. He noticed Shawnee sitting on the front porch of the girls cabin. He stared at her for what seemed to be longer than usual, his lips slightly curving into a smile. He looked away briefly and mumbled something to himself in Norwegian.

Corey listened to her iPod and looked irritably out the window of her mother's car. Every year they insisted on driving her to camp while all the other students rode together there on the bus. This just further alienated her from everyone else, not that her parents really cared. To them this was just one stop on their way to reach the world in their missions journeys without their daughter questioning their faith and standards. The ride was long and boring as usual, but at least she could take solace in her own music rather than listen to her mother's terrible Southern Gospel.

About an hour later, her mother pulled into the camp's main lot behind the bus and parked. I breathed a sigh of relief as she said her goodbyes to me and told me to 'be a leader, not a follower' and to remember what she believed in. She rolled her eyes and got out, agreeing numbly to her mom's suggestions. When she finally let her out, Corey found the camp leader and checked herself in before going to find the girls cabin that was presently empty with a pretty yet intimidating girl sitting on the front steps. She smiled timidly at her before going in and choosing a bunk near the window.

She hoped this would be a better Summer for her than last and she'd be able to befriend some people. Last year she kept to herself while everyone else ridiculed her or ignored her entirely. She thought back on this while she unpacked a little before sucking up her fears and walking out to lean against the post opposite the girl who was sitting on the steps.

"Hi, I'm Corey." She introduced cautiously.

She smiled at the girl and reached her hand out "I'm Sean, short for Shawnee Adams." She stood up and adjusted her footing on the steps, she had pulled her hair up into a pony tail, this had made the tattoos on her shoulders more visible, she had a sparrow on her right shoulders and afew other random ones on her left arm "you must be part of the group of girls I rarely talk to. Let me guess, you're unprepared for the cylon uprising?" She chuckled, as if amused by her reference.

"The...the what?" Corey stammered with flushed cheeks, feeling like she should understand the reference but having absolutely no idea what Sean was talking about. She swallowed hard and looked curiously into the girl's eyes for an explanation. Great job, Corey. She thought in her mind. You've been here five minutes and you're already out of the loop.

She laughed and patter Corey's shoulder "You should see your face hahaha! priceless oh my god! haha it was a Battlestar Galactia reference no worries, i would have been for shocked if you did get it. Incase you're unaware i'm an intellectual and Sci Fi nerd. ANYWHO i shall leave you to explore, unpack, and to your thoughts, as i am going for a walk and to go find my bus buddy, but no worries i should be back in time for dinner, and if not that, than Curfew. As i am not one to fuck with the staff members." She grinned and hopped down the steps. once her feet touched the dirt she was off walking.