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Before I could comment further, the two snotty girls plopped down on the wooden dock just behind us, this time with another boy with them.
“Do you guys want to play Truth or Dare?” The one with the French braid asked with a very knowing smirk and a very entitled tone.
Luna looked to me before addressing them, pulling her legs out of the water and turning to face our new companions. “How do you play?” She asked, bending a knee to tuck a foot beneath her. I opted to keep facing the lake but leaned back and turned towards everyone a little bit.
“You have to pick one, and if it’s truth, you have to answer whatever question we ask you,” the boy explained nicely, folding his arms on his knees.
“And if you choose dare, you have to do whatever the other players dare you to. Whoever doesn’t answer their question or take their dare, loses,” concluded the dark- haired girl with the low ponytail.
Again, Luna looked to me first before shrugging. “Okay.”
This made French braid smile wickedly. “Luna, truth or dare?”
Luna looked around at our surroundings while she gave it some thought, humming with her bottom lip between her teeth. I saw her eyes land on the ropes course in the distance before quickly turning back to the group. “Truth.”
I smiled to myself that she chose truth at the possibility of having to do something up high, but the smile on French braid turned downright malicious, as she eyed her dark- haired friend before looking back to Luna.
“Truth. Do you like him?” She asked nodding in my direction.
I could feel my own face going all shades of pale as the blood drained from it and straight down to my stomach, but the sinking feeling was quickly replaced by a shot of surprise, when Luna straightened up, squaring her shoulders and answered. “He has a name. And yes, I like Kaleb.”
She didn’t even bat an eye as she continued to stare down the girl. I felt myself gulp as I looked to the boy who gave me an amused look, complete with raised eyebrows. By the way he tucked his lower lip in, my guess was he was afraid to comment, but as was stoked as I was to see the looks on the other two girls faces when their plan to embarrass Luna was foiled - or as stoked as I would’ve been if I hadn’t been so dumbfounded by Luna’s admission. More like the way she said it. She liked me, and wasn’t afraid who knew it.
I didn’t have much time to revel in the notion however, when the girls turned to me, trying not to look put off. “Kaleb,. Truth or dare?,” the head biotch tightly bit out.
Knowing how different I was from the rest of the kids there, I didn’t feel like I wanted to share any truths, but thought a dare could be fun. Maybe they’d dare me to climb to the top of one of the towering pine trees and jump in the water.
“Dare,” I declare, before biting into my apple again.
“Okay,” the girl responded, looking oh so superior. “I dare you to carve Luna’s name into the side of the senior counselor’s cabin,” she finished, looking triumphant; like she had me. Like I’d be too afraid to take the dare and lose.
“Fine,” I shrugged like it was no big thing, and got to my feet. Chucking my apple in the nearest trash can, I began the march up to the counselor’s cabin.
2
KALEB,AGE 18
“Istill don’t get why the hell you have to do this,” Cheyenne complains as she crosses her arms and pops her hip out. I still don’t get why she thinks she can intimidate me with that pose. It’s never worked before, and it’s not going to now.
“I don’t have to do this, I want to do this,” I correct her, as I roll a flash light up in a thin green rain jacket.
“So you’re going to go to some camp and play around with a bunch of kids instead of spending your last two months here with me,” she states in disbelief, and I can’t help the gust of air that huffs from my throat. I’ve been nothing but straight with her. She’s known all along since we started fooling around a few months ago that my end game was the Army, and that this wouldn’t turn into anything more. She gives good head, but she’s been nothing more to me than a distraction.
“Yeah,” I look up with a raised eyebrow. “Like I’ve told you at least a handful of times, that’s what I’m doing.” Crouching down, I push the rolled-up bundle into one of my bike’s saddle bags. “And last I checked, I’m the one who decides how I spend my time.”
“But why?” she whines, and it makes me wince. “I don’t get why that’s so important after the last few months we’ve spent together.”
“It’s what I do every year.” I straighten up and hold my arms out, exacerbated at this point. I’ve gone back to Mystic Hills ever single year without fail since I was ten years old. Pops got lucky with a good commission that first year, and it was good for both of us. But every year since, I’d done paper routes, mowed lawns, and whatever else I could to be able to afford to go each summer. Most recently, that included helping out at the tattoo parlor on the edge of town, helping the artists with drawings and designs that were overtly complex.
Every year when it got close to that time, Luna would ask in her letters if I was going, and she’s the one person that I never, ever wanted to let down. At least, that’s what I tell myself. The truth, no matter how much I try to ignore it, is that I could never bear the thought of missing a chance to see her.
A moment or two of silence falls over the atmosphere as I continue prepping the bike and Cheyenne stands there watching, absently playing with a strand of her blonde hair.
“I saw the letters,” she finally pipes up, and when my head whips up to regard her, I’m stunned at how she doesn’t look the least bit ashamed. If anything, she looks self-righteous and entitled.
“What the fuck, Cheyenne?!” I exclaim in a grumble, and it earns me squinty-eyes and a head tilt.
“Funny how you know exactly what I’m talking about,” she sneers, and it makes me feel red-hot rage begin to ignite at the base of my spine. “So this is about some little ho named Luna.” She spits the name out as if Luna is some kind of battery acid.
