"So what is it that you are proposing we do after the dance?" Maya asks Seth who is walking with her to the theater for classes.
"I heard there are some counselors heading out to the beach side to just chill. Maybe we could go there. We could smuggle some alcohol. I know I definitely need it after this first week or so," he replies.
"I don't blame you. Poor Seth… Picked the wrong girl to start romancing didn't you?"
"I guess, but who really knows what the rest of the summer will bring?"
"I hope that you aren't thinking of striking something up with her again. I mean, you have that whole restraining order against you in camp's eyes now. Not the best thing in the world to violate if you want to keep your job."
Seth nods his head. "I know what you mean but if she happens to approach me, I'm not going to fight her, if you know what I mean…"
Maya laughs. "That I do, but in the meantime, I think the two of us can have some fun."
He smiles. "I knew there was a reason why I was partnered up with you!"
"Mmm… Maybe… So what's the game plan for class today?"
"Oh, well I just thought that we would go over some improv games to get them going and everything. I think their energy has been pretty low."
"Sounds like a plan," she comments with another grin. "Let the rugrats attack!"
As Vince and Joey carry over the cooler of water over to the bench, Vince notices the lingering smile on Joey's face. Vince whistles. "Man, someone got lucky last night."
Joey places the cooler down and then looks over at his friend. "No, not lucky. At least not yet."
"Huh?"
"Kassie… Things are going to happen eventually. I can feel it."
Vince chuckles. "So you and your 'little sister' huh?"
"Eww… Don't put it that way. I mean, yeah, we grew up together, and I thought of her like that before but not now! Now, well, all I can say is that she's got my attention now."
"Figures! So what's going to happen tonight at the dance?"
Joey shrugs. "I don't know. We'll just see what happens. What about you? Set your sights on any of the ladies yet?"
"Well, I have a few ideas but we will have to wait for a while. Despite my reputation that has been created from hanging out with the official ladies' man here, I do like to take my time with a girl if I really care for them."
"Oh yea? What about Maya?"
Vince scoffs. "Have you listened to me? I said someone I really care about. You aren't the only one that can turn to the one-woman type of guy over a girl."
Joey laughs. "Man, we really are two of a kind aren't we?"
"You bet," he returns with a smile. "Although, Maya was the first time I've ever done something like that. I'm usually the one-woman type of guy. You, on the other hand, seem to be of the other persuasion, huh?"
"I guess my reputation still lives on. Yeah, I have been known to be the dude with no strings when it comes to little camp affairs. I guess I'd shock everyone if I changed huh?"
"I believe that's the understatement of the year," Vince says with a laugh. "She really must be something for you to seriously consider this change."
He shrugs. "I haven't figured it all out yet and I haven't decided anything. Just go with the flow as always."
"Sounds like you and I are on an adventure of self discovery in some aspects this summer huh?"
"Perhaps. Hey, I think I see our class coming through the woods. Don't say anything to anyone, okay?"
Vince nods. "Sure. Do you think these kids are going to be up for that first tournament we're planning next weekend?"
"I think so. Some of them are getting really good at football already."
"Especially some of those girls. I think that they could kick some male behind. Do you think we should do a battle of the sexes?"
Joey laughs. "Sounds like fun. Why don't we open it up to the entire camp? You and I have to ref though. Kind of sucks."
"Not necessarily. What if we get Bob or Kathy to do it?"
"Hmm… You may have an idea there."
"I am good for some of those once in a while but don't tell anyone!" Vince says with a smile. "Do you want to submit the announcement for Monday's meeting so teams can form and practice?"
Joey nods his head. "Sounds like a plan."
Vicky and Allison laugh as May tries on her third outfit and models for them. "What do you think?"
Allison takes in the pink, lightly flowered sundress and smiles. "I think it's cute. The color definitely compliments your complexion."
"Vicky?"
Vicky nods her head. "You have my approval. Something tells me that this Andrew guy is someone who has your true attention."
May blushes. "Why can't I just be excited about the dance and want to look good in front of the entire camp?"
"Because the first outfit would have worked if it was just that," Allison notes with a smile. "There is nothing wrong with wanting to dress up for a guy, I promise."
"Yeah, you're one to talk," Vicky jokes, earning a glare from Allison. "I'm kidding! Geez!"
"So how's your crush on Vince coming along?" May asks evilly.
"Okay, totally uncalled for there!"
"What? Just returning the favor you did Allison."
"Man, I really need to keep on my toes with you. We'll see, okay? I'm not the type to go and make the first move on a guy."
"Understandable. Neither am I. It's all Joey's and Jason's fault."
Allison laughs. "You have to admit though, they did it with the best intentions. I think it is kind of sweet."
"Speaking of, what's going on with those two hotties and our Kassandra? Have they figured out their feelings?" Vicky asks curiously.
May shakes her head. "I actually wouldn't be surprised if they took all summer for everything to come out. There's a lot of history between the three of them, and it looks like Kassie is headed for some real curveballs."
"So who does she really like?"
"Now that, my friend, is for you to find out from her. I will confirm she has had a camp crush on one of them for a while now but I am not about to let that cat out of the bag. She'd kill me seven different ways."
"Enough gossip! Let's get going! Our girls are already there and Kathy will have a fit if we aren't all there to help supervise the campers," Allison interjects.
Vicky nods her head. "Sounds like a plan, but Allison, don't forget we are there to have fun as well."
"Some of us maybe," she replies with a smile, holding open the door for Vicky to walk out of, quickly followed by May who is slipping on the matching shoes she had buried in her closet.
Tyler and Seth walk into the building where the dance is being held and move over to the food table, watching the scene around them. Both decided to dress in khakis and a white shirt despite the fact that their boys were wearing anything from jeans and T-shirts to black slacks and a tie.
"You okay Ty?" Seth asks, noticing that Tyler kept looking around the room. "You're searching for her aren't you?"
"Well yeah," Tyler admits. "I mean, it's not like I wanted to break up with her, but she just kept going on and on about how she didn't know who I was and how freaked out she was about it. I had to end it but I still like her."
"There's no harm in that. Hey, if a girl has doubts about you, you don't really need her."
"I wish that I were that confident. Speaking of, I think your ex is walking through those doors right now."
"Where?" Seth asks, straining to spot Kassandra over all of the campers that were already dancing on the floor or socializing at the tables. He sighs and thinks, 'We could have been here together Kassandra. Why did you have to overreact so much?'
Tyler feels Seth's elbow in his side quickly and looks over to where May and her friends were entering from the other side. 'Wow,' he thinks, taking in how the sundress fit her so well.
"Hey baby," Maya calls out, walking over and placing her arms around Seth.
"Hey Maya," he returns, leaning down to give her a quick kiss that leaves her purring. "You look great."
Maya looks down at her rather short red skirt and white tube top. "Oh, this old thing? How sweet you are."
Seth grins. "Have any plans after the dance?"
She shakes her head. "I'm all yours baby, just as we agreed upon."
"Yum."
Maya laughs but pulls away as she catches Bob look at them. "Better save it for later lover boy. We're getting the upper management stares of disapproval."
Seth nods his head. "Don't want to give them another reason to get rid of me now do we?"
"Not now," she returns. "See you later!"
"Girls," he mutters other his breath, which gets Tyler nodding his head. "Go figure." Seth turns to his friend and sees a weird look on his face. "Ty, what's wrong?" When he doesn't say anything, Seth follows his gaze and finds his answer. There was Jason, May, her friends, and some strange guy who looks to have eyes only for May. 'Who the hell is that?' he wonders.
"I'm so glad you came," Joey comments to Andrew. "I'm sure May is too, aren't you?"
May shoots him a death glare but smiles shyly at Andrew. "Please excuse him. He doesn't know the meaning of manners, but I am very glad that you made it. I hope that you enjoy yourself tonight."
"I am sure that I will," Andrew responds with a warm smile. "Do you want to dance May?"
"Me?" she manages to squeak.
"Well yeah but umm, if you don't want to…"
"No, I'd love to."
The grin returns to his face and he extends his hand. "Well, let's go."
Joey whistles as he watches the couple move onto the floor. "Wow, that was a fast connection. Well, my job here is done. Allison, would you like to dance?"
"Sure," she replies, following him out onto the dance floor, leaving Vicky to patrol the dance floor to make sure none of the campers were getting too intimate.
"So, what do you think about all of the stuff that's going on here?" Allison asks, yelling in Joey's ear, over the loud, quick tempo music that is playing.
"What stuff?" he asks.
Realizing that they wouldn't have a good conversation while dancing, Allison let's the topic drop and just enjoys herself, all the while watching May out of the corner of her eye just to make sure she was okay. 'Why am I worrying? She knows what's she is doing and Andrew is a great guy. At least, I hope.'
Vince enters the dance with no preconceptions at all. He unbuttons the top three buttons of his shirt as he realizes that most of the campers went casual and begins to stroll around. Vince notes that Maya and Seth are a bit physical off in the corner with Tyler with them while one of the twins, Joey he was guessing, was talking to May, Allison, Vicky, and the guy they must have met the night before. As he continues to look around the place, he spots Kassandra wearing a simple black skirt and a white tank top talking to her junior counselor. 'I wonder if she would agree to break me into this whole camp dance thing.'
He makes his way over and smiles as Kassandra and Caitlin begin to laugh about something.
"Good evening beauties. You both look so breathtaking tonight," he says, earning a slight blush from both.
"Well thank you. You don't look so shabby yourself Vince," Caitlin returns with a smile. "I think I see Christian over there. Talk to you later Kassandra?"
"Absolutely. Have fun tonight Caitlin. Don't break too many hearts, you hear me?"
"Sure," she replies with a laugh before disappearing into the crowd.
"So what's up Vince?" Kassandra asks as he leans against the wall next to her.
"Well, I was actually wondering if you would do me the favor of dancing with me."
"Of course!" she replies with a laugh. "It would not be a favor to dance with you. I'd love to."
"Really? I mean, I'm an awful dancer. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to."
"Now come on Vince. I thought you were this suave macho man. Surely you can dance."
"Want to bet?"
Kassandra laughs. "Come on big guy. We'll show these campers how it really is done."
Vince takes in a deep breath. "If you say so."
"Let's go!"
Vince and Kassandra find a good spot on the dance floor and begin getting into the rhythm of the quick moving song. Kassandra spots May with Andrew and smiles. 'At least that seems to be working out relatively well. I just hope it works this time. She deserves it.'
While dancing, Vince looks around and sees Seth staring in their direction. 'Hmm… That look could kill for sure, but if he is having his 'fun' with Maya, why would he be so obsessive over Kassandra?'
A slow tune is played and Kassandra looks up into Vince's eyes. "Maybe we should sit this out? I mean, help patrol the campers and all. This is the prime time Kathy's fears of excessive groping happen."
"Sure. I mean, I was actually going to ask Cindy to dance. Do you mind?"
"Of course not. Go find her. I'll be good on my own. Thanks for the dance Vince."
"No, thank you," he returns, placing a small kiss on her hand before pulling Cindy out to the dance floor.
Kassandra begins to edge her way out of the crowd when she feels a hand wrap around her arm. She swings around, fearing whom she would see but smiles as she realizes that it is Jason. "Hey Jason. Where have you been?"
"I was a little late. Christian needed a man-to-man talk. Took a bit longer than I expected. Miss me?" he inquires.
"But of course. I was just going to patrol the campers."
"Ugh, you really want to do that? Remember last time we tried to break up a couple last year? Man, I don't think those two ever looked at us in the same way again."
"Well, if I do remember correctly, those two were one inch from having sex on the floor, so I don't really care how they saw us after that. Completely disgusting."
Jason laughs. "That's the Kassie I know. Dance with me?"
Kassandra nods her head. "Sure."
Jason steps closer to her and wraps his arms around her waist to pull her closer as she relaxes into his embrace, placing her left cheek on his chest. Kassandra recognizes the song as Mariah Carey's "All I've Ever Wanted." 'Wow, they really are playing some old songs tonight.'
'Cause all I've ever wanted
Is you
And you alone
And I love you so
More than you could ever know
All I've ever wanted
Is you
Jason sighs into Kassandra's hair, trying to hold back the emotions that were beginning to surface. 'This wasn't supposed to happen,' he thinks. 'Sweet Kassandra was always just a best friend to me. It was supposed to remain uncomplicated just like that.'
He pulls away from her a little bit to look down into her eyes and gets lost. Before he realizes it, he leans down and kisses Kassandra lightly on the lips, causing her to pull back after a few moments. The look in her eyes breaks Jason's heart. "I'm sorry Kassie, really, I am. I'm… I'm… I'm going to go."
Kassandra watches helplessly as he drops his arms from around her waist and vanishes through the crowd of people on the dance floor. All she could think about was that kiss and Jason disappearing. 'Talk about the unexpected…'
"So May, do you have any days off?" Andrew asks, setting down a cup of punch in front of her on the table before taking his seat next to her.
"I do actually. This Monday, Kassie and I are off with some of the other counselors. We get one day a week. We were actually planning on heading to the beach to just relax."
"Oh, well that sounds wonderful," Andrew replies with a disappointed look.
May notices and holds her breath for a bit before saying, "You could come if you want. I mean, I don't know if you are sick of us already but it would be nice to have you there if you could make it."
Andrew smiles. "I would love that. Do you know how lucky you all are? I mean, I am sure every day stuff that you do here is a lot harder, but this place is so perfect feeling. I don't see a single camper not having a good time, and you counselors seem to be enjoying it as well."
"The Wild Woods has always been like this. Why have you never come, even as a day camper?"
"Because my family isn't exactly the richest family and I have seven siblings. It would have been unfair of me to ask my parents to take on such a heavy financial burden. I'm the middle child or at least one of them and I would never dream of imposing on any of my family."
"That's really respectable. I know some guys who would have just been selfish and asked. That is admirable."
"Thank you. I have to confess to you May though, that I wouldn't have come tonight except that I just really like you."
May blushes. "Well, I like you too. Wow, I can't believe I am being this forward with you."
"You're usually shy, right?"
She nods her head. "Exactly."
"Well, to be honest, I am glad you haven't been with me. I like you just the way you are."
May smiles. "You are a true sweet heart."
The two lean in instinctively and share the sweetest kiss each has ever experienced.
Tyler watches from a good distance away and tightens his fist. 'I thought you cared May, but I guess you were right. We really don't know each other.' He turns away from the scene and walks out of the building.
'I'm so stupid!' he thinks, quickening the pace into the woods. 'Forget supervising those campers. I need to take care of myself tonight. Now, to find Seth with that booze.'
He hears yelling and heads in the direction, instinct telling him that it could be campers. 'Please don't make me break up some stupid fight tonight. It's the last thing I need.'
"I told you before and I will tell you again. Keep your distance from Kassandra Seth. You aren't worthy enough to even look at her," a male voice says.
"You can't keep threatening me like this. Hell, if she comes to me, you have no business interfering, got it?" another voice returns.
'Jason and Seth?' Tyler wonders as he gets closer to the voices.
"It's not a threat Seth. I saw the way you were looking at her tonight. You aren't going to come anywhere near her anymore. She's been hurt enough by you and frankly, I think Kathy should have fired you for what you did."
"Well Jason, I think she should have fired you and your twin. You shouldn't even be here! If you don't stop harassing me, I will go to Kathy with this."
"Aww, can't fight his own battles. How sad," the voice returns with a chuckle.
There is silence when Tyler spies the scene with his own eyes.
Seth steps closer to the twin and swings, missing, but receives a quick blow to the stomach, causing him to double over. Seeing that Seth wasn't a threat anymore, the twin leaves, never having seen Tyler witness any of it.