Chapter Text
Adam turned back around to face the microphone.
“Alright everyone. I know you’re all very excited for what each day of summer has to offer but first we need a good night's sleep! Please, boys follow Jake and he will lead you to your cabin and girls, follow Chloe. There are lots of fun things planned for tomorrow!”
And he left the stage.
“This’ll be fun.” Michael said and he stood up and we started walking towards where Jake was leading the people with blue shirts. When I got closer I could clearly see what Jake’s name tag said. I guess he wrote it on because it was Jake, scribbled in messy handwriting with a smiley face at the end.
“So, we’re just gonna head over to the blue cabin and that’s where you'll all stay. It looks smaller than it actually is, I promise.” Jake laughed nervously and we started to follow him as he led us outside.
I’m aware the walk to the blue cabin is short but I may as well make a start on my challenge now. I squeezed my way through the group up to the front where Jake was. I just silently began walking next to him. He didn’t seem to mind.
Seeing Jake up close really made me realise how beautiful he is. His face seemed to be carved perfectly or something and his arms were a lot bigger than they seemed from far away. His hair was styled in a way that most people would probably think was strange as it kind of stuck up around the front but I found it cute. He was clearly nervous about his “big job” ; he was fidgeting with part of his shirt.
“Hey.” I said and honestly I don’t even think he noticed I was there as when I said that, he flinched slightly but then he looked at me.
“Oh, hi.” He smiled. I could feel my stomach flip. What is he doing to me?
I kept my cool either way, I can’t be obvious about my intentions. “You nervous?” I asked him and grinned.
“About what?” He gave me a puzzled look.
“About your new job huh? It seems like a pretty big responsibility.” He slightly lit up after I called the job a “big responsibility”.
“Yeah, I guess I sort of am. I’ve been waiting for it for a while so I don’t wanna let anyone down.” He told me and he looked very proud of himself yet again.
“Also uh- I’m sorry but you’re not really allowed to wear the jacket. You’re supposed to have the t-shirts on show.”
I looked down at my jacket. “Well I’m pretty cold right now and it’s not like we’re doing anything so can’t we just, let this one slide?”
We stopped in front of the blue cabin. “Uh, just give me a sec. Okay, guys, uh-“ aw, he thinks talking in a calm and normal voice will get a group of annoyed, teenage boys attention.
I don’t know what the guys were talking about but clearly it was more important than listening to Jake.
“I’ll get them for you.” I winked at Jake, picked up a rock and tossed it at one of the boys' heads. It hit and everyone turned their attention up. The poor kid I hit looked very dazed and confused but at least the guys were quiet.
“Thanks. I guess.” Jake said and spoke to the group again. “Okay so, in the cabin there are six rooms and six boys per room. There are three bunk beds in each room and you can choose whoever you want to share one.”
“Even your hot friend, Chloe?” One of the boys yelled and the group started laughing. I rolled my eyes, it was a little funny but I gotta get on Jake's good side if I want that 300 dollars.
“No, not her. But that does remind me of some rules that there are that you need to follow.” Jake stated and the boys groaned. “It’s not too much, just simple stuff like: no girls in the cabins unless accompanied by a counsilor, curfew is at 6:30 everyday and you have to keep your room as clean as possible. We do weekly checks to make sure.”
All I could think about while Jake continued to explain the rules was, “this camp is boring as hell”, “I can’t wait to have sex with Jake” and “I’m way too tired to be listening to more rules”.
“Alright we got it, can we go inside now?” I asked, bored out of my mind.
“In a second but there’s still more you need to know-” Jake started but I swiftly cut him off.
“We can figure it out.” And I walked up and opened the cabin door. Maybe being too demanding of Jake wasn’t the right thing to do but I decided I don’t need him to like me, I need him to fuck me. Or the other way around, whatever works.
When I stepped inside the cabin the first thing that caught my eye was the excessive amount of Jesus merchandise scattered around. It ranged from crosses and paintings hung on the walls to small statues and ornaments on the shelves but everywhere you turned, there he was.
“Damn, isn’t it kinda gay to be this obsessed with another man.” Michael mumbled just loud enough so that I could hear but Jake clearly couldn’t.
“Okay, yeah just split off into sixes and choose a room.” Jake told us as if we already didn’t know. I think he was just trying to seem useful. It’s kind of endearing.
Michael and I shared a glance before heading into the room closest to us. There were already four other boys in the room before us so me and Michael quickly claimed a bunk bed between us before anyone else could. Michael insisted he got the top bunk and I wasn’t bothered to argue.
The room was a lot bigger and modern than I expected. There was still a lot of Jesus decoration, including a pretty big sign above all of the beds that said, “Jesus is always watching.” Okayy not creepy at all.
The beds were tidy and simple, with a blue duvet and two pillows. The beds also came with a copy of the bible as a bedtime story or something. For some reason, I don’t think I’ll be looking at it too often.
I heard Michael audibly laugh at something from his bed. “What’s up?”
“Check this out.” He said and leaned over the bed and held a pamphlet right up to my face. I had to grab it off him to see what it said and it read, “Note No. 216: Man should never lie with another man.”
I chuckled too and handed it back to him. “Yeah, you’ll need that. Where the hell did you find it?”
“It was just chilling under my pillow.” Michael said as he sat back up in his bunk.
I got a little curious and checked under my pillow too. Not surprised in the slightest but there was one under my pillow too that just said: “Note No. 365: “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” I assume that that’s about tattoos but hey, I’m not a Bible expert. And that was pretty funny considering I have 14 tattoos already that even if I wanted to, I couldn’t afford to remove.
I sighed and put the pamphlet on my bedside table, right next to a miniature Jesus statue. It was a little creepy so I just silently turned Jesus to face the other way.
I opened up my bag and looked to see what crap my dad packed me.
Two pairs of jeans, one t-shirt, three pairs of underwear and that was it.
“Ah shit.” I mumbled and Michael responded. “What?”
“You got a spare toothbrush?” I asked.
“Doubt it, why?”
“Why do you think, dipshit?” I slumped onto my bed and rubbed my eyes. “I guess I’ll be sharing with you then.”
“Gross, no.” Michael replied and I snickered.
“So, do we just spend the whole summer in the same t-shirt?” I looked down to admire the wonderful top. “I didn’t leave room for Jesus” was pretty funny but it was already getting dirty. I don't know how it’s meant to last.
“I guess so.” Michael jumped down from the top bunk. “I mean, why on earth would you want to wear anything else?”
I rolled my eyes and was about to speak before Jake came into the room to make an announcement.
“Hey guys, it’s nine o’clock now so you might want to go to sleep.”
“Why? It’s so early.” One of the other boys in the room questioned. His name tag said Dustin on it with a penis drawn in the corner. Dustin was a pretty tall and slender kid who looked like he’d done so much drugs in his life. Well, I say that because I could read his t-shirt.
“I do not need the substances that harm God’s creation. Me.”
“Because, we start every summer with a hike up Camp Love Mountain and you have to be up at five am-”
And that made everyone in the room bar Jake groan simultaneously. I couldn't even repress it. Why the fuck does a camp have it’s own mountain?? Did they win it or something?? Or maybe they just claimed it because technically it was God’s creation.
“It’s not that bad guys-” Jake tried to reassure them but no one seemed convinced.
“Easy for you to say, dickhead.” One of the other boys barked. His name tag said Harry and his t-shirt read: “I should speak when spoken to.” So, I assumed this wasn't the first time he’d run his mouth. Although, I don’t know how that gets you sent to bible camp.
“You shouldn’t use language like that here, it’s actually said in-” Jake started again but I needed to save him before he got his assed kicked.
“He means, fuck off Harold.” I said and some of the other boys sneered at him.
“I didn’t mean that.” Jake glared at me, clearly annoyed.
“Well, you should’ve.” I responded and Jake shook me off.
“Okay well, everyone just go to sleep.” And he turned to me again. “Can I talk to you?”
“You currently are, big guy.” I patted him on the shoulder as I walked outside the room and he followed. “What?”
“Why did you feel the need to butt in?” Jake asked and I thought for a second.
“You mean just there now or the last time too. Or the time before that when I got everyone's attention.”
“All three but especially just there now.”
“So you wouldn’t make an ass out of yourself.” I shrugged and turned my attention to the Jesus posters on the wall. Can’t let him know I’m interested just yet.
“I know what I’m doing, I've been going here for years.” Jake said and I turned around to him again.
“Clearly.” I leaned back on the wall and noticed Jake was less than pleased with my actions. “Look, I’m sorry alright. I guess I just didn’t give your way a try. I’ll stop from here, I promise.”
Jake smiled slightly. “Thanks. I know I’m probably doing really bad at this whole leadership thing but I’m trying.”
“Ah, you’re not doing too bad. It’s just the information that you’re relaying to the group is disappointing.”
“Yeah, I know. Everyone hates it at the start but I promise, it actually is fun.” Jake said excitedly and I couldn’t help but smile. He was pretty cute and it also let me know that Jake was becoming more comfortable around me.
There was a minute of silence, not awkward silence just silence. I glanced back into the room.
“I’m sure it is.” I replied. “Welp, I should probably go to bed now if it’s an early rise tomorrow.”
“Oh, yeah.” Jake said as he stepped aside for me to pass. “But uh, Tom?”
“Call me Rich, please.” I said.
“Oh, okay well, Rich, you really should take off the jacket. The t-shirts are an important part of what unifies the campers.”
“What, you don’t think the jacket’s cool enough to unify us on its own?” I smirked.
Jake beamed a little but shook his head.
“I’m serious. It won’t be that cold tomorrow anyway.”
“Alright fine, I’ll not wear it tomorrow.” I sighed but Jake was persistent.
“I’m sorry but I’m supposed to take it from you. It's a policy.”
“Really? Jesu- uh- damn. Fine.” I said and I took off the jacket and handed it to him. It revealed my arms and that included all of the burns and my pretty much destroyed tattoos. Jake looked taken aback and just stared at them for a bit. Just like everyone else does.
“Well, take it then.” I said as Jake took the jacket from my hand and I turned back into the room.
“Night, Rich. I'll be in the councillors cabin if you need me.” I heard Jake say before I closed the door behind me.
Yeah, I liked the guy.
I was so satisfied with my first day on the job I almost didn’t notice all the other boys in the room staring at my arms like I was some fucking freak.
“The fuck you looking at.” I snapped at the group and went to sit next to Michael on our bottom bunk.
Thankfully, Michael didn’t ask what the burns were about because I wasn’t gonna tell him. It was none of his goddamn business.
“So, what did Mr Perfect wanna talk about?”
“He was offended I tried to stand up for him.” I shrugged and fell back onto the bed. “And he stole my jacket. Said it was policy.”
“What kind of policy makes people cold?” Michael asked as he lay down too.
We didn’t say anything to each other for a bit. We just started at the top bunk and contemplated life. I was trying to strategize how I can get this money and leave as soon as possible.
Clearly Jake isn’t all strict, he has a softer side. Easy enough. I’d seduced enough girls with conservative parents in my life, how much harder can Jake really be?
“Y’know,” Michael sat up again. “You don’t have to actually do this bet. I was mostly joking.”
“What, you don’t think I could do it?” I asked, a little offended. “Or I’m too poor.”
“No, well not exactly. I’m just saying.”
“I’ll be fine.” I sat up as well. “You’re paying me that 300.”
Michael shook his head and chuckled a bit. “Suit yourself.”
“Don’t worry about me anyway. You’ll be stuck on that other kid, the really fucking skinny one, for whatever reason.” It’s not that I don’t like him but I doubt he’ll be very popular in this place. Not because he’s trans but because of his- personality.
“Oh well spare me for being nice.” Michael sighed sarcastically.
“I’m just saying he probably doesn’t have a lot of people being nice to him on the daily.”
“Whatever. You worry about your friend and I’ll worry about mine.”
And with that, he climbed back up into the top bunk.
Everyone else started getting changed into… I don’t fucking know- sleepwear? And I checked my bag again to realise my Dad didn’t pack me pyjamas or anything so I just threw on a tank top I did have and I guess I’m sleeping in my underwear.
It took me a couple hours to get to sleep but all I could think about while I was lying in bed was Jake.
And how I can’t wait to get my $300.