Camp Red Lake✅️

Chapter 19. Poster

"Ms. Hazel? Ms. Hazel!" I glanced up and faced my fifth period teacher, who was standing right in front of me. Her hands rested on her hips. She was a short, Caucasian woman with gray hair and a Texan accent.

"Yes Mrs. Miller?" I asked, still in a daze. "Can you continue where I left off on page one thirty-five?" She pointed to the literature book that laid closed in front of me. After Myra helped me find my place, I read the sentence out loud and picked someone else to read after me.

"Hey, are you okay?" Myra asked when the teacher turned her back. Jason who sat to my right, leaned towards Myra and replied for me.

"Leave her alone Mai, can't you see she's busy thinking about Crrooy?" He teased.

"I am not!" I protested, turning red.

"What are you even doing in this class Jason? I thought they paired us by age. Aren't you ancient?" I snapped back, causing Myra to giggle.

"I flunked a grade." He muttered as he turned back to the board. Even though I denied it, I had indeed been thinking about Croy and the conversation we had about his past a few weeks ago. Although, things between us were a lot smoother now, I still found myself thinking about it daily. He had been through hell and I made him re-live it because of my curiosity. I swallowed thickly as I stared at the textbook in front of me.

"I'm a terrible friend." I sighed. Myra shook her head.

"Why do you say that? Did something happen?" She asked before glancing back at Mrs. Miller.

"Croy told me about his past." I began softly.

"Hazel that's great! It means he really trusts you!" Myra enthused with a smile. I shook my head.

"I just wish I could help him somehow; I feel useless." I admitted sadly. "I also feel like he's been avoiding me." I muttered as I played with my mechanical pencil.

"Yeah, he did the same when we found out about his past. Don't worry, he'll come around!" She assured. "I think he just wants to give you space so you can process everything! Right Jason?" She asked him for affirmation.

"Don't worry, you'll be able to see each other after class and then you can confess your undying love for each other, muah - muah - muah!" Jason taunted with kissy faces. I rolled my eyes.

"It's not like that, we're just friends!" I huffed and turned away as I tried to hide the flush in my cheeks. This caused him to laugh harder.

"Come on Jase, leave her alone." Myra stepped in to defend me. Jason rolled his eyes but left me alone after that. Later that day, when the passing bell rang, I got up and gathered my stuff. Half-way down the hall we met up with Allison, who joined Myra excitedly. Jason and I trailed quietly behind them.

"I wonder why they're whispering so much?" I asked Jason. He shrugged.

"So, girl, what are you gonna wear next Friday?" Allison asked, curiosity in her voice. I paused for a few seconds.

"Um my uniform..." Allison and Myra turned to each other, appalled.

"What?! You're wearing your uniform to the dance?!" Myra looked at me in disbelief.

"There's a dance next Friday?" I asked as Myra pulled me to the side of the hall and stood me next to the lockers. Allison told Jason to go on ahead. He shrugged again and kept walking without asking questions. After he was gone, Allison made her way back to us.

"How can you not know about the dance?" Myra asked. "They've been announcing it for the past two weeks! There are flyers on the walls!" Myra scolded as she pointed to the posters. I glanced at the wall across from us and saw it. That was when I realized I'd seen them, just hadn't read them.