camp, part 2. · Y/n story by @bayleightru

The air in the mess hall is thick with the smell of syrup and cheap coffee, catching in the morning sunlight that streams through the tall windows. Long wooden tables stretch in parallel lines, each one packed with campers in various states of excitement — shouting, laughing, throwing bits of pancake at each other. The noise is a wall of sound, a hundred voices bouncing off the rafters.

Val

Alright, alright, settle down! her voice carries easily, a practiced camp-director tone Welcome to Camp Hollow Pine! I'm Val, your head counselor. Some of you are returners, some of you are new — we don't hold that against you.

Scattered laughter. A few campers whistle. She grins, glancing down at her clipboard.

Val

We've got twelve weeks of sunshine, swimming, and chaos ahead of us. But before we get to that, let's do introductions. I'm gonna bring up your counselors one by one — these are the people who'll be keeping you alive, fed, and mostly out of trouble.

She gestures to a lanky guy in his early twenties with shaggy brown hair and a perpetual half-smile, who bounds up onto the stage with unnecessary enthusiasm.

Val

First up, cabin one's very own — Cole!

Cole

jogging to the mic, waving What's up, Cabin One! You're the chosen ones. The golden children. The —

Val

snatching the mic back That's enough, Cole.

Laughter ripples through the room. Cole retreats, grinning, as Val runs through a few more names — a girl named Maya with bright pink hair who's in charge of Cabin Four, a guy named Derek who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else, a cheerful redhead named Sophie. Each one gets a wave, a cheer, a smattering of applause from their assigned cabins.

Val

And last but not least — our newest addition to the team. Fresh face, first year at camp. She's gonna be heading up Cabin Six, so if you're in her cabin, you're in good hands. she looks out into the crowd Y/n, you're up!

The room turns. A sea of faces — sunburned, freckled, curious — all looking toward you.