“What the heck, Bella!” Sam cried, putting her hands on her hips. “This was all a joke? Do you think this is funny? We have to get up in, like, three hours!”
Bella’s lip twisted. “Chill, guys,” she said, folding her arms and glancing toward the clearing. “It was just a prank! I thought you’d been to camp before.” She looked at Bess.
Bess frowned. “I’ve been to camp before,” she said, “but pranks are usually funny.”
George, who wore a deep frown and had seemed to be thinking something over this whole time, suddenly spoke. “Did you make up that whole dumb story?” she asked. “About the counselor drowning the girl? Was it just the setup to your prank to scare us?”
Bella turned to George, surprised. Then her expression hardened into a cold, steely glare. “I’m not telling,” she said. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see, hmmm?”
“Well, I’m going to ‘wait and see’ back in bed,” Sam said, turning her flashlight toward the cabin. “This was stupid, and I’m exhausted.”
Sam led the way back to the cabin, and Bess fell into step behind her, then George. After a moment, Bella scowled, shook her head, and followed behind George toward the cabin, folding her arms more tightly around her.
I couldn’t help but glance one more time down the path that led to the lake. Another chilly breeze blew, sending a chill up my spine.
I wasn’t totally sure Bella had made up the story. But I wasn’t so sure I wanted to wait to find out, either.
CHAPTER THREE
A Shadowy Surprise
I WASN’T SURE WHETHER IT was because of Bella’s prank, but the next morning I felt tired and out of sorts. It was still a little chilly outside, and the shorts and T-shirt I’d packed did little to keep me warm. Sam encouraged me to tough it out, because it would be warming up later. But I couldn’t help wishing I was back in bed—at home.
Things only got worse when Deborah announced our morning activity. “Swimming tests!” she said enthusiastically at breakfast. “These are very important to judge your comfort level in the water, and how much supervision your campers will need while they’re at the lake.”
Normally I enjoyed swimming—but I was very much a “splash around in the shallow end” kind of girl, and nowhere near lifeguard level. I knew how to swim, but I wasn’t great at it. I couldn’t hold my breath very long. And I tired out easily.
After breakfast, we all went back to Pine Cabin and put on our bathing suits. Mine was a simple green one-piece I’d had for eons. I pulled on a hooded sweatshirt as a cover-up, but I knew it was only a temporary comfort—I’d soon be plunged in the cool lake.
As we were about to leave the cabin, Taylor suddenly let out a moan. She clutched her stomach and went running for the bathroom, and after a few seconds we could hear retching.
“Uh-oh,” said Sam, wide-eyed.
“I’ll go check on her,” said Bess, and she disappeared into the bathroom.
A few minutes later we heard the water running, and then Taylor stepped out of the bathroom, supported by Bess. “I’m really sorry, guys,” she said, looking pale. “I think breakfast didn’t agree with me.”
“You’d better stay here,” Maddie said, gesturing to Taylor’s bunk. “Lie down. We’ll explain to Deborah and Miles.”
“Thanks,” Taylor murmured, diving into her sleeping bag.
After saying our good-byes and get wells, the rest of us headed to the lake. I was still shivering.
“You know, it’s okay if you’re not a great swimmer,” Bess said as we were walking down the same path where Bella had pranked us the night before. “The camp has lifeguards. So, you know, no pressure.”
I knew that was meant to comfort me.
Bella had barely spoken that morning, saying the minimum she had to in order to seem polite—pass the muffins, thank you, oh, I’m fine, thanks. Whether she was still miffed by the way we’d reacted, or whether she just sensed she needed to tone it down and give us all a break from her, I couldn’t quite tell.
When we got to the lake, it was the brilliant robin’s-egg blue of the morning sky. I poked my toe into the water and shivered—it was also a good ten degrees colder than the morning air.
“Don’t worry,” Sam whispered when she saw me cringe, “you’ll get used to it.”
I knew she was right, but I’d still have to get out of the lake at some point. And then I’d be freezing!