Part Three

Voices are filling the dining hall as everyone tells stories of their day. Most of the campers have already sat down with their food and started eating. Kiya and I noticed a couple of our campers grouping up at the end of the table, we both looked at each other with a quizzical look on our face. We got up and walked to the group of campers to see what all the hullabaloo was about. The campers were almost in a huddled formation gossiping about the activity tonight. As we end our small walk to the group Kiya asks, "What's going on guys?" to which the campers quickly snap back into a seated position and almost instinctively answer "Nothing..." Kiya and I already both know what's going on, they all want to know what we're doing tonight but don't want to ask any of the counselors.
I stand up a little straighter and say "Alright then, Kiya and I will be heading back to our cabin soon, if you need anything, don't hesitate to come get us." The campers go back to their usual dialogue, talking about their day and gossiping about tonight. As Kiya and I walk out of the dining hall I hear a voice from behind, two voices actually. Both shouting "Hey wait!"
We keep walking out of the dining hall and stop in front of the closed doors. Only a few moments after, Emily and Bailie came running out. They burst through the doors in a hurry and even started running a few feet ahead before realizing Kiya and I had stopped. As Emily planted her feet into the ground trying to get traction to turn, she nearly tripped and fell over. Kiya, Bailie, and I had a laugh about that until Emily stopped us and said it wasn't funny. After the shenanigans I asked, "So what's up? We heard you yell at us."
"We need to talk to you guys real quick... In private." said Bailie
"Great, Brandon and I were just going back to our cabin, you're both welcome to join us, I doubt anyone would be listening." replied Kiya.
We started walking again, following the dirt paths that have been tread so many times, we made up some small talk, some things about the weather, a few anecdotes about our lives outside of camp, pretty much things we already knew. Each cabin we passed was like a checkpoint on our walk, each time we passed I let out a loud whistle almost as a way of letting the others know we were getting closer. First the DJ cabins, then the EB cabins, JG cabins, and finally we passed the KB cabins.
We enter the cabin two by two and sat ourselves down. "Get comfortable" Emily said, "We have a lot to talk about."
I let out a sarcastic "Ugh" and let the others talk. Bailie speaks first, "Emily and I overheard Danny and Gabby talking about starting an alliance between their two cabins, I don't think it's fair."
"Not fair at all, which is why I suggest we make an alliance between our cabins, it'd be like a two on two grudge match."
Kiya and I exchange looks of intrigue then start to think. I chime in and say "Give us a few moments, we need to talk about it." with a very smug tone of voice. There was a short pause then we got up and left the cabin. Kiya and I sat on the steps of our cabin and started to talk.
"So you think we should do it?" asked Kiya.
"It doesn't really matter if we team up, our campers are going to win anyway. I say we do what you think is best."
"Bailie has been my best friend for a long time... I don't know, it just seems like we're creating an unfair advantage..."
"Well of course it's an unfair advantage, teaming up to win. What if Danny and Gabby's cabins aren't actually teaming up though, we'll look like the bad guys then. Emily has been one of my best friends since we met, it's not like I don't want to partner up."
"Yeah... I don't know what to do-"
A voice from the cabin shouts out, "Are you guys almost done? We're getting tired of waiting in here!" It was from Emily, a way of showing her impatience.
I stand up and say to Kiya, "We'll think about it some more and maybe talk to Danny about it, don't say anything to anyone else, okay?"
"Understood, Cappy Tan." she replies.
We walk back into the cabin and are greeted with the anxious eyes of Bailie and Emily. They stand and almost in unison ask, "Well?" I smile and say, "Give us until tonight, we need to think about it a little more, now, if you'll excuse us, would you kindly get out? Kiya and I have some things to do."
Bailie and Emily slowly exit the cabin and are almost out of the door until Emily stops. "You might want to think about it quick, you know what the losers get..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... We know, now get out." I say.
Emily and Bailie finally get out of the door way and reach the dirt pathway. Kiya and I have since made our way to the windows to stand and watch as Emily turns back for a quick glance. We step back and each go to the tiny fridge in the corner. We knelt down, opened the door, and each grabbed a Styrofoam box. I had gone into town the previous night to pick up a special dinner. We opened the boxes, got some plates, gave each other a huge grin, then we dug in.