Part 16 (1/2)
Mr. Myner looked up from his novel, took a dramatic pause, then continued reading from Hatchet. Hatchet. ”'What did they do in movies when they got stranded like this? Oh yes, the hero usually found some kind of plant that he knew was good to eat and that took care of it. Just ate the plant until he was full or used some kind of cute trap to catch an animal and cook it over a slick little fire, and pretty soon he had a full eight-course meal. The trouble, Brian thought, looking around, was that all he could see was gra.s.s and brush.'” Mr. Myner closed the book and sighed. ”Powerful stuff, isn't it?” ”'What did they do in movies when they got stranded like this? Oh yes, the hero usually found some kind of plant that he knew was good to eat and that took care of it. Just ate the plant until he was full or used some kind of cute trap to catch an animal and cook it over a slick little fire, and pretty soon he had a full eight-course meal. The trouble, Brian thought, looking around, was that all he could see was gra.s.s and brush.'” Mr. Myner closed the book and sighed. ”Powerful stuff, isn't it?”
No one said a word. They were too busy either makings' mores or blowing out the orange flames that engulfed their burning marshmallows.
”This book is full of clever ways to survive in the wild, so pay close attention,” Mr. Myner said. ”And you'll hear more of them tomorrow night when we check back in with poor Brian.”
”I think someone left Mr. Myner in the woods when he was a kid,” Layne whispered into Claire's ear.
”He wishes.” Claire giggled. Their teacher was still basking in the afterglow of that last sentence, as if he were remembering the time forest nymphs sang it to him while was.h.i.+ng his hair with spring water.
”Mr. Myner.” Strawberry raised her hand. ”Do we have time to make a few more s'mores?”
Her question forced his attention back to the group.
”Ten more minutes.”
Everyone moaned.
”You have a long day of orienteering ahead of you tomorrow. Believe me, you'll need your sleep.”
Claire stuffed two Hershey bars and a pack of graham crackers in the pocket of her light blue puffy ski jacket.
”What are you doing?” Layne asked. ”I have a ton of Go-Gurt hidden under the cabin if you're hungry.”
”It's not for me,” Claire whispered. ”It's for Ma.s.sie.”
”I thought she had a stomachache.” Layne ran her fingers through the knots in her long brown ponytail. A clump of tangled hair came out in her hands and she tossed it in the fire.
”She does. But she may get her appet.i.te back. And it's not like there's any food in the cabin.” Claire knew better than to tell Layne the truth, that Ma.s.sie was too ashamed to face her public.
”Dude, who beefed?” Plovert shouted. He fanned the air and pinched his nose shut.
”Ew, it smells like burning hair.” Alicia backed away from the fire and sat on the stump beside Josh. Olivia followed her.
Smooth move, Claire thought, wis.h.i.+ng she could just pick up and sit beside Cam. Not that he would have even noticed. He was too busy cracking up with Strawberry, who was trying to blow out the blue flames that were scorching her marshmallow. Claire thought, wis.h.i.+ng she could just pick up and sit beside Cam. Not that he would have even noticed. He was too busy cracking up with Strawberry, who was trying to blow out the blue flames that were scorching her marshmallow.
”Claire, stop torturing yourself,” Layne insisted. ”There's no way Cam would ever leave you for that. that. Trust me, there's nothing going on with them.” Trust me, there's nothing going on with them.”
Strawberry yelped as the fiery-hot marshmallow flew off the stick and landed on the side of her neck. Cam flicked the gooey clump to the ground with his index finger.
”Oh my G.o.d, he touched her,” Claire gasped. ”Did you see that? He totally touched her neck.”
”He was just trying to help.” Layne rolled her eyes.
”I have to get out of here.” Claire stood up and zipped her coat pockets. She felt like she was going to faint or puke or both.
”I'll go with you.” Layne scrambled to get up. ”I have cramps anyway.”
Claire stood up and brushed the pine needles and dead leaves off her blue flannel pajama bottoms. She quickly peered at Alicia and Josh from the corner of her eye, silently urging Josh to drop the stick he had been banging against his Timberlands so he could pay attention to Alicia. At least that that problem would be solved. All of a sudden, Josh dropped his stick and plucked a wildflower from the ground. problem would be solved. All of a sudden, Josh dropped his stick and plucked a wildflower from the ground.
Yes! Claire thought as she turned her head to give them some privacy. She was finally off the hook. Claire thought as she turned her head to give them some privacy. She was finally off the hook.
”Ready?” Claire asked Layne.
”Ready.” Layne nodded once.
They turned their backs on Strawberry and Cam, who were still laughing about the stupid marshmallow, and began their short trek back to the girls' cabin.
”Hey, Claire,” a guy's voice shouted. Her hands got clammy and her heart started pounding. So what if the voice didn't sound like Cam's? That didn't necessarily mean it wasn't wasn't him, right? Just in case, Claire made sure a big smile was on her face when she turned around. A smile that said, ”I am doing just fine without you, thank you very much.” Ma.s.sie would have been proud. him, right? Just in case, Claire made sure a big smile was on her face when she turned around. A smile that said, ”I am doing just fine without you, thank you very much.” Ma.s.sie would have been proud.
”Wait up,” the voice called again. It was Josh, holding up his roomy plaid pajama bottoms to keep them from falling down.
”Oh, this is going to be good.” Layne sucked in her breath. She licked her lips and grinned, as if a big vat of Go-Gurt had just been handed to her by Chad Michael Murray.
”Maybe he's coming to tell me how much he loves Alicia.”
”Doubt it,” Layne said, her eyes fixed on the bluish-purple flower that was pinched between his finger and thumb.
”How cool is this?” Josh held the flower out for Claire. ”It's, like, the only flower in the whole campsite.”
Claire looked past his shoulder at Alicia. She was staring at them, dumbfounded, and whispering to Olivia.
”It's cute.” Claire pulled Layne's arm. ”Well, g'night.” She turned her back to him, hoping Alicia could tell how uninterested she was.
”I got it for you you.” Josh held it out. ”So you could take a picture of it or something. You know, 'cause you like taking pictures and stuff.”
”Thanks, but I'm not that into photography anymore,” Claire lied. ”Besides, Mr. Myner took my camera so-”
”I'll take it.” Layne plucked the flower from his fingers and stuck it through the elastic on her ponytail. ”Thanks, Josh.” She pulled Claire's arm and they were off.
”I feel so bad,” Claire whispered, even though she couldn't help laughing at their abrupt exit. ”I can't believe you just took the flower from him.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. They felt warm against her cold cheeks. Suddenly her teeth started chattering.
”Are you really that cold?” Layne asked.
”Yeah.” Claire didn't want to explain that her teeth chattered when she felt overly emotional. How was she ever going to shake the image of Cam and Strawberry laughing by the campfire?
”Claire!”
”Yeah.” Claire looked at Layne as they climbed the steps to their cabin.
”What?” Layne asked.
”You just called my name,” Claire said.
”Why would I call your name?” Layne said. ”You're right beside me.”
”Kuh-laire!”
”KUH-LAIRE!”
”Yeah,” Claire whisper-yelled, trying to point her voice to the side of the cabin, where Ma.s.sie was obviously hiding out.