No Strings Attached

Initiation

*One and a half month Earlier*

My Summer Valentine 

Mid-Summer Ball for Malibu Campers! 

July 28, 2012 at 7:00pm 

See you there!

Said the paper pinned on the chipboard. Next to it was another paper related to the mid summer ball that Malibu Camp never had. Some idiot must have planned on organizing a prom for the betterment of our camping experience.

Need a date for the upcoming Mid-Summer Ball? 

No worries!  

Eleanor James, a match-making enthusiast, ready to help! 

Working Hours: 2:00pm-3:00pm at the Grand Arena

I missed only one summer at Malibu Camp when my family and I spent our 2011 summer in London, England. Little did I know that "Ms. Eleanor James here, a match-making enthusiast" had taken over the place and made it her own little kingdom. She wasn't even here two summers ago. Back when camping was just all about camping and all other sports. (Mine was fencing.)

"I heard she's the organizer for the Mid-Summer Ball too." Bradley said as we placed our stuffs in the cabin. "Is she old or something? Sounds Jennifer Anniston-ish to me: petite, gorgeous, shoulder length beach waves, cougar." He shrugged while running his hands through his sandy brown hair.

"Who cares? If she's damn beautiful, I'd ask her to the ball." Victor on my right said, rummaging through his duffel bag for gummy worms, his favorite finger food in the whole entire galaxy. "Besides, Jennifer Anniston isn't a cougar. Get real, man."

I wondered what my summer would be like now that this new whole thing has came up. "The ball isn't until next month. We can still rule this camp and get dates before we know it."

The three of us used to rule this camp. I was undefeated in Fencing, Bradley in Archery while Victor in Horse Back riding... Well, since Victor was now an Equestrian, he went here not only to camp but to train junior campers. We were sort of the old stuff now.

We didn't know who Eleanor James and have no clue about what has been changed since all three of us missed camp last year. Bradley had to go to Korea for his archery competition and Victor knew us not going so he felt sluggish and decided not to attend anymore.

Two other guys dropped their bags on the vacant beds near the door. They introduced themselves as Louis and Hermes. I guess our one year absence's punishment was rooming with complete strangers. I think I'm going to like it, I thought.

Victor eyed them from head to toe and began to speak. "So, Louis and Hermes, newbie?" They were young-looking, but I was guessing their age was in the same range as ours. The taller one, whom I guess was Louis, wore a checkered vest on top of a plain white shirt while Hermes wore a simple shirt and a pair of cargo pants. I gave Bradley a smirk when his eyes met mine.

Louis cleared his throat. "Yes. It's our first summer here. We're cousins, by the way." His voice trembled. Oh, man. He was nervous.

"I'm Victor." He stood up and placed his arm around Louis. "Those other two are Bradley and André." We both nod in acknowledgement. I folded my arms across my chest and felt my veins anticipate for what was about to happen.

"Since it's your first time, we would like to give you a heart warming welcome. And because you two were assigned to the most splendid and most special cabin here in camp, you will also be identified as one of us." Louis and Hermes looked baffled and unconvinced.