stan caught him starring.

bill looked away quickly.

"hey stan, thanks for joining us, he's new." robin said.

some other kids introduced themselves but bill was zoning out

"okay, last guy over here."

a dark skinned boy smiled slightly.

"uhm hey i'm mike. i haven't been here before but i hope to make new friends."

"okay, well i guess that's all of us. now we are gonna go canoeing!" robin said trying to not sound like she hasn't slept in two days.

"steve, come here."  she brought him over to the edge of the dock.

"bring this canoe over to the kids."

steve nodded, untying the rope.

he pulled on the rope bringing it over to the kids.

robin did the same with the next canoe.

"hey billiam, what do you like?"

richie tapped on his shoulder.

"wuh-what do you muh-mean?"

some of them looked up, but they didn't speak.

"like what kinds of things do you like to do on your free time?"

"uhm... i duh-don't know, i guess i juh-just like to write."

"cool, i like to play street fighter. pretty cool game if i say so myself."

"i've actually nuh-never played buh-before."

"really? you should play when camp ends! i'll take you to the arcade."

"o-okay."

"okay kids, the canoes are ready!" robin said.

all the kids got up.

"so yuh-you and eddie close?"

"yeah, we talk at school. i suggested this camp to him."

they all walked up to robin and steve.

"okay, split into groups guys."

"i'm gonna be with my buddy eds."

richie put his arm around eddie.

"don't touch me."

he pushed richie's arm off him.

"awh eddie i know you love me."

eddie rolled his eyes.

"get in a group quickly!" steve said clapping his hands.

the dark skinned boy, named mike ran to ben.

the girl, beverly ran to some other girl.

everyone had a partner.

except for bill.

"uhm excuse muh-me i don't have a puh-partner."

"okay, uhh stan doesn't have one either. guess you could pair up with him."

bill bit his lip and nodded.

he saw stan sitting on a canoe.

"huh-hey, i'm bill."

stan turned around.

"hey bill, guess your my partner."

stan giggled.

"uh yup."

bill put his left foot into the canoe.

but the canoe started to drift away.

so bill tripped.

"oh shuh-shit sorry!"

bill fell into stans arms.

"your all good."

stan smiled.

he brought bill back up.

bill rusted his knees and sat down.

"okay guys i'm gonna pass you all the paddles. each person gets one. you both have to steer to go straight, the one on the left goes to the left. and of course the one on the right goes right. remember this is a team effort, so don't leave your partner hanging. your canoe has a clock so when the time hits 11:30 it's time to head back. if there's an emergency, click on the red button next to the clock. everyone got that?" robin said putting a hand on her hip.

they all nodded.

some said 'yes' and 'uh huh.'

"okay some ground rules. no running around, no standing, no swimming, and most importantly no profanity. now since you guys are old enough, we did not provide you guys with life vests. but if you are in need of one there are some inside the seats. and there's also a life saver on the side. have fun everyone!" robin said waving.

steve walked up to the first canoe, which was stan and bill's.

"good luck, and good bye." steve said.

he took untied the rope and off they went.

the rest of the groups followed.

each of them going there own ways.

"okay, bill steer to the left, we will go that way."

stan pointed to a bridge.

everyone else was going to the other side.

no one bothered to go under the bridge.

bill could hear richie yelling.

"your supposed to steer to the left if you want to go that way eddie!"

"yeah but you have to help!"

"not if it's on your side!"

"gosh thanks richie."

stan rolled his eyes.

"they went to my middle school. they're always bickering over anything."

bill laughed.

stan and bill reached the bridge.

"duh-do you hear that?"

"it sounds like a-

they both looked at each other.

"waterfall!"

both of them smiled and started to paddle faster.

bill feels like he could fit in just fine with these people.

hey guys! i love you all very much have a great day! :)

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