Chapter 16
Noah, Nick and I were assigned to Cabin 3. Rachel and Claudia were closer to the end of the lineup of cabins in Cabin 6. We parted ways with the girls and headed into our cabin. There were five bunk beds on the left, and five on the right. Everything was wooden from floor to ceiling, with names carved into every part of every bunk bed, floor and ceiling. I quickly assessed that this was not going to be a luxury vacation by any means. Most of the beds had already been spoken for, so the three of us headed to the back of the cabin and took the remaining three beds. I threw my duffle bag up on the top bunk and then sat down beside Noah on the lower bunk. We both watched Nick as he spread out his sleeping bag and threw his pillow on top.
“So, boys,” Nick started, “ready to get dirty?” A smile spread across his face in a mischievous fashion.
Noah and I exchanged a look, and then I dared, “Dirty?”
“Yeah, time for a warm-up game of soccer. Check your schedule. We play first, and then it's to the mess hall for supper. Let's go!” Nick rubbed his hands together as he headed out of the cabin. We followed like lost puppies.
There was a group of about ten guys gathered at the edge of the soccer field. Nick led us over to join them just in time to get in on the team distribution. Noah and I weren't going to be on the same team because we were both too “inexperienced.” I was slightly offended, but I figured it was in our best interests. I couldn't have been more right. The game started friendly, at a good pace, but quickly turned when I got possession of the ball. I intercepted a pass to Noah and started running toward the net, controlling the ball as I went. Impressed with the ground I had covered, I wound up and took a swipe at the ball only a few yards away from the goalie. Next thing I knew, I was on my back with my foot over my head. The goalie was laughing and the ball was nowhere in sight. I jumped up and looked around, and to my amazement, the ball was at the other end of the field, in play. I started running back down the field trying to figure out when I had lost the ball. Then I saw a blur in front of me. It was Nick. He had the ball and was heading back toward the net with it. And then the ball was in the air, travelling at lightning speed. I thought for sure it was a goal, but the goalie jumped from one end of the net, through the air and snagged the ball before it went in.
The game went on like this for quite some time. Noah and I found our way to the sidelines and watched the scrimmage. It took a few minutes for our eyes to adjust to the speed, but it was all very entertaining.
“Having fun, boys?” Nick asked, suddenly appearing beside us.
“Yeah, sure. Great fun,” Noah said sarcastically.
“Well, don't get your panties in a knot. You'll learn to keep up by the end of the weekend . . . maybe.” Nick laughed and disappeared again.
Noah and I sat down on the grass and continued watching the game.
“Do you really think we'll be able to do this?” Noah motioned toward the field.
“I don't know. It seems bizarre, doesn't it?”
“I hope I'm focused enough. I'd hate to be sent home with a big 'LOSER' written on the front of my file,” Noah half-joked.
“Tell me about it,” I groaned. “But I think I'll do well. I've decided that if I can't be with Anna, then I'm going to devote my time and energy to making sure she's always safe. So I have a motive. I need these powers and gifts to fulfill that.” I plucked a few blades of grass and rolled them together between my fingers as I let myself think about Anna.
“Yeah, it really sucks that you can't be with her, dude.”
“Yup.”
Rachel and Claudia approached us from behind. “Hey guys. How’s the game?” Claudia laughed as she sat down beside me.
“Fast,” I said. “Where were you two?”
“Our first session was on strength,” Rachel said. “It was so cool. You guys are going to love it. So, I was, like, lifting maybe a hundred pounds thinking I was all strong and then Claudia gets up there and lifts, like, seven hundred pounds.”
“Get out,” Noah laughed as he turned to Claudia. “Did you really?”
“Yeah, it was nothing really.” Claudia laughed. “Just getting warmed up.”
Claudia was below average for height and maybe a hundred pounds. Her shoulder-length brown hair was streaked with blonde and always shiny and smooth along her tiny face. Like Nick, she was definitely in shape. Her arms were toned and her calf muscles were defined. I guess it made sense considering she was a cheerleader.
I pulled my schedule out of my pocket and scanned the page for our strength class. Tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.
“So after this is supper, then it says we have a social time. What's that about, Claudia?”
“We just sit around a campfire and the newcomers ask questions and such. It's a time to get to know everyone. It's nice. You'll like it.”
There was something motherly about Claudia. I liked being around her. I wondered if she had a gift like Ms. Peters—one that made you feel protected and safe. “What’s your gift, Claudia?” I came out and asked.
She turned and pulled her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose so I could look her right in the eyes, which made me a little nervous. “Tonight at the campfire, Jake. You're not a listener, are you?” she teased.
Rachel joined in, “Neither of them are.”
“Hey, I listen,” Noah defended.
“Ha!” Rachel bumped him with her shoulder. “What's my favourite colour?”
I was glad she asked Noah and not me. I normally tuned Rachel out as soon as she opened her mouth. I hoped Noah wouldn't look too obvious about liking her if he knew the answer.
“Purple. And your favourite food is Thai. And your favourite actress is Angelina Jolie. And your favourite movie is 27 Dresses.”
Slightly obvious.
Rachel stared at him with her mouth half ajar. “I can't believe you remembered all that. Now if only your memory was that good in school.”
“It's not hard to remember when you enjoy the subject,” Noah said bravely.
There was a long, awkward silence so I piped up. “So, tonight at the campfire. You'll give me some answers then, will you?”
Claudia smiled a sweet smile. “Of course. It's not that interesting, really, it's just I'm sure Nick will want to be there—he’s the storyteller.”
Just then the long bullhorn sounded and everyone began dispersing from their various stations and heading in the direction of the mess hall for supper. Noah, Nick and I found our table and sat down with the rest of the guys from our cabin. Their ages ranged from the youngest being six years old to the oldest being sixty. We exchanged names and general information, but nothing about our gifts, which I thought was odd.
“Psst, Nick,” I whispered, leaning in. “Why is there never any talk about gifts?”
“Aaah, you noticed,” Nick mumbled as he shoved a forkful of mashed potatoes into his mouth. After he swallowed, he whispered back, “You can lose your gift if you misuse it, you know. You have to practise humility, which means you don't go bragging about your gift. It can be taken away just as fast as it was given to you.”
“Is it rude to talk about it around the campfire?”
“No. That's the one place where anything goes. What happens 'round the campfire stays 'round the campfire. You'll learn a lot of good stuff there. Just got to be open-minded.”
I sat in silence for a few moments thinking about the possibility of my gift being taken away. On the one hand, I could be with Anna again, but on the other hand, I wouldn't have this cool gift. And what if Anna was seriously hurt? What if she was in a car accident and I couldn't help her? I eventually found my fork and started to pick away at my chicken dinner, having resolved that it would be better to die alone knowing that the one I loved would always be safe.