Welcome!

[+December]

Cole was pretty sure that he wasn't supposed to be there, but he needed to get away and have a few moments to himself before they found him. He stood on the lake's shore where the waves lapped eagerly at the toes of his tennis shoes, but the hungry water didn't bother him one bit. After all, when you have them after you, little things like lakes don't seem to phase you in the slightest.

The wind whispered through the trees and touseled Cole's black hair as he stood by himself. He didn't want to be here. As a matter of fact, he felt slightly sick to his stomach as he watched the lake water slosh back and forth; he knew things weren't going to well. He knew why he was at camp and how they had it all plotted from the beginning.

[ZeZe]

Zippy had been waiting for this day since last summer. It was her first day back at summer camp and she could hardly contain herself. She had bounded off the bus, dragging her duffel bag behind her and holding her yellow tag that identified her as a Sunriser. Just this year and next and she would be in Dusk, and then after that, glorious Twilight. She could hardly wait. The oldest group at Camp December got to do the coolest things and have the most fun. It sucked being with the babies.

As soon as she found out what cabin she was in she nearly ran there, hoping to be one of the lucky few to claim a top bunk. Luck was with her, and she got the last one in the cabin.

Having secured the coveted top bunk and set her things to rights, Zippy had gone out to check on her younger brother, Stuart, who she found sitting on his bunk in his cabin. Poor guy, he got stuck with a bottom bunk.

"You be alright, Stu?" she had asked.

He nodded numbly, and she left him to his own devices. He was going to be homesick, she just knew it. He loved being at home with their mother. He didn't even want to come here at all.

Zippy took advantage of the chaos of check-in to wander around to check things out. Everything looked the same as last year. The lake looked like an inviting place for her to pull her thoughts together, and she made her way to the shoreline, not realizing until she had stumbled upon him that an older boy was standing right there.

"Oh. I'm sorry," she said, backing up. "I didn't know you were there."

[+December]

Cole jumped slightly when someone bumped into him, but to his great relief, it was not them as he had feared, but a young girl. Sunrise, probably, but what did he know. He stared at her blankly for a moment as though he couldn't comprehend exactly why she wasn't one of them as he had expected, but he quickly regained his composure and snapped back to normal.

"Hello," he said carefully, his word collected and clipped. "I don't suppose you're trying to avoid them too, are you?" He peered down at her carefully as though examining a specimen from another planet. "This is my first year at camp, and I think they know that I'm here." The gentle wind played with his black hair and his eyes darted around quickly before they landed on the girl again.

[ZeZe]

Them? Zippy looked at the older boy like he had suddenly grown another head. What them was he talking about? She wasn't sure what to make of him. He looked alright. He wasn't poorly dressed, nor was he dirty. "I'm not trying to avoid anybody," she said, confused by his question and his tone.

"This is my second year here. I love it. You don't want to be here?" she asked. Zippy couldn't fathom why anyone wouldn't want to come here to camp. She only hoped that her friends from last year would be here as well.

"My name's Zippy. What's yours? And who are they?"

[+December]

"No, no, it's not that I don't want to be here," said Cole as his eyes traveled into the dense forest beyond them. "It's just that they know I'm here. They're watching me now as we speak. It is best," he turned back to the little girl, "if anyone asks that we just discussed the viscosity of the water."

Cole turned back to the lake as if to prove a point. "I'm Cole," he said. "Cole Hayes. But that's not important."

[esquecoco]

Julie hid behind one of the large oak trees by the lake and spied on the two kids over by the banks. She snickered, the girl looked confused and that.. boy looked like he belonged with the wolves. she held her hands firm behind the trunk of the tree and leaned her head to the left and then the right. Julie then made a squirrel chatter sound and tossed her body behind the bushes. She loved spying, especially on people she didn't know.

Julie wondered in her head who they were, his parents.. did they beat him, is that why he is here? No matter what she had to get out of the spot. She sprinted off, taking the chance of being caught, weaving through the trees, and then she tripped. A huge root was right there in the ground an she didn't see it, how dumb! She layed on the ground holding her ankle and trying not to scream or cry, she was better then that, way better than that!

[ZeZe]

Zippy just stood and stared at Cole. She had never heard anyone speak this way before and wasn't sure if he was serious or playing a prank on her. She looked out over the lake for a moment before answering. "Okay," she finally managed.

She suddenly heard the sound of someone making an animal noise and what sounded like someone crashing through the bushes. Maybe it was "them"! She was about to go take a look when she heard more scrambling, which then receded into the distance.

It must be crazy day at camp, she thought.

"Well..." She hestitated and played with one of her braids. "They're not going to hurt you.... are they?"

[+December]

Cole could feel the girl's hesitant eyes upon him, but he couldn't bear to think that she was another person who didn't believe him. One day, they would get him, and then that would show everyone, wouldn't it?

Ah, but it would be too late for poor Cole, trapped within their clutches. He shuddered slightly, but when the crash came from within the trees, he nearly wet himself. It was them! He bit his lip and took a hesitant step in the direction of the noise, unsure what he ought to do. His brain screamed at him to turn and run--for they could be laying a trap--but his curiosity yanked him towards the noise. Leaves crunched beneath the soles of his shoes and he tiptoed closer to the spot in the woods.

However, as he brushed back a branch, he saw not them but a young girl--probably another Sunrise camper. Cole looked around left and right and left quickly before deciding that the coast was clear. He scampered in and knelt by the girl's side. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice quiet.

[esquecoco]

Julie layed her hand on the trunk of the tree and awnsered the man, "I'm fine, thanks." Julie helped herself up and limped on one foot over by the lake. She took off her dirty, worn-out sneakers and put them next to her. She let her eyes travel fro a second and saw a girl standing over a couple of feet away, she brought her eyes back to her feet, her left one swollen just a little. She set her feet into the lake and let out a big sigh of relief and then quickly followed with a mummble of pain and grief, but Julie wasn't one to cry, no never cry.

Julie pushed her hands into the water, afraid somethign might bite her or pull her under. Julie slipped off he socks and let them fall into the lake and float around. She drew her feet slowly out of the wate and picket up her sneakers. Julie didn't need those old things anymore, so she threw them into the lake and watched them bob and sink until they vanished from sight.

Julie layed down on the ground, thinking about that man and this them he was talking about. she tried to keep her mind off the idea of him having problems, or him even caring about her, she didn't even know him.