Read Camp Confidential 06 - RSVP Online
Authors: Melissa J Morgan
Camp Confidential 06 - RSVP (7 page)
“No worries. We’ll be stuffing ourselves silly,” Alyssa told her. She put double slices on each white plate.
“We’ve got them!” Jenna cried. “Alex and Brynn are online!”
Alyssa and Natalie each picked up two plates and carried them into the living room. Jenna had her laptop on her lap, and Grace was leaning sideways, staring at the screen.
“Ooh! They’re in their pajamas, and they’ve . . . eaten dinner,” Grace said slowly. “That’s
it
?”
it
?”
“Maybe she got there late,” Alyssa said.
“We haven’t even eaten dinner,” Jenna pointed out. “I’ll tell them they’re ahead of us!” She typed in her message.
Natalie said, “What does everyone want to drink?”
Everyone gave her their requests. As Alyssa moved to help her, Natalie shook her head and said, “Take a load off, Lyss. I can get them.”
“Type, ‘We’re in Nat’s city!’” Grace said to Jenna as Jenna’s hands hovered over the laptop keyboard. “Tell them about the art show!”
“Yeah, be sure to tell them how much fun you’re having,” Natalie teased.
Aries8:
We’re having 2 much fun! We went to an art show at Nat’s school in Hannah’s limo!
We’re having 2 much fun! We went to an art show at Nat’s school in Hannah’s limo!
In Alex’s room, Alex’s heart started beating a little too fast as she read Jenna’s IM over Brynn’s shoulder. Brynn was seated at Alex’s computer desk, in charge of typing their replies.
Alex had no doubt they were doing all kinds of exciting things at Natalie’s sleepover. Maybe Natalie had invited some movie stars over. Or her dad was there. All far more thrilling than sitting around in Alex’s room talking about going to bed early!
Aries8:
We’re eating so much pizza we won’t be able to fit into our kewl outfits! Wah!
We’re eating so much pizza we won’t be able to fit into our kewl outfits! Wah!
BrynnWins:
New York pizza’s the best in the universe! My fave is black olives and shrooms. My mouth is watering!
New York pizza’s the best in the universe! My fave is black olives and shrooms. My mouth is watering!
Grrrrace:
You guys are lucky. You’ll get some exercise. But tomorrow we have to lie around in a spa! Tough luck, right?
You guys are lucky. You’ll get some exercise. But tomorrow we have to lie around in a spa! Tough luck, right?
“That sounds so cool,” Brynn said to Alex. “Have you ever had a facial? I’m going to have one for my next birthday.”
“No, I have never had a facial,” Alex said unhappily. But she wasn’t sure Brynn even heard her. It was obvious Brynn was amped over Natalie’s sleepover. Alex should have realized her boring old life could never compete with Natalie’s exciting New York adventures.
NatalieNYC:
hi! nat here! my mom just donated some kewl purple zebra print napkins and sunglasses for our table.
hi! nat here! my mom just donated some kewl purple zebra print napkins and sunglasses for our table.
“I almost forgot about the purple problem,” Brynn said to Alex.
But Alex was even madder. She sputtered, “I
asked
if there was anything I could get at the party store when I went to return my blue and red napkins and the tablecloth. And Julie said no!”
asked
if there was anything I could get at the party store when I went to return my blue and red napkins and the tablecloth. And Julie said no!”
“I guess she thought Natalie’s napkins were more ‘trendy,’” Brynn said, making air quotes. “Natalie really is rubbing it in.”
NatalieNYC:
u
so
should have come down 2nite! when u guys come in tomorrow we’ll have lunch & decorate our table. Julie sez we can go in 30 min early.
u
so
should have come down 2nite! when u guys come in tomorrow we’ll have lunch & decorate our table. Julie sez we can go in 30 min early.
Alex was humiliated.
She
was the one who got to do stuff like that, not Natalie Goode! It was like the whole reunion had become Natalie’s personal property. Even though this had been her first summer at Camp Lakeview, and Alex was a mega-legacy, everyone was letting Natalie run it. Just because she was rich and her father was an international movie star and she lived in New York. It wasn’t fair!
She
was the one who got to do stuff like that, not Natalie Goode! It was like the whole reunion had become Natalie’s personal property. Even though this had been her first summer at Camp Lakeview, and Alex was a mega-legacy, everyone was letting Natalie run it. Just because she was rich and her father was an international movie star and she lived in New York. It wasn’t fair!
“Scoot over,” she said to Brynn. Brynn rose out of Alex’s desk chair and Alex sat down.
SoccerLover:
Well, I hope you & YOUR friends have fun at YOUR reunion!
Well, I hope you & YOUR friends have fun at YOUR reunion!
Alex logged off.
There was a moment of silence in Alex’s bedroom as her computer powered down. Then Brynn said, “Whoa.”
“I’m sorry,” Alex said. She was trembling. “I just lost it.”
“No, Natalie really dissed you,” Brynn added. “Just completely ignoring all your hard work to get things for the table. I’m proud of you for sticking up for yourself.”
Alex gazed up at her. Brynn nodded at her. “You’ve got what my mom calls moxie.”
“Moxie?” In spite of her freakout, Alex laughed. “It sounds like a disease!” Her voice dropped. “Do you really think I should have said that?”
“Yeah! Natalie was just lording it over us how much more fun they’re having than us,” Brynn said. Then her eyes got huge, as she realized what she’d just said. “Oh, Alex, I didn’t mean it that way!”
Alex felt even worse. But she forced herself to smile as she said, “I know. It’s okay.”
A wave of dizziness overcame her and she added, “I’m sorry, Brynn, but I have to go to bed now. I know it’s early, but I’m worn out. It happens.”
“Oh, I’m totally fine with that,” Brynn assured her. “But I don’t know if I can sleep. I’m so irritated with those guys!”
Alex knew how she felt. But she also knew how she would feel in the morning if she didn’t get enough rest. So she resolutely went through her nightly ritual—brushing her teeth, washing her face, and climbing into her bed.
Brynn slithered into her sleeping bag on the floor beside her and said, “Good night! Don’t let the bedbugs bite!”
“I won’t,” Alex said feebly.
Then Alex turned out the light and stared into the darkness for what seemed like forever.
The next thing she knew, she sleepily opened her eyes and looked at her clock. It was only one in the morning, and she wondered why she had awakened.
She whispered, “Brynn?”
There was no answer.
Alex got up and tiptoed out of her room. There was a light on in the living room. Brynn was curled up in her dad’s leather recliner with a book. Her head was down, and Alex couldn’t tell if she was reading or sleeping.
She said softly, “Brynn?”
Brynn didn’t respond. Alex didn’t know what to do. If Brynn was asleep, she didn’t want to wake her up.
She tiptoed back into her room and climbed back into bed.
I’ll go check on her in a little while,
she decided, bunching up her pillow. Then she turned out the light.
Some fun for Brynn, reading a book while I snooze. I’m sure she’d rather be at snobby Natalie’s.
she decided, bunching up her pillow. Then she turned out the light.
Some fun for Brynn, reading a book while I snooze. I’m sure she’d rather be at snobby Natalie’s.
Natalie, who’s stealing all the fun!
chapter
SIX
SIX
Alyssa sat next to Natalie on the couch as the girls devoured microwave popcorn and watched
Dying Too Young
on Natalie’s widescreen TV. Natalie had state-of-the-art high-definition
everything
.
Dying Too Young
on Natalie’s widescreen TV. Natalie had state-of-the-art high-definition
everything
.
“Have Alex or Brynn come back online?” Natalie whispered in her ear.
“No,” Alyssa whispered back.
Everyone had gone over the entire IM conversation a million times, but no one had a clue why Alex had gotten so mad at Natalie. Alyssa suggested they phone, but Natalie said no. Alex had logged off, and that meant she wanted her space.
“This movie is depressing me,” Grace groaned. “It’s about people dying!”
It
was
very depressing. The lead character was a young mother who had just had a baby and then discovered she had an incurable disease.
was
very depressing. The lead character was a young mother who had just had a baby and then discovered she had an incurable disease.
“Hello? Title?
Dying Too Young
?” Jenna said impatiently. “You voted to watch it.”
Dying Too Young
?” Jenna said impatiently. “You voted to watch it.”
“Well, only because I’ve already seen the
Super Ninja Twins
like sixty times!” Grace insisted. That had been Jenna’s choice.
Super Ninja Twins
like sixty times!” Grace insisted. That had been Jenna’s choice.
It was as if Natalie’s bad mood had infected everyone like a virus.
“Well, I’m glad Chelsea’s not here to see it,” Alyssa said softly. “A movie about dying would not be cool for her.”
“You’re right,” Natalie replied. At the mention of Chelsea, she got nervous all over again.
“Shhh, the doctor’s coming in with her test results,” Grace said, the silhouette of her hand gesturing at the screen. “Maybe it’s good news.”
“I hope so. The doctor is a total hottie,” Jenna said. “So maybe they’ll get married or something.”
Natalie murmured to Alyssa, “I thought I would have the most problems getting along with Chelsea. Now I’m dreading seeing Alex.”
“It’ll be okay,” Alyssa counseled her best friend. She patted her arm. “You’ll see.”
“Oh, no!” Grace cried in the darkness. “Natalie, I just dropped my pizza sauce-side-down on over your mom’s carpet!”
Natalie winced as she leaped to her feet. She said, “Blot it with the napkins. I’ll get the cleaning stuff. Don’t feel bad, Grace. It happens all the time.”
But the truth was . . . it didn’t. Natalie’s local friends were supercareful when they came over.
“I’ll help you,” Alyssa told her.
“Thanks,” Natalie replied gratefully.
They dashed into the kitchen together.
“More napkins!” Grace yelled.
As Natalie grabbed a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle of stain remover, she glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was after one in the morning. Her mom was in bed, sleeping through everything. That was where Natalie wished
she
were. Her nerves were frayed. Alex was mad at her, Hannah might be mad at her, and her friends were trashing her apartment! She wanted to turn off the movie and tell everyone to go to bed.
she
were. Her nerves were frayed. Alex was mad at her, Hannah might be mad at her, and her friends were trashing her apartment! She wanted to turn off the movie and tell everyone to go to bed.
Then they’ll all be mad at me
, she thought.
, she thought.
“Grace!” she heard Jenna moan. “You used up all the napkins!”
“Well, there’s tons of gooey cheese and ham, okay?” Grace replied.
As Natalie headed back toward the living room, she teared up, overwhelmed. It was only the first night of the big weekend, and she had had it.
“Hey, we’ll get it cleaned up, okay?” Alyssa said, giving Natalie’s arm a squeeze. “Tomorrow morning, no one will even be able to tell there was a mess.”
“Thanks,” Natalie said, meaning it. But tomorrow morning seemed very, very far away.
Alex woke on Saturday morning with a start. Her clock radio blared a way-too-perky pop song as she groaned and fumbled for the snooze button. Then she stopped herself. Snoozing was not an option. She had to get up and get going if she was going to make her soccer game on time.
It was still dark in her room. She flicked on the lamp and peered into the darkness. Brynn was asleep in her sleeping bag, with one arm thrown over her head. Alex wondered how late Brynn had remained in the living room.
She got up and tiptoed over to Brynn, gazing down at her by the soft light of the lamp.
“Brynn?” she whispered. “We have to get up for my soccer game, okay?”
Brynn didn’t move.
“Brynn?” she whispered more loudly.
There was still no response.
She touched her sleeping bag and gave it a little nudge. Nothing.
Alex didn’t know what to do. Brynn had said she wanted to watch Alex’s game, but she was so tired, Alex was having trouble waking her up. Brynn would want to be rested for all the fun at the party and Natalie’s sleepover.
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