Politically Incorrect (3 page)

A smile crept across Natalie’s face. “Oh. Really?”

“Fine, go ahead and laugh,” Chelsea said, rolling her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Chelse! I just didn’t know you were such a diehard fan. Plus, the way you were talking about this shirt made me think it was something much more serious,” Natalie said through a chuckle.

“Well, I am a diehard fan, and you can guess why I didn’t tell anybody until now,” Chelsea said, annoyed.

“I won’t say a word, I swear.” Natalie used her index finger to make an X over her heart.

“Good, and I won’t tell anyone about our little arrangement, either.”

“Okay, it’s a deal,” Natalie said, sticking her hand out for Chelsea to shake. Once Chelsea grabbed hold of it, Natalie added, “Thanks, Chelse. I really hope this works.”

“Of course it’ll work,” Chelsea said confidently. “Just wait and see.”

Late that night, Chelsea and Natalie ducked out of their bunk and hid in the sports shack to work on Natalie’s essay. Chelsea typed away on her laptop computer while Natalie talked about her thoughts on the environment, and why she wanted to be chairperson of the Green Committee.

“I’m getting some really great stuff here, Nat. It’s a good thing I snuck my laptop into camp this year,” Chelsea said as she batted at the keyboard.

“True, but at least now we have access to a computer. One we didn’t have to sneak in, I mean,” Natalie joked.

“Can you imagine having to share one computer with a hundred other campers, though? No one will ever get more than a few minutes to use it. Having a computer is really helping this interview go a lot faster—I can’t imagine writing out all your answers by hand,” Chelsea replied.

“That’s true.” Natalie paused and peered over Chelsea’s shoulder to read what she had just written. “Hmm, I don’t know if I like the idea of talking about my dad in this essay.”

“What do you mean? I think that’s the most interesting thing about you.”

“Gee, thanks, Chelse!” Natalie spat.

“Don’t get all offended. I’m just saying, people want to read about that stuff.” Chelsea didn’t understand why Natalie was getting all upset. All she was trying to do was help Natalie get what she wanted.

“I’m sure they do. But the reason I want to be chairperson is so I can get into college on my own terms, not just because I’m Tad Maxwell’s daughter,” Natalie explained.

Chelsea was confused. Wasn’t college eons away?

“Nat, I think you worry too much about what other people think of you,” Chelsea said.

“Everyone does, even you, Chelse,” Natalie said firmly.

Chelsea knew Natalie had a point. Judging Natalie for being self-conscious was kind of hypocritical.

“Well, what if we include something in the essay that shows how your dad has used his celebrity for a good purpose,” Chelsea suggested. Perhaps Natalie would feel more comfortable with that.

“Oooh, I like it,” Natalie said, her mood instantly lifting.

“Can you think of anything that might be good?” Chelsea asked.

“Actually, I think so. It’s about my dad and the San Diego Zoo,” Natalie said.

“Wow, jackpot! People love animals just as much as they love movie stars,” Chelsea said, smiling.

“You crack me up, Chelse,” Natalie said. “Tricia is going to love your sense of humor.”

Chelsea smiled even more. “You really think so?”

“Most definitely.”

“Well, let’s get back to work. I’ve got a lot of notes to take and you still have to rewrite all this stuff by hand,” Chelsea said.

“Okay, let’s do it,” Natalie said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Chelsea was excited, too. This was going to be the best summer yet. She could feel it.

On Tuesday morning, the rain had cleared, the sun was shining, and it was hot enough for relays in the lake. But Sloan had another activity in mind. Dressed in a purple tankini and a wrap tied around her waist, Sloan grabbed her three-subject notebook and a pencil out of her tote bag, then snuck off in search of a good place to work on her essay. She chose a huge oak tree close to the water so she would be in earshot if someone called for her turn.

Just a few more finishing touches and I’ll be done,
Sloan thought as she sat down in the grass and opened up her notebook. All that was left to do was write a great closing line that would knock Dr. Steve’s socks off. Sloan was really pleased with what she’d written and felt as though she had a pretty good chance of winning the committee chairperson’s spot with it. Sloan had always been pro-environment, and she had grown up in an eco-friendly house, too. The Green Festival was so in line with her principles and interests, more than any other camp event in the past. She really wanted to be a part of it in a big way.

Sloan jerked her head up when she heard a big splash from the lake. She smiled when she spotted Natalie and Chelsea laughing hysterically during their leg of the relay. It looked like Chelsea had done one giant belly flop when she dove into the water after Natalie. Sloan was happy to see Natalie having a good time after being so bummed the day before. Sloan felt a twinge of guilt when she thought about how preoccupied she’d been—she hadn’t even asked Natalie what was wrong.

However, that wave of negativity subsided the moment a tall, brown-haired, blue-eyed boy stepped into view. Actually, the same brown-haired boy that she’d “yummed” over at orientation the other day.

“Shouldn’t you be dog-paddling with the rest of us?” the boy asked with an adorable smile.

Sloan blinked twice in disbelief.
Is he actually talking to me?

“I’m just squeezing in a little study time between relays,” she replied.

The boy chuckled a bit. “It’s summer. Shouldn’t study time be over?”

Great move,Sloan
.
Now he thinks you’re a big freak!

“I’m just working on that essay—”

“For the Green Festival.” The boy finished Sloan’s sentence and sat down next to her. “We had an event like that at my old school in Alaska.”

“Whoa—you’re from Alaska?” Sloan said with surprise. She’d never met anyone from that far away before.

“I’m part Inuit, actually,” he said, pointing to his slightly almond-shaped eyes.

Sloan blushed when she stared into them deeply. “That’s really cool.”

“So, can I take a peek at your essay?” he asked.

Sloan’s heart filled with both excitement and dread. She was thrilled the adorable Alaskan boy was interested in her at all, but the thought of him going through her notebook made her uneasy. She also wasn’t used to boys being this forward, but who really cared? He was SO cute!

“Um, I feel kind of funny about showing my writing to you when I don’t even know your name.”

“I’m Miles,” the boy said. “It’s nice to meet you, Sloan.”

Sloan’s breath caught in her throat. “Wait, how did you—”

“I saw you during orientation and I asked David who you were.” Miles grinned. “Does that make me a creep?”

“No, it’s cute,” Sloan said, laughing.

Miles’s cheeks flushed a little. “So now can I look at your essay? I promise I won’t tell anyone what it says.”

Sloan giggled. She liked how inquisitive and assertive Miles was.

“Sure,” Sloan said as she handed Miles her notebook. “It’s not finished, though. I still have to write a snappy closing line.”

Miles nodded his head and began reading right away. Sloan could feel her stomach churning with anxiety. She thought her essay was great, but she’d never intended to have anyone read it but Dr. Steve, and maybe Jasmine.

Miles closed Sloan’s notebook when he was finished reading and handed it back to her. “So, where are you from?”

Sloan gave Miles a bewildered look. Didn’t he have anything to say about her essay? “Um . . . Arizona.”

“Cool. I’ve been there. I really like it,” Miles said.

“Uh . . . that’s nice,” Sloan replied. “What did you think of my essay?”

Miles pulled up some grass from the roots and sprinkled it in front of his feet. “It was . . . okay.”

Okay?!
Sloan thought.
It was better than okay, wasn’t it?!

“Don’t you think that’s a little vague?” Sloan asked.

“I’m sorry,” Miles muttered. “Never mind. It was good.”

“No, tell me what you were going to say,” Sloan insisted. “I can take it.”

“Well . . . um . . . I just thought that it was a little . . .”

“What?”

“Um . . . you just don’t seem so excited is all,” Miles said through a cough. “I’m sorry, Sloan. All your facts are great, but I don’t get the feeling from reading the essay that you’re so into it.”

Sloan’s face went speeding-comet hot.

Adorable or not, Sloan was no longer happy about sharing Miles’s company.

“I think I hear my counselor Ellie calling me, so I’d better go.” Sloan got up abruptly and tucked her notebook under her arm.

The smile on Miles’s face vanished as he stood up and shoved his hands into the pockets of his swim trunks. Obviously he knew that his remarks had hurt Sloan’s feelings.