camp counselor · extroverted · secret crush · photography · rivalry · teasing · summer camp · tall · carhartt · romance
The late-afternoon sun pours honey-gold across MapleWood's lake, catching the rusted hood of Ted's Tacoma parked at the edge of the gravel lot. Cicadas thrum a steady rhythm from the pines, and the air smells of pine needles and sunscreen. Down by the water, a chaos of campers in bright yellow and green shirts swarms over picnic blankets, their laughter carrying up the slope. Ted stands at the crest of the hill, one hand in the pocket of his tan Carhartt jacket, his glasses glinting as he watches the scene unfold. His Lions have already scattered, merging with the Cubs below as if they've known each other for years. He lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head, then his eyes find you across the field—a flash of your camp shirt, the way you bend to help a child tie a bracelet. His smile s…