We arrived at the house, and a wave of anticipation washed over me. I immediately dialed my mother's number, hoping she would grant me permission to attend the school camp for a week. My cousin would be there, which was a slight comfort, but we would be assigned to separate rooms due to our different grade levels. After a few agonizing minutes of negotiation, my mother relented, but not without a stern warning to be careful. The camp was scheduled to begin on Wednesday and conclude the following Wednesday, although I had a nagging feeling it wouldn't last the full duration. Since my mother was currently working in Saudi Arabia, I had Mariel's mother sign my consent form.
As I gazed up at the ceiling of my room, a wide grin spread across my face. I eagerly reached for my phone and composed a text message to my best friend, Jazzy, eager to share the exciting news about our upcoming camp. "Jazzz, guess what? We have a camp! Tsk, it's a shame I have to share a room with the girl we hate, the bully girl. But you know I'm an introvert, so they won't do anything to me, haha. They just attack those who look at them wrong. I can't even look straight at someone HAHAHAHHA. My day's good, you? Imma sleep now, love you, muah." With that message sent, I closed my eyes, ready to drift off to sleep, my mind buzzing with excitement and a hint of trepidation about the week ahead.