Ridgewood Town

Chapter 3

Peyton

June 21

Monday, 4:57 AM

Before my alarm beeps, my eyes already snap open. I quickly turned off the alarm and fixed my bed.

I grabbed my phone underneath my pillow and checked for my emails and messages. It was a routine I always do in the morning. The first message came from my mom asking if I had eaten the new bread recipe she sent to the camp yesterday. Welp, she forgot to put salt on it once again. She's getting older and she's starting to forget some things. A few messages came from Dad asking about me and my life around the camp.

I received some messages from Luis that I never really bothered to check since we were so busy. I never really had time to look at my phone at three in the afternoon yesterday. Some of our campers got lost in our scavenger hunt and I spent all my time finding them. I was glad we were able to gather them back but it was already late. Before I knew it, it was time to go to bed.

I wonder what he sent me.

I tapped on his name on the screen and I couldn’t help but c***k a smile when the photos started loading. These artworks are truly remarkable. The plum blossom looked so real that I had to zoom in and out. His paintings are truly magical. I remember when he painted Taylah in his own art style. Even Taylah was moved.

"Is this another project for Nana Taylah? And seriously, this dude really loves his girl," I can't help but whisper. He sent some snaps of Sophia. The snaps he sent are even stolen. What a sneaky bastard!

I've sent him snaps of the person I like and now, Luis thinks this is some kind of a competition now. He even spams me with her snaps and their selfies. It must have been good when the one you like, likes you back. He really treasures this girl and I am a witness to that. I can say this because this is what I do with the one I like. This is why we are friends. When we get serious with someone, we are driven to love them all. No playing.

I continued scrolling through his messages and it was a lot of fun. He made his messages a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Some are snaps from their projects, paintings, and some messages are of his nonsensical jokes I never really bothered to read. And of course, another episode of sleep texting by Luis Mason. He sometimes typed something at midnight incoherently and he, himself, couldn’t even read. A dude who sleeps text, that's Luis Mason for you.

I wonder how he got to date Sophia when I thought he liked Jeanette. We both know Jeanette has a thing for him since, but I can’t really help but wonder why Jeanette never confessed her love. Well, Sophia is his childhood friend too. Love is mysterious in its own way. Maybe, I'll never even know the reason. I’m just happy that he is happy right now. One of the things I wish for him is someone who would stay with him and make him happy. He suffered too much at his age.

I was still scrolling when my eyes caught Sophia’s name on my call logs. A total of seven missed calls since three AM in the morning. I never heard my phone ring because I'd put it in silent mode. Its a bit odd though. Sophia rarely likes to call, and we hadn't been that close to calling each other either. I guess I’ll figure it out later. I’ve got something to do first. The camp comes first.

I started stretching to drive the sleep away. A five-hour sleep never really replenishes the energy I used yesterday. Running around the camp, helping campers, fixing tents, and even taking snaps. A really tiring day. And there will be a long day ahead today.

This seven-day summer camp really keeps me awake late at night and still keeps me awake early in the morning. We go wake these kids from bed at seven and help them do exercises to wake them up. We get to play and enjoy ourselves the rest of the day like what we did when we were at their age. And at the end of the day, we tuck them in their bed and say good night. It is pretty exhausting to facilitate these kids but their happy faces make it all worth it. It may be a tiring job with good pay, but nothing beats a child’s smile. None.

Apparently, I didn’t agree with this. I never liked kids nor liked having them around. But this redhead guy wrote my name and didn’t even bother asking me if I would even like to sign. Speaking of this redhead, I hadn’t seen him in the room when I woke up either. He's bed is empty and unkempt. Where did Coover go?

“Who are you lookin’ for, Wilkinson?” Joshua, one of the counselors we are working with asked while still tucked in his bed. His voice is laced with sleep but his eyes are wide awake. Did he even sleep?

“Have you seen Coover? He seems not in his bed, dude. He always wakes us up but he’s not even in the room when I wake up.”

“Maybe he's taking a piss? I don’t know. His bed is still unkept anyway." He pointed at Coover's bed. "By the way, I’ll doze off a few minutes. Cover up for me. Don’t wake me up.”

Right after he said that, snores followed. He has always done this for the past seven days that we had to buy ear plugs to block the noise. He’s still a cool guy, so we never really complained about that.

When I had completely driven my sleep away, I immediately wore my coat and jogged around the camp site. The air still smells like smoke from the campfire last night. Some of the campers stayed in the tent they set up in the field, but some still choose the safety of the camp cabins we have.

The morning breeze welcomes me with the glaze of the rising sun. The golden light hugs the trees, the flowers deep down in the ground. I never really liked summer. I really hate summer when we are forced to attend the Summer Camp. Now, I realize that it wasn’t really that bad. Summer Camp in Ridgewood Town has been a tradition for years. I only attended once but my childhood friends, Luis and Jeanette love camping, so I almost spend some of my summer days alone. And even when we got older, their love for camping made them volunteer to be camp leaders last year. That was one of my awful years last year because I had been tied up with this redhead for a month. Speaking of this redhead, where did he go? I've already run past the camp cabins and tents but he is still missing in action.

It's weird, but I'll try to run around the cabin pantry. He sometimes goes there to snitch some bacon.

"Oi Wilkinson! You're early," a cheerful voice greeted me once I took a step in the pantry. Her notable bushy eyebrows caught my eye and her short height. Ana Ricotta, one of Coover's best friends.

"Hey, Ana! Have you seen redhead?" Her brows rose and she broke another smile.

"Redhead? Oh! My best friend Coover, you mean?"

"Yeah. We woke up this morning and found his bed empty. Has he run back home since he misses Daddy?" The last line I've said is a joke. We all know Coover loves his dad and that it has been a running joke. He never really complains, so I think it's okay.

"I think I've seen him run up to the front. His Dad actually drives here to collect us all today. Well, I don’t really know. You should probably go to the front gates right now. Detective Philips is currently looking for you."

"Alright. That's kind of weird but thanks." She quickly dismisses me, using her hand to swat me away. They really hate me in the pantry when I wasn't even the one who sneaked the bacon away.

I guess I had to go look for Coover and his dad, Detective Philips.

I jogged past the field once again. Some campers are already awake and doing some stretching here and there. I saw Joshua leading some kids running laps around the field and they seemed to be having fun. I suddenly felt the urge to run with them rather than find Coover.

It really was a fun morning. It felt like a game of finding a redhead around the Summer Camp.

As I was approaching the front gate, I saw him. It wasn't hard to pinpoint which one was Coover. It’s always the one with the red hair. It wasn’t hard to spot him when his hair is glowing right now. The sun is gracing him with a shine that makes him glow. What a lucky guy! He looks dazzling right now. Wait. That sounds gay. Whatever.

“Dad, it’s the last day of camp. We can’t just tell the kids to go home right now. Besides, that guy wouldn’t do that kind of thing. Peyton is a good guy. And I know his friends too.”

Peyton? Why am I dragged into the conversation?

I jogged faster and faced Officer Philips. He wears his usual blue shirt and a denim coat that makes him look older than his age. He had a little goatee under his chin that added a few numbers to his age. He should shave that. Maybe Coover would get another Mommy then.

"Good day, Officer Philips." I tried to make my voice cheerful but it came out in high tones. I guess he really is a scary guy. I can't even control my voice.

Redhead, with his back turned, faced me. What confuses me was why was he crying? He looked like he was in pain or something. Or more like, he was looking at me painfully.

And why does my heart ache for some reason? Is there something wrong? Should I be worried?