Chapter Text
After an uneventful yet pleasant seven-hour trip, a sleek black car drove at a leisurely pace through a tall tunnel of trees. The sun was barely shining high enough to be seen over the trees, instead filtering through the branches and leaves, rays shining in spots on the asphalt road leading towards their final destination.
By the lake, past the density of trees, was the summer camp the fifteen-year-old passenger would be staying at for the next eight weeks. Matthew was reserved and placid. His eyes hadn't moved from the window for the entirety of the trip to commit the scenery to memory. In his arms, he restlessly squeezed the polar bear plush that never left his side. He hadn't been to a camp before. He had mixed feelings about it.
Impossibly bright white clouds were sitting along the horizon, their fluffy tips visible high in the sky. Ahead on the road was an archway with a large hanging banner welcoming all to the camp. There was a slight bump as the tyres transitioned from the asphalt and onto the dirt, bringing Matthew's focus back to reality.
They had arrived.\n\nBeyond the banner was a large designated area for the cars next to the sign-in office. There were only a few cars already parked on the down pact dirt, but the camp was mostly empty.
Somehow, it felt like a calm before a storm.
His Papa had suggested they arrive early so Matthew would have the comfort of being introduced to the other campers as they came, instead of all at once. Papa had wanted him to make some friends, and starting not completely overwhelmed would be a great start.
The car came to a complete stop under the shade of one of the few trees in the space. The driver turned the engine off with a relieved sigh. Matthew would have to thank him later.
Roderich Edelstein worked with his Papa, but this point was also a part of the family. After all, he did just give up two days and get up at six in the morning, all to drive his friends kid over seven hours away into another country without any complaint. Well, at least to Matthew's knowledge. Roderich never breathed a bad word his way.
He was a dignified man, it was easy to get that impression from him by the way he dressed and how he held himself in such a manner. There was an air of aristocracy around him that demanded respect.
"Do you want help carrying everything?" Roderich asked as he stepped out of the car, adjusting his glasses as he did.
"No thanks, I'll be alright." Matthew took a moment to stretch his legs. The chirping of birds and whirring of cicadas could be heard from all over the campsite, seemingly echoing from one side to the other.
Taking a look around, he could see most of the camp from where he stood. It was a large open space with dirt roads cutting through between the wooden cabins. The area was surrounded by trees on all sides with a few spotted in between too. One side slopes on an incline, growing steeper and blocking the view past it. Matthew was sure there was more hilly terrain behind it, yet he was still compelled with the sudden urge to run to the highest point just to see what was beyond it. Just past the office, he could make out a jetty stretching across the lake through the trees.
The area was completely breathtaking, but maybe Matthew may be a bit biased. He liked scenery and nature. It was a refreshing respite from the urban landscape he was so accustomed to. He was sure other kids probably wouldn't give it a second thought, caught up in the excitement of the summer ahead.
It was uncanny. It looked like it was straight out of an American teenager movie.
Roderich had taken all the luggage from the backseat and placed it beside the car.
"This is everything," he gestured to the pile, "I hope you enjoy your camp."
"I will," Matthew gave him a reassuring smile, "thank you."
Roderich took a step forward and wrapped Matthew in a hug. After a short moment, he broke away. "Are you sure Mr Kumajiro will be alright to stay here?"
"Yeah, I'll just keep him with my stuff so he's safe."
He knew what wasn't the question. He was fifteen and taking a stuffed toy to camp with him. He was sure he would get a few odd looks, but he wasn't ashamed. Everyone had something special to them and they don't care if it's socially acceptable or not.
Roderich pursed his lips but didn't say anything else on the matter. Instead, he passed over Matthew's backpack from the pile. "Put this on first, so your hands are free for the cases."
Matthew nodded and slipped the bag on his back one shoulder at a time. He did the buckle up around his midsection, effectively strapping Kuma to him. Then he picked up the remaining two cases, one in each hand.
"Thanks for driving me here." The trip here was long enough. They had covered five hours yesterday afternoon and the remaining two hours that morning after sleeping at a hotel, but now Roderich had to drive all the way back alone. The two earlier hours and the seven ahead, he was going to spend nine hours of his day driving. If Matthew was tired then Roderich was going to be exhausted.
Matthew made up his mind to make him something while at camp.
"You're most welcome," Roderich replied warmly as he adjusted the thin jacket he wore. He always made sure to be dressed well, even in the heat. He briefly looked around the area before turning back to Matthew.
"It looks lovely here. I'm sure you'll be back before you know it." Roderich fixed his glasses, a tick he did quite often. "Well, if you don't need me for anything else, I'll see you in eight weeks."
"Okay, see you."
Roderich gave him a short nod before hopping in the car. He started the car and gave one last wave before taking off. Matthew watched him go until he was out of sight, adjusting the weight of the cases in his hands. He felt a little lost, standing alone in the barren parking area, surrounded by looming trees numerous times his size.
The next step was to check in at the office. He took the wooden steps one by one and left his cases against the log wall. He rested his hand on the office door and glanced at the campgrounds. A few counsellors were walking around, and fewer kids exploring the area.
He was excited to experience what the camp had to offer, even if that did mean being away from home for so long and being outside his comfort zone. In the movies, everyone who went to these things was always so extraverted and enthusiastic. Especially when it came to groups of people who were trying to forcibly bond with others. He didn't know how comfortable he'd be joining in on their ridiculous activities.
...That sounded a bit judgy. He had nothing against them, they were fun to watch. He liked to watch energetic, excitement-seeking extroverts do the extraverted things he could never do. But they'd hopefully be off-put when they realise he's not like them and won't pressure him into doing something embarrassing.
He felt a little ashamed knowing he wouldn't fit in, but he wasn't going to force himself to try.
Stepping inside the office, here was a woman in the middle of the room with thick, long brown hair that ran down her back. The sound of an overhead fan spinning filled the room. He could see she was dressed in the bright camp uniform and looking over something with her back turned to him.
Matthew walked up behind her and readjusted Kuma as he waited for her to notice him. After a moment she glanced up from her clipboard and jumped in surprise when she was the boy in front of her.
"Oh! I'm so sorry I didn't see you there," she recovered cheerfully. Her eyebrows furrowed as she took a moment to study his face.
"That's okay," Matthew reassured her and gave her a small smile.
The woman threw her hand out for Matthew to take in a handshake. "My name is Elizabeta! But you can call me Liz if that's too much of a hassle. You're new here, aren't you? What's your name?"
No doubt she was one of those types who lived for and thrived at these camps. There was energy radiating off her in waves.
Matthew ran his eyes over the paper in her hands, which held the names of all the campers and their cabins.
"Yeah, this is my first time," he admitted modestly. She had probably been at this camp for years and knew all the regulars. "My name's Matthew Bonnefoy."
"Matthew Bonnefoy," she repeated to herself as she ran her pen down the paper, stopping when she found his name and crossed it out. She took a map from the desk beside her and circled one of the cabins on it..
"This is your cabin here!" Matthew nodded and took the map.
"Tomorrow at eight we have a swim test to see where your swimming skills are at. Activities start tomorrow and phones are collected at nine PM each night. You should probably know the reception out here is pretty bad anyway, which is probably unsurprising. Oh, do you have any medication?"
Matthew blinked and shook his head. Elizabeta quickly scribbled something onto the clipboard.
"Well, apart from that, you have the rest of the day off to explore check out the camp and settle in! If you have any questions or need help, just talk to one of us, okay?"
Matthew nodded as he tucked the map with Kuma.
"That a cute bear!" she noted heartily, "What's his name?"
"Mr Kumajiro, or Kuma for short." Matthew felt a little awkward at her inquisitiveness. But he could tell it was all good-natured and somehow felt a little more at ease.
"I've had him since I was a child," he added quietly. The polar bear was in good condition for something so old. Matthew's heart tightened at the thought of something happening to Kuma. He would have to be extra careful to keep Kuma safe.
Elizabeta gave him a warm smile.
"Well, Mr Kumajiro is most welcome here. I hope he has plenty of fun!"
Matthew couldn't help but smile at that, thankful that she didn't think it was weird.
Well, that was the end of the exchange. He should probably go now. From the office window, he had a better view of the lake. The water was a lovely blue thanks to the mostly clear sky. Patches of water shone gold from where the sun hit, bringing the whole scene to life... It was too easy to keep standing here.
Sensing his hesitancy, Elizabeta put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Nervous?"
Matthew frowned. "Not really, I guess," his hands reflexively moved to Kuma for comfort, "I just haven't been to one of these before..."
"Do you feel out of place?" Elizabeta patted his shoulder as he nodded.
"That's okay. It's only the first day. Once we get to day three I'm sure you'll be more comfortable here as you get used to it. You can always stick with one of the counsellors if you're worried!"
Matthew nodded, whether it was from agreement or just to acknowledge he heard her, he doesn't know.
She turned him around by the shoulder and pushed him towards the door.
"All you need to do is to go find your cabin. You'll be the first one there! So you get to choose your bed first! Aren't you lucky?"
Matthew nodded and opened the office door. He turned back to Elizabeth who gave him a thumbs up. He gave her a thankful wave and stepped through the door. He decided she was already his favourite counsellor.
Walking into camp, he noted his cabin was one of the furthest away, just at the beginning of the incline in front of where the forest starts. After a few minutes of walking, he realised he may have underestimated the size of the camp. A few times he had to pause and put down his luggage to study the map.
While walking he passed countless courts and fields for outdoor games, plus buildings for indoor games. There were numerous cottages, a garden, and a big trampoline. Through some trees, he could see the trail leading to the stables. Needless to say, there was a lot. He was impressed by the size and selections available. This had to be the biggest camp in the country.
After a few minutes, Matthew was standing on the porch of his cabin, breathing in the fresh lake air. From the elevated position above the camp, the view of the camp was spectacular. A few buoys and boats sat on calm waters, sparkling under the sun. He could see a deflated giant inflatable sitting at the edge of the lake, no doubt being prepared for the busy weeks ahead. Filtered sunlight illuminated the leaves of the trees and the patches of green grass around the site. Matthew took a photo on his phone camera, but unsurprisingly, it didn't do the scene any justice. He paused to burn this moment to memory. Maybe he would be able to spend eight weeks here after all.
Inside the cabin, there were four single beds spread around the room. He took an instant liking to the furthest one, tucked in the corner against a window with thick drawn curtains. He placed his cases on the bed against the bed frame. He unbuckled Kuma and sat him beside the pillow and leaned him against the wall.
Sitting on the bed, Matthew scrutinised the room. Light came in from the front windows illuminating the rustic feel the log cabin provided. A bathroom was connected to one of the walls, the door wide open for extra light. Above him were wooden beams decorated with colourful paper chains.
There were chairs around the room and a wooden couch against the front window, framed by thick decorated curtains. By each bed was a nightstand with drawers and a lamp. Overall, it had a rustic homey feel that put him at ease.
"This is nice," he mused and turned back to the items on the bed. He supposed it would be safe to leave Kuma here. He took the map and glanced at its contents. He might as well explore the camp before it got busy. He cast one last look at the bear on the bed, before making his way out of the cabin.