Soccer Camp

Orientation

I glanced around the large hall as I watched everyone hug and laugh with their friends. I sat in the back quietly pretending not to feel left out. It’s not like I knew these people any ways. Most of them were probably friends for years while it was my first time here.

It’ll be fun honey. My mom’s voice sang in my head. I loved camp at your age. Besides, you’re finished high school. This is a great way to spend the summer before you head off to University. Make it fun, try everything… except drugs. No drugs.

Soccer camp. Why the hell would she make me come to soccer camp? I was clumsy, I had two left feet, and I couldn’t run for s**t.

I pushed my glasses further up the bridge of my nose and waited for this orientation to begin. Throughout high school I made no friends; I spoke to no one so I just focused on my studies. I was in grade 10 when my parents got divorced. After that, I withdrew from everyone and spent any free time in the library or at home.

“Welcome counselors, team members and staff to another summer!” the director smiled. His voice carried across the room and the private conversations stopped as everyone took their seats. “Last year was a victorious year for Rosefields Senior Elite soccer team which was lead by my son, Jesse.”

The room began to applaud loudly. “As most of you know, the soccer team will be coaching the younger children. For those who are not staff members or event organizers, you will be supervising and helping the coaches teach the children. Every day you will be helping a different team. There are over 10 teams…” I slowly began to zone out as I overheard the people beside me talking.

“He’s cute, huh?” the guy beside me smiled, signaling towards the stage. I turned my attention back to the front of the room as a tall good looking guy took the mic from the director.

“Yeah, I guess” I mumbled quietly.

“You guess?” He questioned. "What’s your name?"

“Amber” I muttered.

“Well Amber, that man you see on that stage is my boyfriend.” He said as a matter-of-factly.

“Matt, you guys broke up. He hasn’t even said two words to you since we got here.” The girl on the other side of me intervened.

“Say what you want Eve” Matt brushed off. I stared up at his face wondering how he could be so beautiful. He had dark brown hair with blond highlights. His hazel eyes met mine as I stared into his face, his lips pulling up into a smile.

I quickly turned my attention back to the front of the room.

“You’re schedules will be waiting for you outside those doors. The kids are arriving as we speak so let’s head out”

Everyone began to rise from their seats and I followed suit, joining the line up to collect my schedule.

“So why haven’t I seen you here before?” Matt asked behind me

I wiped my hands on my jeans nervously, my palms becoming sweaty. Conversations made me nervous and his attractiveness only made it worse.

“It’s my first time here” I told him as I looked down at my feet.

I looked up to find him looking somewhere else. He’s bored of the conversation, I thought. When his attention turned back to me, he took my chin into his hands. I stared up at him bright eyed wondering what he was doing. He was touching me, why the hell was he touching me. When he brought his lips to mine, my eyes were open in shock and confusion as I felt his lips move over mine forcefully.

When he pulled away, he smiled and then kissed my forehead.

He reached around me, searched through a pile of envelopes, grabbed my hand, and then led me out the front doors.

“Sorry about that, David was looking.” Matt muttered to himself "That’ll teach him to ignore me."

“Who’s David?” I asked still wondering what was happening.

We walked on the stone pathway that lead to the counsellors cabin as little children began to exit off buses.

“The guy I’ve been talking to for the past year.” He handed an envelope which had my name on it.

“Why did you kiss me…? I thought you were gay…” I mumbled with my eyes planted on my feet. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I was socially awkward. I guess that’s why my mom sent me here in an attempt to get me to loosen up.

“Bisexual. Like Channing Tatum” he laughed.

“Did you just compare yourself to Channing Tatum?” I smiled, finally making eye contact.

“Damn right,” he smiled lifting up his shirt revealing his abs “I’ve got the body and everything.”

I quickly looked back to the ground. How was he so comfortable showing his body like that?

After a minute of silence, he asked “It’s 30 degrees outside, why are you wearing jeans?”

I ignored his question as I kept walking towards the cabin. We entered into our assigned house for the summer and found our rooms.

I got into my room and closed the door without saying goodbye. I sat down on my bed and placed my fingers to my lips. This will be a long summer.