Camp Maple Creek by Jude Liebermann

A Camp for Gifted Teenagers

“Wow, who is that?”
I almost ignore her whispered question, but then I feel it. The strange sensation floods through me and over me, and my skin prickles into goose bumps. I cross my arms over my chest and shiver, before turning to follow her gaze.
The guy can’t be much older than us, and I figure he must be another camper, but he wasn’t in the van. And I’m pretty sure all six of those boys are already seated at nearby tables. As the newcomer enters the cafeteria, it’s as if time slows down. Each step matching the opposite flowing arm, he moves with a grace I’ve never seen on a male before, let alone such a tall one. He has to be almost a foot higher than I am, and I’m considered tall.
His sandy blonde hair is short, but not cropped and slightly spiky with bright golden tips. His eyes are a shockingly pale blue, like Chris Pine blue. His gaze seems to take in everything all at once, yet he doesn’t focus on any one thing. He wears a loose white button down shirt over black jeans. I can’t tear my gaze away from him and watch as he walks over to the salad bar and grabs something, before turning and leaving the room. No more than fifteen seconds could have passed, but it feels like a lifetime to me. It is only then that I realize I have been holding my breath and let it out with a gasp.
“Wow!” Amy repeats, and I turn around in my seat to face her.
I shiver again and stare at my arms as the goose flesh fades. “Did you feel it too?”
Confusion replaces the awe in her expression as she frowns at me. “Feel what?”
Shaking my head, I push my food away, no longer hungry. “Nothing. I think I’m ready to see our room. You coming?”
She points to her food. “As soon as I finish eating. See you up there.”
My legs shake as I push up from the table. Taking a deep breath, I force my feet to move as I head for the exit. Will he still be nearby? I have no idea what to make of that strange sensation that flowed through me as he entered the cafeteria. It wasn’t unpleasant, but I’m not sure if I liked it either.

Closing Note

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A Camp for Gods & Monsters

“Thanks for bringing me outside.” I look up at the blue sky, visible between the branches.
He kisses my throat. “I want to show you somethin’, but you’ll need to hang onto my back.”
I nod, and he shifts me around his body. I hang onto his shoulders and wrap my legs around his waist.
“Hang on tight.” He grasps my wrists and moves them around his neck. “Ready?”
I nod again, and he takes off through the trees, finally leaping on the side of one of them and begins to climb. I shriek in a combination of fear and exhilaration. When we near the top of the trees, he makes one final jump and lands on what looks like a small wood deck. Now that we’re not moving so fast, I notice that the deck is attached to a small tree house. It has a doorway and a window opening, and I can see a table and stools inside.
My mouth falls open with a gasp. “Did you make this?”
He nods, clearly eager to show me his little hideaway. “Yes, go inside and look around.”
I take two steps and find myself in a room that is about ten feet by eight feet, give or take. It has surprisingly high ceilings, which of course makes sense due to Fionn’s height. There are several pieces of furniture, including a small wood table, and two wood stools. There’s a bookcase, with many books on the shelves, and there is a bed. I’m guessing it’s a double, made from the trunks of several trees with wooden planks laid across them. Many blankets are piled on top of one another as well as several pillows.
“Do you sleep here?”
“I have.”
I walk over to the bed and sit on the edge. It’s surprisingly comfortable. “Where did all these blankets come from?”
He looks fondly around the little house he’s built and shrugs. “I’ve picked things up along the way. Some came from the outlyin’ towns and others came from the camp.”