Campfire Consequences

The mess hall at Camp Wabanaki smelled like boiled cabbage and regret. Maya pushed the spinach around her tray with plastic fork, wishing she could disappear into the flannel walls. First week as a CIT—counselor in training—and she'd already earned the reputation as the quiet one who couldn't even make proper s'mores at the campfire last night.

"Yo, Spinach Maya!" Jake called from across the room. Because apparently one time eating the vegetable for lunch defined her entire existence. The table erupted into laughter. Maya felt her face burn hotter than the campfire from hell.

But then Leo—the new kid with the mismatched socks and chaotic energy—slid into the seat beside her. "Don't listen to them. Their rizz is nonexistent." He winked. "Besides, I saw what you did with the bear yesterday."

Maya froze. A week ago, she'd found a small black bear cub near the trails and secretly left it berries. Nobody was supposed to know. "How did you—"

"I was behind that tree." Leo grinned. "It was lowkey adorable. You're like, a Disney princess but cooler."

Before Maya could process being called adorable, the sky erupted. Lightning split the afternoon sky like something out of a movie. Rain sheets immediately followed. Everyone scrambled toward the main lodge.

In the chaos, Maya's favorite beanie—the oversized gray one she used to hide behind—blew off her head. She chased it across the muddy clearing, her hair flying everywhere, exposing the uneven buzzcut she'd given herself two weeks ago after her parents' divorce.

She snatched the hat and looked up to find half the camp staring. Jake made a face. But Leo just walked over, rain plastering his clothes to his skin, and pointed at her hair. "That's sick. My sister did something similar last year. She said it was like, an identity reset button?"

Maya's chest loosened. "Yeah. Something like that."

"Well, it's giving main character energy." Leo's smile was genuine. "Want to help me feed that bear cub again tomorrow?"

For the first time all summer, Maya didn't reach for her hat. "Bet."