The Bear Market of Awkward

Marcus's parents thought summer camp would build character. Instead, it just built anxiety.

"You gonna sit there all day staring at the water like it's about to attack?" Chloe asked, dropping onto the dock beside him. She had that effortless cool Marcus had been trying to fake since seventh grade.

"Maybe," he muttered. "What's the point? Everyone's gonna see me struggle anyway."

Chloe snorted. "Bro, you're literally at camp. Nobody cares if you doggy paddle. Besides, Tiny's been asking about you."

Tiny. The nickname the guys gave Marcus because apparently "Marcus" wasn't funny enough. The irony wasn't lost on him — he was six-foot-two and built like a linebacker, thanks to three years of football his dad forced him to play.

"Wait, what? Why?"

"She thinks you're cute," Chloe said, like she was explaining something obvious. "But she also thinks you're avoiding her because you're scared of the lake."

Marcus groaned. "I'm not scared. I just... don't do swimming."

"Bull. I saw you practicing in the shallow end yesterday. You're fine."

A scream pierced the air from the girls' cabin area. Both of them jumped up.

"What the—"

"BEAR!" someone shrieked. "There's a BEAR!"

Pandemonium. Campers scrambling, counselors shouting, chaos everywhere. Marcus's heart hammered as he scanned the tree line.

Then he saw it: not a bear, but Buster — the camp's elderly golden retriever — trotting happily toward them, someone's stolen hairband dangling from his mouth like a prize.

"Are you kidding me?" Chloe yelled, but she was laughing. "That dog just started a panic over nothing!"

Marcus exhaled, his adrenaline still pumping. "That was... actually kind of impressive."

"Your moment," Chloe said suddenly. "Tiny's over there freaking out. Go be the hero who figured it out."

Marcus hesitated. Then he jogged over to where Tiny stood wide-eyed near the lake shore, reassuring a group of younger campers.

"It's okay," he heard himself say, surprised by his own steady voice. "Just Buster being a chaos demon again. Everyone safe?"

Tiny looked up at him, and something in her expression shifted. "You figured that out fast."

"Process of elimination," Marcus said with a shrug. "Bears don't usually steal hair accessories."

She laughed — really laughed — and Marcus felt something in his chest loosen. Maybe camp wouldn't be so bad after all.

"So," she said, when the chaos had settled. "You joining the lake games tomorrow? I heard you're actually pretty good."

Marcus looked at the water, then back at her. "Yeah. I think I will."

First time in weeks, he wasn't worried about drowning anymore.