“Yup, I’ve had it ready since early this morning. I’m so excited!” she squeals and claps her hands together. I just roll my eyes at her and smile. This is my second year as a counselor here and I enjoy more than anything. I know what a lot of these kids are going through because I had a lot of the same problems but we won’t get into that right now. We start heading out towards the front where everybody is due to arrive and help our kids settle in to their rooms. We are each assigned 5 to 7 kids.

“Hey Ashley, some of your kids are already here” one of my supervisors said, pointing to the side of a tent where three of the seven kids I had were standing.

“Hey guys, I’m Ashley Davies and I’m gonna be your counselor during your stay here. I need you guys to tell me your name and age please” I said, smiling at them as I reached them, reaching my hand out to them.

“Aiden Dennison, 17” the tall guy said with no emotion.

“Kyla Woods, also 17” the brunette said next to him, smiling a little.

“Madison Duarte, and I‘m 17 also” a Latina girl said next to her.

They all seemed pretty nice to me, all in their own worlds though which is perfectly normal. I’m waiting for two more of my kids before I can take them to our hall and show them their rooms.

“Um excuse me? Are you Ashley?” a voice said behind me.

“Yes I am. Are you in my group?” I asked, looking at my sheet ready for him to tell me his name so I can check him off.

“Yea I think so. My name is Sean Austin”

“Okay, gotcha. And your age?” I asked, looking up from my clipboard.

“I’m 16”

“Okay guys, well we’re just gonna hang around here until the others get here, we’re waiting on three more people” I said as another boy walked up, then a girl behind him.

“Hey guys, can I get your names and age please?” I started to sound like a broken record player. I hated asking them these questions, I know I didn’t like it when I came here but its part of the job.

“I’m Clay Carlin and I’m 16” the black man stated.

“Chelsea Lewis and I’m 17” the black girl stated with a smile and nervousness to her voice. I checked them both off then waited for the last person to arrive. Spencer Carlin. Hey, wait a minute, two Carlins?

“Ashley Davies?” A male voice sounded again and I looked up to see an older man with a blond girl standing next to him. I couldn’t help but take in her appearance. She was wearing black and white chucks, black pants, a chain wallet, a black hat that was backwards with sunglasses. And to top it off a red shirt that said BITE ME. In big black letters. I couldn’t help but smile at her, she was beautiful that’s for sure. But I can’t get involved with my kids, that’s the number one rule.

“Yes, that’s me. Are you Spencer Carlin?” I asked, looking at the girl.

“Wait Carlin?” Clay asked from behind me making Spencer and, who I am assuming is her dad look at him confused.

“Yeeees…what does it matter to you?” Spencer bit out, looking annoyed.

“That’s my last name too” he said, confused as ever.

“Well obviously we aren’t related” Spencer said in an obvious tone.

“Well, you look a lot like my mom Pau-”

“Woah wait a minute? Paula? As in Paula Carlin?” she asked, shocked to say the least. Okay what the hell is going on here?

“Yea do you know her?” he asked, looking back and forth from Spencer and her dad.

“She’s my mother” she said, almost so soft we didn’t catch it. She then took off her sunglasses, putting them on top of her head and my breath caught in my throat. She stared right at me, and I didn’t look away when I know I should have. She had the bluest, most amazing eyes I have ever seen. Then she broke eye contact and looked up to her dad.

“Dad, what’s going on?” she asked, anger beginning to surface as she watched her father look back and forth between Spencer and Clay then sigh loudly. Uh-oh, first day here and we already have drama. Perfect.