Free Camp Boyfriend by J. K. Rock

and science projects with Siobhan in between helping Trinity paint and Piper save the earth.
    Damn it, what was happening to everyone?
    Arriving at the theater and dance studio on top of a hill behind the girls’ cabins, I braced myself for a far bigger round of confrontations. Hannah and the other girls from the Divas’ Den cabin were already in the studio. Of course, they’d all brought cute dance outfits from home, while the girls from our cabin still wore shorts and T-shirts from volleyball.
    “Nice shirt, Jackie,” Hannah remarked mildly from her spot at the barre in front of the mirror. “Although the jean shorts kind of make you look like a truck driver. No offense.”
    Jackie stretched her long legs and volleyball-toned arms in her white tank top. “Nice leotard, Hannah. It makes you look like you’re shrink-wrapped in Pepto-Bismol. Oh wait, that’s probably what you’re going for since you make everyone sick.” Jackie then kicked off her shoes and stood in the back of the studio with her arms crossed. My other friends did the same.
    “Maybe we should warm up a little,” I encouraged them, taking off my shoes, too. “Loosen up.”
    I really wished they’d just give dance a try and stay open-minded. Sitting down on the floor, I ran through some of my normal stretches, hoping they’d follow suit. Siobhan joined me, perhaps spotting that a few of the moves were yoga.
    “Hello class!” The dance instructor, Leslie Kim, padded in on silent, bare feet. She was all of five feet tall and a former gymnast. I’d seen her around camp other years and had always wanted to take a class with her. She looked energetic and fun.
    And wasn’t I here to have fun? At least I wasn’t settling arguments about lipstick shades for the wedding.
    I faced forward and kept my focus on Leslie while she led us through some basic moves. We did some chassés and pliés and worked on our posture. Very basic. Very easy. Except that Alex had a hard time being still and focusing on her breathing. I thought she’d lose it when the instructor asked her to take out her gum. After the first twenty minutes, we turned on some music and did the Thriller dance, which everyone knew. Even Jackie made a half-hearted attempt to do the zombie hands and make like the undead. Or maybe she just wanted to strangle Hannah.
    Things were looking up until Piper stepped on another girl’s toes.
    “Do you not know your right from your left?” a Divas’ Den member huffed, her high ponytail flouncing around her ears.
    “Now ladies,” Leslie Kim warned, turning down the music since we’d all stopped to watch the confrontation anyhow. “This is a beginners’ class.”
    The girl fisted her hands and put them on her hips. “Only because no advanced classes are offered the first week. But you know us. Why do we have to do the same moves as the geek squad who don’t know a plié from a scissor kick?”
    Piper’s face flushed. My blood boiled, since I’d assured my friends we’d be able to avoid dumb confrontations like this. But our cabins had a history. Hannah and the other Divas’ Den girls burst into laughter while our teacher’s brows drew together.
    “I’ll see you after the activity period is over. For now, I need you to wait for me outside so you can cool off and think about your rudeness.”
    I was somewhat soothed by this. But when Leslie moved toward the windows to crank them open more, the Divas took turns high-fiving each other in silent mode. They seemed to smack hands in slow-motion, deliberately goading us as their friend sashayed her way out of the studio.
    Dance class went downhill from there. My friends glared at me while we slogged through the cool-down workout ten minutes later. I was doing my neck rolls when Kayla, a Divas’ Den girl obsessed with designer labels, poked me in the arm.
    If I’d had any martial arts training, I would have gotten into a fighting stance. I was that on edge.
    “You have amazing posture.”