Free Politically Incorrect by Melissa J. Morgan

apart on the water. Any awkward feeling she had toward him had completely faded away.
    “So, how are you going to top that this summer?” Sloan asked him with a warm smile.
    “I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” he replied with a wink, then turned his back to Sloan and began to row.

    The second Green Festival meeting was underway on Tuesday afternoon and Sloan was all business, no play, even after that scare at the lake. The big weekend was only a few days from now, and although her team was off to a good start, Sloan knew that time was not on their side.
    “Okay, everyone. Let’s get started. We have a lot of work to do,” Sloan said to the crowd of campers and CITs gathered at the rock garden.
    Sarah raised her hand and waved it so that she could get Sloan’s attention.
    “What’s up, Sarah?” Sloan asked.
    “Do you think if we break up into groups we might get more done?”
    Sloan smiled. “That’s a great idea. If everyone could split up and focus on a particular part of the festival, we’d accomplish our goals a lot quicker.”
    Within a few minutes, everyone had assembled in groups, just like Sloan asked. Brynn, Joanna, and Sarah were in charge of putting together a skit for entertainment. Priya and Jenna were trying to assemble a small band of campers to sing a few old nature-themed folk songs from the 1960s.
    The pack of boys at the meeting, which included David, Jordan, and Connor, all volunteered to be on the set-up crew. All the boys except for one, that is. Miles had offered to help Chelsea and Sloan shoulder the huge responsibility of handling the most important part of the festival—Tricia’s keynote speech. Sloan was so happy he was interested in working closely with her. Maybe after all this planning was over they could—
    “Are you ready yet?” Chelsea interrupted Sloan’s train of thought. She was standing next to Miles with her hands on her hips, looking as sour as she had this afternoon.
    “I know I am,” Miles said, smiling.
    Sloan grinned back at Miles, who was wearing a vintage T-shirt and yet another perfectly worn-in baseball cap. “I was born ready.”
    “So, where is Tricia, anyway? If we’re going to be talking about her speech, shouldn’t she be here?” Miles inquired.
    “Good question. I have no idea where she is,” Sloan replied.
    “She’s probably busy with Natalie, getting ready for her party,” Chelsea said curtly.
    “Well, I guess we can talk with Tricia while we’re there,” Sloan said.
    “I told you already, I’m not going,” Chelsea snapped.
    Sloan flinched a bit at Chelsea’s sharp tone. She knew that Chelsea was annoyed that Natalie was spending so much time with Tricia, but why wasn’t she over it yet? There had to be something else that was putting Chelsea on edge. Perhaps she and Nat had gotten into a fight.
    “Um, then why don’t we throw around a few ideas now, narrow them down and then run a couple by Tricia tomorrow?” Miles suggested.
    “That makes sense.” Sloan was happy to have Miles around as a buffer. Aside from their strange first meeting, Sloan thought he was so easy to be around.
    Chelsea was silent for a moment, thinking. Then her eyes lit up. “I know! She should talk about famous people.”
    Sloan sighed.
    This is going to be the longest meeting ever.
    “Like famous people and their charities?” Miles questioned.
    “Well, I guess you could go that route,” Chelsea said, annoyed. “I just think the audience might find it boring.”
    “I don’t mean to be difficult here,” Miles began, his cheeks turning a little pink. “But shouldn’t Tricia speak on a topic that’s more connected to the theme of the festival?”
    “Okay, let’s see what Sloan thinks,” Chelsea said.
    Miles shrugged. “Fine with me. What’s your opinion, Sloan?”
    Sloan’s stomach began to churn with anxiety. She didn’t want to play referee here, but that was part of being cochairperson. And while Chelsea was her friend, Sloan