Chapter Text
The last few days of Junior year were hot and long. The AC had finally crapped out in Sal’s homeroom class creating a muggy atmosphere made infinitely worse by his breath becoming trapped under his mask. He found himself wiggling his cheeks as the sweat dried against his face.
Just 30 more minutes. He thought, glancing at the clock on the wall. Last period was mostly used as a study hall and holding cell for everyone while the buses pulled in for pick up. Sal had already finished his homework for tonight so he sat and stared absentmindedly at the spot of flaking paint on the wall. The sound of a rolling chair scraping against the floor caught everyone’s attention. Their teacher Mr. Hopkins walked to the front of the class with a stack of papers in his hand.
“Alright everyone,” he said, flipping the papers to straighten them, “I want to use the last bit of class to talk to you about an opportunity that all Juniors will have this summer. The school has been invited to take part in a new experience this year just outside of Nockfell called Camp Cornerstone. Camp Cornerstone is a month-long summer camp geared for high school students where they can learn…” Mr. Hopkins looked over the top of his glasses as he read robotically from the paper, “Learn confidence in their skills and talents, step outside their comfort zone and fulfill their purpose to find satisfaction in life.”
Just as quick as his interest was piqued, Sal deflated. While the idea sounded interesting and even a little exciting, there was no way that his dad could afford to send him to a month-long camp. Those had to be expensive right? And on a single income, it seemed impossible. Mr. Hopkins began passing out the packets of information and continued.
“Take a look through these packets over the weekend and return them with a parent’s signature A-S-A-P.”
Sal skimmed the papers. Team building, swimming, canoeing, hiking, arts and crafts, archery, rock climbing- the list went on and on. Without trying to get his hopes up, he flipped through the pages looking for a price. At the end of the packet he turned it over and looked again.
"Mr. Hopkins," he said, raising his hand, "I can't seem to find it in the packet. What is the cost?"
Mr. Hopkins snapped his fingers, "That's right. I almost forgot. As a show of good grace and charity the Nockfell church has paid the tuition for all Juniors who wish to attend. Something about it being an opportunity for community outreach."
An excited murmur ran through the class. The school wasn't necessarily a low income school but most of the student body had working class parents who were always teetering on the verge of being paycheck to paycheck. An opportunity like this was exciting for almost everyone and now the class was more thoroughly reading the papers to find out what it was that awaited them at Camp Cornerstone.
—
"I don't know man. It seems fishy," Larry said as they leaned in close on the bus. "Why would the church want to spend so much money sending a buncha kids to camp that don't even go there?"
Todd hummed in agreement from across the aisle, "It does seem strange but it could be like our teachers said. Churches always want to be seen as giving back to the community, maybe this is it."
Ashley was kneeling in the seat in front of them, arms crossed over the back, "Well whatever it is, it sounds awesome. I always thought camps like that looked fun. We just couldn't afford them."
"I never took you for a camping girl before," Larry laughed.
She shrugged, "What can I say, the Parent Trap had me convinced I had a long lost twin ready to reconnect over s'mores."
Sal laughed as Ashley clutched her chest and dramatically looked out to the middle distance. Was it strange that the church would send a whole grade to camp for a month? Absolutely. Did Sal think it was anything more than a huge tax break for them? Probably not. They were definitely counting it as a charitable donation of some sort and twisting it in a way that they come out in the black. He briefly considered that churches were tax exempt, but Nockfell High's mediocre teaching left him a little clueless as to it all. He shrugged.
"Well no matter what it is, I think we should go. It'll be a great chance for all of us to hang out this summer and it's free," he nudged Larry, "And if something is going on what better way to find out than by being right in the center of it?"
Larry still looked apprehensive but sighed, "If everyone else is going, I better go too. Gotta keep you all out of trouble."
There was a beat of silence before they all laughed.
"You? Keep us out of trouble?" Ash choked out between laughs.
"I don't know what you're implying Campbell," Larry said, pulling a joint out of his jacket and placing it between his lips, "I am an upstanding member of society."
Sal grabbed the joint out of his mouth, "Larry! We're on the bus! At least wait till we get home. Lisa will kill you if you get suspended from the bus again."
He shrugged his shoulders, trying to pretend like he wasn't smiling, "Like I said…upstanding citizen."
—
It wasn’t as hard to convince his dad about the trip as he thought it would be. His first and biggest concern had been the cost but after that he found it hard to come up with reasons against it. His dad voiced some worry about Sal’s privacy at the camp but had been reassured that his son could take care of himself and if not, Larry would take care of whoever was causing problems. That had earned a stern look from his dad followed by a sigh and a promise not to let Larry get in too much trouble.
Sal spent the last few days of the school year turning in assignments, packing and repacking his suitcase. As he folded clothes, he began to realize he’d never done anything like this before. He hadn’t gone on trips like this since his mom died. Sure he’d stayed with Larry more times than he could count but did it really count if it was just a few floors away from his own room? At any moment he could retreat back to his own space if the walls felt a little too close for comfort. Going away for a month would be a trial by fire on his anxiety, but one he wanted anyway. He wanted to be independent. He craved knowing that he could do things on his own and this would be his chance to prove it.
Still he dumped his suitcase out again and started fresh. Going over the packing list he received it seemed like too much and not enough at the same time. Sal took a breath and started from the top. Shirts weren’t hard as most of his wardrobe consisted of either plain tops or band tees. He started to falter when he was packing bottoms. Jeans made sense but would they be too hot? Sal threw a couple pairs of shorts in as well. Pushing clothes through his closet, he eyed some of the riskier items he owned. He’d worn them to school so it should be fine right? Before he could talk himself out of it, Sal threw in a few skirts and a dress he liked. Socks, underwear and a couple pairs of shoes finished off his clothes but he still combed through his closet and dresser a few more times.
Other items were easier. Towels, toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, a flashlight. The list said something about no electronics but he hid the modded GearBoy among the clothes anyway. He packed a book from the summer reading list, a sketchbook and a journal, hoping that it would be easy to find a moment away should everything get to be too much. A couple pairs of swim trunks and a few disposable cameras and he finally thought he had it all packed. The only things left to put away were things he couldn’t put away until that morning like his toothbrush, deodorant and his saline solution for his glass eye. Ash had bought him a small purple Tupperware container to store his eye each night. She had drawn all over it in sharpie. It had band logos, flowers and a large detailed eye on the lid of the container.
With the suitcase zipped and sitting by the door in the living room, Sal grabbed the walkie talkie from his dresser, “Larry Face?”
There was a crackle before the answer, “Sally Face! What’s up?”
“Just finished packing. Want to hang?”
“You know I would but I haven’t even started.”
“The bus is coming to get us in the morning and you haven’t started?” Sal asked with a laugh.
“Didn't you just finish? We both pushed it too late dude” He could hear Larry’s own laugh as well as a zipper coming undone.
“Touché. Well the bus leaves at seven tomorrow. Need a wake up call?”
“If you haven’t heard from me by 6:30, shout for me.”
“Rodger that. See you in the morning Lar.”
“See ya Sally.”
Sal set the walkie back on his dresser with a sigh. Nerves were starting to creep in his limbs making his fingers twitch. As much as he wanted to, he left the suitcase alone. No more packing and unpacking would calm him down. He was excited, he was, but anxiety was trying to overtake the jittery energy and make him doubt. With a groan, Sal took off his prosthetic and hung it on his bedpost. He might as well get ready for bed. Maybe sleep would quiet his brain.