Skip spoke up. "He said, 'Is everyone ready for a hike?'" Skip was unable to rouse more cheer from the crowd than Mr. Potts was able to, though.
"I wish Skip would take a hike," Daria griped. Amelia, a hanger-on from last time Daria had been to the camp, laughed.
"You're funny, Daria. Hey, where's your t-shirt?" she asked.
"I'm not wearing it."
Despite a lack of thrill, the other former campers wandered off to go on their hike. "I guess we better join them," Amelia remarked, a bit forlornly.
"You go ahead. I don't want to scare the other hikers with my limp."
"Hmm." Amelia was thoughtful. "Do you think they'd mind if I stayed here too?"
"Amelia, have you ever played Monopoly?"
"Of course. Why?"
"You're not in camp anymore. You're just visiting. Do what you want." Daria hoped that she wouldn't-
"Cool! I'm staying with you!"
"Great." Great.
Daria went to one of the picnic tables nearby, sat down, and began to quietly read. Amelia looked around, saw there was nobody nearby, and sat next to Daria. "I'm really glad you came, Daria. You're the only friend I ever made at camp."
"Uh, you're welcome," Daria said, a bit uncomfortable.
"Remember that time we played truth or dare?"
XXXX
"Hey Daria, let's play Truth or Dare!" Amelia had climbed down from the top bunk and awoken Daria to invite her to play.
"No," Daria said.
"Come on! It'll be fun. We can talk about...uh...boys we like!" Amelia had overheard some of the other girls playing the game the night before, and they used it to talk about boys they liked. She figured she and Daria could play it too, and have fun.
"The only two boys I know are obsessed with the various solids, liquids, and gasses that come out of their bodies, and I barely tolerate them. I would rather sing one of Skip's songs than like a boy."
"Oh...okay. Goodnight!" Amelia climbed back up into bed.
XXXX
"We didn't play truth or dare, Amelia."
"Oh. Right. Well, we could talk about the boys we like!"
"Mm," Daria said evasively.
"...Daria, you have a boyfriend?" Amelia asked, awestruck.
"Mm...had."
"Oh no, what happened?"
"It was just a stupid fight over...well, nothing, really. We should never have gotten together in the first place, the whole situation was just a giant mess in the first place. We're still friends, though."
Amelia leaned in closer. "Was he that tattooed guy from Camp Puma?" she asked conspiratorially. A light blush suddenly appeared on Daria's face. "Aha!" Amelia said triumphantly.
"I hate to burst your bubble, Amelia, but Trent and I have always been friends." Not a lie...so long as Amelia didn't-
"But you like him," Amelia said.
Damnit. "I plead the Fifth."
Amelia smirked at her friend for a moment, then frowned. "You're so cool, Daria. I've never even kissed a guy."
Daria sighed. "Don't worry, Amelia. I'm sure you'll find a guy someday." She thought for a moment. "Maybe Chip..."
Amelia made a face. "I'm not desperate, Daria!" She then noticed the tiny smile on Daria's face, which went away a split-second later. But still, it gave Amelia a thrill: Daria had actually smiled at her! Daria had never smiled at her before!
"Actually, um...that was part of the reason I hoped you would show up at camp."
Daria shook her head. "Amelia, I hate to break it to you, but I'm not a seducer of men. You'll have to talk to my sister about that."
"You mean your cousin?" Daria rolled her eyes.
"That's not what I meant, though, Daria."
Amelia placed her hand on Daria's shoulder. Daria turned to see what Amelia meant.
Amelia pressed her lips to Daria's.