“Why not?” Snitch wondered, spreading his arms out to soak up the sun.
“Since she caught th’ bouquet, Jack popped th’ question to ‘er. An’ I guess she panicked ‘n’ now they ain’t talkin’ to each other.”
“Would you guys quiet down a little?” Goosey whined. “I’m trying to tan up with the last of the summer sun.”
“If ya fall asleep, ya’ll burn up ‘n’ shrivel like a raisin.”
Goosey pulled the rim of her hat over her eyes. “At least I’ll get some color out of it.”
“So’s Camilla comin’ by?”
“Dunno yet.” Snitch sighed and set his hands on his bare stomach. “If she wasn’t feelin’ good, she still might be feelin’ sick ‘n’ can’t come.”
“Hope she feels better.”
“Me too.”
“Hey guys!” Boots flailed his arms wildly. “Ya comin’ in or not?”
“Still waitin’ on Camilla!” Itey called back.
“It’s gettin’ late.” Snitch sat upright and hugged his knees. “We’ve been waitin’ at least ‘n hour already. Why don’tcha go swimmin’?”
“Nah.” Itey shook his head. “I’ll wait here with you. If you’re gonna have a lousy time, ya might as well not be alone.”
“I am gonna go swimming. If she don’t show up soon, I’ll jus’ swim without ‘er. An’ even if she shows up, Goosey cin alert us.”
“Leave me outa this.” Goosey muffled from beneath the hat covering her face.
“Aw, c’mon!” he kicked some sand at her. “Please, please? For me?”
“I recognize that tone. It’s a good thing this hat’s over my eyes or I’d be suckered by those big puppy eyes you use.”
“Ya do know that I cin take your hat off.”
She placed her hand firmly on the hat. “You touch it, you die.”
“You gonna alert me if Camilla comes by?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Think faster. I’m gettin’ burned.”
“Alright, alright! I’ll tell ya! Now go swimming!”
“I’m gonna wait a few more minutes.”
Goosey growled and drew her legs up for her knees to tan. Then Snitch lay back on the sand and shaded his eyes from the blinding light. Soon, he grew drowsy and began to doze off. Then a shadow blocked the sunlight and he opened his eyes.
He found Camilla standing over him, wearing an odd, short navy blue outfit, almost in a style that sailors would wear. Her hair was French-braided and she had a sack in her hand.
“I made it.” She said.
“Camilla!” he leapt up and turned around to face her. “I thought ya weren’t gonna come.”
“So am I off the hook now?” Goosey muttered.
“Yeah, you’re off.”
“Did you wait out here for me?” Camilla wondered.
“Yeah. So ya ready for a swim?” he rose to his feet.
He noticed Camilla flinch when he suddenly stood in front of her. Apparently, she was disturbed by his wearing only a pair of tan pants shorn off to the knees and a pair of brown suspenders holding his pants up. Snitch assumed she considered him to be half-naked.
“Y-yes, I guess I’m ready to go swimming.”
“Okay. So ya got your swimmin’ clothes with ya?”
“I’m wearing them.”
His eyes widened. “Those are your swimmin’ clothes?”
“Were you expecting something else?”
“Most ‘f th’ newsgirls ‘r’ jus’ wearin’ old clothes ‘f theirs that’re yucky an’ holey an’ stuff like that.”
“Well, this is the latest style of bathing suit.”
“Whatever ya say. Now let’s go!”
He grabbed her hand and yanked her to the surf. The tide rolled in softly, and Camilla was inclined sit in the tide. However, Snitch dove right into the oncoming waves and swam out to join other newsies.
The saltwater felt so refreshing to Snitch, especially after sitting on the beach for so long. He jumped and splashed with other newsies, and often cast glances back at Camilla to see if she was all right. She mainly just waded into the water till the water reached her knees and went no further than that.
Every once in a while, Snitch would glance back at her to see how she was doing. Sometimes he caught her swimming a little, other times she waded or took a short dip under the water. Snitch had hoped she would want to join in the water games he was participating in, but she would have no part in them.
After swimming for nearly an hour, Snitch decided to spend so time with Camilla. Though she refused to associate with anyone, she did seem rather lonely. At least she wouldn’t feel awkward around him. He swam up to her to find her take a seat on the ocean floor so the waves would slosh around her shoulders.
“Hey.” He said, swimming toward her.
“Hi.”
“Mind if I sit ‘ere with ya?”
“It’s fine with me.”
He knelt beside her and grinned. “Enjoyin’ yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Must be kinda lonely bein’ out ‘ere away from everybody.”
“I’m not lonely.”
“Ya certainly look it.”
She covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Ya don’t need t’ be. So how come ya ain’t enjoyin’ th’ water that much? This’s probly th’ last time this year we got weather this good t’ go swimmin’ in.”
“I’m not that much into swimming anymore.”
“Remember when ya outswam Tommy Morrisson?”
She giggled a bit. “I do.”
“He never got over bein’ beat by a girl. Now show me ya still got them swimmin’ skills.”
“I’m still not feeling too well, Dean. Papa wasn’t too happy with my wanting to come here.”
“Ah, don’t worry. Ya’ll be fine. Now, come on!”
To force her into the mood, he reached over and shoved her shoulder backward, causing her to lose her balance and fall beneath the water. She gagged when she popped back up to find Snitch laughing at her.
“You’re gonna pay for that!” she shrieked.
To see that he wouldn’t, Snitch lifted his legs and sped away from her as fast as he could swim. Then when he felt a tugging on his foot, he knew that Camilla’s quick swimming skills had not changed at all. She grabbed his foot, then his ankle and dragged him underwater.
From there, an all-out water fight began between the two. From splashing to dodging waves to high-speed chases, they seemed to be having the time of their lives. And for the first time since Camilla had returned home, Snitch heard her laugh.
The laughter he had heard from her before now had been soft and not full of humor. But these laughs, they were full of fun and humor. She sounded happy. And that was another thing Snitch had not seen in Camilla since they were children.
Once their games had ended, Snitch looked around to see that most of the newsies had left already. The tide was also coming in too, indicating that sunset would be along shortly. Not only that, but Camilla’s father would be worried. Jenny hadn’t accompanied her, nor had Emerson.
“Did someone drop ya off?” Snitch finally asked.
“Yes. Emerson did. He should be back soon.”
The bright smile was still on her face. She looked so beautiful with that sunny smile. She hadn’t looked so beautiful since he last saw her.
“Ya look so pretty now.” He muttered without thinking.
Instantly, the sunny smile on her face vanished. She pressed her lips together and looked away.
“I really should be going.”
“Camilla, what’re ya runnin’ away from?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are ya so scared ‘f bein’ happy?”
“I’m not.”
“Ya gave me th’ impression that ya were. When I said ya looked pretty, your smile went away.”
“I just wasn’t prepared for that.”
He grabbed her arm and turned her around so he could see her. She turned pale at his action, and the old fear filled her face. He reached up and touched her wet cheek.
“What’s wrong with you?” he wondered, almost to himself.
She flinched at his touch. “I need to get home now.”
“Camilla, please!” his hands set firmly on her shoulders. “What’re you afraid of? Every time I wanna get close, ya shove me away.”
“I’m not afraid of anything, least of all you!”
She cut herself off abruptly, setting a hand to her stomach. Then she felt Snitch’s hand on her face again, and she found herself staring deeply into his eyes. All she could see was his concern for her well being.
“Don’t be scared.” He whispered. “There’s nothin’ to be scared about. It’s me!”
“But it’s been five and a half years. I don’t know you now!”
“Ya won’t give me th’ time of day t’ do jus’ that.” His other hand reached her face. “Why won’t ya let me be th’ guy I was then?”
“Because I’m not the girl I was then.”
“Ya don’t think I know that?”
“No.”
“Exactly. You’re changed. An’ I wanna get t’ know ya again. Gimme a chance, please?”
“Dean, I-”
Everything beyond then was a blur to Camilla. The next thing she knew, his lips were on hers, and his arms were wrapped around her. She knew what was happening to her, but could find no means of reacting to this action. It felt so wonderful. She wanted to make more of it, but could find no way to do so.
It had been so long since she had felt so happy. Not even the one thought always on her mind penetrated this moment. She was reminded of their first kiss six years ago, how he had been so shy to kiss her. She had been the one to motivate him to do it. And now, he was the motivator for her to kiss him.
Her arms were resting firmly against his bare chest, and when she was ready to move her arms to make more of the kiss, she stiffened. Memories came flooding back to her, and she became cold. She needed to end this. All he wanted was pleasure from her. His own pleasure, not hers.
She began to struggle to free herself. When she finally broke free, Snitch caught hold of her again.
“Let me go!” she cried.
“No!” he squeezed her gently. “You’re always runnin’ away. It’s time ya faced reality!”
He kissed her again, and she still struggled. She was so afraid now. If she didn’t leave, was he capable of hurting her? She felt his hand combing into her hair, which had come undone from swimming for so long. The sensations were something she wished wouldn’t end, but good sense prevented those feelings. She broke free again, and this time, Snitch didn’t have the time to catch her.
She fled through the water to the beach with Snitch behind her. She heard him calling her name, but she did not listen. It was when he said other than her name that she listened.
“If ya run away from me now,” he called, “then I won’t go after ya. Ya keep runnin’, so from now on, I ain’t chasin’!”
His words rooted her to her spot. She turned, finding him standing knee-length in the water, staring at her. Her heart pounded, and her stomach stirred. She couldn’t keep him in the dark any longer. It was a time for him to know.
“If I tell you this,” she said, “you’ll never, ever want to see me again.”
“How do you know?” he shot back. “I’m worried about ya, Camilla! I don’t like seein’ ya hurt yourself like this! And if you won’t let me help ya get over that hurt, then I-”
“I’m pregnant, Dean!”
He would never forget that scene. Camilla stood there on the sandy beach, her wet hair whipping around her face in the gusty breeze. She was shivering, and her hands were on her stomach. And her eyes, they were filled with sorrow, anger, and complete fear.
His knees felt weak and he fell onto them. The water swished around him as he watched Camilla grab her sack of clothing and disappear over the horizon. And when she was gone, Snitch leaned forward and vomited.
* * *
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