Camp Jameson Read online

  CAMP JAMESON

  ≈

  A NOVEL

  WENDY LEA THOMAS

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2014 by Wendy Lea Thomas

  www.wendyleathomas.com

  Edited by: Mick Corcoran

  Copy Edit by: Tina Lucas

  Cover design by: Mick Corcoran

  Girl photo: iStockphoto

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or review – without permission in writing from the author herself.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN-13: 978-0615935652

  DEDICATION:

  To my wonderful husband, thank you for helping me on this journey. I can’t thank you enough. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you for always believing in me, and for encouraging me when it got difficult. You are my rock.

  To our friend Brian, whose fantastic stories provided the inspiration for this novel. If it weren’t for your shocking adventures, my novel would have never been born.

  Dedicated to:

  My favorite rock band

  Three Miles Out.

  Your music has inspired me for many years. I can only hope my readers will find their way to you and see how truly amazing you guys are.

  The following songs provide the soundtrack for Aria’s adventures:

  1. Temptation

  2. Comfort Zone

  3. I Need You

  4. Something In The Water

  5. Only One

  6. If I Didn’t Have Eyes

  Visit www.threemilesout.com or

  download their music from iTunes.

  ARRIVAL DAY

  WELCOME TO CAMP JAMESON

  Six weeks, I told myself. That’s 42 days of solidarity with my friends, peace, and resplendent quiet, in the backwoods of Western Pennsylvania. No more three-inch thick books to study from, weighing my messenger bag down. No more annoying classmates and no more late night study sessions.

  Final exams of nursing school were officially over as I handed in my Chemistry final to my stale professor. I grabbed my Chem book and trotted out of class, then headed straight for the ‘Book Buyback’ line. I had half a mind to burn it. I was certain I never wanted to see it again. I never cared for Chemistry, except maybe what I felt toward the guy who sat two rows in front of me in class. His name was Colt, but he was off limits. Colt was property of my extrovert roommate, Sara. How could one man be so gorgeous, and smart? What I wouldn’t give to date somebody like him.

  I couldn’t be compared to my roommate. I was everything that she wasn’t – shy, awkward, quiet, with way too many introverted tendencies that people mistook as bitchiness. That is, until people got to know me, then they would learn that I would do just about anything for those I care about.

  It was late June already in Northeast Ohio and Summer One classes were ending. So, when Sara suggested we go camping for the remainder of summer break, I somehow relinquished control. Honestly, I was reluctant to let her take the reigns and plan the entire trip. I tried not to overthink it. I knew either I was a fool, or in for a fantastic ride. My head told me I was a fool but my heart craved the latter. I tried to overlook the fact that I would be vacationing with the two most sexual people I knew, Sara and Colt. I made them promise that I wouldn’t have to share a tent with them. Actually, I was quite relieved when I discovered that we weren’t tent camping at all. We would be staying in a cabin. I hadn’t gone tent camping since I was a kid and I wasn’t sure if I liked it. I could only hope for a large cabin with a real bathroom and when sharing it with Sara and Colt, I knew I would need my earplugs.

  ∞∞∞

  It was Sunday afternoon and we had just driven three hours east to somewhere just south of the Allegheny National Forest, in Colt’s gunmetal Jeep Grand Cherokee, to a small town called Paradise Lake. We took an off-road entrance marked by a carved wooden sign, which read: ‘Jameson Country’. A smaller sign below stated ‘Registered Members Only’.

  “So Aria, are you excited, or dreading this?” Sara twisted to look back at me from her passenger seat.

  “Excited,” I beamed at her. Although, I was about to pee myself if Colt didn’t stop soon! Sara had this incredulous energy that would pull even the most solemn person into a smile when she was around. I sighed in nervous anticipation. Colt had been a camp counselor here since it opened five years ago. He raved about this place. He explained earlier that this camp was remote and I’d be cut off from the entire world for the next six weeks. But I had nothing planned, and I loved the idea. Now, if only I could pee because these bumpy back roads are killing me. The gravel crunched under the Jeep’s tires as the road narrowed into one-lane. We were surrounded by forest. For about a mile, the trees seemed to darken the day, until a wide lake appeared on both sides as we went over a confined wooden bridge where another sign greeted us: Paradise Lake.

  My face widened into a smile at its breathtaking beauty. The tires returned to gravel and we twisted and turned down the road through numerous corners until we reached a large iron gate that made the camp look more like a private upscale estate than a campground.

  Colt pulled up outside the gate and waited behind a line of five cars. A young man stood by the side of the gate as the driver of each car took their turn signing what looked like a thick leather registry, and then the man punched a code into the keypad and waited for the gate to loudly slide open.

  “What’s with the high security?” I asked.

  “Don’t they have this at every camp?” Colt teased. I felt a gentle squeeze on my knee.

  “Relax. This will be fun. I promise,” Sara said.

  An unsettling worry came over me. I nervously tugged at my long silver necklace that held my father’s military tags. It was what I always did when I was trying to work through something. Something was up. I just didn’t know what.

  “Welcome to Camp Jameson. Name, please,” the tanned, perfectly built, man with a deep voice said. I slyly glanced at his nametag. Hellooo Jamie, I wished my old counselors looked like that back at Indian Princess camp when I was a kid. I would have had much more fun.

  “Colt Thompson, Sara Cox, and Aria Mason,” Colt nodded at each of us as he spoke our names. “Let me see,” Jamie flipped through the one-inch thick list on his clipboard. “Is Aria short for Arabella?” He looked back at me with a bleach white smile.

  “Yes,” I replied, choking on my dry throat. Whoa, he’s so hot! His smile widened when he saw my reaction.

  “Here’s your parking pass.” He handed us our pass then he punched the code into the keypad and opened the gate for us. “Proceed to the Main Lodge to unload your things. Cubs are housed to your left, Kittens to your right. Enjoy yourselves.”

  Colt nodded and pulled forward. “No turning back now, Aria,” Colt winked. “Remember, what happens at camp, stays at camp,” he said. All I could think about was peeing. Please hurry. Please hurry, I repeated to myself.

  “Stop teasing her, Colt,” Sara snapped at him but her hand rubbed his thigh in another suggestive manner. I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I had to take an extra long walk by myself so they could have some alone time. I rolled my eyes, reminding myself from experience that they could go all night. I felt in the front pocket of my shorts. Thank whomever for inventing earplugs.

  Colt was twenty-five, six years older than Sara and me, and they both were the most beautiful people I had ever met. They were perfectly sculpted. Like models.
>
  I sighed inwardly as Colt pulled the Jeep through the gate to a building called the Jameson Main Lodge. According to Colt, the Main Lodge was over 37,000 square feet.

  I took in the intricate three-story design of elegant redwood and stone. The tall row of windows that lined the front enhanced the panoramic view overlooking the massive lake. The grounds were immaculately groomed and the grass was a luscious green. Vivid white and pink wild orchids were fused into the shrubs adding just the right amount of color. The pathway was lined with grey sandstone walkways and decadent lighting. This place was an extravagant estate. Not at all what I pictured a camp to look like. This place was for the elite. It was breathtaking.

  Sara jumped out of the Jeep and darted inside. I followed quickly but I lost track of her as I headed for the restroom. Colt unloaded our things.

  When I returned I began pulling his suitcase toward the lodge, just to help out, when his hand stopped mine. He shook his head.

  “This is Kitten Territory. I’m over there.” He pointed to the left.

  “You’re not staying with us. Why?” I wrinkled my brow.

  “You’ll see soon enough, newbie.”

  “Grab your suitcase,” Sara said. In the midst of my confusion, I hadn’t seen Sara return and she startled me when she spoke. “Don’t forget your second one. I packed you another one just in case.”

  “In case what?” I eyed the dark grey extra-large suitcase and wrinkled my brow. Sara was definitely up to something.

  “Trust me, you’ll thank me later. We have to hurry to get the good cabins,” she called back over her shoulder as she ran down the hill. I ran after her in hopes she’d tell me what was going on.

  “Did Colt tell you where the best cabins were?” I asked, trying to get a good look around at all the cabins as we ran down a little hill away from the Jameson Main Lodge. This place was huge. There were at least ten smaller cabins surrounding me and they seemed to go on for miles.

  “Yea, both Colt and Sienna told me where to go. I told you about her, right?” Sara said. I racked my brain trying to remember Sara ever mentioning Sienna.

  Sara wore a tight white tank top and denim Daisy Dukes. I looked at my tan cargo shorts and navy blue Air Force t-shirt and flip-flops and suddenly I felt self-conscious. Sara and I had been best friends for two years now. We sat next to each other in our trigonometry class senior year in high school, and we hit it off instantly.

  “Is Sienna the girl you had your little bi-curious adventure with?” I asked.

  “I promise I will tell you all about her later.” A small smile played at the edge of Sara’s lips. “You’ll meet her soon enough. Hurry up, pokey,” she continued.

  “She’s here?” I tightened my hand around the leather handle and continued to wheel it behind me. She grinned but continued in a hurried fashion – more like bee lined, toward the A-frame cabin labeled ‘Jasmine’.

  We entered through the doorway to a rustic décor. A slate fireplace stood mid-center of the wooden living room. There was a tall picture window with a view of the lake. Even though we were about a hundred yards away from it, the view was still breathtaking. The pale accented kitchen was off to the left. Two French doors led to the back of the cabin to a small patio with several Adirondack chairs and a small fire pit made out of the same slate as the inside fireplace. No musty smell? That’s impressive, cabins always smell weird when you first walk in, until you get used to them.

  “You’re here. I’m in this one,” Sara said.

  I walked through the living room to one of the two doorways that sat opposite each other and entered with my suitcase in tow behind me. I took a step backwards remembering my second extra-large suitcase and lifted it in my free hand. The room was very modern. It had plush bone carpet with a queen-sized bed. I lifted both suitcases to the bed and then walked into the bathroom. It was spa-like. Ivory marble floors, white garden tub, glass shower, black walnut walls. I walked back in the room to the nightstand and picked up the Jameson Camp Manual. Why is there a manual for camp?

  “Aria, hurry. We’re going to be late. Throw on your sundress and your wedge sandals and make it quick,” she barked, leaving me wondering why I had to pack such fancy clothes just to go camping in the first place? Who in the hell wears wedges camping anyway? Sara comes from a pretty well off family so I figured when in Rome. But I mean really, fuck the Romans. They died wearing sandals and shiny boots!

  I set the manual down and did what I was told. I changed into my navy blue sundress, black wedge strap sandals, and then met Sara in the living room.

  “Ready?” she bounced with glee.

  “Ready for what, exactly?” I asked adjusting my silver chain so it fell down under the front of my sundress. I could never bring myself to take it off. Not yet anyway. Sara giggled.

  “It’s time for the meet and greet. Now promise me you will keep an open mind. I will explain everything after we’ve been introduced to our instructors. Avery Jameson himself is supposed to be there. I can’t wait to meet him. Now don’t go all gaga on me when you see him. It’s not worth it. He never gets emotionally involved with his guests,” Sara sighed amorously. “He only does one-nighters with women and he never repeats. Some even say that the rich, eligible bachelor Avery Jameson is deranged. They’re all fools, though. He is so…not crazy. He’s just distant when it comes to women,” Sara said. What the fuck are you babbling about? I thought to myself. Why would I care who this guy dates? He’s probably some old man with a wrinkled wiener or something.

  Sara led me to a small building marked ‘Infirmary’. “First, we need to have physicals. This will only take a minute.” Why do we need physicals just to camp here?

  “Wait!” I pulled Sara back by the hand, eyeing her little black dress. “What do we need physicals for and why are you so dressed up? Do I need to go change? Is this some kind of cult? Are we joining a militia? It’s a militia isn’t it? Even though I do look good in camo, I’ve never even shot a gun. Is there a supply hut or somewhere where I can buy some camo? Wait, you didn’t say why you’re wearing a black dress and not camo. What is going on here?”

  “Shut up!” Sara snapped. “We aren’t joining a militia or a cult, and we certainly aren’t wearing camouflage. You look great. Stop worrying,” she said. I bit my lip and hushed the thousand questions racing through my head.

  At the infirmary, Sara ran off with an older nurse while I watched as a large, round woman with ebony hair quickly checked my blood pressure and drew a small vial of blood. My own thoughts drowned out her endless chatter. Why do we need physicals? And why the hell did that woman just draw my blood?

  “Are you on any medications?” the nurse asked in a flat tone.

  “Birth control pill,” I answered just as flatly.

  “How long have you been on it?” the round nurse asked.

  “Almost a year,” I replied.

  “When was your last sexual experience?”

  What? I blinked in surprise. I could tell she was serious. Just as serious as you obviously take your cheeseburgers. But I smiled calmly and half-willingly answered. “Almost ten months ago,” I stumbled over the words.

  “Were there multiple partners?”

  “Just one,” I answered.

  “Did you use protection?” I could see this woman and I were going to tango.

  “Yes… yes of course,” I mumbled. I could feel my face heat up in under her stare.

  “No signs of STD’s?” I shook my head. “Okay, then,” she said.

  I swallowed nervously. This was getting uncomfortably private and I was getting pissed.

  “Many will have sex with multiple partners and this just ensures everyone stays healthy during their time at camp.” She pointed at her paperwork. “Sign here and here, then you may go,” she said.

  “Multiple partners?” I quickly tilted my head toward her. Why are you assuming that I will have sex with a bunch of people here? I figured they were just protecting themselves legally but did I really
look like that big of a whore?

  I took the clipboard from her and signed the two pages out of spite. Sara strode over and pulled me toward the door, but I kept staring at the large nurse on my way out. If I did find someone to sleep with, I will make sure and do it in front of her cabin just so she knows about it. I turned my head back to Sara. I had never seen her so excited about camping before.

  “What is going on? Did they take your blood too? Why are you being so mysterious?”

  “You’ll see,” she said, hurriedly pulling me behind her in an almost full sprint down the path toward the Jameson Main Lodge, which was twice the distance as our cabin. How could she run in stilettos?

  I had to fight to keep up with Sara. I almost twisted my ankle twice trying to keep up with her. I tucked my light brown hair behind my ear and tried to suppress the sick ebbing feeling that grew in the pit of my stomach as we hurried down the path. Sara spotted Colt and left me to fend for myself.

  I walked inside and stood in a sea of abnormally good-looking men and women dressed in expensive black attire. I felt self-conscious again wearing a simple sundress. I was still wearing my ponytail from earlier. I straightened my bangs and tucked the flyaway strands of hair behind my ear again, hoping I didn’t look as disheveled as I felt, while I scanned the crowd for Sara. I needed to get Sara alone for a minute, but it was obvious she was avoiding me. Why were they so dressed up if this was simply a summer camp? I had to find Sara. I needed answers now.

  “Good evening Kittens and Cubs,” a warm, sensuous male’s voice echoed through the magnificent grand cabin as I made my way through the crowd in search of Sara.