Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,33

cupped a hand to her mouth. “True? True? Where art thou?”

I let her drag me toward the mess hall but couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder toward the nurse’s station. And I wondered why every interaction I had just dug up more questions about the secrets hiding in Camp Shadow Lake.

Chapter Thirteen

“This place is like a kid’s birthday party on steroids.”

I chuckled at True’s assessment as kids swarmed around us. The campers were running and shouting, greeting old friends they hadn’t seen since last summer, a few of the younger ones even hugging some of the counselors. There was an overwhelming excitement that almost made me forget about all the weirdness of the last week.

Almost.

I spotted Sarah standing alone in the shade of the barn, her lips turned down as she observed the chaos. Her expression deepened into one of disgust as her eyes followed the kids running all over in wild abandon. But that didn’t make any sense. If she hated kids so much, why would she work here?

“Well, speak of the devil,” True said, jerking her head to the right.

My eyes followed the movement, landing on a very hot, very uncomfortable looking counselor surrounded by prepubescent girls who were vying for his attention.

“We were not speaking about Levi, so that phrase doesn’t apply,” I deadpanned.

“Oh, maybe you’re right,” True answered, her gaze never straying from the adorable scene of Levi trying to extract himself from the fawning girls. “I was having a silent conversation with myself. In my head, we were talking about the sexual tension that ramped up between you and Mr. Kass in the nurse’s station yesterday. Va-va-voom.”

That last bit was uttered in a low, growly voice that made heat rise to my face. I elbowed her in the ribs, making her grunt with surprise.

“There was no tension, sexual or otherwise,” I protested, lifting my chin as if daring her to argue.

She shook her head but held her tongue. We both knew I was lying. The tension between Levi and me was so thick you could cut it with a knife. And while the reason behind it might be slightly sexual on my side, I was sure that was not the case for him.

Not that it matters, I reminded myself.

I was done bearing the brunt of his mood swings. Bubbly Piper and Cool Piper were gone. I’d transformed into Badass Piper, and she was here to stay. At least, I thought she was until a boy who couldn’t have been more than eight years old walked up and tugged on my shirt.

I squatted down, bringing myself to his level, and offered him a smile. He had sandy hair, a face full of freckles, and a shy grin that revealed several missing teeth.

“Hey, buddy. What’s your name?” I asked.

“Johnny,” he replied, his cheeks turning pink.

“Nice to meet you, Johnny. I’m Piper,” I said, shaking his small hand. “What can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to tell you you’re the prettiest girl I ever seen,” he blurted, then darted away and disappeared into a group of similarly-aged boys who were all looking my way and laughing.

“Uh-oh, Levi has some competition.”

“Stop it,” I said, narrowing my eyes at a laughing True. “I’m sure those boys dared him to do that. And Levi… well, he wouldn’t care either way.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she replied, her eyes cutting back to where Levi stood.

I followed her stare, my eyes landing on the guy in question just in time to see him jerk his own gaze away. He turned and stalked away from his simpering pre-teen admirers, jogging up the steps to the dean’s office and disappearing inside.

“And I think you’re wrong,” True said, pulling my attention back to her.

“Wrong about what?”

“Little Johnny,” she said, the corners of her mouth turning up, “and the rest of those boys practically have hearts in their eyes. They’ve been staring at you and nudging each other for the last twenty minutes or so.”

“They’re cute,” I said.

“Cute enough to make you-know-who jealous,” she concurred.

“True, stop,” I ordered. “He is not jealous, especially over a ten second conversation with a child.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Piper Williams. But I’m observant, and I see things. When you smiled at that kid, Levi stumbled like someone punched him in the gut. Do not doubt it, my friend—he wants you.”

“Welcome to Camp Shadow Lake.”

Dean Purty’s voice, amplified through two booming speakers cut off our conversation. True gave me a look that assured me we’d be revisiting the topic,