New Twins in Town Pt. 01, Ch. 01

"Except I'm Chris," Interrupted the newcomer.

--------

It's no big deal, Zoe told herself as she walked to the middle of the bus. You're all alone, surrounded by people who are just waiting to judge you. No biggy.

She chose an unoccupied seat that was surrounded by other vacant seats. There, now unless a group of like ten shows up and wants to sit together, you're not getting in anyone's way.

The Rubik's Cube found its way back into her hand, distracting her from the anxiety of waiting for a partner. Every time a new student climbed aboard, she looked up and wondered if that might be the person accompanying her to the campground. Soon, the two seats behind her were occupied. Then one of the seats directly in front of her. Then both seats across the aisle.

Just focus on the Cube. Maybe someone will want to sit next to you. Maybe they won't. She wasn't bothering to keep track of how long it took or how many times she could solve the puzzle, she scramble it again as soon as it was completed. They know one another. They're excited to catch up after Summer bre-

Zoe looked up and saw a handsome young man standing beside her.

"Were you waiting for a friend?" The stranger inquired.

Somewhat flustered, she scooted over to make more room available for the boy.

"No, I- I actually don't know anyone here," she stowed her stress relief item back in her pocket and decided to give the boy her undivided attention.

"Is it alright if I sit here then?" He asked but then sat before she had time to answer, taking more than half of the bench seat.

"Yeah, that's fine," she halfheartedly answered.

"I'm Dennis," he declared as he leaned in more than she was comfortable with.

"Zoe," she replied as she shrank back towards the window.

9:45 AM, Bus en route to Belews Lake Campground

The group at the front of the Brass Bus was full of questions for Miles, and in return, each provided him with just as much information about themselves.

Cool, Seph is just as she presented herself the other day. She genuinely seems to want what's best for the band and the people in it.

"Oh man, your poor sister," Chris laughed. "Can you imagine if she got seated next to Kristina?"

"One of them might not survive the trip," Seph said. "Seriously, I cannot apologize enough for her the other day. I have no idea what that was about, and hope you and Zoe don't hold it against the rest of us."

The problem Miles had when talking to Seph was that he sometimes got distracted staring at her. Luckily, she either didn't seem to notice or at least seemed not to care.

"Seph came home and was just like, 'Gah, Kristina just needs to get laid.' It was awesome, Dad nearly threw a fit," Topher chuckled.

"Didn't even know he was home," Seph hung her head in shame, her Irish genes allowed her blush to travel across her cheeks to her ears.

Despite the year difference between them, Seph and Topher are extremely close. Not quite like Zo and me, but closer than I usually expect siblings to be.

That was before considering the physical similarities between them. With their bright copper hair, emerald green eyes, and porcelain skin sprinkled with freckles, Miles could tell at a glance they were related.

Her face was a tad on the long side, whereas her brother's was rounded. Her build was slender, perhaps to the point where Miles questioned if she may be underweight, whereas Topher was on the heavier side.

As they rode towards the campground, Miles stole what precious sips he could have from the visual cocktail that embodied the girl sitting next to him. If Seph declared she intended to pursue a career as a model, Miles doubted if anyone would question it.

"Hah, if it'd been my Dad, he would have laughed and then made me look up some verse on why it's not funny," Chris chuckled.

Chris was physically average in nearly every way. He was cursed with people often considering what he was not. He wasn't unattractive. Nor was he particularly attractive. He wasn't tall. Nor was he short. Not being stupid, he was aware that he was mostly forgettable physically, and had worked to develop a very jovial personality, which he incorporated into his leadership style as first chair trombone.

"See, that's why our Dads can't ever hang out," Topher explained. "He'd kick us out of the house if we skipped church. But I think he doesn't care if we listen to a word the priest says, as long as we're there. Your dad, on the other hand, is the kinda guy who could make an Irish Catholic feel like he's a bad Christian."

Seph hid her face behind her hands. "Topher... that's just Catholic Guilt."

"No, that's usually from within, not from the Methodist down the road."

"He's gotta point," Chris laughed again.

Miles felt it safest to keep his mouth shut as long as they discussed religion.

As he waited for the conversation to turn back to something he was interested in, Miles looked around and saw the rest of the bus was just as engaged and cheerful as his crew in the first few rows. He retrieved a camera from its case, screwed on a lens, removed the cap, propped himself up on his seat, and snapped a few photos. Most were too engaged in their conversations to notice, a few smiled or waved, and one boy just flipped off the camera when he noticed.

Safe to say that one isn't making it into the yearbook.

"What's with the camera?" Chris gave a puzzled look.

"It's a bit of a hobby for me. Mrs. Douglas had mentioned I should try to snap a few pictures on the trip." He switched the lens to his other camera and took more shots.

"Ms Douglas," Seph corrected.

"She is quite the office ass-tits-tant," Topher chuckled, causing his sister to roll her eyes.

"Language," Chris stated.

"What?" Topher asked innocently. "All I said was ass and-"

"Stop!" Seph said before he could finish.

"Yes?" Topher grinned as he was able to take advantage of the new name Miles had suggested.

"I hate you," Seph smiled at her brother.

"Hate you too, sis," Topher said before leaning his head on her shoulder.

Miles pointed his camera at the O'hare siblings and clicked the shutter.

"Y'know, I have so much fun on these trips," Seph reminisced. "I don't think it's ever occurred to me to take pictures. Be sure to take plenty so we can all share in the memories."

"Hmmm, I think I have a better idea," Miles reached into the side pouch of his bag and pulled out a disposable camera which he handed off to Seph. "Here, this way you can pocket it. And unlike your phone, whenever you think of it you'll remember to take some pictures."

She accepted the gift and stowed it into the bag she'd brought on board while removing another item and holding it out for him to see. "Is this just something you two do? Give random objects to people you meet?"

Miles looked at the Rubik's cube in the girl's hand and nearly burst out laughing. "Hah, no. Well, maybe now that you mention it. Zo has dozens of those. She give it to you fresh, or was it jumbled?"

"It was jumbled, but she completed it and then handed it over," said Seph. "I swear I've been losing sleep trying to figure out how to do it. It looked so easy when she did it. She even tried to explain the mechanics of getting this corner to go there, but... it's confusing."

"That's a good sign," Miles stated. "If she didn't like you, she would have just handed it to you jumbled and not bothered trying to help you out. Sorry to say, I can't help you. I never got the hang of them either, no matter how many times she's explained it. Oh, and if you ask her to show you again, don't worry. She won't be annoyed. She'll actually be flattered that you're working on it."

"Awesome," she said with a smile, then she considered the new gift that was sitting in her pocket. "Hey, Miles? It's a new roll, right... I'm not gonna get these developed and find a picture of-"

"It's a new roll," Miles assured with a laugh.

"Wait..." Topher wondered aloud. "Before phones had cameras... is that how guys shared-"

"No!" Seph said before her brother could finish the thought.

"Well, hang on. Lemme finish," he paused long enough to ensure everyone was listening. "Dick pics!"

"Stop!" She ordered.

"Hey," Chris said. "New name seems to be catching on."

As the group laughed, Miles couldn't help but wonder if he'd seen a hint of disappointment flash across Seph's face. As if reading his thoughts, she met his gaze and immediately looked away as her cheeks turned bright red.

Holy shit, Miles thought. Does she want a-

"So, lemme get this straight," Seph interrupted his thoughts, "You're into cameras and film, and Zoe is into Rubik's Cubes?"

"Uh... I guess so."

"Okay. And you're really into music, but I didn't get the impression that she's into it as much, so what's her passion?"

"Don't get her started on space," he informed. "She'll go on for hours about anything relating to astronomy."

"So you guys know that on Monday-"

Miles put up a hand before Chris could finish his thought.

"When we were fourteen, Zoe made my parents promise that we'd see it," Miles shook his head. "She then spent about half of every waking hour devising a plan to get us to Portland. I've heard more about it in the past four years than you can imagine."

"So... you're not looking forward to it?" Seph asked.

"Oh, on the contrary," Miles laughed. "I'm stoked to see it. I just don't want to hear about it. Imagine someone spending a half hour every day describing the world's most succulent steak to you."

"I would hate that."

"Yeah, but would you refuse the steak if it were offered?"

"Point taken," Seph said, and the others nodded.

"So," Topher pivoted. "Space, Rubik's Cubes, and-"

"Cars," he said without hesitation. "She has been into classic cars forever. I think we were like ten when Dad brought home a junker to fix. And Zo insisted on helping him. They took it to some car shows, made friends with owners of other cars, and she somehow got to working on a buncha people's 1960s whatevers. Made enough to buy another junk frame, restore the car, then sell it. Did that a few more times, and now she's actually got a small collection she has to rent a garage for."

"Woah," admired Seph. "And that's not counting the car she had the other day? Makes me wish I'd gotten into shop."

"Speaking of classics, those look like really nice cameras," Topher gestured towards the Canon Miles had just placed back in its case, along with its partner, then to the disposable in Seph's hands. "Why do you have two? And how come you brought the disposable too?"

"That one is film. This one is digital. I probably take ten times as many shots with this as I do with that. Y'know, the convenience of a memory card rather than the finite amount a roll can hold."

"So, why bother with the film at all?"

"Eh... I feel there's more of an art to it."

"Okay, and the disposable camera?"

"Few reasons. They're just more portable for one, and it's easier to pull out, snap off a quick shot, and trust you'll get an okay picture. No tinkering with lenses or settings. Point. Click. Done. Also, it's not something that I have to worry about, so if something happens to a disposable, then it's never a big deal. This one gets a scratch on the lens, then I'm out at least a few hundred bucks. You don't wanna know how much the camera itself is worth."

"Smart," Seph acknowledged. "Are you sure it's okay I hang on to this?"

"I've got a couple extras in my duffle. Plus, like you said, they'll be memories we'd all like to share."

"Speaking of," she leaned towards the group as she stretched her arm away from herself, then clicked the shutter.

--------

Dennis may be attractive, Zoe thought. But this guy has absolutely no personality.

"--and she said she had to track me down to thank me for--" Dennis was in the middle of his third story about himself.

If he's nearly the hero he makes himself out to be, why wasn't anyone rushing to sit with him when we got on board?

"-- And when I was 15, I had the best project at the science fair. But they said it'd be unfair if I won three years in a row so--"

I'm not sure how he is at percussion. But he wouldn't need an instrument to join the brass. He's already nailing the trombone sound the adults make in those Peanuts cartoons.

"--And I got early admission to every school I applied for, so I'm not worried about--"


He is full of information though, She conceded. Of course, it's not like I asked for it. And It's only really useful if I wanted to write a biography about him.

She smiled at the joke she'd made inside her head. He noticed the change on her face, leaned closer, and tilted his head.

Holy shit! He's trying to kiss me!

She pulled away and bumped her head on the window.

"Gotta be careful," his voice took on a note of condescension. "You're lucky to have a guy like me notice you. I can show you the ropes and make sure you don't fall in with a bad crowd."

If the choice is to have you kiss me or face the crowd, I'd let the crowd trample me to death.

"Um... thank you?" Zoe couldn't help but notice that she hadn't regained the distance Dennis had taken when he tried to kiss her. There isn't enough space on this bus.

Dennis continued talking but Zoe could only think about how difficult it was becoming for her eyes to focus. She was taking normal breaths but it didn't feel as though enough oxygen was entering her lungs. One of the windows ahead of her was open, welcoming a furious stream of air into the bus. But Zoe was on the brink of sweating.

Just breathe, she told herself, shutting her eyes and concentrating on her breath.

It's gonna be fine. You're fine. He just has no understanding of personal space. He just has-- His hand on my leg!

Her eyes flung open and Dennis retracted his hand from under her skirt.

She couldn't decide if it was the shock or the fury that prevented her from forming the words she wanted to shout. All she could do was clench her jaw and try to steady her breathing.

"You should be more thankful," Dennis declared. "Lots of girls would love to get this kind of attention from me."

He tried placing his hand back on her leg. She squirmed as far away from him as she could manage and through clenched teeth she growled "Don't!"

His expression turned to shock before he glanced to see if anyone was looking their way.

"Don't be rude," he said, placing his hand firmly on her knee.

She was too tucked into the corner to squirm away. Both her hands went to his wrist but she didn't have the strength to push him off.

As much as she knew she should scream for assistance, her body refused to cooperate.

"Calm down," he insisted as he brushed her skirt higher up on her thigh.

"Stop it," she mouthed, but her vocal cords emitted no sound. Her eyes met his and any hope she had that she could talk sense into him faded from her mind.

"There's the camp!" One of the girls in the seat behind them announced excitedly as she nearly bounced out of her seat.

Zoe looked up at the girl and realized the unexpected announcement had startled Dennis enough to retract his hand again.

Just look normal, Zoe told herself. Just get off the bus and never let yourself be alone with him again. Everything will be fine. Nothing happened.

As the bus rolled to a stop, Dennis gathered his things as though nothing were amiss.

I really hope this isn't an indication of what the next couple of weeks have in store for me.

10:30 AM, Belews Lake Campground

Students disembarked from the buses, collecting their bags and instruments as instructions on cabin assignment were regurgitated to them. On top of being split by section, the new instructions had them also by gender as they were led to their assigned cabins.

Miles grabbed his gear from under the bus and then took a second to observe the area he was spending the next couple of weeks.

Makes sense, he thought. The whole campground is built around this field.

"It might not look like much now," Chris's voice interrupted his thoughts, "But after a few hours marching in the mud, you'll really come to hate it. C'mon, cabins are this way."

"Sounds good," Miles hadn't expected a guided tour, but he was having trouble hearing the instructions over the commotion of students gathering their items.

"Alright. Well, you probably figured this out already. This is the field. Can you guess what we use that for?" He started walking down the path towards a row of cabins.

"Is that where you trombone folks place sandwiches in the bell of your instruments and try to blow them into each other's mouths?"

"Oh, you're thinking about the ancient art of honkwiching," he pointed to the opposite side of the field. "We do that over there."

"Oh, then the field is probably for marching."

Both boys laughed at the thought.

"Seph said you were a quick one, but y'know, I had to see for myself," Chris chuckled. "Across from us, that's the auditorium, we'll do most rehearsals there. The laundry room is tucked behind it."

"What day do we have laundry duty?"

"Hah, I don't keep tabs on that. I just go when they tell me to," he shrugged. "Now, the big building we've got our backs to, that's the cafeteria."

"Lemme guess, you don't know when we have cafeteria duty, either."

"How dare you question me," Chris laughed. "Of course, I know. And so do you."

"I do?" Miles furrowed his brow. "Oh... it's-"

"It's when they tell us!" Chris stole Miles's answer.

"Ah, of course. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention enough the first time," Miles found himself enjoying Chris's terrible verbal tour of the campgrounds.

"There's a dozen cabins."

Miles looked ahead and confirmed, six on one side, six on the other, arranged in a semicircle on one end of the field. "What's between the cabins?"

"Bathrooms," Chris almost bragged. "The one thing that actually feels like a vacation rather than roughing it."

"Well, I mean...we got cabins with outlets, right? And overhead lighting?"

"Sure, but no Wi-fi, and I don't know how you could even try calling that a theater," Chris's laughter was growing familiar to Miles's ears. "It's like they expect us to live like savages."

Miles laughed back and shook his head. "So, the bathrooms are where we live it up, eh?"

"H'oh shure," Chris mocked Miles with his interpretation of a Midwestern Accent. "We gots yer hand-carved mahogany doors. They go all the way to the floor, don'tcha know? Indoor plumbing, and enough individual stalls for two cabins."

"No way! Really?" Miles looked at the unassuming building with fresh eyes.

"Yeah dude," Chris dropped the accent. "I think it's 'cause the old band members remember how terrible it is to go without those kinds of amenities out here. And they don't want their kids to come home reeking like they ain't showered in two weeks, or with a rash from squatting over poison ivy."

"Psh, that's pretty sweet," Miles acknowledged. "But I don't think we're ever allowed to call this 'roughing it' in any capacity."

They walked past an immense fire pit.

"That's where they light the bonfire every night. It's like... the only thing that feels like downtime without jumping in the lake and freezing half to death."

"Really? How cold's the lake get?"

"How the heck should I know? I'm not carrying a thermometer around," Chris shrugged. "Probably like... mid-60s."

"Yeah," Miles laughed. "We're going to freeze our asses off. Where is this lake you speak of?"

"Behind the cabins. If you follow this path straight instead of where it turns, then it'll take you straight to it."