A young man's hand gripped the rail. Pulling himself up, he stepped onto the school bus. He looked about seventeen, maybe eighteen at most.
There was nothing remarkable about his appearance—neither handsome nor ugly. If you hadn't known him for years, you'd never pick him out from the sea of students boarding the bus. Even his name, Adam, seemed made for a background character. And that suited him just fine—he preferred to linger on the sidelines.
With a sour expression, he greeted the bus driver—a man he'd never see again—adjusted the weighty backpack on his shoulder, and waited as the students ahead found their seats.
Midway down the aisle, Adam spotted a small, lemur-like boy and allowed himself the faintest smile.
He and Gregory had been friends for years, almost like brothers now—nothing could separate them, except maybe a call from a mother yelling through the phone. Their friendship was the first truly happy event in either of their lives.
Adam could never be called a social guy, but Gregory seemed utterly incapable of speaking to anyone except his best friend. He was the sort of person nobody remembered at parties. Sometimes, even his own classmates would forget he was there.
The only thing anyone might recall was his habit of constantly adjusting his glasses, head lowered, as if trying to disappear altogether—like magic.
He was a good guy, just terribly polite and impossibly quiet, which did him more harm than good.
Right now, a girl's backpack was pressed into Gregory's face, pinning him to his seat and making it impossible to move. Or maybe he simply didn't want to interrupt the girl wearing it.
That was just like him—waiting silently while she finished her conversation, blocking the aisle. Knowing Gregory, he might even enjoy it.
When is she finally going to move?
"Saraaah! Why are you just standing there? Go sit down! You and Kathleen can talk just as well sitting!"
"Oh, stop whining! I'm going already!" With an exasperated huff, Sara dropped into the seat beside her friend, glaring at the short boy making his way to the back of the bus.
Adam couldn't help a quiet sigh of relief now that Sara had finally been silenced. He slid into the seat beside Gregory, pulling his backpack onto his lap and letting out a long breath. He was already dreading this trip—and not in a good way.
"Thanks for saving the spot... Have you seen Alisa?" Adam scanned the faces both inside the bus and out on the curb, but their friend was nowhere to be found.
"She was supposed to come. Just yesterday, she said she was in. Did something happen?" Adam kept looking around, only half-listening to Gregory.
"And good morning to you, too..." Gregory stammered, suddenly embarrassed by a girl passing by. He fell silent, eyes glued to the floor.
The awkward pause made Adam forget about his search for Alisa for a moment.
God, they've been classmates for eleven years... He's going to die alone at this rate. How's he ever going to get a girlfriend if he's terrified of every girl who walks by?
Adam wasn't exactly a ladies' man himself, but watching Gregory in moments like this was just painful.
Damn it, where's Alisa? The line of students had almost disappeared, but she still hadn't shown up.
"She was definitely supposed to come. She's not sick or anything?" Adam pressed.
"How should I know?" Gregory muttered, glaring at another student who was chattering away on her phone. "Ask that bitch yourself…" He twisted around, scooting closer to Adam so he could hiss the words. "You still talk to her, don't you?"
"Careful, lover boy, you'll kiss him next!" sneered a passing classmate, grabbing Gregory's head and giving it a rough shake.
"Brooke," Adam said coolly, picking up Gregory's glasses from his lap and shooting a glare at the retreating figure.
Just say one more thing. Go ahead, I dare you—I'll deck you.
"Sorry, dude, just messing around. Right, Greg? We're friends!" Brooke snapped his fingers and winked, then sauntered off to the back of the bus, where his crew was waiting.
Yeah, keep walking while you still can. Adam watched him go, seething.
Maybe something really did happen to Alisa...
"Don't start. She already apologized. It was ages ago. She's probably forgotten all about it." Adam couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him.
"I stood in the rain for two hours…" Gregory's face twisted into the familiar expression he wore every time he retold this story—thoroughly smoldering with righteous anger. By the end, his voice had taken on a serpentine hiss.
"Sorry, man, but I can't hear this story for the hundredth time…"
"No, but—"
"I remember, I remember."
"She didn't even come find me after!"
"She was busy. She had exams too."
"What exams could that idiot have to take? I've never once seen her studying, all the years we've known her. Where's she applying, janitorial school?" Turning to the window, Gregory glared out at the sidewalk.
Don't talk about her like that…
Their teacher, Constance Newton, stepped onto the bus. He was the class's favorite teacher—honestly, probably the whole school's. If it weren't for him, nobody would have bothered showing up to physics.
Officially, Constance taught physics and ecology, but with the constant teacher shortages, he was often asked to cover math as well. He even had a few extra hours for programming classes. Sometimes it seemed like Constance was everywhere; he'd even filled in for the English teacher a couple of times. No one minded. Certainly not the students—his lessons were always the most interesting.
Even his appearance turned heads. The first thing that came to mind was "hippie." Adam had never seen anyone wear so many bright colors, and probably neither had you. Today, he sported a red shirt with raspberry cuffs, topped with a matching vest.
To show up every day in a new outfit seemed impossible, but Constance always managed it. Once, a younger student tried to keep count of how long he could go without repeating an outfit. Rumor had it she gave up halfway through the next month.
Most striking of all were his long hair—envied even by the girls, who weren't exactly modest about their looks. Usually he wore it loose, but today it was pulled back in a ponytail. He only tied it up for special events or physics lab days.
This time, it was Mr. Constance who volunteered to chaperone the class on the trip. Sipping from the ever-present thermos of coffee, he flipped a page in his notebook with his free pinky. After glancing over the students on the bus, he called out:
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes!" came the chorus in reply.
Sliding the notebook into his backpack, which he shrugged off his shoulder, Mr. Constance adjusted his glasses and took a seat.
"Why even ask? He already counted us all…" Gregory muttered under his breath, still sulking—whether from being reminded about Alisa or from being cut off before he could retell his story for the hundredth time.
Alisa's not here… Adam tensed a little. I should probably mention it to him.
"Ah! Almost forgot!" Mr. Constance, as usual, shot his hand up like a student eager to answer. Turning to face the class, he continued, "When we arrive, don't wander off! We need to check in first. A staff member from the camp will meet us and show us around. We'll sort out room assignments on the spot, so think about who you want to bunk with. And I hope you haven't forgotten anything important. Go over your packing lists in your head—remember, we're gone for six weeks, not a weekend. Once we're on the road, there's no turning back. I'll help however I can, but my supplies have limits too."
Maybe she's sick? Or changed her mind? Weren't she and her family planning a trip somewhere? Or was that in August? Adam kept replaying scenarios, wondering where his friend could have gone.
"And one more thing… Guys, let's keep the drama and chaos to a minimum. There's one of me and a lot of you. You're old enough now—talk things out."
"I'm not gonna—!" came a familiar voice from the back. Brooke sat there looking genuinely surprised, as if he couldn't believe anyone would accuse him of mischief.
"Brooke, it's not just about you…" Someone snickered—maybe Gregory.
"Alright, everyone, have a great trip! I hope you get a good rest and prep for your exams. If you have questions, come see me. We can go over your study plans and lighten the load if you get overwhelmed."
"Thank you, Mr. Constance!" the bus shouted in unison. Warm wishes for the trip followed, but soon the usual hum of chatter filled the air.
Adam stood slightly to get a look at everyone. The bus lurched forward, doors clanging shut. The rumble of the engine, the rattling seats, the stuffy air and June heat—all of it would be their constant companions on the journey.
"We're off!" the driver called.
"She's not here…" Adam muttered as he sat down again, confusion on his face. He racked his brain, trying to remember why she might be late or have skipped the trip.
"This is weird. But honestly, if she stayed home, it's for the best. Nothing happened to her. If she'd just been late, Constance would have noticed."
Did I say that out loud again…?
"I don't know. She really wanted to go."
"And you didn't, but here you are. It's all cosmic balance."
"I have a bad feeling. I should call her…" Adam pulled out his phone and opened Snapchat.
"Don't. Just relax, man. You're on edge these days." Gregory placed a hand over Adam's phone, concern in his voice. "Don't stress yourself out over this. It's turning into an obsession. I get it, she's a girl, but come on, it's not that serious." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "Besides, weren't you after Janet?"
"Oh, come on. Not today."
"What's the deal? Out of love already? Over before it began?"
"No, seriously, knock it off. I'm not after her."
"I get it… You can't compete with Max, but you've still got a shot!"
"Jerk!" Adam punched Gregory's shoulder, then turned away and put in his earbuds. Gregory clutched his arm, making a big show of being hurt, but the grin on his face gave him away.
---
"Wake up! Janet's sitting in your lap!"
Adam shot upright at the voice shouting in his ear, reacting like a rookie soldier at reveille. He jerked away from Gregory, who was doubled over with laughter.
Where am I?
"When did you get so bold, buddy?" Gregory teased, as Adam slowly took in his surroundings—and the ache in his lower back. Around them, the bus was cloaked in semi-darkness. Everyone else was still asleep, and the bus rolled steadily on through the night.
"Everyone's out like the dead. We can make a little noise!" Gregory's voice was still soft, but way bolder than usual.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Adam yawned silently, rubbing his face and trying to shake off the fog of sleep. He still felt groggy and crumpled after the long ride.
"Best friend ever, huh? I told you, I have insomnia." Gregory looked surprisingly alert and fresh, even though he'd been on the bus just as long.
"Oh, right, I forgot. But why'd you wake me up? I was up until five last night. We've still got hours to go…" Adam fished around in his backpack for a drink.
"I was up with you, remember? Didn't crash until six." Gregory put on a mock-offended look. "But hey, insomnia has its perks—I ranked up."
"For what? Why?"
I'm gonna die at my desk. I need at least ten more hours in a day just to catch up.
"You'll catch up when I finally crash and sleep for two days straight." Outside, headlights, streetlights, and greasy diner signs flashed by.
"How do you even function with a schedule like that?"
"I've broken my sleep so badly, I've got, like, a ten percent chance of surviving on almost no sleep for days."
"Feels more like fifty percent, honestly."
"Insomnia's got its ups and downs."
"So skipping a day and a half of school just because you crashed—that's a plus?"
"Almost."
"Seriously, why'd you wake me?"
"I'm bored." Gregory laced his hands behind his head and wore the face of a five-year-old who'd just played a brilliant prank.
Jerk! Adam's face twisted into an odd mix of anger, exhaustion, and disbelief. At that moment, he wanted to strangle Gregory—but he was just too tired for revenge.
"Are you insane? I was asleep! I can't go sleepless like you. At this point, I'm not sure you're even human. You burn through energy drinks like they're coal. It's not normal!"
"What about the best friends' oath? In joy and sorrow, in health and sleep deprivation?"
"Liar! We never made any oaths! What oaths?" They both broke into smiles, then laughter, the kind only best friends share.
Gregory stared out the window, eyes following the broken line down the highway. Adam slouched in his seat, gazing down the aisle. Someone had stuck their legs out, blocking the way; others were sprawled over each other, half-asleep. Mr. Constance, meanwhile, was nearly hanging out into the aisle, swaying dangerously with every turn, almost falling over.
How does he not fall?
"You decided where you're applying?" The hum of the engine, someone's snoring, the rush of passing cars, and the relentless squeak of Adam's seat—he couldn't get comfortable, and by now his whole body ached. None of them were used to trips this long.
Damn… Adam really didn't want to talk about this now. He was way too tired.
"You know me. I'll decide once I get in. That's how a lot of people do it."
I'm not deciding anything…
"You thinking about Shell Lake?"
To hell with that dump.
"You know I… I can't get in there with you…"
If only I get in anywhere at all…
"I mean, I…"
Shit…
"Don't. We both know it's pointless. You'll just ruin your own future."
"…"
"We can call. We'll still see each other… sometimes."
Sometimes I wonder if we should even keep in touch. Adam had been thinking this more and more lately, ever since he failed his first exam.
"I hope so…" The rush of passing cars filled the silence. Thoughts wouldn't come. Neither of them wanted to break the pause.
"…"
"…"
"Last year…"
"Yeah. The last one…"
---
"Guys, don't forget your things on the bus!" Constance stood outside, hands on his hips. He inhaled the evening forest air, then let it out with a long sigh.
"Aye, captain!" The students tumbled out, heading for the luggage compartment to grab their bags.
Constance checked the time nervously, his watch peeking from under a bright orange cuff. By now he'd swapped his red shirt for another, this one with yellow flames licking up the back.
There was no sign of any camp staff. He stood directly under the huge sign: "Camp of a Thousand Lights," adjusting his backpack. With his suitcase beside him, he looked more like a student than a teacher—more so than the kids behind him. Constance had only just started teaching, still not far removed from his own student days.
"What service! I can already tell these six weeks are going to be just great. Honestly, they could've just tossed us out on the street," Sarah grumbled as she became the last to leave the bus. By then, most people had already grabbed their things. The air was cool—arriving in the evening, the wind made its presence felt.
"Oh! You're from Wisconsin, right?" A young man, not much older than Constance, emerged from the trees, zipping up his fly.
"Yes, we're from Webster, Burnett County. My name's Constance Newton," the teacher introduced himself, offering a handshake. "Are you staff here?"
"Better not…" the man said, declining the handshake. "No, I don't work here. I'm a teacher too—Andrew Smith, Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas. They asked me to greet you, just as a friendly favor… Welcome to the Thousand Lights camp! Woo-hoo!" His long, whistling howl made everyone by the luggage turn their heads. The sound even echoed through the forest. "We'd better hurry to the house. They'll explain everything there."
"Oh, all right. How's everyone holding up?" Realizing they'd found their guide, Constance went to help with the luggage. A few minutes later, the group was following a sandy path through the woods, while the bus had already driven off from the gravel parking lot.
"Sorry about all this confusion. I don't mean to offend…" Constance began, glancing at Andrew, who already looked weary of the preamble. "Are you… a man or a woman?"
"It's fine. People ask about my name all the time. My parents just wanted their son to stand out a little. The looks on professors' faces at the university always amused me." For Constance, this topic had long ceased to be awkward—if anything, he saw it as a plus.
The row of tired students trudged behind the teachers, barely dragging their feet along the gravel path. The journey had worn them out—no one had the energy to chat. Everyone just wanted to eat, use the bathroom, and finally collapse in a real bed.
In the distance, the camp house was already visible. It looked rather plain at first, but its sheer size was impressive—like something out of a movie. With every step, the building seemed to grow, turning into a true mansion: huge windows, four stories, the facade shaped like a "U." It looked more like a private school than a camp.
On every classmate's face was a round-eyed look of either shock or delight. No one could believe this was where they'd be living. With each step, the house seemed even bigger.
"There's a bit of a problem…" Andrew began after a pause, "All the spots in the house are taken, so…"