Give Me a Sign(40)

I stand to leave, wanting to spend the rest of my shift somewhere else, but Jaden waves for my attention. “Hey, you can stay with us. You and I haven’t chatted much.”

I can’t tell from the embarrassment on Isaac’s face whether he’s told his friends about last night yet or if this interruption is a coincidence.

“If she wants to go ——，” Isaac signs.

“That’s okay,” I sign to Jaden. “Thanks, but maybe later.”

Most everyone else is chilling in the staff cabin for the evening, except Mackenzie, who probably went to bed early. Ethan and Gary are at a square folding table in the corner going over some paperwork. On the two extra chairs next to them are stacks of pizza.

“Ooh, nice. Much better in here,” I say, helping myself to a spare slice and sitting on the floor beside Simone.

She asks something, but I motion that I don’t have my hearing aids in, so she repeats louder, “Awkward?”

“Yeah,” I say. She knows exactly who I’m hiding from.

Bobby’s lying in one of the spare bunks. “All right, let’s get a game going or something.”

“Sure, what do we got?” I take a bite of my pizza.

But Natasha, sitting against the opposite wall, waves toward me. “Is Isaac out there?”

I nod.

“Why are you in here?” She narrows her eyebrows in question.

Okay, Isaac . . . just how much did you tell your friends? And I thought this couldn’t get any worse. I guess news spreads quickly among a small summer camp staff.

“He doesn’t want me there.” I turn back to Simone, not wanting to answer any more pestering questions, but the next thing I know, Natasha is standing in front of me, offering her hand to help me up.

“Come on, let’s bring out the pizza,” Natasha signs, looking in the direction of the campfire.

“Really?” I ask. “It’s awkward.”

“You’re fine; come on.” She picks up the pepperoni box. “Take cheese,” she says and signs. “Isaac doesn’t like pepperoni.”

I drag my feet but follow her out of the cabin. But on the way to the firepit, I see a camper walking away from their cabin. It’s too late for them to be out and about.

“I need to check if that girl’s okay,” I tell Natasha, gesturing in that direction. “But I promise I’ll meet you in a few. Really, I promise.”

Natasha looks doubtful but signs, “Sure, that’s fine.”

I hurry away for my on-duty responsibilities. Natasha can join her friends in the meantime, and they can all hang out without me slowing things down or making it awkward.

The girl is Phoebe, one of Simone’s blind campers—the one who’s a year younger than me. She’s walking swiftly, cane outstretched. Her hair is still in a smooth middle-part low ponytail, but she’s abandoned her no-nonsense sunglasses.

“Are you all good? I’m coming up to you now.” I give her a heads-up but don’t hear what she starts to say, so I call out, “Sorry, I don’t have my hearing aids in right now. One second.” I get to her side where I’ll be able to lip-read what she’s saying. “Hey, it’s Lilah. Sorry, I should be able to hear you somewhat now. What’s up?”

“Uh, okay.” She hesitates, but when she speaks again, it’s practically a whisper. She’s barely moving her lips.

“I’m sorry, can you speak up a little?”

“I’m just going to the bathroom,” she shouts, her patience wearing thin.

“Yes, of course! My bad. I should have guessed. Do you need any help? I know the path dips a bit up ahead.”

“Nah, I’m good. It’s in the same place it’s been for the last ten years I’ve been here, so . . .”

“Of course. You’re Phoebe, right?”

“Yeah,” she answers loudly. “And I did call out to see if anyone was around, but then I figured I’d just go to the dang bathroom. You know, wander in that direction and eventually someone would find my body.”

“That’s dark.” My eyes go wide, but I’m amused.

“I know.” She chuckles nervously to make sure I understand it’s a joke.

“Well, I don’t want to keep you. If you do need anything, feel free to shout as loud as you want. I promise, there are a few people who will hear you and wake up.”

Phoebe sniffs the air. “Is that pizza?”

I look down at the box I’m holding. “Um, yes. But aren’t you on the way to the bathroom?”

“Yeah, yeah. I also don’t want to go to sleep. Nine o’clock is too early of a bedtime.”

“Maybe we’ll get you permission to stay up late one night.”

“Lilah, you’re basically my age. Stop sounding like an awkward adult.”

“Ha. Sorry, most of the campers I talk to are the little girls.” I look at the distance toward the bathhouse. “Do you need any help the rest of the way?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Phoebe says, but she doesn’t move yet. “So hey, do you like being a junior counselor? I want to be one next year.”

“Oh yeah? You’d love it.”

“How do you know? You don’t know me,” she teases.