Camp Orion, Part 5
After breakfast, most of the others went to mill about the campgrounds. As they began to file out of the mess hall, Zach came over to Chris, still wide eyed and shocked, Jonathan on his heels.
"Wow," Zach said, blinking, "What happened to you?"
"I. Um. What happened to me?" Chris raised an eyebrow at him, "Seriously? Do I look bad or something?"
Zach waved his hands frantically, defensively, "No, no! God, no, you look... you look... good. Very, um. But how did you...?"
"I decided to give him a makeover," Mark offered, nodding at Chris. Zach blinked at him, seeming to take into account that there were other people around for the first time since he'd approached. His face showed sheer terror as he noticed Jonathan out of the corner of his eye, and then, to everyone's surprise, he blushed.
"Well, um," Zach paused, looking from Mark to Chris, before giving them both a manly slap on the shoulder, "You done good."
"I'm Jonathan," Jonathan offered from behind Zach.
"Hi, I'm Chris."
Jonathan nodded and continued to stare at him. It was a little more than unnerving, but Chris found he just couldn't look away for some reason.
"Ohhh kay, well Chris and I are gonna go check out the ampitheaters and stuff. We'll see you around!" Mark said, grabbing Chris' elbow and dragging him towards the door.
"See you," Zach said softly behind them.
The doors swung shut behind them and Mark marched them down the same path they'd gone down the night before, stopping at the same bench. "'You done good'," Mark scoffed, mocking Zach, "What a fucking wimp."
"What's wrong?"
"Dude! he was undressing you with his eyes and he couldn't even pay you a proper compliment!" He turned around and flung his hands out at Chris, "I mean...look at you! You're like...sex manifested or something, and that's not even a personal bias, it's a goddamn fact."
Chris shrugged, "Maybe he was distracted."
Mark growled in frustration and rolled his eyes. He grabbed Chris' elbow again and pulled him even further down the path.
"Cut it out, man!" Chris yelped, "That hurts!"
Mark slackened his hold but didn't let go entirely. He rounded on Chris and seemed to deflate, "I'm sorry, man. I just...he just pisses me off. And Jonathan. You've met Jonathan now. Which we were trying pretty adamantly to avoid altogether. Shit. Zachy-boy was so...zoned out by you that he pretty much just fed you to the wolves."
"What," Chris paused, "What will he do to me?"
"Physically? Maybe nothing. At worst he may hire some boys from the other camp to beat you up. Between you and me, though, he's still pretty scared of them. But socially and emotionally...The possibilities are endless. He can make everyone here hate you, he can isolate you, make you feel worthless. Trust me, it's not fun," Mark shook his head, "Even seeing it happen is an experience I'd rather not re-live."
"What happened to you guys, all that time ago?" Chris asked, "Not that I want to pry or anything. But if this affects me, maybe I should know."
"I really don't think it's wise to say anything. I... I don't like talking about it or thinking about it. And, no offense, but I barely know you."
Chris grinned, lopsided, "I barely know you and I trusted you with my body."
"That just means you're incredibly smart," Mark smiled back at him, "Although I'd watch your wording. You haven't 'trusted me with you body'. Yet."
"You're way too cocky for your own good, you know that?"
"Nope, I'm cocky enough," Mark shrugged, "Now let's go. To the ampitheater!" He gestured broadly before them and began marching ahead, "C'mon!"
"Alright, I'm coming," Chris called ahead, taking one step, two, and then--
He was shoved by someone into the nearest tree.
"Fuck no!" He growled, shoving at the person's shoulders roughly enough to knock them back a few feet,"It is the second day of camp and I already have a ton of problems," he yelled as the person made a grab for his arm, and pulled. He elbowed them in the ribs, "If you want to kick my ass or molest me or whatever, fine. But can we reschedule? I have enough problems as is."
As the person crumpled to the ground behind him, he turned away and ran down the path, towards Mark. He didn't even bother looking back to see who it was.