The day that led to my death started like any other. (Wow, way to be overdramatic, huh? Well, get used to it, because that's just the kind of person I am.) Hi. My name is Helana, or at least it was. (There's that need for attention again. And look, here too.) I'm telling my story because I need it to be told, and I need the people I left behind to know that I’m all right; I'm pretty good, actually. But that is the end, not the beginning, and you should always start at the beginning. (I know, I know. I promise, it gets less clichéd soon. Really.)
It was summer and I had a job as a counselor at a day camp that was on the grounds of a private school. It was a very old, very well respected school, with a large campus that had an indoor and an outdoor theater, a indoor heated pool, and about an acre or two of trees. I really enjoyed working there, because I liked working with kids. That in itself seemed a little strange when I thought about it, because when I pictured myself in the future, I just couldn't see myself having children. I figured I'd change my mind later, that I was just a kid myself, what did I know about my future? Amazing how right a person can be even when they have absolutely no clue what's really going on. (Isn't it fun when writers try to be cryptic and fail miserably?)
School had let out three weeks ago, and work had started that week, so it was starting to really feel like summer. I was 17, had gotten my driver's license a month and a half ago, and I was looking forward to senior year. I didn't mind working during the summer, because a lot of my friends worked there, including my best guy friend who I usually got a ride to and from work with. My house was two blocks out of his way, so instead of giving him gas money, I just let him raid the fridge at my house for breakfast.
That morning started like always. I was running late, and Jamie showed up before I was ready to go, which had happened so often that I'd just given him a key. My parents didn't object because they didn't know. My grandparents had left the house to my mom and uncle, but my parents didn't like the city and stayed at our house in the country almost all the time, and my uncle left for work at 6:30 in the morning. I had all the fun of being on my own, but with parents to buy me food and clothes. I even had my own car, a little aqua two door.
So Jamie showed up before I was ready to go, and let himself in. He yelled, "How long are you going to be?"
"Just a few minutes." I answered.
"I'll make breakfast. How's a bagel and orange juice sound?"
"Fine. You might have to make some juice from concentrate." I finished getting ready and went downstairs. Jamie handed me a bagel and juice and we got out to the car, just a little bit late.
On the way to work, Jamie asked me if I wanted to come over to his house after work and I said I'd let him know at lunch. That was nothing strange. We hung out after work all the time, particularly on Fridays. Work was pretty easy that morning since I was a counselor for Game Room, and all I really had to do was keep the kids from killing each other and themselves.
I ran into Jamie a couple of times that morning, and he kept asking if I was coming over after work. I finally told him I probably would, but first I had to call home to check the machine and make sure my parents didn't need me to do something else, and I couldn't do that until lunch. It seemed a little odd that he was making such a big deal about it, but I just assumed that he didn’t have any other plans, and didn’t want to stay home alone on a Friday night.
When lunchtime came, I took my campers up to the cafeteria, we all got our lunches, then headed out to the amphitheater, where we were supposed to eat. All of the kids had friends or relatives to eat with, so all I had to do was watch and make sure that no one had any food fights or anything. I had a spot on the edge of the trees where I always ate, a huge old tree with tangled roots sticking up out of the ground. It made a perfect seat, and I could watch the field with out being bothered. Except, of course, by people who knew where I was hiding, like Jamie.
"Did you call your machine yet?" he asked, appearing out of nowhere.
"Oh yeah. Instead of eating, I ran to the office and called my machine. Coming over to your house is just the most important thing in my life. In case you haven't picked up on it, I'm being sarcastic."
"Yeah, I got that. Look, I'm sorry if I'm bugging you about this, but I really want to talk to you about something, and I'd rather not do it in front of 30 screaming kids."
"And I apologize for going off like that. I'm just a little stressed today, for no apparent reason. I'll go call as soon as I get done eating. Speaking of which, where's your lunch?"
"I wasn't really hungry so I didn't get anything. You know what I just realized? I've got my cell phone. Here. You can use it to call, instead of going down to the office."
I dialed the number, and when the machine picked up, I entered the remote access code. The machine beeped, meaning no new messages. I hung up the phone, and told Jamie I could come over. The rest of the day was pretty normal. I averted all major catastrophes, and didn't go insane. All in all, it was a normal day. After work Jamie asked if I needed to stop at my house before I came over. He said he wasn't sure what we were going to do, so I said I wanted to get a shower and change clothes, in case we ended up going out. We stopped at my house, and I did. It was the last truly normal thing I did that day. (OOO, more crypticness. On to the story now, and that's it for my comments.)