"Aw, Mom, don't cry," Derek said, giving his mom a kiss on the cheek, "It's only a couple of weeks. You won't even realize I'm gone." He said giving his mother, Fran, another hug, trying to comfort her.

"I know, baby. We go though this every summer," she said, wiping the tears out of her eyes.

"Then you should be used to this, Momma," Derek gave her a wide smile. "You know this will help me get the college scholarships I need. They always have recruiters come out for the older boys at the end of the summer."

Fran gave her son a sad smile. "And you're gonna knock their socks off. You're going to write everyday, right? And call once a week?"

"Just like last year, Momma. I'll never forget to call home." He gave her another kiss as he left the terminal to board the airplane.

"But Mom, I don't need to go to a summer camp. I'm perfectly fine staying home and learning more code," Penelope pleaded with her parents as they drove up to the entrance of Camp Gogiayeli. The camp was known for its social bonding between girls. Something Penelope wanted nothing to do with.

She was completely content with staying in her room, working on her computers or reading books over her last high school summer. Penelope found joy in learning how to code and hack, though her parents didn't know about the hacking part. One day, right before junior year ended, her parents surprised her with going to a summer camp. They wanted her to be the social butterflies that her brothers were. Her brothers never needed to go to a summer camp. But here she was being forced against her will to attend this - sure to be hellish summer camp.

"Sweetie, you're going to have a blast and you'll make life long friends. I went to this same camp when I was your age," Penelope's mom explained to her as her eyes danced with the memories of her younger years. "We hiked, played camp games, ate s'mores, and learned how to canoe. We stayed up late telling ghost stories, and tormented the boys from the athletic camp across the lake, there is even a dance at the end of the summer that the boy's camp is invited too."

"Then you go to the summer camp," Penelope spat from the back seat of her fathers station wagon. "I don't know what I did to make you hate me."

"Now mi hija, your mother and I don't hate you. We love you and that's why we want you to make some friends and have a fun summer," her father said, looking into the review mirror.

"I have friends. I don't need any more," Penelope spat once again, looking at the trees pass her by from the window.

"Penelope Calliope Garcia, do not give your father lip."

Penelope mumbled her annoyance under her breath as they turned into the entrance.

The car was quiet as they made their way up the long and windy road to the front of Camp Gogiayeli. Penelope already hated it, she hated the outdoors and now she was going to be forced to live out here for the next couple of weeks. She could feel the tears prick her eyes as her father parked the car out front of the Welcome Campers' banner.

Derek made his way into the camp entrance. He was ecstatic to be back this year. This was going to be his year to rule the camp as one of the older boys. He thought about his past years being here. It was the perfect summer experience in his mind, and it sure as hell beat staying at home cooped up in the apartment watching his sisters.

Not to mention the girls camp across the way. He groaned inside thinking about it. He wondered if Cassandra was going to be there again this year. She might have been a little annoying, but her and most of those girls were perfect for what he wanted- a good time. And the best part was, after the summer was over he didn't have to see any of them again.

"Yo Derek! You're back," Andy, Derek's old bunk-mate from last year hollered, jogging up to him.

"How's it hangin', Andy?" Derek said with a smile as he greeted his long time friend.

"Your Mom couldn't drop you off this year?" Andy asked, looking at the cab driving away.

"She couldn't this time. They wouldn't give her the time off from the hospital, but I told her it wasn't a big deal, and that I'd get a cab from the airport. Did you get our room assignments yet?" Derek asked, picking up his duffle bag from the ground.

"Yeah, we're in the same bunk as last time, by the lake," Andy told him, grabbing one of Derek's bags for him.

"Sweet! And you know what the means, right?" Derek gave a wolfish grin. "We're closest to the girls camp."

Andy rolled his eyes. "That's all you think about isn't it?"

Derek gave him a shameless look. All Andy could do was hit him on the shoulder and laugh as they made their way over to the cabin to get Derek checked in.

"Alright, baby doll, you got everything you need," Penelope's mom said, embracing her in a hug.

Penelope looked up at her mom with tears in her eyes. "Please don't leave me, Mom. I'll do anything you want. I'll do all the chores in the house. I'll do anything," She pleaded with her.

"Mi hija , you're going to have a good time. Now make sure you write us whenever you can." He kissed her cheek. "Do you want us to take you to your bunk?"

"No, Papi. I can do it," Penelope said in a disjointed manor.

Her father embraced her in a hug, kissing the top of her head."Te amo, mi hija, you'll be fine."

Penelope sighed as she embraced her parents one last time before they made their way back to the car. Penelope looked around; this place was now her own personal hell. It was hot, there were bugs, and no computer in sight.

She kicked a rock, as she made her way down towards the bunks, trying to follow the stupid map that was given to her when she checked in.

"This is ridiculous, I can't even read this stupid thing," She grumbled, looking down at the map trying to decipher the hand written thing. She wasn't looking where she was going and ended up bumping into a tall, dark haired girl.

Penelope's eyes shot up, "I'm so sorry," she said, tears pricking her eyes. This was all too much for her to handle.

"No worries," the beautiful girl chipped back with a huge smile. "This your first time here?"

"Is it that obvious?" Penelope joked, trying her best to give a small smile.

"A little. You can always tell by the confused look on someone's face when they try to read the map," the girl joked with her. "What bunk are you located in? I can help. My mother sends me here every summer."

"Uhh yeah, I'm in, uhh…" she tried to sound out the word. "Gv-eh, I think."

"That's great! That's the cabin I'm in!" she said, with excitement, " It's pronounced gun-hay. It means wildcat in Cherokee."

"Oh," Penelope said, looking at the picture of the wildcat next to the name on the map, "Makes sense. I'm Penelope, by the way." She held at her hand to greet the girl.

"I'm Emily. Don't worry, you'll have a blast here." Emily said, bending down to pick up one of Penelope's bags for her. "Don't look like someone killed your cat there, Penelope. I have a feeling you and I are going to be great friends."

Penelope hoped Emily was correct in her assumption. She bent down to pick up her other bag and followed Emily to the cabin.

AN: Want More?