Sweeney & Bowen

Chapter-Thirty: The Real Campers of Shallow Lake

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"Poison Ivy," Val questions.

"Yes?" I answer, sitting down to check how the sign will look to everyone else.

"What does your brother think this morning?" She questions, crossing her arms.

I shrug, with a smug smile, "Relaxing before rehearsal." before fixing my attention back to Carlos' sign, "That looks perfect!"

Carlos nods in agreement, grinning proudly as he steps back to appreciate it.

EJ's brows furrow in guilt, "And does he know we called Channing?"

I shake my head, "Nope."

"I just feel bad," He admits, "..lying to Damian. He literally saved me this summer."

I wave it off, "EJ, it's fine. Let's just get everything settled, then I'll tell him."

"I don't know.." EJ panics.

"Elton John Caswell!" Val exclaims, as if trying to snap EJ out of it.

Shock crosses my face, completely taken aback, "What?!"

Carlos' eyes widen, "Wait, that's what EJ stands for?!"

Val's brows furrow, "Rocket Man." She reminds. "Wait, did you guys not know that?"

EJ scoffs a laugh, embarrassed, "They do now."

Carlos shrugs, "I always assumed you were, like, "Eric Junior."

"My dad's name is Cash." He reminds.

Carlos nods in realization, "That is on brand."

"How did I not know that?!" I exclaim, taken aback, "I thought you were just obsessed with I'm Still Standing."

EJ nods in approval that I remembered, "Can't be in my car without playing it."

Carlos nods, scoffing a laugh, "We listened to it 5 times on the way here."

Suddenly, the door opens, so I stand up next to EJ as everyone arrives.

"Morning, guys," He greets, "Come on in. We don't have much time."

"Uh," Kourtney observes, puzzled, "Where's Damian?"

"This isn't really rehearsal," I inform, confusing the group.

"Take a seat," Val instructs, showcasing the sign.

"Can we have everyone's attention, please?" Carlos chimes in.

"Thanks for coming in early, guys. We've been up all night." EJ explains.

"Look," Kourtney starts, pointing at herself, "This better be good, because in here, it's still last night."

"You guys," I begin to explain, "Yesterday was pretty intense. It seems like Corbin and Channing were trying to focus on a "main character," and I thought it best if we shift the attention onto all of us."