After finishing my second lap around the lake, I tied off the half-filled garbage bag and tossed it by a tree. Exhausted, I plopped down in the sand close to the water. The smell of sewage still lingered on my clothes. The thought of having to do this all summer was depressing.

I took my phone out of my pocket to find I had no service and another two hours to wait. It didn’t take five hours to clean some toilets and pick up garbage. I couldn’t even text anyone to make the time go by faster. Not that I had anyone to text.

My stomach started to growl, reminding me I had left my lunch in the truck. I took out my pocket knife and grabbed a stick lying nearby. After peeling off the bark, I started carving little design like my grandpa had taught me.

I worked on it for about an hour. It slowly morphed into a snake curled around a twig. I thought it looked alright. My grandpa would have been proud.

The bushes rustled behind me. I turned around as a German Shepherd came barreling out of the trees and straight at me. I swore under my breath and ran for the treeline.

The dog didn’t chase me. Instead, it went to the lake where a ball was floating in the water. Sucking in my lips, I prayed no one saw.

“Hey, look at this.”

My head shot up as I saw a boy pick up my pocket knife. Another appeared from the trees and grabbed the stick I had been working on. I marched toward them, but felt my courage start to fade as I realized they were quite a bit taller than me.

They gave me a weird look. I stopped a reasonable distance away. The dog, now dripping wet, had returned to his owner’s side.

“Umm… those are mine.”

The two boys exchanged amused glances. “Really?” said the taller one.

I nodded. “Yeah, my name is on the knife.” I pointed to the handle. “Right there, you can see it. Aden Perri.”

The boy glanced down at it. “Nope. I don’t see anything. Maybe you dropped yours somewhere else.”

“Just give it back.” I held out my hand. “It’s mine, and that too.” I glanced at the stick.

The shorter boy laughed. “No chance of that happening. Beat it, kid.”

“The knife is mine,” I snapped. “It was a present, so give it back.”

“Like we’re going to listen to the garbage boy.” The taller one shoved me.

I staggered back and rubbed my shoulder. “My dad’s a forest ranger.”

The boys laughed and pretended to be scared. “What is he going to do?” The bigger one folded his arms. “Give me a ticket?”

Bowing my head, I felt stupid. My dad really couldn’t do anything.

“Get out of here kid, or you’re going to end up in the lake.”

Staring at my feet, I slowly turned and walked away. It’s not like I could do anything. Two against one never ended well. I’d just ask my mom to buy me a new one.

“Hey, garbage boy.”

I looked over my shoulder.

“Catch.” The taller one threw the ball at me.

I caught it and stared at the red object in my hands.

“Go get it, girl.”

My eyes grew wide as the german shepherd race toward me. “Oh no.”

It’s launched itself into the air and landed on top of me. I screamed and toppled into the sand, curling into a ball. The dog pawed at my chest and arms. It was only a matter of time before it took a chunk out of me or went for my neck.

The dog yelped and was yanked off. I peeked up and saw a shirtless boy standing above me with the dog’s collar in his hand. The german shepherd was struggling to get away. The boy growled, showing some teeth, and the animal froze.

I sat up wide eyed. He reached toward me and grabbed the ball that had been trapped under my leg. Facing the other two, he released the dog. It sat down at his side with its head low.

“Give them to me,” said the shirtless boy, holding out his hand.

“Here.” They handed over the knife and stick.

“Umm…” The taller boy looked at the ball. “That’s ours.”

“Oh.” My rescuer tossed it in his hand. “I thought so.” He cocked back his arm and hurled it into the center of the lake. “Go get it.”

“What?” The bigger boy asked.

He narrowed his eyes. “Now.”

The two stumbled over each other as they raced for the water.

The shirtless boy knelt on one knee and patted the dog’s head. “Here.” He gave the dog something from his pocket, and it trotted off into the trees with its tail wagging.

I looked away to hid my bright red face when he glanced at me.

He moved over to where I was sitting. “I think these are yours.” He held out the knife and stick.

I quickly took them. “Thanks.”

He started to laugh. “Don’t worry about it. I’m Titus.”

“Hi,” I said softly. I just wanted him to go away. It was embarrassing enough that I had been screaming like a little kid two second ago.

“And yours is?”

I glanced over at him. “Hmmm…”

He took the knife from me.

I opened my mouth to argue.

“Aden Perri.” He handed it back to me. “Nice to meet you.”

“Oh… Yeah, I’m Aden.” I bit my lip and stared at the water.

“Are you afraid of dogs?”

I bowed my head. “You saw that?”

Titus laughed. “I think everyone in the campground heard it.”

“Oh my god.” I hid my face in my hands. I wished my dad would get back and take me home.

“So what’s your deal with dogs?” He leaned back and put his legs out in front of him. Along with his lack of shirt, Titus’s shoes were missing too.

“When I was little my family live in sub-unit, and the neighbors had a couple of watch dogs. They got out once.” My hand went to my leg. “One bite me, and I guess I’m still not over it.”

“I like dogs,” he said, letting the sand run through his hand. “I bet if you gave them a chance you would too. They’re not all mean.”

I shrugged. “I guess. Too bad I kind of panic when they get too close.”

We sat in silence for a moment. It was a little awkward, but worth it to watch those two loser swimming to a distant bank with the ball in hand.

“You smell good.”

I froze and slowly peeked at Titus from the corner of my eye. “What?”

“I like your smell.”

“What part, crap or wet dog?” I muttered. I really didn’t understand this guy.

He brought his knees in and rest his arms on them. Turning to me, he smiled. “And your eyes, they’re not what I expected. They’re really beautiful.”

My creeper radar shot to extreme. “Okay,” I breathed, brushing the sand off my hands and standing. “I think I better be going.”

Titus stood as well. “Will you be coming back?”

“Umm… yeah. I clean the campground every Monday and Thursday.”

“Good, I’d like to see you again.” He gave me a cheesy grin. “Maybe I can come visit you too?”

“We’ll see.” I laughed hesitantly, backing up from him. This guy was weird. One minute he was growling at a dog and threatening people, and the next, he was giving me compliments and wanting to hang out. “Maybe sometime.” I shoved my knife back in my pocket.

“Did you make this?” He picked the stick up. “That’s really cool.”

I shrugged. “My grandpa taught me. It’s not that hard. Just something to do when I’m bored.”

“I like it.” He gave me another large smile.

This guy was freaking me out.

“Well, my dad should be here to pick me up, so I better go.” I slipped past him to get the trash bag I left by the tree line.

“Hey wait, your stick thing.”

“Keep it.” I snatched the bag and hurried up the path.

“Wow, thanks.” He waved at me. “See you Thursday!”

“Yeah,” I replied, waving back. I jogged back to the shed and was happy to see my dad’s truck coming down the road.

He pulled up and rolled down the window. “So how’d it go?”

“It was easy enough.” I tossed the garbage bags in the back.

“Is there a reason you’re wet and smell like a dog?”

I bowed my head and marched around to the passenger side door.

“Aden?” said my father, looking at me from over his sunglasses. “What happened?”

I slipped inside and sunk into my seat. “Some guys were giving me a hard time at the lake, and their dog jumped on me. I’m fine. It’s no big deal.

“Twice in one day,” he sighed. “Dog must really like you for some reason. You’re okay though?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Alright, if it happens again tell me, and I’ll do something about it.”

“Dad, don’t worry about it. I’m fine.” I put on my seat belt.

“Your meds are in the jockey box.” He turned the truck around and headed for the death trap of a road.

I quickly retrieved the white canister and popped off the lid. Taking out two, I tossed them in my mouth and washed them down with some water. With a deep breath, I prepared myself for the ride ahead.