Acting Out by Katy Grant Page A

Amber.
    â€œHere, wear these earrings,” Lauren offered, bringing me a pair of little gold hoops. “And I’ve got a necklace for you too.” She squinted while she put her earrings in for me.
    â€œWhen you’re done with her, bring her to me so I can do her hair and makeup,” said Courtney, putting on lip gloss in front of the mirror.
    â€œOh, thank God I’ve got an entire pit crew to dress me! I could never do this on my own!” They all laughed, but it was true.
    While Courtney styled my hair and did my makeup, everyone else stood around and watched. When she was finished, she wouldn’t let me look in the little mirror. “Let’s go to Solitary, where you can really get a good look.”
    We all trooped down Middler Line to the bathrooms. Courtney grabbed my arm as we went through the doorway. “Close your eyes.” She led me over to the full-length mirror next to the row of sinks and stopped. “Okay, open.”
    I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror at someone who looked like a really good version of me. “Wow!” I said. Lauren, Amber, and Mei stood behind me, grinning. “Thanks, guys! I couldn’t have done it without you. And I seriously mean that.”
    Solitary was packed with other girls using the sinks and pushing for a turn in front of the mirror, so we left for the dining hall, since it was time for dinner anyway.
    â€œGarlic bread, anyone?” asked Michelle with a grin, passing the plate around our table. I took two pieces, but Courtney frowned at me.
    â€œYou think that’s a good idea right before a dance?” she asked.
    â€œWhat? Too many carbs?” I wondered.
    â€œNo, goofy. Garlic. If you want to gargle half a bottle of mouthwash, go ahead.”
    In the middle of dinner the CATs (Counselor Assistants in Training) came in clapping and singing. I loved the CATs; it was their job to make sure all the campers were having a good time. They were sixteen, so they were kind of in between campers and counselors. When they announced that we were going to Camp Crockett for a dance, the whole dining hall went crazy.
    â€œBut be careful!” the CATs yelled. “If those Crockett boys want you to sneak away to the bushes for a make-out session, we’ll be watching to make sure that nobody leaves the dining hall porch!” Then they sang this crazy song, holding flashlights and shining them all over everyone.
    Porch Patrol! Porch Patrol!
    Start yellin’ for that good ole Porch Patrol!
    If he tries to make first base, you had better slap his face,
    And start yellin’ for that good ole Porch Patrol!
    When they’d finished singing and sat down at their table in the middle of the dining hall, Lauren asked, “Are they really going to the dance dressed like that?” They were all wearing camouflage T-shirts and pants, and they had leaves and little tree branches stuck in their hair and taped to their clothes.
    â€œThey sure are,” said Alex. “So don’t let them catch you.”
    â€œYou mean they’ll be watching us? Has anyone ever gotten caught?” I asked.
    â€œOf course not,” said Katherine. “They sing that same stupid song every year. Who would want to be seen with any of those Crockett creeps?”
    â€œThe point is, while you’re at Camp Crockett you’re not to leave their dining hall. And if anyone does try to leave, the Porch Patrol will stop you. So I expect you all to act like young ladies this evening!” warned Michelle.
    So nobody had ever been caught by the Porch Patrol. Wouldn’t that be a great way to make a name for myself? Maybe no one had ever been caught because no one had ever tried to sneak away.
    But wasn’t there a first time for everything?

When we walked into Camp Crockett’s dining hall, I saw Natasha hanging out with her new bff, Ashlin. I ran over and gave her a hug like I always did whenever I saw her. It was