Red Flags and Long Nights
Prologue
The temperature is rising, the flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping. You know what that means? It’s the summer. Each and every summer my parents have planned out pretty much my whole vacation and I certainly was not happy hearing what they had planned out this year. Camping out with old family friends, I remember the camp trips we used to spend with them. Those boys would always pull my hair, make fun of me and pull pranks on me – great, that’s nice to look forward to. It’s been a few years since was last saw them since suddenly those boys struck on gold and became immensely popular and famous around the globe. I think this summer I’ll set the scores, I’ll show those boys that they can’t mess with me anymore like they used to. Summer campout, brace for impact.
Chapter 1
Hey there, I’m Charlotte Parker – but most people call me Charlie. Right now I’m sitting in my car, next to one of my closest friends Madeleine. Looking out the window, wishing the car would just turn around and we’d head back home. but of course that isn’t going to happen. My dad has his destination set, Toronto – Canada. It’s where my family would go camping every single summer, together with our close family friends known as the Jonas family. I bet any girl round the globe would do nearly anything to go camping with those boys, I guess I’m not just any girl. Those boys made each of my summer vacations a living hell, pulling pranks 24/7, making fun of every single detail, the whole “no girls thing” you know? Well this summer is going to be different, we haven’t seen each other in 3 years and now – it’s time for payback.
“Do you see that girls? We’re almost there.” Mr. Parker spoke up excitedly as Charlie rose up from her chair, looking out the same window she had been looking out for the past couple of hours, starting to familiarize herself with the vaguely familiar surroundings. Charlie looked to her side, seeing Madeleine’s brown hair with funky purple streaks covering her face whilst sleeping peacefully. Charlie let out a barely audible chuckle, sinking back into her car seat. “C’mon Charlie, lighten up – the boys are all grown up now.” Mrs. Parker said as she turned round, glancing back at the car seat Charlotte was seated in. Her daughter merely returned a shrug, something was going on in her mind, that was for sure. “Just wait, all those campouts of messing around are over. Sweet revenge.” Charlie thought to herself deviously, remembering their last campout in Toronto. Sweet revenge? There’s nothing sweet about it.
Flashback;
“Guys? Guys, this isn’t funny anymore!” The 11-year old Charlie called out, she was playing hide and seek and it was already dark at the camping in Toronto. Hearing a rustling noise in the bushes she twisted and turned around. “W-who’s there?” Her voice piped up shakily. “GOTCHA!” The 14-year old Joe cried out as he pounced out of the bushes, Charlotte was startled by his sudden appearance and tripped, falling into the clammy mud. She heard Joe laughing loudly, as well as 11-year old Nick who came out from behind him. Charlie groaned as she crouched up from the mud pool she had tripped in. “Here let me help you.” Nick then sincerely offered extending his hand towards the little Charlotte who gave him a miffed face expression, she obviously felt like they were gonna pull another prank on her. “Just leave me alone.” Charlie muttered angrily seeing her muddy hands, she walked away. Charlotte was such a little ugly duckling with her messy dark brown hair, and still childlike face and made fun of as brace-face. “Guys, what happened?” The 16-year old Kevin asked shining his flashlight over his brothers’ amused face expressions. “Oh, you should’ve seen Charlie, it was hilarious!” Joe cried out snickering. Every summer was unfortunately the same for little old Charlie, always being picked on – but was that about to change?
End flashback;
There it was, the old campsite they went to every summer. Charlie looked over at her Natalie who looked quite excited to go back and see the Jonas boys, well after all - they never picked on her. “We’re here.” Mr and Mrs. Parker said cheerfully as their car parked on the parking lot. “Mad, wake up.” Charlotte said gently shaking Madeleine back and forth. Madeleine mumbled something inaudible as her eyes shot open. “We’re here?” She questioned surprised stretching out her arms as Natalie jumped out of the car. “C’mon now girls, Denise and Kevin have already arrived here.” Mrs. Parker said enthusiastically opening up the door Charlie sat by. “Charlotte, will you carry your tent?” Mr. Parker asked, practically shoving the tentbag into Charlotte’s hands. She shrugged. “Do I have a choice?” She muttered below her breath, following her parents who were carrying their own belongings, heading over to the location the Jonas family had set up their tents. Madeleine caught up to Charlie, carrying a backpack on her bag. “What’s wrong Charlie? Are you still mad at those Jonas boys?” She asked raising an eyebrow as Charlie hesitantly nodded. “Just because I wasn’t pretty like Natalie back then, didn’t mean they had to shut me out and pick on me constantly. I’ll get them back, one way or the other.” Charlie replied defiantly, and it sounded like she had made up her mind and there was no turning back from there on. “Hm, okay.” Mad muttered as the rest of the walk remained quite silent. “Hey, Alyson over here!” Mrs. Jonas’ voice called over to Mrs. Parker whom had a wide grin spreading across her face whilst she approached Denise. “Oh Denise, it’s so good to see you again! Where are the boys?” Mrs. Parker asked looking around. “Kevin!” Natalie’s voice shrieked seeing her old buddy struggling while putting up a tent he’d be sharing with Nick. Kevin’s head jerked up, making him lose his concentration and the tent collapsed. “Hey Nat!” Kevin called out happily getting up as Nat greeted him with a warm bear hug. “Hey, I want you to meet someone.” Kevin said as he drew back slightly from the hug. “Heather, sweetie?” He yelled, as a tall brunette appeared approaching Kevin and Natalie. “What is it Kevin – oh hello I’m Heather, Kevin’s girlfriend.” Heather introduced seeing Natalie, extending her hand as Natalie shook it warmly. “I’m Natalie.” Natalie replied grinning. The girls got along great, as Kevin and Nat caught up in between their conversation, Natalie caught a glimpse of her younger sister, Charlie distancing herself away from everyone as she was busy putting up her tent together with Madeleine.
Madeleine and Charlie were pretty experienced in tent building and the whole package that came along with camping, as they swiftly had their tent put up in no time. “Ah, could you teach me how to do that?” A familiar sounding voice spoke up, making old memories surface as Charlie jerked her head to face Joe. “Why, need help?” Charlie piped up, refraining from saying it in a hissing tone. Joe seemed surprised meeting Charlotte’s face, she had changed a lot in those 3 years. “Wow, is that Braceface?” Joe thought to himself, he was a bit in a daze seeing Madeleine turn around. “Yeah, we could help you out.” Mad offered with a lavish smile. “Uh, that’d be good because Frankie ain’t much of a help. ” Joe then finally replied with a chuckle. “Long time no see Charlie.” Joe said shifting his eyes to Charlotte. “Yeah, long time.” Charlie replied flatly. “I’m Madeleine.” Madeleine introduced staying neutral, even though she heard the stories from Charlie. But before Joe could introduce himself, someone did that for him – well indirectly. “Joe?! Did you take my socks?” Another familiar voice yelped. “Joe?” The curly-headed boy repeated as he approached his older brother and froze seeing two girls standing there by Joe, one he instantly recognized, but she had changed: Charlotte, the girl he’d always pick on and tease constantly. “Charlie?” Nick’s voice sounded shakily as he spoke those words. “Hi.” Charlotte replied impassively. “This is Madeleine by the way.” Charlotte added as she motioned over to Madeleine standing beside her as she waved at Nick. “Heya.” Nick nodded hesitantly. “Hey, yeah uh I’m Nick.” Nick introduced ruffling in his curly hair. “I’m going to go take a walk round the camp. Catch you later Mad.” Charlie said and with that she walked away leaving a astonished Joe and a stunned Nick with Madeleine raising an eyebrow at her friend’s behaviour. “Oh boy.” She murmured below her breath glancing at Charlie whom soon was out of sight. “Awkward.” Joe then suddenly said in a high-pitched tone, the only response he received was a smack on the back of his head coming from Nick and a giggle escaping Madeleine’s lips.
Charlie stood by the lake, kicking pebbles in one by one when suddenly she heard a loud roaring sound come from behind her. “Charlie!” A young boy’s voice called, none other than little Frankie Jonas. “Hey Frankie.” Charlotte greeted warmly, picking up the 7-year old with a warm embrace as she spun him round – he probably was the only one of the Jonas brothers that didn’t pick on her, but that probably was because he was too young. “Where are your braces?” Frankie then asked as he looked at Charlotte’s wide smile, showing her teeth without the braces she wore 3 years ago. “Oh, the orthodontist said I didn’t need them anymore so well what do you think?” Charlie asked with a smirk etched on her face as she showed off her teeth. “Cool.” Was Frankie’s childlike reply as he grinned cutely. “Frankie, where are you?!” Two girl’s voices called. “There you are!” A girl with wavy dark brown hair spoke up spotting Frankie. “Charlie, is that you?” The other girl with long dark brown hair said smiling as she recognized Charlotte instantly. “Kaylee, Sarah.” Charlotte said with a wide grin putting Frankie back down, Charlotte always loved hanging out with the cousins of the Jonas bros, they were a lot nicer to her in the past and sometimes would even stick up for her – maybe with these girls around and her best friend the summer wouldn’t be so bad after al?
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