Not so smooth sailing (open)

[Elliot Lyons]

Every since his conversation with Savannah, he had no idea what was going on anymore. It seemed like she snapped. Of course, his sister had been so shy, quiet, and reserved for so long, that more than likely she was going to go a little wild. Ryder hadn't said much to them, and Elliot figured he wouldn't. Their uncle didn't care about them at all, so it was unless for Elliot to go to him to ask for advice. It seemed like he was alone, but he did have Ingrid. Ingrid was special to him. She was always there and she helped relieve whatever stress he had.

Luckily, camp was happening again this year. He and Savannah did not have to return to their uncle's which was a blessing in itself. For the moment the campers had a little bit of free time. Elliot left his cabin to walk out on the grounds. He wanted to see his sister since he didn't get to see her much during camp, but then again she seemed so distant from him he doubted she really wanted to talk to him. Slipping his hands into his pockets, Elliot started his usual round around camp.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Everyone had their quirks or habits, and Samantha was becoming one of those people with a routine, not that she was complaining. For a while now she had done her best to accustom herself with the way things at camp were run. It was different, and while she didn't really see a point to it, she was happy to be a part of it.

One of her new daily rituals was to during her free time explore the grounds. Today her walk took her in the path of another student, one she didn't know very well, "Oh...hello...sorry I didn't mean to intrude."

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah was trying very hard to like camp. it was a new experience for her, and it should have been good for her. But so far it wasn't working as well as she had hoped. She felt ridiculously out of place here. She was more of an indoor girl, and all this being outdoors and enjoying nature was scary and confusing to her. She didn't know how to swim, she wasn't very good at most physical activities, and she just generally didn't feel like she fit in. She was lucky that the girls in her cabin were all very nice, but she couldn't very well stay there the whole time.

So she had gone to one of the activities--a pottery class. She was pleased to discover that she actually rather liked it, even the part where she had to put her hands in the soft, squishy clay. She liked the way it slid through her fingers.

The class had ended for today, and Savannah had already decided that she'd be going back tomorrow. But now she was walking back towards her cabin, when she happened to spot one of her roommates. Samantha Montgomery was not at all when Savannah had expected her to be. She was actually very nice, and not totally shallow. She waved towards the girl, but then she noticed the person Samantha was standing with. Elliot.

She was still ignoring him. She felt like she didn't know him anymore and it made her sad. She missed him. But obviously he didn't miss her... otherwise he would have come to her sooner.

Savannah took a breath and looked from Samantha to Elliot and back again. Then, with a determined set to her jaw, she strolled up to Samantha.

"Oh, there you are, Samantha! I was looking for you. You were going to show me how to style my hair like yours, remember?"

They had agreed on no such thing, and there was every chance that Samantha would think she had gone mad. But Savannah hoped that the other girl would play along.

[Elliot Lyons]

Elliot welcomed the company. Cam was a camp counselor so he had a lot of things to do and Elliot couldn't really hang out with his best friend. Also, the two hadn't really been talking as much as they used to. Of course his best friend was about to graduate and things would be a lot different once he left.

"Oh no, you're not intruding," he said with a friendly smile. "It's Sam, right?"

Before Sam could really answer, Savannah appeared. It felt like ages since he had spoken to Savannah. It seemed that his sister was avoiding him and he wasn't sure what to do about it. Ever since he told her she didn't have to be the prim and proper young lady she thought she had to be, it was almost as if she snapped. He gave a smile in his sister's direction.

"Hey Savannah," he greeted her, wondering if she would even acknowledge him.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam was about to answer Elliot when Savannah came up to them. She didn't know what the girl was up to but she would back her room mate.

"Of course. Although your hair is already so pretty, don't you think so Elliot?" she asked demurely.

Siblings could be a handful that was true but Sam was so grateful for her family that they rarely had any problems. She looked between them wondering why they were being awkward around one another.

[Savannah Lyons]

In a lot of ways Savannah and Sam were a lot alike. Sam had also been brought up to be a lady, and had been taught good manners and behavior. But unlike Savannah, this had probably not been done to repress Sam and make her into a girl who lacked any strength or sense of her own self-worth. No, Sam had been taught to be strong, and confident, and as a result, men flocked to her. Savannah envied her deeply and decided in that moment that she could find no greater role model. What she didn't yet realize was that she didn't need a role model; she needed to learn how to be herself and not follow someone else's example.

She tossed a frosty smile at Elliot as a greeting, then turned back to Samantha. "Oh, no. Elliot doesn't think I'm good enough the way I am. Isn't that right, Elliot?"

[Samantha Montgomery]

Savannah really had no clue what Sam's life was like at home with her mother, and though they say the grass is always greener on the otherside, she truely did not believe Savannah would have enjoyed the tortures Marrion could devise. Yes Sam was taught early on how a lady should act, and it all came quite naturally and easily for Sam and because it was easy Marrion was even more enraged and then delighted in making her daughter feel inadequate. Sam was taught indeed that she was worth less than dirt, and her only purpose in life was to bring her mother success. Men flocked to Samantha but that too had been what her mother taught her, and not for the gleeful purpose of being young and popular, but instead seduction was taught to entrap and betray the very people Sam had befriended. No Sam did not have anything remotely ideal growing up with her mother. It wasn't until she lived with her father did she truly understand compassion and strength.

Sam glanced downward, not wanting to intrude in their Family matters, she was sure however that any brother worth their salt would do anything for their sister.