The dog yelped and was yanked off. I peeked up through my hands and saw a shirtless boy standing above me with the dog's collar in his hand. The German shepherd struggled to get away. The boy growled, showing teeth and making the dog freeze. 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 laid down in the sand.
                          
	"Give them to me." The shirtless boy held 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 shorter one asked.
                          
	He narrowed his eyes. "Now."
                          
	The two stumbled over each other as they raced for the water. 
                          
	The shirtless boy dropped to one knee and patted the dog's head. "Here." He gave it something from his pocket and it trotted off into the trees with its tail wagging. 
                          
	I looked away to hide my bright red face. 
                          
	The boy sat down beside me. "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." 
                          
	When was he going to leave? It was embarrassing enough that he heard me screaming like a scared three-year-old two seconds ago. 
                          
	"And yours is?"
                          
	I glanced at him. "Hmm..."
                          
	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. "So you saw that?"
                          
	Titus laughed. "I think everyone in the campground heard it."
                          
	"Oh my god." I hid my face behind my hands. I wished my dad would hurry up and get here, so we could go home. 
                          
	"So what's your deal with dogs?" He leaned back and stretched 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 lived in a subdivision and the neighbors had a couple of watchdogs. They got out once." My hand went to my leg. "One bit me and I guess I'm still not over it."	
                          
	"I like dogs," he said, letting the sand run through his fingers. "I bet if you gave them a chance you would too. They're not all mean."
                          
	I shrugged. "I guess, but 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 get to watch those two losers swim to a distant bank with the ball in hand. 
                          
	"You smell good."
                          
	I froze and peeked at Titus from the corner of my eye. "What?"
                          
	"I like your smell." 
                          
	"What part: crap or wet dog?" I really didn't understand this guy. 
                          
	He brought his knees in and rested 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 and visit you, too?"
                          
	"We'll see." I laughed hesitantly, backing away 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 some other time." I shoved my knife into 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 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.
                          
	"Aden?" said my father, looking at me from over his sunglasses. "What happened?"
                          
	I climbed 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 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 seatbelt. 
                          
	"Your meds are in the glove box." He turned the truck around and headed for the deathtrap 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 the pills down with some water. With a deep breath, I prepared myself for the ride ahead.