got jobs? || OPEN

[Dallas William Bailey]

- x -

It was officially time to get off of his ass and get a job. Dallas had been, more or less, moping around Bell Lake for a week; his days were spent sleeping and his nights were spent drinking in his hotel room. The money Uncle Andy had sent was slowly decreasing as Dallas' drinking habits were increasing. Sure, Uncle Andy would send more, he always would because he loved little Dallas. However, maybe Dallas was getting some initiative, you know, trying to take charge of his life. Maybe.

It was about three o'clock and he had spent the morning hitting all the local restaurants and grocery stores looking for a job. As Bell Lake was a small place, not many workers were needed for the jobs, thus they weren't hiring. Someone did mention that he should try the camp across the lake as they may need a cook or even just someone to keep the place clean. Now Dallas wasn't a huge fan of kids, but it was worth a shot.

Dallas' dirty, worn checkerboard Vans slapped the dirt path creating little puffs of dust as he walked up through the entrance to the camp. His brown eyes scanned the area looking for someone who would be able to help him.

[/color][/blockquote][/size]

[Isabelle Stone]

'Somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
Blue birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then oh, why can't I?'

Still, even after having run into Simone in the kitchen nearly an hour ago, Isabelle was having a hard time finding people who were supposed to be around the camp. Had someone declared a holiday and she had missed the memo? It certainly seemed that way. What other explaination was there for her to be one of the only people around, when there were normally a few hundred people keeping the place abuzz with activity? Nothing made any sense to her anymore.

Even the Main Building, where visitors came and where the campers had to sign in and out, appeared to be vacant of human forms. Puzzled by this new found silence, Isabelle had wandered outside, only to see that there was someone standing at the gate, looking a tad lost. She knew that technically she wasn't supposed to do it, but there was little choice. Instead of turning around to notify the non-existant secretary of a new arrival, or a guest, in the area, she marched up to him, brown eyes sparkling brightly in the rays of the sunshine that loomed overhead.

"Welcome to Camp Bell," she smiled kindly, her tone polite as possible. "Can I help you locate someone, or are you here for a tour?"

People came in for those sorts of things, either a parent looking for their child, or just some rich local who wanted to know wether investing in the camp was worthwhile. They dealt with things like that on a daily basis. So far, the people of Bell Lake were sure that Camp Bell was right to be where it was, since it helped so many people indirectly.

[Dallas William Bailey]

- x -

And right about now is when Dallas decided that this whole search for a job thing was futile. Yeah, that's right, Dallas had once again failed at something. Time to call Uncle Andy to make things all better, or to at least give him another couple hundred to get him through a few weeks until he could drive into a bigger town to put in applications. At least the hotel was kind of inexpensive, and maybe he could try to cut back on drinking...

Welcome to Camp Bell. Dally's wallowing in self pity was interrupted by a girl's sweet voice. Can I help you locate someone, or are you here for a tour? Dallas turned around, coming face to face with a pretty, brunette. He offered her one of his big, goofy smiles, hoping to make a good first impression if she was the one hiring. No, I don't think so, he said brushing his hair from his eyes. I'm actually looking for a job. I was wondering if the camp was hiring at all? he inquired silently praying that she would say yes.

I'm Dallas Bailey, I'm new to the area, he added extending his hand to her as a more formal greeting. I'm not too sure how the camp's hiring process works, but I'm rather desperate for a job, he admitted with a small shrug, smiling at the girl. No, a summer camp wasn't his cup of tea, but if everyone was as nice as this girl he could really get used to it.

[/color][/size]

[Isabelle Stone]

'Somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
Blue birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then oh, why can't I?'

Hiring? Belle searched the back of her mind, trying to recall if any of the camp staff had mentioned that they were looking for positions to be filled. Nothing seemed to be called to memory, until she heard one of the camper's voices ringing in her ear. Indeed, someone had mentioned a job that needed to be taken, a position that would require minimal contact with the campers. And there was also one with a little more. Or was there more than just those two?

"Well," Belle began softly. "There are a few jobs that they need filled at this time. What sort of position were you looking for?"

This might help to narrow things down, if she knew what he was most interested in doing. He seemed nice enough, and eager as well. Wether that was for the job or the experience she had no idea. But his smile was warm, she saw, and welcoming. When he extended his hand for her to shake, Isabelle took it, holding it gently in her own as she shook it, before lowering her hand back down to her side.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, by the way," she smiled brightly. "My name is Isabelle Stone. I'm one of the senior campers here."

He didn't appear that much older than she was, which was a good sign. It meant that he might find something to do and actually enjoy his time here, instead of those summer students who came and complained about the smallest of things. Ordinarily, they were the ones who didn't get along well with the campers. But this boy was making a good first impression, so she tried to be as professional and helpful as possible.

[Dallas William Bailey]

- x -

Score. According to her there were jobs openings here. Dally's spirits were immediately lifted. Maybe he wasn't qualified, but that thought didn't even pass through his mind. He felt like that kid who just turned sixteen and thought that just because they turned in an application they would get a job. But in all honesty, he felt pretty confident in his ability to get a job here, despite his futile morning. It was a music camp and he could play guitar and sing, but that was pretty much the only thing he had going for him. Nope, not prior experience nor even someone to put as a reference. Well, he could put Uncle Andy...

What kind of job did he want? He hadn't even thought about that. I'm open for anything, though I must be honest, I don't have any experience in a camp environment, he replied shoving his hands into his back pockets. I wouldn't mind the behind the scenes stuff, like cooking or cleaning, he said with a shrug searching his mind for any other jobs that a camp would have that he could do. I know it's an art camp, and I'm fairly talented with a guitar, so yeah, he added, a smile playing over his lips.

Nice to meet you too, Dallas replied giving her a goofy smile. He shrugged glancing around at the beautiful scenery. Despite his lack of interest in children, he thought he could probably get used to working here. It was a really nice camp, not like those dirty ones that they show on television. Those ones turned him off to the whole camp idea, but this one he would actually attend. In hindsight, a summer camp probably would've helped him keep his life on track. Plus, if it was an arts camp, such as this one, the extra practice with guitar probably would've taken him farther than just the occasional jam session in his basement.

Do you like it here? he asked returning his attention to her. I mean this place is really nice, I really like it, he added smiling at her.

[/size][/blockquote][/color]

[Isabelle Stone]

'Somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
Blue birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then oh, why can't I?'

His lack of experience made her nervous. Not because she didn't think he could handle the job, but because he would have no idea what it was like to work in an enrivonment of kids from eleven to seventeen, plus the others who roamed around the camp so freely. But the harder she thought about it, the more Belle was sure that there was a job there for him. If he needed one, then why not? It seemed only fair that he be given a shot.

"We have a place for a stable hand," she told him, her thoughts still going through her mind. "There is a place in the kitchens, and there is also a place for someone who wants to teach a guitar session once a day. You're welcome to any of those jobs."

She wasn't a counselor, but Isabelle knew how the camp worked. They needed people who could take initiative and work alongside various others, campers included. This boy looked like he had what it took to survive a summer of music and drama. This boy...the boy who had yet to tell her his name. Oh well, that was something she was sure to learn with time.

"Follow me. I can get you the paperwork."

As she turned on her heel and began walking back to the Main Building, she heard him speak to her again. His tone was soft, she noticed. Quiet. He didn't strike her as the type who would rock out to loud music until he blew someone's ear drums, not stay up to all hours of the night partying. He seemed nice enough to be at work on time, and perhaps not mind staying in one of the cabins with someone else, as staff.

"I love it here," she smiled, slowing her pace so that she walked beside him. "Camp Bell is one of my favourite places in the whole world, because it's the one place where most kids can just be themselves."

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Dallas William Bailey]

- x -

Dallas grinned as she ticked off a list of available jobs. He was glad that he hadn't given up and hadn't called off his search; he was finally getting somewhere. True, he had wanted an easy job where he could stand and slide groceries over a scanner all day, but maybe a little bit of extra effort would be good for him. Help him learn to be more responsible; responsibility was something he really needed to learn, and quick. Not the kind of responsibility that you could learn by buying a pet fish, but like the hardcore responsibility.

Which ever one is needed most, I guess, Dallas answered with a shrug. He wasn't sure if he was good enough at guitar to teach it, but that may just be because of his lack of self-esteem. He'd also always wanted to ride a horse so that would be fun; however, he had never even touched a horse, much less was a stable hand. I could do the guitar session and maybe help out in the kitchen or at the stable when I'm not teaching, he suggested to her.

Dallas nodded, turning and following her to fill out paperwork. Quickening his pace, he fell into step with her heading to God knows where. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at the dirt path that was passing beneath his feet as he walked with her. Yes. He could get used to being here everyday; the camp had this kind of peacefulness that he enjoyed. A small smile played over as his lips as he thought of being able to wake up everyday in this beautiful camp.

I love it here. Dallas's daydreaming was interrupted by Isabelle's words. He looked over at her looked over at her as she explained why she liked the place so much. The way she said it, made him smile. The way she said it made him truly believe her; she wasn't just talking the camp up, she really did love it. He nodded; Camp Bell may be the place where kids could be themselves, but Dallas could never show the camp his true self.

[/size][/color]

[Isabelle Stone]

'Somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
Blue birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then oh, why can't I?'[/size]

Cursory observations made her think that he was a musician, for whatever reasons she could fine. From his calloused fingertips to the way he held his hands, there was no reason for Isabelle to suspect anything better or worse of him, not that she minded his musical being. That was the big purpose behind Camp Bell, after all, to give teens a place where they could play their music and be themselves without fear of being picked on or teased for a difference in taste.

Well, it was supposed to be.

She couldn't complain much, especially since she did little to help herself in the conflict. But without naming names, she knew of at least a few people who she would have loved to have seen kicked out of the camp for making such bad impressions on people, and for their continuous mistreatment of others. Just because they were rich, or had the connections in the big world. It was people like them who made Isabelle feel small and insignificant.

"If you don't mind that, I don't imagine the camp would mind," she said, turning her head just to give him a glance of the corner of her smile. "You can teach the beginner class at the very least, and the stables need more help than the kitchens."

Pushing aside the door to the Main Building, she held it open so that he could follow her inside, before she moved around the back of the desk and shifted through the pile of papers. In short order, she stacked a few together, placed them on a clipboard and handed it to him, a pen quickly following.

"Since you're doing that, you'll be given a cabin on the grounds, you'll be paid for the time you are here, a small amount, not overly large I'm afraid. And you'll also be fed, free of charge."

[/size]

[Dallas William Bailey]

- x -

Dallas followed her up the path and into the smaller building to get the paperwork. Don't mind a bit, he said glancing around at his new surroundings. Just like what he had seen of the camp, the building was rather nice. He could tell that a lot of money had been put into the place. His eyes scanned the walls, looking at the numerous newspaper clipping and awards that the camp had won that dotted the walls. He let his hands rest in his pockets while she shuffled through paperwork.

Taking the clipboard and papers from her, he took a seat on one of the chairs up against the wall. As he began to fill out the information, he listened to what she said about the job. A smile spread across his lips; free food, how perfect. That's really nice of you guys to provide food and lodging, he commented as he sped through the questions. They were all the generic questions like name and age.

So how long you been coming here? he asked as he checked off several boxes. He glanced up at her briefly before going onto the next page. Like what are you coming her for? he questioned as he started to fill in references and previous jobs. Like your talent, he added to clarify his question. He couldn't pick out what she did; like it was easy to identify dancers because of their graceful movements. Not that she wasn't graceful, but he couldn't see her as a dancer.

Once again, he flipped the page, it was his last one. These were the dreaded questions where you actually had to think. Like why he would be good at the job. Not that he was BSing it, but he just wrote down the first thing that came to mind. He wasn't a writer, he was a stupid teenager, he wasn't going to pretend to be able to write well.

Dallas finally finished the application and he stood up and handed it back to her. Smiling he shoved his hands in his pockets. Thanks a lot, he said glancing at his shoes. I really appreciate it, he added looking over Isabelle.

[/color][/size]

[Isabelle Stone]

'Somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
Blue birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then oh, why can't I?'

A soft smile appeared on her lips as she handed the paperwork over the desk to him, her fingers brushing momentarily against his. Drawing them back quickly, she busied herself in straightening the appearance of the desk, something that their secretary was not the best at doing. Sure, the woman was kind and easy to get along with, but she was not the most organized person at camp. In all honesty, this bothered Isabelle little, as it meant that she had something to do while waiting for the boy to finish with the paperwork.

At his question, her head looked up to glance into his face, wondering what had provoked such a question in his mind. To her, she would have thought that he would have been more concerned about completing the appliation process, not bothering to ask anything personal about the silly camper who had found him at the gates. But then again, Isabelle was glad for the light conversation. It was much better than the silence she was so used to.

"A musician of sorts," she responded. "I've been at Camp Bell for four years now, and I plan on coming back as a counselor next year."

She couldn't betray her other, more loved talent to him. Even Simone had yet to catch her singing to herself. The closest she had come to being discovered was the one day she had been in the music room and she had fled at the sounds of feet outside the door. Or the meadow, she thought to herself. A few weeks back, she had run as fast as possible away from the meadow near the camp, having heard something in the bushes. It could have easily been her imagination, she later realized, but like a terrified rabbit, she had hopped away as far and fast as possible.

To be heard by anyone was a fear that Isabelle Stone lived with each and everyday of her life. She was not the most confident of singers, or human being for that matter. She was just your average girl, trying to make her way in the world without making too many people upset or look her way. It was bad enough that Melissa was still around Bell Lake. She was sure to run into her eventually over the summer.

"It's not a problem at all," she smiled. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

[/size]

[Dallas William Bailey]

- x -

Dallas listened to her tell of her talents; he was jealous. He wished that he was talented enough to be accepted into a prestigious performing arts camp. Sure, he was decent at playing guitar, and his voice wasn't completely horrible, but he was no where near as talented as the kids that ventured here each summer to show off their skills and improve them.

He brushed the thought aside as he looked back down at the application. That's cool, he said with a smile. His eyes scanned the application looking for any errors or things that needed changed. Upon finding none, he added a little smiley face to the bottom of the paper and put the cap back on the pen.

Thanks for this, he said as he rose from the chair and placed the clipboard on the desk in front of her. He was thankful. Mostly, he needed a job, but moreover he needed to get out of the hotel and make friends. He needed to cut the alcohol and begin being a teenager again. Well, as much of a teenager could be, considering that he was living in an alien state on his own. But by just getting a summer job and becoming responsible for something, he was working at getting back to normal. However, he would never return home to his parents; it was just something he couldn't do.

Yeah, kind of, Dallas said as he leaned up against the desk. When exactly should I come back up here? he asked her as he looked down at his fingers. Like do I need to come for an interview or am I just going to start? he asked to clarify his question.

[/color][/size]