CHAPTER 1 - A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

“Every life is worth saving!”

I heard that every day at Bayside Camp. We campers were taught to protect the planet by that rule, so we rescued animals, planted seeds, and things like that. Every living thing is important. But I learned some people just don’t care—even about other people.

One day, my best friend Kennedy and I missed breakfast, arriving late to the cafeteria for our second activity: basket-making. The reeds we used were tough to bend, but I didn’t have trouble. I’m built big, but I’m (mostly) muscle.

“This is boring, Sloane,” Kennedy grumbled, straining to weave the reeds together. “Can’t we do something fun, like chase a bear?”

“Jealous of my incredible strength?” I teased.

“Admit it,” she replied, “you’d rather be doing something else, too.”

I scoffed. Kennedy didn’t have patience for anything that wasn’t wild or dangerous.

“I wish Emily were here to do this for me,” she complained.

Emily was Kennedy’s other “friend” who clung to her like a bloodsucking bug. Emily barely had a personality; she just did whatever Kennedy wanted.

“That human piece of cardboard is probably off messing her basket up somewhere,” I grumbled.

Kennedy ignored me, looking around. “What’s up with everyone today? It’s weirdly quiet.”

I had noticed that our voices were the only ones in the whole cafeteria.

“Dunno,” I said. “I’m not the one with two working eyes.”

My hair and skin are the lightest out of everyone in the room. That's because I have albinism, which gives me (and anyone else who has it) really, really pale skin. It also means I’m nearsighted, as well as blind on my right side. And, most annoyingly, bright lights give me horrible headaches—pretty inconvenient at a sunny summer camp.

“Go ask Cleo what’s going on!” Kennedy insisted, rocking my shoulder.

“No, I’m busy!”

But soon enough, I pushed the last reed into place. I stood proudly, basket in hand.

“Now that’s how it’s done!” I declared to the room.

Everyone looked at me like I was crazy. I squinted, confused.

“Why so gloomy in here? Someone die?” I asked.

Our counselor, Cleo, stood up. She was usually an upbeat woman, but now even her ponytail looked tired.

“Almost,” she admitted.

She whispered that one of the campers, Lucy, was beaten and robbed last night. Her injuries were so bad that she wouldn’t return to Bayside. Worse, her attacker hadn’t been caught—it could’ve been anyone, even another camper.

I instantly felt bad about my joke. “Oh. Whoops.”

Kennedy didn’t seem as concerned. “Will this make the news?” she asked excitedly.

I elbowed her. “A girl almost died!”

Cleo turned to me. “I do want to talk to you, though, Sloane.”

I shook my head. “Wasn’t me.”

Cleo laughed. “No, hon. I just wondered if you wanted your family to take you home? Since, um—”

She looked embarrassed. I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

“Well, with your vision, I’m worried about you.”

My temper flared.

“Please. I have a black belt in judo!” I pointed at Kennedy. “I once wrecked her boyfriend.”

Cleo looked shocked. “What? Why?”

Kennedy shrugged. “He stole her phone.”

“If whoever jumped Lucy comes for me, he’s screwed,” I declared. “I’m not helpless!”

I knew Cleo was trying to be nice, but just because I’m disabled doesn’t mean I’m completely incapable.

Cleo sighed. “I—okay. Sorry for assuming.”

After completing the baskets, the campers gathered outside on the grass. It was so bright out that I had to squint, even with a hat and sunglasses on.

“Hiii!”

Unfortunately for me, that voice belonged to Kennedy’s annoying friend, Emily. She skipped over, offering one of her many rude, insensitive comments:

“Did you hear about Lucy, Sloane? D’you think you’re next?”

“Because I’m blind?” I snapped. “Man, shut up if you’ve got nothing helpful to say.”

Emily went quiet, but Kennedy laughed. Maybe they liked each other because they both were somewhat unthinking and shallow. But Kennedy was fun—that’s why we were friends. Emily was just infuriating.

Meanwhile, Cleo announced the day’s plan: planting poppies.

“Since Lucy was attacked, you’ll be working in pairs for your safety,” she said.

I turned to Kennedy, but she and Emily were walking away.

“Hey!” I yelled.

“Emily isn’t as good at making friends as you, Sloane,” Kennedy shouted back. “You’ll find someone else!”

I was furious. Kennedy ditched me for that suck-up?! We’re best friends!

Still, I needed a partner. Since I couldn’t look up because of the sun, I searched the grass for the nearest person’s feet—and found two giant black sneakers.

“Hey, you,” I said to the pair of shoes. “Wanna partner up?”

The boy wearing them seemed surprised. “Are you kidding?” he asked softly.

I thought that was a weird answer. “We all need partners, right?”

No response. I couldn’t see his face, but I smiled anyway.

“Come on! We’ll make great friends. Promise.”

CHAPTER 2 - RED FLAGS

My partner only told me his name—Selwin. He didn’t talk otherwise. I didn’t even know what he looked like. When I tried to peek at his face, the sun burned my eyes so badly that I had to look down.

I was still mad that Kennedy partnered with Emily instead of me, but I’d manage. I’m good at talking to people, even strangers.

“Hey, Selwin,” I called, “show me where to plant, will you? I’m basically blind right now.”

He finally responded. “O-Oh. Sorry. How should I—”

He shuffled his feet nervously.

“Just point with your shoe,” I said.

Selwin nudged towards a plot of dirt, murmuring another “sorry.”

For what? I wondered.

That was how it went: I’d ask him to point out a spot, I’d dig, then plant the seedlings. But Selwin never spoke.

So, I started talking to myself. “Pretty sure the poppies are for bees. They’ll definitely like these.”

While I yapped, I noticed that whenever we passed by another pair of campers, they’d suddenly run off, whispering to each other. I caught one boy muttering “Ugh, freak” under his breath. But he scuttled off when I stood up to confront him.

What are they talking about? I thought, annoyed. They’d better not be making fun of me.

Selwin didn’t comment. In fact, I couldn’t hear him at all—not even digging or walking.

“Selwin?”

The quiet made me anxious. Emily was annoying, but she was right about one thing—I’m disabled. People think I’d be easy to rob.

Maybe I’m next.

So when I heard Selwin step on a twig behind me, I grabbed his arm so hard that he yelped.

“Sneaking up on the blind kid?!” I snarled.

“Ow—n-no!”

Selwin couldn’t break free of my grip but held out his big hand.

“I-I was catching a frog!”

I squinted hard. A brown frog sat unfazed in his palm.

I released him. “Oh. Sorry.”

I gathered up the frog so Selwin could rub his wrist.

“Geez, you’re strong,” he mumbled before asking, “What kind of frog is it? You seem like you’d know.”

I smiled. He’d actually listened to my nature-rambling?

“Wish I could tell you,” I answered.

“This is dumb, but I like animals,” he said. “They don’t judge.”

“That’s not dumb. People judge too much.” I then felt guilty. “Like how I just assumed that you were a murderer. Sorry.”

He chuckled. I was glad I got him to laugh. “Happens more than you’d think.”

After I let the frog go, we continued planting. As I talked more about bees and whatnot, Selwin started opening up. It turned out he knew a lot about animals, too. We were so into the conversation that we almost forgot about lunch.

“Hungry?” I finally asked.

We made our way to the cafeteria. When we got there, Selwin held the door open for me.

“Thanks. Whoa!” I squealed as I tripped over the door frame.

Selwin clumsily caught me. Since we were indoors, I could finally look up at him without my eyes hurting—and I realized why people had been whispering about us.

Selwin was huge. He barely fit through the doorway! His face was dark and intense, with a scar on his lip. It was not what I imagined this soft-spoken boy to look like. Noticing my shock, he looked away.

“Sorry, sorry,” I said, “I just didn’t expect you to be so…tall.”

He blushed, clearly ashamed. “Yeah.”

There was an awkward silence until Selwin explained that he wasn’t just tall. It was a health condition.

“It’s harder being this size than people think. I’m always tired. My bones hurt just trying to keep myself upright. But it doesn’t stop the name-calling. Must be how I look, I guess.”

I felt bad for him. “l sorta get it. Being half-blind, people think I’m completely useless. It stinks, and it’s not fair. I’m sorry, Selwin.”

“Honestly, you’re the first person to talk to me like a normal person in a while,” he said. “I thought that you asking to partner up was a prank.”

“Geez. That’s sad.”

He laughed sheepishly, suddenly looking less scary.

“I don’t usually meet other people with disabilities,” I said. “It’s nice to talk to someone who gets it.”

Selwin smiled. “You’re cool, Sloane. This was fun. Sorry that I was weird at the start. And for scaring you.”

I grinned, poking him playfully. “I handled you, didn’t I? You’re cool, too. Don’t let anyone say otherwise.”

CHAPTER 3 - NERVES

Camp Bayside grew tense over the following days. Everyone suspected each other of Lucy’s attack. Worse, people’s things were now going missing. Even counselor Cleo had a ring stolen.

So I wasn’t surprised when I lost my temper with Kennedy and Emily.

“I really wish you’d stop hanging out with Selwin, Sloane,” said Kennedy.

We were getting ready for bed. While Kennedy and Emily sat on Kennedy’s side of the room, I was wiping off my eyeliner.

“I bet he’s Lucy’s attacker,” she said. “He doesn’t have friends. No one ever knows where he is, and he’s huge. He could probably break any of us in half.”

“You don’t know that, though,” I said.

Selwin and I had agreed to stay partners. I liked him; he always had interesting things to say, especially about art and history.

I thought about how he’d said his bones hurt every day. It was hard to imagine him “breaking people in half.”

“I’m just saying he doesn’t have an alibi,” Kennedy replied.

“Dude, lay off him,” I said. “He’s chill.”

She huffed. “Just looking out for you.”

“Suuure,” I snorted, pointing at Emily. “Like how you ditched me for her?”

Emily giggled nervously. “What?”

Kennedy groaned. “Get over it, Sloane. Plus, she agrees with me about that weirdo.”

“’Cause she’s got no spine,” I snapped. “She literally does anything you want.”

“No, I don’t!” Emily protested.

I laughed at her. “Please, you’d do anything for attention. Even if it made you look like the loser you are.”

At that insult, Emily found her bravery. “Why are you taking the side of some—some freak?”

Freak?!

“Let the big girls talk, Emily,” I hissed. “Leave before I make you leave.”

Any courage Emily had vanished. As she slinked out the door, I glared at Kennedy.

“You’ve got some nerve,” I said angrily. “Ten years of friendship, then you drop me out of the blue. Now you lecture me about who I hang out with? Over something stupid like how he looks?!”

Kennedy loomed over me. “When he thrashes you, just know I told you so.”

I pushed her back a little. “Don’t get in my face, Kennedy. Selwin’s cool. Deal with it.”

We didn’t talk for days afterwards. Meanwhile, Selwin and I got closer. He was a foster child who was mistreated his whole life. Even after being adopted, his peers still bullied him for his condition.

Despite his tough past, he was such a sweetheart. He thought of my blind spots, like bright lights and my right side. With others, it could feel belittling, but not with him.

Yet, Kennedy was right. Everyone thought he was guilty. When we ate, we were always alone at our table. Everyone avoided him, just like when he and I first met.

We were weeding one day when he suddenly asked for a break.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“No,” he mumbled, settling into some fallen leaves. “Just—my joints hurt really bad today. Sorry.”

I patted his shoulder. “Don’t apologize. I can do your share.”

I could see him smile. He’d been doing that more lately.

“Thank you,” he said.

Pulling up plant after plant, I thought about Kennedy’s accusations. It didn't make sense; how could someone whose joints constantly ache beat people up that badly?

“Er—Selwin.” I hesitated. “About Lucy—”

I blurted out everything Kennedy had said about him. I said I didn’t believe any of it, but he didn’t seem surprised.

“Yeah. I know that’s what everyone thinks.” He sounded defeated. “I didn’t attack Lucy, but there’s no point in defending myself.”

“What?” I gasped as I dropped the weeds. “Why?”

“Sloane, I’ve tried telling people I’m not who they think I am,” he protested. “It’s never worked.”

“You deserve to stand up for yourself,” I said fiercely. “And if you don’t, the real culprit’s gonna get away with it.”

Selwin looked away. “No, I know. You’re right. I’m just—I’m scared that if I do, people will hurt me. It’s happened before.”

He shrank in on himself.

My heart broke for him.

“Well, I’ll stick up for you. I’m not the type to just blame it on the quiet kid. I believe you, Selwin.”

CHAPTER 4 - THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

That night, two girls’ screams exploded outside my cabin.

“Help! PLEASE!”

I shot up in my bed. What if it’s another robbery?

Jumping to my feet, I raced outside.

“Hey! Where are you?!” I yelled as I fumbled in the dark.

Someone slammed into my left shoulder. The person didn’t stop and kept running.

I didn’t have time to think. I could barely see, stumbling around until I saw two shadowy figures crumpled on the ground.

One of them kept wailing, “They took my earrings!”

My stomach dropped. The thief must’ve been the person who slammed into me!

I swore at myself. If I weren’t half-blind, I would’ve caught the attacker!

The female counselors also rushed outside, their flashlights lighting up the campers. I knew the girls who had been robbed: Noor and Helen. They were crying, dirty, bruised, and bloody.

Counselor Cleo put her hand on my shoulder.

“Go back to bed, Sloane,” she said.

I felt useless. So, I did what she asked.

I ate breakfast with Selwin the following morning. I didn’t want to talk. I was so upset that my eyes burned just from the cafeteria light. I shut them tightly.

“Sloane? You okay?” Selwin asked as I sat in front of my uneaten pancakes.

Then, Cleo found me before I could avoid his question.

“You all right?” she asked.

Selwin paled. The boys must not have heard—their cabins were on the other side of camp.

“Did something happen?” Selwin asked.

Cleo sounded exhausted. “There was another robbery. Noor and Helen were owl-watching last night when two people attacked them. They took everything they had, including their phones.”

“And earrings,” I mumbled.

Cleo nodded grimly. “They were torn right out of Noor’s ears. They’re from her late grandmother. Poor thing’s devastated about losing them. So if you see any elephant-shaped earrings lying around, tell me.”

Selwin winced. “Will she and Helen be okay?”

Cleo smiled at him. “They’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

As she walked away, I shook my head.

“Why did I, the blind girl, have to be the only one who ran to help? One of those jerks smacked right into me, and I didn’t even see who it was!”

Frustrated, I clapped my hand to my face so hard that Selwin flinched.

“I try not to think of blindness as a weakness,” I said. “But I could’ve helped if I could just see! Now I can’t even prove it wasn’t you who did it!”

Selwin shook his head. “Sloane, it’s not your fault. Even though you couldn’t see, you ran to help. That’s crazy brave. The girls would’ve gotten even more hurt had you not shown up.”

I still felt guilty.

“I’m not surprised it’s two people,” I said bitterly. “People who do this stuff always need someone else to feel brave.”

“I think the problem is that they did it at all,” Selwin said dryly.

“Well, yeah,” I answered. “But they want you to think they’re impressive because they beat someone up. They’re not. They’re losers.”

“You’re gonna get mad at me,” Selwin said, “but isn’t beating people up your thing?”

“I learned to fight to protect myself, not to steal earrings.” I put my head down in my arms. “Not that it helped last night.”

“You did your best, Sloane,” said Selwin. “And don’t feel bad about not clearing my name. Noor and Helen are the ones who got hurt. I’ll be fine.”

My cheeks went rosy. “You’re sweet, Selwin.”

Something then clinked to the floor behind him. Someone must’ve dropped something, because I heard him say, “Oh, let me get that.”

“What a gentleman,” I teased.

That was when a familiar voice annoyed me.

“Thanks!” chirped Emily, scurrying away with whatever she’d dropped.

I groaned but was glad she hadn’t stuck around. I noticed Selwin had gone silent again.

“Something up?” I asked.

He hesitated. “No, no—it’s nothing.”

But I could tell that wasn’t the truth.

CHAPTER 5 - THE CRIMINAL

Selwin didn’t show up for dinner, which worried me, so I skipped to look for him. Luckily, I heard his voice outside the girls’ cabin.

“Don’t ignore me!” he shouted, the loudest I’ve ever heard him talk. I was honestly proud of him, but wondered what it took to get him angry.

“Selwin?” I called as I neared the cabin. “What’s gotten you yelling?” I asked.

I was surprised when, instead of Selwin, I heard Kennedy screech, “Sloane, help!”

She and Emily had their backs pressed against the cabin’s outside wall.

“He’s been chasing us down all night!” Kennedy screamed.

“What?” I turned towards Selwin.

I couldn’t see him, but I heard his panicked, frustrated voice.

“I-I’m—”

“Don’t listen to him!” squawked Kennedy. “He’s crazy!”

“Please, Sloane,” Selwin begged. “Look in Emily’s pockets.”

Even though Kennedy had deserted me for Emily and said such horrible things about Selwin, she was my best friend. I wanted to believe her when she said Selwin was crazy, but I just couldn’t.

“Emily, what do you have?” I asked.

She stepped back. “Nothing!”

I grabbed her arm, plunging my hand into her jean pockets. Something sharp poked my palm.

I took it out. It was a dangly, elephant-shaped earring—one of Noor’s earrings.

That was what Emily had dropped behind Selwin that morning!

“You? It was you two?!” I shoved Emily away, turning to Kennedy.

That’s why she and Emily had partnered up. I expected Kennedy to cry, to deny it—something. Instead, she casually clicked her tongue.

“You’re so boring, Sloane.”

I boiled with rage. My best friend, of ten years, had attacked three people? And stolen from them, too?!

“This is why I didn’t tell you,” she said. “Knew you’d throw a whole fit about it.”

My face burned. “Noor’s probably gonna need surgery because you tore her earrings out. That’s ‘not a big deal?!’”

Emily started crying. Kennedy, meanwhile, snickered. “So?”

She’s literally evil, I thought. I’m best friends with a crazy, evil person!

“Just—why?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Really, we’re doing you all a favor. You’ve never been part of something so entertaining in your lives.”

They didn’t even do it for money—which still would’ve been bad—but because they thought it was entertaining?

“Although it would’ve been fun with you along,” said Kennedy. “You’d have really walloped them!”

She laughed.

I snapped. I was angry that she’d hurt people. I was angry that she’d lied to me. But I was angriest at myself for not realizing sooner that she was a horrible person.

I clenched my fist and lunged to punch her. Finally, I saw fear in her face. But before I could hit her, Selwin’s trembling hand grabbed my shoulder and arm.

“Sloane, stop!”

“Why should I?!” I snarled.

His voice shook. “You can’t beat someone into changing, even if they deserve it! People have tried it on me, wanting me to act differently, or to shut up! It doesn’t work!”

I squinted behind me, into Selwin’s sad, wide, chocolate-colored eyes.

I couldn’t do it. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t want to be scared of myself—and what I was capable of doing.

“Fine,” I said, looking down at the ground.

Kennedy sneered, “Wimp,” as she turned toward the cabin.

I raised my fist like I was gonna hit her again, and she shrieked.

“If you run, I’ll make you eat dirt,” I warned. “Thank Selwin for stopping me the first time.”

I made sure the girls didn’t leave. On his way to fetch the counselors, Selwin whispered, “Thank you. For listening.”

I didn’t reply.

Kennedy glared at me hatefully. It was like she’d never been my friend at all.

CHAPTER 6 - EVERY LIFE IS WORTH SAVING

Later that night, Kennedy and Emily were taken from Bayside by the police and stuffed into a cop car.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Emily sobbed.

I thought Kennedy might also feel guilty. She didn’t. She just stared, disappointed that I’d done the right thing.

She got what she deserved. She shouldn’t be forgiven if she’s not sorry. But I was still sad that I’d lost my best friend.

All the stolen items were returned, including Noor’s earrings.

In the weeks afterwards, Selwin and I grew really close. On the last day of camp, we waited for our parents to pick us up outside of the admissions building.

Yet, I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I thought I was scaring bad people away by being tough. I only ever hurt others to protect myself… but I wondered if that toughness had encouraged Kennedy to hurt people, too.

As we waited, I asked Selwin if he thought everything was my fault.

“Did I encourage Kennedy to hurt people? Even if I didn’t mean to?” I murmured.

Selwin took my hand.

“No, Sloane,” he said. “You’re hotheaded sometimes, sure. But those attacks were her idea. Her choosing to be terrible isn’t because of you.”

“I guess.”

“You’re not a bad person. At all,” said Selwin. “You may act tough, but you care. You gave me a chance. Nobody else thought I was worth that. Someone like Kennedy doesn’t deserve you.”

“Thanks, Selwin.” I smiled. “Look at you, finally speaking up. Looks good on you.”

He let go of my hand, blushing. “Guess you’ve rubbed off on me.”

He coughed, embarrassed. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Yeah?”

He started stuttering. “Well—since, uh, you live nearby—could we keep in touch? If you want? I just really like y—I-I mean—”

I grinned. “Oh? You like me?”

He gulped, face absolutely scarlet. He was adorable when he was nervous. “I, uh—”

I shook my head and beckoned him closer. “Here. Lemme give you my number.”

Still embarrassed, Selwin lowered his head. I pretended to reach for my phone, but kissed him on the cheek instead.

“Next time, just ask me to go on a date,” I said with a smile.