Gloriosa Daisy's alarm clock went off and startled her awake. She let out a groan, then shut it off. She did not want to face the world today, but she had no choice.
Gloriosa had been through a lot since her parents' deaths. Sudden financial control over Camp Everfree, without a clue how to go about it. Constant pressure from Filthy Rich to keep up with the payments. The family camp was at risk. All that and a brother that didn't understand that she had a good handle on this strange magic!
Stress for Gloriosa had been a near constant. It was a wonder she hadn't pulled her hair out! It was also a wonder she hadn't punched any holes in any walls!
Gloriosa got out of bed, expecting stress to be in abundance throughout the week. She would constantly say "I've got this!", but she had lately been wondering if she was only fooling herself. Or was it that she was trying to boost what little confidence she had in herself? She didn't know any more...
Nonetheless, Gloriosa had to put up a front for the campers. She didn't want her frustrations and negativity to bring down their spirits. Yet with each passing year that had proven to become increasingly difficult. She didn't have the money for a therapist, and she could only rely on Timber for so much. She sighed.
Gloriosa could barely bring herself to look at her own reflection. Oh, she had no problems with self-esteem. She knew she was attractive, but her issue with mirrors was that she didn't need to be reminded of how stressed and overwhelmed she had been. Besides, she could smile just fine.
Gloriosa heard her phone vibrate from the corner of her room, and she felt frustration well up. Couldn't she have a few moments of peace after she just freaking woke up?! Was that too much to ask?? Every goddamn day it was "Gloriosa, do this! Gloriosa do that!" Barely a moment of respite every day!
Gloriosa paused for a moment, then took a deep breath and exhaled. It was fine. She's got this. She picked up the phone and noticed she had a voicemail.
Missed call from: Filthy Rich
Gloriosa resisted a strong urge to hurl her phone out the nearest window. Filthy Rich had given her until the end of the month already, so what could he possibly want now?! That pompous businessman had been breathing down her fucking neck for the last couple of weeks, and she was sick of him!
"Smug son of a bitch," Gloriosa muttered under her breath as she began to listen to Filthy's message.
"Hello there, Gloriosa." Gloriosa grit her teeth at the sound of Filthy's voice. "I hope you're ready to enjoy your last week at Camp Everfree before I turn it into a luxury spa! Why, I can hear the soothing music of the lobby as we speak..."
Gloriosa became furious.
"See ya soon," Filthy said, then hung up.
Gloriosa gently placed her phone on a nightstand, then took a pillow and held it to her face. The room became full of her muffled screams of impotent rage for the next minute.
Damn him. Damn him! Camp Everfree had been in their family for generations, and now it was all about be taken away by some money obsessed asshole!
As Gloriosa headed to the shower, she wondered what her parents would think of her if they were still alive. Would they be proud of how she handled things, or would they have been disappointed in her? She was desperate for the money, and she was trying to find anyone who would willingly help! It was a moment of weakness that led her to Filthy Rich!
The water began to run, and so did tears down Gloriosa's cheeks. She wasn't fit for this sort of pressure! Why did she and Timber have to suffer at someone else's expense?
Who was Gloriosa kidding? This was all her fault. If she had only kept a clearer head, Camp Everfree wouldn't have been in this mess! A vision of her parents' disapproving looks flashed through her mind, and she broke. The warm water cascading down her back did little to console her as she rode out her emotions.
Gloriosa finished crying, then stood back up to wash herself with a heavy sigh. She would have lost her mind long ago if it wasn't for Timber. They both kept each other afloat... yet their relationship had become tense. A clashing of ideals as to how to handle their current situation had strained things between them.
Gloriosa didn't want to fight with Timber, but she'd be willing to do almost anything to keep Camp Everfree running! She heaved another sigh. She didn't like the idea of pretending that there was nothing wrong, and she knew the campers would suspect something was amiss... but there was nothing she could do about it. The feeling of powerlessness only made her want to cry again!
Gloriosa shook her head as she got out of the shower. She had had more than enough self-pity for one day. She needed to think of the campers first.
Gloriosa found her geode necklace as she got dressed. She picked it up and gazed at it, wondering how on earth this sort of power came here in the first place. She shrugged. It didn't really matter as long as she put it to good use. No sense looking a gift horse in the mouth, after all!
Now fully clothed, Gloriosa felt her confidence return. With the geodes around her neck, she would make this the best week ever for the campers! She clenched a hand into a fist and grinned. Right now, she felt like nothing could stop her! "Gloriosa Daisy," she said to herself. "You've got this!"
Gloriosa headed over to Timber's room, ready for whatever the week would bring her.
If she knew what to expect, her attitude would have been drastically different.