Enjoy the silence | Travis Hackett | Chapter I
The sheriff of North kill
Summary: The summer finally arrives and Hackett's quarry opens it doors again. This year, with a new counselor. A pretty pretty particular one. Of course, as everything related to North kill, Travis Hackett ends up involved.
TW: Teen pregnancy, age gap relationship, eventual smut, topics such as immigration mentioned.
Things to know before reading: foreign OC, changes to the original plot.
Author's note: I needed so bad to write about this man. Please keep in mind English is not my first language, so, if you see any kind of grammar mistake, feel free to tell me about it. I hope you enjoy it.
"So... we have a little shy one here, don't we?"
Chris Hackett's words made Camila smile. She moved her head slightly, looking at the little boy who was hiding behind her leg. A gentle hand rested on the child's head, caressing it tenderly.
"Carlos, this is Chris," the girl said, pointing to the man in front of her. "Come on, mi amor, say hi."
Carlitos, as his mother lovingly called him, peeked out one of his small eyes. Compared to him, Chris looked much bigger. He didn't like it when big men approached him and his mother, although he also had some parts of his hair painted white, which reminded him somehow of his grandfather. He waved his little hand in greeting.
"There he is!" Chris exclaimed happily.
Genuine happiness flashed across his eyes. Carlitos' shyness reminded him of his eldest daughter when she was just a little girl. Past times, better times.
Dylan, the boy next to Chris, scratched his neck uncomfortably. He knew how to deal with the children at the camp, but this one here was much smaller.
"So..." He squatted down, wanting to be at the same height as the kid "How old are you?" He asked, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
Carlos opened the palm of his hand, displaying the number 5. The only three people who heard the child speak were Camila and her grandparents. No one really understood why, but with the others he limited himself to mere physical expressions and whatever his big brown eyes could convey. This being a relief, since he was a very expressive little boy.
"Quite a big boy!" Said Abigail, who, along with the other two girls, seemed delighted by the presence of that boy.
She could already see the image of Carlos showing his hand captured in her drawing notebook.
Babies always caused a sensation among women, Camila knew it. Her's was no longer exactly a baby, but he was quite a cutie. She understood it. If she could, she would also spend the day squeezing those cheeks.
Again, shame flooded Carlos, hiding his face in his mother's leg.
"He's a little shy, but I assure you he's very kind. Right, Carlitos?" She asked, continuing with the action of stroking his head.
He nodded. He always got nervous when he had to be around so many people. Especially if they were big people. Lots of eyes on him, lots of attention.
"We are very happy that you have arrived, the other counselor who was supposed to work with you in the nursery has not arrived yet and from the looks of it, she will not." Chris spoke, finally bringing the important topic to the table; the job.
Camila clicked her tongue.
"Looks like it'll just be you and me in the infirmary, baby." She commented to his son.
Carlitos, with his face protected by his mother's leg, smiled. He liked being her assistant.
Ryan, the only one who hadn't said a single word in all this time, finally entered to the conversation.
"Actually, another counselor is also missing..." He sounded almost sorry. Kept looking at Carlos.
He was part of that group that didn't really know how to deal with the 5-year-old boy. Preteens were simple. He told them his horror stories and let them stay outside at night for 15 more minutes and they already loved him. In this case, he had a little boy just as reserved as him, who also didn't even know how to read or write. Or he did? At what age did children learn to write?
Chris looked at him, as if reproaching the comment. Camila didn't pay attention.
"It's good that there are two of us here." Was her response, making most of those present laugh.
Half joke, half reality. She would be lying if she said this was the first time her son accompanied her to work. Being a young single mother robbed her of many privileges, and the truth is that Carlitos was already more than used to following her everywhere, no matter what job it was.
When the laughter stopped, Chris returned to his usual role.
"Well, guys, no more wasting time. Show Camila and Carlos the cabins and the place in general. Our campers arrive tomorrow and everything must be ready." He ordered, encouraging the young people around him.
Camila, somewhat different from the rest, was very excited to start the work. Unlike the others, this was her first time as a counselor. Everyone already knew the place, except her and her faithful companion. She knew so few places in the country where she lived that this felt like a real adventure.
She took the bags with her. Watching Chris disappear through the door of the large house, she stopped to take a look to her surroundings. Carlitos mentioned when they were on the road that those trees were the biggest he had ever seen, and if she thought about it, believed the same. It was barely 7 in the morning and the sun was already beginning to shine brightly, forcing her to leave her pair of sunglasses on. Being the city girl that she was, she found it annoying how much people from areas like this exaggerated the subject of views and landscapes, but now that she walked among them herself, she admitted that even the colors felt more vivid and beautiful. How happy it made her that her son was going to spend one of his first summers in a place like that.
Lost in the landscape, a male voice brought her back to the moment.
"It's a long walk to the cabins, little friend..." Jacob, the "big guy" of the group, began to speak, addressing Carlos. "Do you want to ride on my shoulders?"
Suddenly, Carlos's shy face lit up. He let go of his mother's hand and ran to Jacob, just as he did with his grandfather, who, when taking him to preschool, also made him sit on his shoulders. Jacob smiled like a child, picking up the little boy as soon as he arrived and placing him on his shoulders.
"It's the best view, right?" He asked, holding the kid's legs firmly.
Camila, partly relieved at how comfortable her son seemed with him and partly anxious about the number of accidents her mind was imagining from such a sudden action, was not too sure about allowing her son to make the walk on Jacob's shoulders, the guy who seemed taken from the American series she watched when she was a teenager.
Jacob, noticing Camila's nervous gaze on him, spoke.
"Don't worry! I have carried much heavier things."
Things, not children. Specifically, not her child.
The blonde who had introduced herself as Emma a few minutes ago suddenly appeared near Camila.
"Don't worry about him, he's harmless," She said in a low, almost confident voice. "Your child will have another child to play with."
"That's precisely what worries me," she admitted, laughing.
The guys around her seemed nice. They all looked equally young, equally inexperienced. She probably looked like that in their eyes too, with the only difference being carrying a little guy at her side and the experience that this brought.
Carlos was always surrounded by teenagers. From his birth, when 17-year-old Camila cradled him in her arms, until today. Her mother's friends were the first babysitters in his life, the exception being when an university teacher would swing his baby carriage when she found Camila asleep in some corner of the classroom. In general, both his mother and his friends grew up with him. All this, being Camila's biggest concern regarding the summer that was coming. She was going to deal with people her own age, but unlike her, they did not yet have the responsibility of a child. Maybe she thought too much, according to Chris this was everyone's second year as monitors, they would already know how to handle the children. She didn't want to be prejudiced, she really didn't, but when it came to caring for her son...
"Calm down, mama bear." Emma whispered, almost reading Camila's thoughts.
She couldn't do anything but smile. It would definitely be a fun summer for her and Carlitos. The best, for sure. She had a feeling that this month and a half would feel like a class on how to stop being an overprotective mom. At least the first step had already been taken.
Chris Hackett looked away from the papers in his hand, watching his older brother in the doorway. Travis had this ability to appear suddenly, without even a single noise to warn of his presence. The years had gotten him used to it, but from time to time it gave him a little scare.
"Mhmm." Was his response, continuing with the long paperwork that would surely have him sitting there all day.
Could someone tell parents that information documents about their children didn't need to have things like "favorite food"?
Travis walked into the office. Chris couldn't see it, but he was tense. He didn't know how to shake off that discomfort that invaded him every time he had to talk to his brother about that topic, especially when the bad news was included.
A strange throat clearing came from the older one. Chris looked at him again.
This time the youngest Hackett did notice the image of his brother.
"Tell me no one is dead, please." He asked. His voice sounded pleading, matching the tiredness that his gaze conveyed.
Travis looked away. He hated being the bearer of bad news. He knew that from the moment the moon set and the sun gave way to a new day in Northkill, he must have talked to his brother about certain events of the previous night, he knew it. However, he couldn't.
"The counselors you told me about..." He started, but his brother didn't let him continue.
"Bitten? Dead?" He asked, straight to the point.
"Dead. It seems that Silas was on the road last night." He reported, as if it were another of his police reports. It was simpler that way.
If it didn't feel so personal, it didn't matter, right?
Chris sighed, letting his head fall.
Travis, now even more uncomfortable, walked towards one of the windows. Seeing the beauty of the camp where many years ago (too many, if he thought about it) he was so happy, always helped him feel better. However, it was something else that caught his attention. His face wrinkled, looking confused.
"I thought the children were arriving tomorrow..." He mentioned, watching the group of counselors walk.
He doubted his eyesight was failing him. He was more than sure that the one on the boy's shoulders was a kid, and one much smaller than the ones his brother received each year for camp.
Ugh, the camp. Cruel reminder that his job would become more difficult for a month and a half. He didn't like children and their ability to get into trouble.
Chris looked at his brother.
"Yes, they'll arrive tomorrow," he stated, getting up and walking towards the window with Travis. "He is the son of one of my counselors. The one who goes there."
Travis, taking his eyes off the boy and the child, followed his brother's finger until he found the aforementioned. He couldn't help but be surprised. Was he already that old? Or did that girl look exaggeratedly young?
Chris saw the surprise in his brother.
"I know." It was his only comment.
He also had the same expression as Travis when he first met Camila. Everyone, really. The other counselors, although a little less, were also surprised when that small human being appeared holding the girl's hand.
"She doesn't look older than Kaylee." Travis said, still looking at the young woman.
"She is, but only for two years. She is twenty-two." Chris answered.
As soon as his brother mentioned the girl's age, Travis stopped looking at her.
Don't you think you're too old to be seeing twenty-two-year-old girls?
The amount of questions Travis had in his head regarding her vanished. The less he knew, the better. He turned around, walking a couple of steps and leaving the window.
Great, as if it wasn't difficult to take care of teenagers and pre-teens, now he had to take care of that. Little children were a big no for him. Very curious, very easy to lose sight of. He remembered his nephew Caleb in his first years of life and all the scares he gave Chris and Amelia when he decided to play at being an adventurer in the forest.
"Don't you think it's a little dangerous to have such a young child in Hackett's Quarry?" he asked, back to his usual bitter sheriff appearance.
Chris, still at the window, didn't seem worried.
His brother's favorite phrase. Travis hated it. It wasn't that he thought too much, it was that he was the only one in his family who thought. Of course, he fixed everything.
Sure, if the kid saw something he shouldn't have, if he got lost where he shouldn't get lost or something happened to him that wasn't supposed to happen to him; It would be his fault. Because, how could Sheriff Hackett let that happen?
The eldest Hackett hastened his departure. He wasn't going to talk to Chris, there was no point. They never listened to him, this wouldn't be the first time. He prayed that this girl would know how to take care of her little... creature.
Creature? Oh, Travis, what's wrong with you?
"Just... Keep the boy away from the forest, okay? Last year it was a pain in the ass to have to look for your lost camper."
And with that, he left. He had bigger problems waiting for him at his police station. Problems that perhaps he should have share with Chris, but he would prefer, of course, to be the one to bear the responsibility.
He did not expect that when he left the house, a meeting with that girl who he had looked so much from the window would be waiting for him.
Camila's big eyes met the tall, strange figure of a police officer. A policeman? It took her mind several seconds to assimilate that yes, she had a police officer in front of her. One too high. Too serious.
Camila, even though she had already passed that moment in her life where she should have had reasons to fear encountering a police officer, still felt a certain unease in their presence. There were no reasons, not anymore, but bad habits were difficult to erase. She didn't know if her face reflected it, but coming across one so abruptly (especially one so visually intimidating) left her in shock for a moment.
Long seconds of silence passed between the two. Travis, without transmitting any emotion in the sight of Camila. And she, of course, looking like a confused mouse in his eyes. He didn't find that reaction new, in fact, it was the most common.
Young and foolish, the older man imagined. How much shine in those scared eyes. Big and shiny.
Camila, seeking to somehow cut the awkwardness of the situation, decided to speak first. It was hard to get the words out of her mouth.
"Um..." She cut herself off, clearing her throat "Hello."
Travis didn't recognize the accent. He knew it wasn't even remotely close to Northkill, but he didn't find it similar to any he'd heard before. It was strong, too strong for such a high voice.
Camila waited for a word from the man, but her wait was in vain. More seconds full of silence and discomfort. Was it her idea or was he terrifying?
"I... I have to..." She didn't know what to say or how to make the moment less strange "Pass? Chris?"
Finally, the policeman in front of her showed signs of life. A raised eyebrow and an obvious what? captured on the man's face made Camila understand that he understood absolutely nothing of what she said. English in itself was difficult for her, in situations like this the concept of fluency was not exactly her strong point.
"I mean, I need to talk to Chris. The owner of the camp?" She said this time, still faltering over the words, but a little more coherent.
Even more doubt. No, that way of pronouncing the words... He didn't find it similar to anything.
Camila didn't know if a divine deity felt pity for her, or if Chris simply heard the strange interaction, but the owner of the camp appeared behind the police officer.
"Chris!" Camila exclaimed, relieved.
Chris looked at her and then at his brother. It was like going back years to when he would ask a girl out and by bad luck she would end up bumping into his brother. Travis Hackett was no expert when it came to human interactions. Worse if it was a woman, especially a pretty one.
A sight was heard from the youngest Hackett.
"Camila, this is my brother, Travis," he presented, placing a hand on the aforementioned's shoulder. "He is the sheriff of North kill."
Camila nodded slowly. They didn't look like brothers, and if they really were, they looked like a version of a good twin and a bad twin.
"Nice to meet you, Sheriff Hackett." She managed to say, extending her hand.
Travis contemplated not receiving the greeting, but something in the back of his brain screamed at him to move his hand. And so he did.
He couldn't remember the last time his cold skin had contact with such a warm place. The paleness of his hand was overshadowed by the girl's brown fingers. He couldn't help to notice how that caramel color shone with the reflection of the sun.
How could he not look at her? She literally glowed.
"Likewise, miss... " He left the sentence in the air. He really didn't want to know anything about her, he knew he shouldn't, but curiosity got the better of him.
"Ramirez." Camila hurried to say. Suddenly didn't find the moment so terrible.
Travis understood in that moment. That's why he didn't recognize the accent. What a way to attract attention, it seemed like everything about that girl was trying to stand out. And she did it.
"Miss Ramirez." He pronounced, as best he could, the last name.
Camila couldn't help that giggle. Travis understood why, and even though he would have loved to smile back, like a normal human being, he did nothing but ignore her.
Travis broke contact with the girl. It was distracting him too much, and more important things than an attractive young woman were waiting for him at the police station.
Short, dry. As it should be.
Chris looked at Camila, almost telepathically apologizing.
Travis quickened the pace to his patrol car.
And as suddenly as he appeared, he left.
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