28Thanks so much for the awesome reviews I got for the last chapter! I got quite a few anonymous reviews, which is like 'whoa!'
Thank you to Sarah!, annon111, Carol, THERESE, pauline, itybitytitycommitie, LAWREN, zoe101 and :), for all your lovely reviews! I was very surprised when I saw so many, but nevertheless, thanks to all of them! :D
Chapter 2
"Did I not tell you that violence is not permitted here?" Will asked Ali and Peter. I stood there next to them. Serena stood with the rest from our group behind us.
"Actually Will you didn't," I answered for the sake of the guys. I mean it was kind of my fault that they were in the situation. Will glared at me more.
"You fought over a girl? It's been only about three days!" He added ignoring my comment. That's right, that girl that Tim and Peter fought over was me. Oh joy!
-Earlier that day-
"Since we've gotten to know each other and the camp, I think we should start with out first camp activity. As Darlene told you Skinny Camp is supposed to be, not only a camp to gain weight, but also a camp to have fun and do real camp activities." I shifted my weight and waited for him to continue.
"So, I've decided to take you rock climbing. Before you scream blue murder, I should tell you that it's not a very big wall we're climbing, and you'll be prepped on how to use the equipment before we start." Will took one look at our faces and added another enthusiastic, "Come on it'll be fun! I'll join you!" The girls in our groups lightened up while the guys looked bleak. I was actually looking forward to rock climbing. My brother and I went rock climbing often, there was a centre near our house which we visited during the weekends and holidays.
One by one we made our way to our meeting point after getting dressed. Will counted us off and we finally set off to be prepped. There were a couple of guys standing there waiting for us.
"Hey there guys," he said in a rich Australian accent. "My name's Johnny, I'm going to prep you on how to use the equipment and I'll be taking you down to the wall. Before we get started I'm just going to check your shoes, some of you may need to change yours."
After getting our shoes and learning how to use the equipment we set off on a small walk to the wall. "So, has anyone here gone Rock climbing before?" Johnny asked from the front. Ali and I murmured a yes.
"I have, but not on real rocks," I said. Ali nodded in head in agreement.
"Well the real thing is the best, but seeing as you guys have experience you can go either first or last. Show off your skills if you want," he said winking. "Or you can let the others go and then you can show off."
"Erm, I think I'll not show off, I only went a couple of times," I said with a eyebrow raised. Who was this guy? He just shook his head chuckling. "What was funny?" I asked Serena. She just shrugged muttering something like 'weirdos'.
"So, how long have you been rock climbing?" Ali asked me. I mentally scanned my brain. I told him about six years. "Wow! Seriously?!" Er, yeah, I just said didn't I? "That's so cool. I've only ever been once or twice. It wasn't really my thing, my mom made me go. I didn't even want to come here, but my dad said that boys my age needed to look big and strong to protect the women. I didn't really agree but my younger brother was stronger than me-"
Wow, this guy talks! I zoned out after a while. Will, who was walking behind us, might have noticed my discomfort since I kept groaning, and tilting my head back, because he told Ali to go to the front and discuss the order that we should go in. Ali nodded enthusiastically.
"I'll be back Sarah," he said before scampering off. I glared at Serena who was giggling next to me.
"Thanks," I said to Will who just nodded in reply. "And thank you for helping me!" I said to Serena who bit her lip, but I could see the grin on her face. I glared some more and she ran off to the front. "I wasn't even going to do anything!" I shouted. I shook my head. Honestly, what could itty bitty me do to anyone? -cough-cough-
"Well I think that was some speech he was giving you," Will said suddenly appearing at my side, taking Serena's place. I glared at him too. "I think he's quite smitten to you," he added thoughtfully. I punched his shoulder while he just smirked. "That didn't hurt." I tucked my thumb under my curled up fingers and punched him again. This time he let out a small yelp. "OW! When did you learn to hit like a guy?" This time it was my turn to smirk.
"I took self defense classes."
"Why?" He asked nursing his throbbing arm. I looked at him. Why? There were so many answers I could give to that question, but I gave the more simpler one.
"Never hurts to learn and besides," I added. "It came in handy."
"You mean when you hit me now right?"
"Sure." Will looked at me, I could tell he was thinking about something, his eyes went all misty. "Come one, we're dragging behind."
x-x-x-x
"Hey! Sarah! I think we should be partners!" Ali said running up to me. I mentally groaned. Ali was cute, he had brown eyes, brown hair and light brown skin. It was such a good combination. I would've totally said yes to him, except, a) he talked a lot, b) he talked a lot and c) he talked A LOT!
"Actually, I think it would be better if we partnered up with other people, because then we can teach them what to do and...stuff," I said quickly. Ali looked crestfallen.
"Oh, well, I'm not really that good. I've only been twice."
"Still, that's twice more than...say Harriet. Why don't you go partner up with her?" Ali nodded slowly and went off to Harriet who stood timidly at the back. I looked around to see Serena but she was already partnered up with someone. She mouthed a sorry, I just shook my head and mouthed 'It's OK'.
"Hey," I said walking up to a guy. "Want to partner up with me?" What was his name? Paul...Pete...Penn...
"OK, I'm Peter by the way." Peter!
"Cool, I'm Sarah." Once we had put on our harnesses, and got a quick demonstration from Johnny and Will, we had turns to have a go. I let Peter go up first, while I stood and the bottom and dealt with the ropes. There were quite a few girlie shrills from some of the guys, including Peter, and some of the girls. Serena climbed the wall as if she hadn't a care in the world. Rock on sister!
"Come on Peter! Just a bit more!" I cried urging a terrified Peter to climb further up the wall. I was loosing patience, there were only two more pairs left, and we were the first pair to go!
"I can't!" Peter cried.
"All right, come on down then," I said sighing. I let the rope loose while Peter came down. Ali came up next to me with a smug smile.
"We finished long ago. I told you that you should have come with me instead. This guy's a loser!" Ali said. I gritted my teeth. Peter was much better than him any day.
"Well at least he got there, and it was his first go! I admire him," I said smirking as I saw the smirk go from his face. "He got further than most people did."
"Whatever," he said before walking off. I chuckled evilly in my head. So I lied? It got Ali off my back.
"You thought I did good?" Peter asked once he was on the ground. I smiled weakly. The last thing I needed was another Ali. I just took the rope off him and put it on myself, and knotted it. Johnny came over to check the knot. Once he approved I started to climb. The beginning bit was hard, since it was real rocks, and not fake ones, you had to find places to put your hands in. I made my hands into fists and put them through a gap and heaved myself up.
Once I was half way up I felt the rope getting slack. I was in a very awkward position. I looked down, the rest of the groups were finished. "Can you please pull the rope!" I shouted.
"What!?" Peter called out from the bottom.
"The rope! Pull the damn rope!" I shouted. I think someone got the message because the rope didn't feel slack anymore. I continued on up. I touched the top of the wall, I got some cheers from below, I grinned feeling happy with myself.
"Alrighty then mini-monkey, come on down!" Johnny called. Mini-monkey? What is he on? I was almost down, there was only a tiny bit left to go when I came crashing down.
"Ah!" I cried. I fell on the ground with a thud. Luckily we had helmets on, though it still felt like I fallen down a wall...which I did do.
"You weren't supposed to let go of the rope until she was firmly on the ground!" Johnny said. I blinked slowly and opened my eyes. "Oh thank god, she's alright."
"My head..." I moaned sitting up. "I'm never going rock climbing again." Some people in the group laughed weakly.
"Sorry Sarah, I thought you were on the ground," Peter said weakly.
"Oh, yeah," Ali scoffed. "She's dangling from midair, so I guess that means she's on the ground," He continued sarcastically.
"OK, enough of that, the main thing is that she's OK," Will said. Serena and Harriet helped me up. I murmured a thanks to them. I lifted up the leg of my Capri pants, my calf was bleeding slightly.
"Yeah, no thanks to you," Ali said to Peter.
"OK, what is your problem? She doesn't even like you, she likes me!" Peter said.
"Oh boy," I muttered though no one heard me. Will was looking between the three of us.
"Yeah right! Like she'd ever like you!" Ali scoffed. I stepped forward.
"Peter..." I started.
"Ha! She said your name, that means she was going to tell you that she doesn't like you," Ali said grinning at me. I glared at him. What the hell was going on?
"Yeah, and that's why she's glaring at you," Peter said. "Let's just settle this man to man."
"Guys..." I started stepping in between them, only to be pushed back. Will caught me as Peter sent a fist towards Ali, who dodged and threw his own fist at Peter. Johnny and Will intervened before things got worse.
"Guys," Serena said sighing. I rolled my eyes. This was a fabulous day...not.
-Back to the present time-
"Did I not tell you that violence is not permitted here?" Will asked Ali and Peter. I stood there next to them. Serena stood with the rest from our group behind us.
"Actually Will you didn't," I answered for the sake of the guys. I mean it was kind of my fault that they were in the situation. Will glared at me more.
"You fought over a girl? It's been only about three days!" He added ignoring my comment. "You guys better pack it in, or I'll put you in another group."
"Fine, but he started this," Ali said nursing his arm that Peter hit after his first punch failed.
"Look, I don't like any of you. Not you Ali nor you Peter. So you guys can be friends again, because...because...I already have a boyfriend!" Now the whole group looked at me. "That's right. Back in Napa, there's a guy waiting for me, so don't even bother trying to suave me," I lied. Serena and Will looked at me weirdly, then they both looked at each other and grinned. They probably knew I was lying.
"Oh? So what's his name?" Serena asked smirking. (Gasp) I'd already fallen down a wall, been pushed around and now she was torturing me even more!? Will acted like he was very interested, although he had a grin on his face.
"His name is, Edward. That's right, Eddie. So ha!" I said to Serena.
"Why didn't you tell us before? I mean, how could you lead us on?" Ali said. Peter nodded. My jaw dropped. I lead them on? Are friggin kidding me?
"When...I...huh? I never ever, ever, in the history of ever, lead you on!" I said. Ali and Peter shook their heads and started off back to camp. Johnny followed them along with he rest of the group.
"I never lead you ON!" I screamed. "That's a lot Miss oh-so-what's-his-name." I glared at Serena who was giggling. "I mean, how they hell did they get the idea that I liked them? Honestly. Oh shut up you!" I dragged Serena by the arm. "You were no help," I said looking at Will. He just shrugged grinning.
x-x-x-x
At dinner, all the groups were outside eating the specified foods that would help us gain weight sensibly. There was a stage in front of us that was lit up. I grew anxious as to why the stage was set up. We were all sitting in our groups too, which didn't help. I hoped that it wasn't some competition between all the groups.
"OK, girls and boys, as our first fun camp activity that involves all the campers, we're going to have a friendly competition between all the groups," Darlene said standing on stage. Rats! I spoke to soon.
"OK, so what we're going to do is get one girl and one boy from each group and the camp leaders to come up here and sing a song each. Think of this as a mini American Idol. I'll be a judge alongside Mary, the cook, and Simon, a camp organiser. We'll lt you finish up your food, but after that you have to choose your boy and girl, then think of a song you're going to sing."
I can't sing! Pray let it not be me!
"Okey doke," Will said. "I have no choice but to do this, so I don't give a damn if you can sing or not, so we either pick straws, play rock, paper, scissors, or someone volunteers." I think that was a hint for us to put our hands up. None of us did. "Right," he continued. "Thought as much." He watched us all for a minuted while we continued stuffing our faces with food.
"OK, so we're going to have to get straws. I'll be back in a second."
"Oh! I love singing!" Viola cried. I looked at her as if she'd grown another head.
"Why didn't you volunteer then?" Harriet asked.
"Oh, I like singing, but I don't want to sing." Wait, did that even make sense?
"OK then..." Harriet answered. I looked over at Serena and made an uneasy face, she replied with the same sort of look. Neither of us wanted to sing. Will came running back alongside a couple of other camp leaders. It seemed no one else in the other groups volunteered either.
"Right, we had straws cut out already, each of the girls pick one, the one that has the shortest is the one that's singing." We each picked one. I had one in mind to pick out, but then changed my mind. "Right, now show us!"
"Nooooo!" I cried. I should've gone with my first choice! "Please not me!" I cried. The other girls sighed in relief. "Don't do this to me!" I said hysterically.
"Sorry, fair's fair." Will took our straws, mixed them up and held them out to the guys. Each one picked a straw while I threw a dramatic fit. No one paid any attention to me. No one! Hmph.
"No!" Tim cried out. I stopped my fit and started laughing at him. He glared at me. "You have to sing too."
"Yeah, but this way we can share the embarrassment." Tim looked thoughtful and shrugged. "Oh, and don'#t forget Willy here."
"Don't call me that."
"What? Willy?" I asked him innocently. Will just rolled his eyes. but was unable to keep the small grin off his face. Ten minutes later all the equipment was set up. Apparently the they had a karaoke of every song since the year 2000, which I highly doubted. Darlene smirked and said 'Just try me', when I told her what I thought. I huffed and went back to my group. Will was going to sing 'Billy Jean', the Chris Cornell version. Tim had chosen 'Simple Plan's Your love is a lie'. I had finally chosen Paramore's song 'Misery Business'. I knew that they'd never have that on there. Or at least I hoped they didn't.
"OK, first up we'll have Shawn's group, followed by Callie's." They two chosen people and Shawn went up onto stage. One of the girl's had chosen a S Club 7 song, I think she thought that they might not have it, but they did. Why didn't I research songs of the 20th Century?! The first group were pretty good, so was the second. Jessie's group however..not so much. Thankfully the chosen guy saved them a little. John's group did worse Finally it was our turn. We were the penultimate group to sing. It wasn't as bad as being first or last.
Will went first singing Billy Jean. I had to say he did quite good. He danced around the stage a bit which got all the girls giggling and the guys looking amused. I was laughing my head off when he did a long note to end it off. We all clapped. I was too busy laughing I didn't notice Tim going up. I sure didn't want to go last, but I guess he was thinking that too, which left me to go last. Drats!
Tim started of shaky, I mean it was a big crowd and there were judges. Who didn't look as intimidating as the crowd. I went over the words to the song in my head. Tim did good and when he finished got a great response from the crowd. Great! they've got the crowd pumping! I'm going to be such a disappointment!
I got up and told the 'DJ' the song. He nodded and put it in. Noooo! That means I have to sing! I stood in front of the mike. Will and Tim were sitting with our group, they gave me a thumbs up. Serena was grinning at me. I took a deep breath in and smiled. I nodded at the DJ who started the song. I grinned and tapped my feet to the beat of the drums and started singing.
"I'm in the business of misery,
Let's take it from the top.
She's got a body like an hourglass it's ticking like a clock.
It's a matter of time before we all run out,
When I thought he was mine she caught him by the mouth.
I waited eight long months,
She finally set him free.
I told him I can't lie he was the only one for me.
Two weeks and we had caught on fire,
She's got it out for me,
But I wear the biggest smile."
I took a deep breath in, I was really into the chorus. The start was a little shaky, but I knew I could nail the chorus...even if I did sound like a hyena on crack.
"Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.
Cause God it just feels so,
It just feels so good."
I continued on with the rest of the song, Will stood up and danced around during the guitar solo at the end. I laughed, my nerves were eased as I saw that the groups weren't looking as those they were about to throw up.
"It feels so good." I ended the song and got a massive applause from the crowd. Wow, I didn't sound like a hyena on crack. I smiled and jumped off the stage and went back to my group who greeted me with such enthusiasm.
"Wow! You never said you could sing!" Serena cried.
"You never asked. Wait, that was good?" i asked my eyes popping out.
"Hell to the yes!" Serena said. We sat back down as the next group got up to sing.
"Great job," Will whispered into my ear. I felt a tingle run down my spine, it was only for the fact the Jessie's group started singing, that I stopped myself from shivering. Instead I nodded and smiled.
"You too," I replied. "Same to you Tim, good one." Time thanked me and returned the compliment. Jessie's group...well let's just say a hyena on crack may have sounded better, but it was all in the spirit of fun.
In the end our group came first which I thought was a major surprise. Me, the girl who was freaking out like a...a...freaker outter helped our group win. The three of us got medals. It had a small mic on the front with musical noted coming out of it. I went to bed starring at my medal and smiling. Today wasn't all too bad.
"Go on Lil, it'll be fun!" I said to Lily. "There's only going to other seven year olds, just like you, so they'll be no mean older kids like me."
"You're not mean!" Lily said. "Why can't you come with me?"
"I can't I'm twelve, if I want to go in the bouncy castle, I have to be your age." Lily looked up at me with her brown eyes. She smiled weakly and nodded.
"Hey! That's the spirit, I'll be right out here," I said to her. Mum was working as usual and dad was with his friends from work. We were at a small carnival. Mum had promised that she'd take us, but work called...again. I sighed mentally.
"OK!" Lily said brightly as she took her shoes off and joined the other girls and boys who were jumping up and down freely. I smiled as I saw her befriend a boy who held her hand as they jumped. I 'awed' to myself at the cute Kodak moment. A light bulb went off in my head as I remembered that I actually had a camera in my bag. I took it out and called Lily. They both looked at me, they put on huge grins as I took the picture. Cute.
Before anyone asks, that is what you do in rock climbing, the real thing...I've been! Yay moi! Though I'm pretty sure none of you were going to ask...lol
Anywho, thanks for reading! :D