Author's Note: AN APOLOGY TO THOSE WHO READ THIS STORY BEFORE I UPDATED IT! That is what happens when I try and write a story in two hours... at midnight. :) An epic fail. (My clauses weren't properly placed, y'all- THEY WERE LEFT OPEN ENDED! Grammar freak out moment.) So, I proof read it and I hope it makes more sense. Now for the rest of the author's note.

So, this started when I tried to read a romantic fic on here the other day, but I couldn't find hardly any good ones on Holes. So, I'm writing my own. I hope you enjoy this short introductory chapter. P.S., if you're reading my other stories, I haven't forgotten about them. I'm just ADD when it comes to writing. If I don't write what I feel like writing, I'll explode. I'll update all of them in the course of the next few weeks, then more often after that. Sorry for the dry spell.

I looked out the wide windows on the dusty old bus. I didn't do it. But it didn't matter. No one believed me.

When I was tried, they told me that I wouldn't last a minute in Juvie, so they sent me to Camp Green Lake. They told me that it was normally for boys, but the Warden was a girl, too, so I wouldn't be alone. That, and they argued that I would be fine, considering the crime I had committed was a "big boy" crime. They told me I was meant for this league.

Meant for Camp Green Lake.

Ironic name. I didn't see no lake. I saw the driest land I'd ever seen. And holes. Lots and lots of holes.

"How much longer?" I yelled at the driver at the front. He just grunted and mumbled something like "too long", so I decided to just keep quiet after that. I had enough fun antagonizing the driver during the entire twelve hour bus ride. I needed to save my breath to defend myself against the some hundred boys at this camp.

I saw a vague outline of an old-fashioned house, surrounded by tents and other small buildings. "There it is," I uttered under my breath.

I propped my legs up on the seat opposite from where I was sitting. Throwing my shoulder over the seat, I looked at the holes outside, some with boys in them, dust flung into messy piles. A few tried to squint into the bus to see the new prisoner, but I knew they couldn't see me. That Texas sun was too bright.

I followed the dirt path that we were travelling on with my eyes, guessing that we were to be at the camp in a matter of seconds. Well, if they wanted me to get off, they were going to have to make me. I settled my back down into an even further slump, sinking down into the seat and crossing my arms defensively.

The bus driver drove right through the middle of the camp, swerving to avoid staring boys dressed in hideous orange jumpsuits, but he didn't slow down in the least. At last, he slammed on the brakes, and roughly put the bus into park, making the whole vehicle shudder. I heard his heavy boots walk to the foot of my seat. I slowly looked up at him and raised one eyebrow. He threw my bag into my chest and said, "Get out. You're here."

I didn't budge.

I guess he didn't know how to respond, because he kind of just stood there for a few minutes, scratching his head. He'd probably never had to deal with a camper who didn't want off the bus... or at least a female one, anyway. Finally, he just scooped me up, threw me over his shoulder, and carried my bag in the other hand. From the door of the bus, he threw me on the ground without reserve, and my bag bounced on the ground right beside me as he sped off.

Rubbing my now scratched elbows, I sat up, dusting myself off. I picked up my bag, and looked up at my new home for the first time. Well, I would have, if twenty something boys weren't around me. One of them let out a long, low whistle.

"'Scuse me?" I growled, puffing out my chest and opening my arms wide.

"Leave her alone," said a voice from the back of the crowd. A tall, curly-headed lady emerged from the sea of boys, like Moses himself had parted it.

"Keely Lancaster, I take it?" she stuck out her hand. I went to shake it, but she grabbed me by the arm and led me back out through the testosterone ocean to the cabin. She shut the door behind us, guided me over to a couch, and pushed me down.

"You thirsty, Lancaster?"

"Yes m'am."

I heard the sound of a Coke bottle being opened, and then the sound of clunky cowboy boots on the hardwood floor. She held the drink in my face, and I took it. I drank it without hesitation.

"You know, no one's had one of those around here 'cept me in years. You're a lucky one, you are." She put her booted feet up on the coffee table. I stared her down, refusing to break eye contact. "You're bold. I like it."

She studied me for a minute, and I stared at her right back, sipping on the Coke nonchalantly. "You seem capable of defending yourself. So, unless you can give me a good reason for me not to put you in an all boys tent, that's where you're going to end up."

I shrugged. "I'm all for it. Bring it on." I too put my flip-flop-wearing feet on the coffee table. A sly smile slid over her face.

"Glad to see we're on the same page. So, instead of having Mr. Sir explain things to you, I thought we'd have a girl to girl talk. It's nice to have a bit of estrogen in this camp, even if you have caused a little trouble. I've had to order new uniforms for you." She stood and walked over to a box, still wrapped in packing tape, fresh from the manufacturer. She cut it open with one of her long, painted nails, and dropped the opened package on my lap. I pulled out two white tank tops and orange baggy pants. Eh, not so bad.

"I'm just going to lay it all out for you, short and sweet. One's for diggin', the other's for relaxin'. Every three days, you turn in your work clothes to be washed and your relaxin' clothes become your diggin' clothes. You dig one hole each day, five feet by five feet. If you can't eye it, use the length of your shovel. Watch out for rattlesnakes and yellow spotted lizards. Oh, and good luck tryin' to run away. If you hadn't noticed, there's no fences or guards. Just the open, dry desert with all its vultures that'd love to get their claws on your flesh. I suggest you don't let them." She paused for a second, rubbing her chin.

"I'm going to put you in D-Tent. They only have eight right now, including Pendanski. And, in advance, I'm sorry about Pendanski. He's… chipper. I'm not going to have anyone check your bags, because, well, girl reasons that these Neanderthals wouldn't understand... and honestly, I just don't feel like checking it myself. I trust that you won't have anything you're not supposed to, right?"

My mind went immediately to my dagger, hidden within the layers of my clothes and books in my bag. "Yeah, sure."

"Good. Go get set up in your tent. Maybe I'll see you later." She turned her back to me, obviously expecting me to just up and leave.

Taking my new uniforms with me, I let myself out, curious to see the camp around me. I was immediately swarmed by boys. I rolled my shoulders back, clenching my fists, making a mental note of the location of my dagger in my bag.

"What's the matter? Ever seen a girl before?" I said, squinting my eyes.

"It's been a few years," said a boy with thick, dusty glasses. "What'd you say your name was, again?" He and several others followed behind me.

"Keely. What's yours?"

"X—"

"His name is Rex." This older, more annoying voice made me stop and turn around. A hand was thrust into my face. I took it, shaking it firmly, peering into the face of its owner. "My name is Dr. Pendanski. I'm excited to meet you, Keely. Welcome to Camp Green Lake! I am so happy that you were put into Tent D." At this, some of the boys nudged each other and smirks were displayed on their lips. "D stands for diligence. You see…"

I decided not to listen any further. I nodded my head, from time to time looking at the boys surrounding us. A close group in particular was talking to each other without taking their eyes off of me, which included Rex.

Soon, I noticed that Pendanski had stopped talking and I asked simply, "Which way to Tent D?" He smiled at me and pointed to a certain tent off a ways, and I mumbled thanks and started walking. The boys dispersed, all except the talkative group, which followed me.

"Nice to meet you, chica. We're your new tent mates." I opened the flap to the tent, letting it close behind me, not caring for them to follow me in.

They did anyway. "I'm Magnet." I turned around to see him. He was standing there with the widest grin on his face. "This is Barfbag, Armpit, X-Ray, ZigZag, and Squid. That over there is Zero. Don't bother talking to him. He won't talk back." I shot a small glance over to the short kid on the farthest cot.

I examined them all for a bit. They seemed nice enough, normal enough… well, as normal as convicts can be. The strangest thing had to have been ZigZag's hair.

"Thanks for the introductions, boys. Maybe y'all can show me the ropes. I'm Keely, in case you haven't heard."

X-Ray stepped forward. "Oh, we've heard. Hard to miss such a pretty lady." He started to move his hand toward my face. Without hesitation, I slapped him hard across the face. He winced, grabbing his cheek and backing away. I kept my apathetic look on my face.

"Let's get something straight. No one messes with me. Got it?" With that, I unzipped my bag and pulled out my dagger, sheath and all. They stared at me, wide eyed. "That's right. Y'all understand now."

I started to unfold my uniform, eyeing the boys. "So… I need to change now." They didn't budge. A mischievous smile came over Magnet's face. I unsheathed my dagger. "Everybody out… NOW!"

They bumped into each other, sliding and falling as they tried to get out of the same tiny opening all at once. Grinning to myself, I started to change clothes. It was going to be an interesting six years.