Okay folks, sorry this took so long to get up (I also now hear "sorry" with a Canadian accent when I read the word). I'm going to try to make this one longer than four chapters. You guys should feel very special right now because I'm procrastinating doing my homework to write this. I'm going to be pulling an all-nighter, which is nigh impossible for me. (I like to use old language sometimes, so sue me.) So I've decided Jude's going to be 17, going on 18, in like, a month. Sound good? Oh, and pay attention, because Tommy's new keypad code that Jude set is going to come into play in this chapter. Anyways, here's the first chapter of Tent Wars!
Jude POV
I was currently on a school bus, driving to goodness knows where, after a plane ride that was goodness knows how long. I was also crammed next to Tommy, who was snoring. Loudly.
Behind me sits all of SME squished into one seat. I swear, those guys are inseparable. In front of me sits Karma, lounging with her legs taking up the spot next to her.
As I look around at the others on the bus, Tommy, who has just woken up, is rummaging through his backpack. A few seconds later, he pulls out is phone, and I grin. Perfect.
He goes to unlock the keypad, typing in his lock code. His face pulls into this cute little puzzled expression when the keypad won't unlock for him. He tries the code again. He repeats this cycle several times until, slow as he is, he realizes that someone (like, say, me?) has changed his lock code.
"JUDE!" he roars, breaking the haze that has been hanging over all of the G-Major staff since the airport. All eyes turn to us. "WHAT DID YOU CHANGE IT TO?"
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Quincy."
"THE LOCK CODE, HARRISON!" Man, Tommy was really overreacting. I wonder what he'd think of the new lock code when he finally figured it out.
"Tommy, how could I change your lock code, and more importantly, why would I want to?"
He just mumbled something that sounded like 'good girl my ass,' as the bus finally rolled to a stop.
Tommy POV
"Okay kids!" Darius yells, standing up after he hangs up from talking on the cell phone. I swear he's been glued to that thing since the airport. "Here we are! Turnstalt Campgrounds!" (a/n: I just made that name up.)
I am really not looking forward to this trip. Mr. Great Outdoors and I just don't mix. The first -and last, I had hoped- time I went camping was when I was five. It was a very scarring experience.
"Now, I've assigned everyone their tentmates already, and I brought the tents. So get your bags, and haul your asses out of this bus; when we get to the first campsite, I'll tell you who's staying there."
Jude POV
I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've been camping at least once a year since I was five. My skills were a little rusty because I hadn't been since the summer before I won Instant Star, but hey, how many of these skinny-ass fashionistas do you think can actually put up a tent?
I picked up my small, and only, duffle, while Tommy struggled with his two massive suitcases. Sadie, despite being, well, Sadie, was as skilled a camper as I. She and I both had only a single tiny duffle with us, and lightweight sleeping bags tucked in the hold of the bus. I saw Tommy still struggling, so I decided to help the man, as I was still in a good mood from winning the text war.
"Here, let me get that," I said, taking the heavier looking of the two suitcases. The suitcase was feather-light to me. "Jeez, LTQ, wimpy much?"
"LTQ?" he questioned, one eyebrow raised, ignoring the wimpy comment.
"Yeah. I don't have enough breath to waste calling you Little Tommy Q," I said, smirking as his questioning expression turned to one of anger. Before he could catch me though, I was running off the bus, suitcase and duffle in hand, and waiting for the bus driver to unload my sleeping bag.
---
We had been to ten campgrounds already, and Darius had said he was staying at one of them. All of his were dragging along coolers or boxes. We got to the eleventh, and apparently final, campsite.
"Okay," Darius began. "SME, and Tommy get Tent A. Jude and Sadie get Tent B. Karma and Jamie get Tent C." For Tent A, Darius pointed towards a large tent by the picnic table. For tent B, he pointed towards a medium sized tent near the fire pit. For Tent C, he pointed towards a tiny (and most definitely one-person) tent at the edge of camp. "All the boxes and coolers you have are for this campsite. Meet back at the first campsite a week from today, at 6:00 pm, for an all-staff dinner. Until then, do whatever you want, and don't disturb me." With that, he left us.
"Okay!" Sadie yelled, taking over with her usual bossiness. "Everyone get their suitcases and put them in their tent. Then, anyone everyone come back here, except Jude." Ah, Sadie knew me well.
We all went back to our tents. After Sadie left our tent, I zipped up the tent, rolled out my sleeping bag, and changed into gray sweats and a red sweatshirt. I then crawled into my sleeping bag, and closed my eyes.
---
I was up bright and early the next morning. Although this is a-typical behavior for me, it was completely normal when we went camping. After getting the campfire going, I hade raided the boxes and coolers, seeing what we had.
I took a propane stove and a pan out from one of the boxes, and some eggs from the cooler. Just as I was beginning to make scrambled eggs, Tommy came out of his tent.
"Do my eyes deceive me?" he asked playfully. "Jude Harrison up at the early hour of six?"
I smiled, going back to scrambling the yellow goo in the pan.
"So," he began, placing his arms on the wooden picnic table and leaning forward. "I have an idea. What do you say to a rematch, camping style?"
I looked up from my pan grinning. "That depends. Do you think you can handle it?"
"Girl, I can handle this in my sleep," he replied cockily, a smirk plastered on his face.
"Okay, but on one condition; loser has to jump into the lake, butt naked."
"You're on, girl," he said, holding out his hand.
I dumped the eggs on a plate and shook it.
Alright, I know, too short. But I'm already thinking of the next chapter, and, despite my homework, I'm going to start typing it ASAP. I know this chapter wasn't really funny, but it's setting up for the rest of the story. Hope y'all enjoyed it regardless.
toodles,
breezyme
