Author's note:

This is it! I just published my first fanfiction!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Holes is Louis Sachars'.

Please read&review...thanks a lot! :D

Here it goes...

Chapter 1

This is going to be awful, I thought while I was watching the barren landscape through the window. The yellow bus I was sitting in had almost achieved his aim. You could clearly see the camp we were approaching- actually it was the only thing you could see in miles besides the dirt. It was what the landscape was made out of. Dirt. I could hardly believe I agreed to this. It was a school thing, you know. A one-year-working-experience-thing and I decided I could need a break before I would do my school leaving examination. Then I would probably go to university something. Well, after I have heard of this stupid working-experience-thing I contacted my relatives in Austin. Actually I am from Europe, Germany. I thought it would be interesting. Working in the USA for one year- that would be cool.

They had tried to find something, but the only place they had found was this place as a kitchen help in a juvenile correctional facility, because the older brother of their son-in-law worked there...a bit confusing, I guessed. Well, at least I was glad they found something anyway, so I happily traveled to Austin, visited my uncle and aunt and then came here. By bus. It was actually the bus they took the boys to the facility with which caused a scary feeling, just like I one of them who had done something really bad....well, maybe I did do something wrong!, I admitted in my mind remembering that I just clamped that it might have been the wrong decision to come here. The bus stopped and I walked out, almost falling to the dirty ground, giving it a disgustedly glance. I wasn't really outdoorsy. Well, maybe I should have thought about that earlier...

A man who was wearing a cowboy hat came up to me and introduced himself: „I am Mr. Sir, a counselor of this camp. Whenever you talk to me, you will call me by my name."

I raised an eyebrow. Is he serious?, I thought.

He was rude. And his name was ridiculous.

He gave me an irritated look, rolling his eyes.

„Look kid", he said, „Just 'cause you have not done anything criminal you will not have any privileges besides you ain't dig no holes. Understood?"

I watched him in disbelief. „Yes, Sir- Mr. Sir.", I answered.

„Alright then. Pendanski' s gonna show you round.", he murmured.

Right then, a short man joined us. He was not much taller then I was and I was even small for a sixteen-year-old girl.

„Welcome to Camp Green Lake!", he greeted me, giving me a huge smile, „I am Mr. Pendanski. Follow me please, I will show you the camp...let's start with Tent D.

You know, those are the boys I gotta take care of. I always tell them that 'D' stands for 'Diligence', by the way."

I did not say anything. The air was so dusty I thought I would be suffocating if I kept my mouth open for too long.

We walked across the place towards a big gray tent with a 'D' on it. I could hardly believe they really lived in those tents! I already missed our stone-built house.

We got into the tent, where seven boys were resting on a cots which stood very close together and as they saw me, they started watching me attentively. One guy who was Hispanic asked:"Hey Mom! Who's that chica?"

„Wait a minute, José!", Pendanski said.

He turned his face to me again. Awkward situation...I thought, just remembering I was standing in front of a bunch of juvenile delinquents. It was kind of frightening to me...

„Alright...alright then.", Pendanski said and he started introducing the boys.

„That are Alan, José, Theodore, Stanley, Rex, Zero and Ricky." He pointed on each person while listing their names.

Alan was a white guy wearing a hat and chewing on a toothpick. Next to him was José, the guy who asked about me before. Theodore was a tall black boy looking a bit dangerous. The guy named Stanley smiled at me, looking friendly and harmless. Rex wore thick round glasses which were so dirty that I could hardly imagine him seeing anything through it. The next one, Zero, was much smaller than the others and at least three oder four years younger. The last one was Ricky, a strange looking person. He had fuzzy blond hair standing out in all directions and he watched me suspiciously with his round big eyes.

„Yo, those ain't our names", Rex interrupted, „It's Squid, Magnet, Armpit, Caveman and Zigzag. And I'm X-Ray!" He also pointed on the boys in the same order while correcting their names. The boy named Zero did not seem to have another name, either a nickname or a real name.

„Well. They all have their little nicknames, but I prefer-"

He couldn't finish the sentence, because the boys moaned and some nasty comments. They seemed to have heard this statement more than one time...

The boys did not seem to be any younger than me- except for Zero. Maybe they were a bit older though, which made the situation even more awkward...

„So....this is Alison Bach. She will be staying at camp for the next year and will help preparing the food. As Mr. Sir thought there won't be too much work for her in the kitchen, she'll also help me with our little group here."

Wait! Hey WAIT! This was quite new to me!! As it could be seen right in my face. Some of the boys chuckled as they saw my expression of horror.

„It's okay, chica, we'll be nice!", Magnet...José...whoever chuckled and some other boys burst in laughter. Fine, then!!

Kind of embarrassing...awkward....to say it short: I want home!!

The blond boy was still watching me like I would kill him in a second. Scary.

„Uhm....Mr Pendanski...could you show me where I'm supposed to sleep?", I asked sweetly, just to get away from here.

„Well, I think I already did.", he answered, smiling again...or still, „This is where you're going to sleep. The best way to help us keeping the boys under control."

„Excuse me?", I asked. He could not be serious.

The room instantly got quiet. What the hell...?!

„Whoa! Don't do it again!", X-Ray commanded.

„Never!", Armpit agreed.

I looked at Pendanski. Did I already tell you that this situation sucks?!

Pendanski tried a smile. „ Well, it would be nice of you if you would not use this phrase again. Thank you. It just...reminds us on something...someone.", he said apologetically.

Did I mention this situation was strange? I guess I did.

There was an awkward silence following.

„So....uhm....as you're the new one- although you're not a delinquent, somebody of the boys could be your mentor, right? So he could show you round and answer your questions. It's just that me and the other adults have a lot of stuff to do, you see.", Pendanski said, glancing at me. „So why don't you just chose one?", he added.

„I don't know...", I admitted. I didn't know any of them.

The one who's least criminal!, a voice in my head begged. But I couldn't say that, it would be rude. Maybe it would have been the safest way for me, but I did not want them to hate me from the beginning though. As I thought about their reaction to it, I actually doubted that it was the safest way...

„Any volunteers?", Pendanski asked and glanced at the boys? Nobody answered. Great!, I thought I was already a bit pissed.

„Fine. I think Ricky would like to. Ricky, you're going to help her, right?"

The blond hesitated, then nodded slowly. Fine, the weird one.

When Pendanski was about to leave, I recognized that there were only seven cots.

„Wait!", I said, „Where am I supposed to sleep?", I asked.

„I already told you!", he said.

„No, I mean, here are only seven cots. We're eight in here right now!"

Pendanski shrugged.

„So you have to sleep on the floor, unless one of the boys switches with you", he told and left.

That could not be true. As it wasn't bad enough to sleep in a room full of criminal boys!! I watched Pendanski in disbelief until he disappeared.

I tried not to wonder what my parents would think about this if they knew. They would probably take me home as soon as they could to safe me. Oh how I missed and needed them right now!! Damn!!

I decided to sit down in one of the corners, getting some things out of my backpack. A little bit later I sat there eating chocolate and listening to some music...Green Day...anyway. At least the boys weren't watching me anymore.

The only was that I was running out of water. I drank everything I got on the journey! I looked up. None of the boys saw me. Looking around, I wondered whom should I ask. I decided to try to accost my mentor. I glanced at him. He lay on his cot, his eyes closed. I walked towards him and cleared my throat again. "I'm sorry...could you tell me where I can fill this?", I asked. He got frightened, jumped up immediately and grabbed for my arm. "How dare you..?!", he asked angrily.

I couldn't answer. He stared right into my face and caught me with his hypnotizing blue eyes. He looked really dangerous. I could not even move even if I wanted to...I...

"Zig! Hey, Zigzag!!"

Someone shook his shoulders. He loosened his grip around my arm.

"Zigzag! Stop it!", the voice said again.

Then his eyes moved on to the person who had touched him and I got free from his piercing look.

I blinked. That's been confusing!

I realized the other guy who had helped me was Squid.

"Just show her, man!", he said a bit bored now, then speaking in a lower voice addressing me, "He's a little crazy. I read his file some time ago. It says he suffers from...uhm....acute paranoia."

So I was right. My mentor was a madman. I wondered if it could get worse.

Zigzag stood up and gave me a sign that I should follow him. I realized everyone's been watching us.

Zigzag did not even seem to notice. He lead me to the water spigot without saying a word. I was surprised he was waiting for me. As he stood with his back to me, I could regard him. Actually he looked pretty handsome with his crystal clear blue eyes, his wavy blond hair and his weird gaze. Oh stop it!! Who cares?!, I told myself. Being handsome didn't make his character any better. He was a delinquent...I should be careful.

As we went back, a lot of guys watched me. I guessed that they did not see girls in here that often.

It felt awkward. Again. When we reentered the tent, I thanked Zigzag and went back to 'my corner'.

Thirsty as I was I drank almost half of the bottle. It felt really good and helped me to forget about my worries.

But I couldn't forget about Zigzag. He seemed to be annoyed by my presence. Did I shock him too much? Did he hate me now? Just shut up!, I told myself and went to sleep the corner.

Yaaay...first chapter finished! :D

Yes, I'm kinda proud now! ;);) It took me a long time to think of a reason how to bring Alison to camp! Oo.

I hope this work experience-thing is even possible!

Well, some friends of mine have been to New York, though...

If it's not possible, I just beg you to image it was! ;)

Thanks you so much for reading!!!!!!!

Please tell me if you have questions or something...

Lola