A/N: This is a summer story of mine... Read on! Also comments are very welcome!

The smell of the wind, the lakes, the sky, the gas from the buses, the dining hall, the latrines, Campfire Smoke and the smell of horses. Damn… Nothing beats the smell of camp. Alfred loved it. He had loved it ever since he had been able to identify it, that had been when he was four. He had been going to camp since before he was born. His mom worked as a cook in the main kitchen, and ever since then he had been enthralled with it. He loved the Waterfront, the Dining Hall, the Art Hut, the Program Center, even run-down old Tamaray, but nothing came close to his love of the horses there. God he loved them, they were so gorgeous and powerful and free, they were free, not that he was not, he was practically a free range child, allowed to wander as long as he had a bear bell. He just loved them. That is what he had aspired to do since he was a child, work with the horses, and that dream had come true. He had begun to "Apprentice" there when he was 13, and he was now 18. Alfred was working with a new American Painted mare. She was skittish and pulled ahead of him as he lead her out to pasture. It was a warm day and his flannel shirt clung to him, as he hiked back to the stables. It began tomorrow, June 8th, the true beginning of his summer. The campers would stream in on buses and the cabins would be filled. Old songs would be sung and units assigned. Burnt food, burnt fingers, burnt skin and the smell of smoke. Old friends and new. He was excited to say the least. He pulled off his hat and hung it on a hook, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. He checked the time, two hours until the counselor pre camp meeting. That was enough time for a short ride, a shower and showing up fashionably late. He finished his chores and saddled his favorite horse, a gray speckled Arabian, affectionately named Stars n' Stripes by a young Alfred. She was fast and loved Alfred, just as much as he loved her. He climbed into the saddle and set off along a trail he had made over the years, dodaling in and enjoying the peace, before the storm.

It turns out that his ride and shower were a little bit longer than expected. It was 3:20 when he finally sat down next to Arthur in the Program Center. "Where were you?" A voice hissed quietly in his ear as Mary droned on about fire safety. Alfred smirked, turning to the slightly older British boy next to him. "Where wasn't I?" Arthur groaned and face-tabled. "Is there anything you would like to share with us Mr. Kirkland?" Mary asked sending him a vicious glare. He flushed with embarrassment. "Uh… No, Mrs. O'Brien." "Good." She stated firmly before returning to the virtues of metal marshmallow sticks. "A blush looks good on you, cher." Francis commented from across the table. "Shut it, frog." was all he said, hiding from the nasty glare sent his way from the head table. Both Francis and Alfred laughed. Only to be shushed a few moments later, by Ludwig who was avidly taking notes. Alfred snickered. Eventually, after about 15 minutes of the meeting Alfred lost interest and began to stare off into space, thinking about the stars, then Stars n' Stripes, then America, then… Fingers were snapping under his nose. Mary O'Brien, Irish immigrant, and head of camp for 25 years stared down at him. "Would you like to inform us what you were thinking about?" Her voice as cold as ice. Alfred shook his head and smiled up at her. "Stars, and horses and camp…" He trailed off looking once more into the distance. This time she pinched him. "Ouch!" "Pay attention, this is important. Take notes like Ludwig." She turned and walked quickly to the front of the room. "Wahwahwahwahwahwah wah." He murmured mimicking her. "I saw that Mr. Jones." Giggles erupted, around the room. "Hush all of you. I would like to introduce our new Arts and Crafts leader, Madeline Williams. Come on up dear." The room fell silent as a teenage girl made her way to the front of the room. She had long straw coloured pigtails, slightly curled at the end, and violet eyes. She stood shy but confidently at the front of the room. "Bonjour, My name is Madeline Williams and this is my first time here, obviously." Her slight accent very pronounced. For Alfred, it was love at first sight.

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It was nights like these that killed Sakura. It was not that the night itself was stressful, actually it was quite the opposite, the sky filled to the brim with stars, a gentle breeze swaying the trees, cool but not cold, perfect sweater weather, the smell of campfires and the fireflies dipping in the grass, it was the epitome of peace. She herself was not. It was the night before camp, that gave her time to think and that was a bad thing. What if they didn't like her? What if she messed up? What if she hurt herself or them? Would they forgive her? What if she didn't remember her unit? What if… By this time her breathing was quick and short, not to mention the tears that choked her eyes. Sakura sat down hand on her chest, as tears streamed down her face, trying her best not to whimper too loudly, that would give her away. She sat that way face buried in her knees, as gentle sobs wracked her small frame. Until a warm hand was laid on her shoulder. She jumped and looked up, into soft green eyes. "I thought I heard you." Was all Heracles said before sitting back to back with her. He sighed heavily and laid his head on her shoulder much to her frustration. Heracles and Sakura had been friends for a long time, meeting at school, when they were young. Over the years, she had developed feelings for him, that for her part were very well hidden (They were not, every time he looked at her she blushed cherry blossom pink and looked away). They sat in silence after Sakura rested her head as well, just staring at the sky. "Do you ever wonder what the stars may be thinking?" He asked quietly, she shook her head and smiled, he always seemed to make her smile without trying to. "Oh…" He yawned. Silence again, comfortable though, it always was. He was first to speak again. "I have something for you…" Sakura sat up and turned to look at him. "What that be Heracles-san?" He produced a small ball of fur from a coat pocket. Heracles grabbed her hand and set it in it. It began to vibrate instantly. Sakura brought it up for closer inspection. It was a tiny kitten, midnight black with white paws. She looked it in awe, then looked back at the grecian. "For me really?" He smiled lightly, and nodded. "Arigato! I will tell you its name when I come up with one." Heracles nodded again and patted its tiny head. "I love cats, you know that right?" Sakura laughed. "Yes, I do…" The moonlight glinted off its tiny green eyes. She looked at the moon for a moment, it was in the middle of the sky, with her eyebrows scrunched up. Then checked her watch. Sakura bolted to her feet. "Oh no! It is already 11:00, we have been sitting here for two hours!" He just smiled up at her. "I really must go…" The Grecian hauled to his feet. "I will come to." Before wandering off towards Tamaray.

When they arrived at the door to the girl's cabin they turned to face each other. The stars danced in his eyes, as he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek… WAIT, WHAT? He stood back up and smiled lazily, "I drop some cat food by tomorrow." With that he wandered into the night. Leaving her with her hand on her cheek, looking bewildered in the light of the cabin, with a blush staining her cheeks.

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To say that the people at Camp Clearwater were interesting was an understatement. And just looking around her cabin, you would have to agree. Madeline would be sharing with five other girls, in a cabin that was mostly made of screen and looked like it would be hell in a rainstorm. As a gesture of courtesy, she was given a top bunk near the door, under her bed there was a cabinet and some shelves. The rest of the beds were in awkward places, (excluding the bed across from her), the far wall from the door had two bed horizontally taking up the wall, while another bed hung over where their feet would be. Not to mention the nearest bathrooms were pit toilets and the showers where a ten minute walk. Now the people occupying those beds were even stranger. In the bed across from her was Elizaveta, who had taken three hours, literally, to set up her bed, she was now telling a story and braiding the younger of the Italian twins' hair. The younger twin, who she had quickly learned was named Feliciana, and that she was the sweeter of the two, if not by a lot. She, unlike Elizaveta, she had thrown her stuff in the cabinet, sloppily made her bed, which she promptly fell into and fell asleep. She had been that way until about 30 minutes ago, when she had suddenly woken up, disappeared, showed back up with pasta, and continued to babble until now. If Feliciana continued on like that Madeline was going to have to take drastic measures… Her older sister wasn't much better. She was currently still sleeping. Lovina, as the girl was named had taken about 30 minutes longer setting up her area before promptly falling asleep. The twins were sharing a bunk set on the back wall. Meanwhile the other two residents were just as strange. The younger of the two had just walked in a few minutes ago, accidentally bumping into Madeline. She had bowed and introduced herself as Sakura Honda, and had walked briskly, to the other top bunk in the right corner. She had already set up her bed with a pale pink cherry blossom comforter. She was now talking quietly to another girl while stroking what appeared to be a cat. The other girl she was talking to had introduced herself as Chun-Yan, before going on to make tea. Madeline wasn't sure of the relation between the girls, as Sakura was Japanese and Chun-Yan was Chinese, but they seemed to get along in a sisterly fashion, if Chun-Yan's teasing and Sakura's blush were added to the picture. So far Madeline had discovered all of this while resting on her maple leaf bedspread, and pretending to read a book. While she was observing the people around her she was thinking about what had happened after the meeting…

FLASHBACK…

She was gathering her stuff from the table, when there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a boy about her age, standing there. He had wheat yellow hair with a piece that would not stay down (as it was bobbing with excitement) and sky blue eyes. He stuck out his hand. "Hi, I'm Alfred F. Jones." He said with a slight southern drawl. She shook it. "Well, I'm Madeline Williams." The boy smiled. "I know… I just came to tell you, if there was anything you need come find me…" Madeline had stared at him. "Well there is one problem with that… What job do you have?" If even possible the American smiled brighter. "I work with the horses, there's a path to get there behind Mary Randall." Madeline was confused, she knitted her eyebrows together. "They have horses here?" Alfred had nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! We just got a new painted horse a few days ago, come to think of it with your attitude you'd probably get along pretty well. If you come down tomorrow, you can help name her." During his mutterings he had looked at the floor. He looked back up at her with his a thousand watt smile. He turned and walked away, just as she realized what he had said. With a sputter of indignation and a "HEY, What's that supposed to mean?" She watched him leave.

Madeline huffed at the memory and began to actually read the book she had (The Wrath & The Dawn), which turned out to be very good. About a half an hour and 54 pages later, they decided to turn out the lights. And much to what would have been Alfred's satisfaction, he was the last thing she thought about that night. Sadly it was how much she hated him.

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Arthur was not having a stellar day. He had started it late, meaning that instead of 6 hours to pack his stuff for the summer he had two, and as if that wasn't enough, his Mum had dropped him off at 2:50, therefore he was late for being early. Camp had always been the same since he was ten. Pack up, new cabin, new friends, new bullies, but most of all Alfred, his best frenemy. They two either got together like tea and sugar, or mud and freshly cleaned floors. The Brit was already having a banner start to summer, after not being able to join his family on a trip to Italy, after contracting the chicken pox. Camp was going to change all that. It always made him feel better, there was only one thing at camp that could get him down, and this person was sitting across from him. Not much had changed about him since last summer, his hair had gotten longer, but that was about it. Same cerulean blue eyes, stubble, rose lips… Stop it Arthur! Pull yourself together! Today his blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, using a ribbon. He was chewing on a pencil, Francis looked up and noticed the Brit staring at him. "Like what you see, Cher?" Arthur snapped back to reality. "What are even thinking? By the way when is the last time you showered? I can smell you from here." Francis smile flickered for just a moment, before once more being replaced by a smirk. "Two days ago. Ah Sourcils, its great to see you again, I see you haven't changed a bit." Arthur spent the rest of the meeting ignoring the Frenchman (and the American when he arrived). He could no longer ignore anyone once they got to Tamaray 4. An adult had followed them there which that by itself was weird. Before even Alfred could call a bed. The man shushed them. "Because of last years events," A pointed look at Alfred and Ivan. "We will be having assigned beds." There was gasps and sputters of resentment. "Ahem…" The man paused until all was silent. "In the first set of bunk beds on the left. Alfred on top, Antonio on bottom. On the left overhanging bed Francis, below Arthur." Horror, true horror. He continued before anyone could scream in rage. "Ludwig next and on the right overhanging bed Gilbert. The final bunk has Ivan on top and Heracles." Arthur was the first to protest. "I cannot sleep anywhere near him." He pointed at Francis, who immediately nodded and tipped up his nose in the Brits direction. The man looked unamused. "Well thats unfortunate." Was all he said before turning on his heel and walking into the twilight. Everyone else got to work decorating their areas. Arthur to the frenchman. "If you so much as lay a finger on me, I will end you." With that the Englishman sashayed to his bed.

It took the Britton until 10:00 to finish setting up his little alcove. It had books and his phone. His quilt, his meds, his flag and most importantly his secret chocolate stash. He had put on his reading glasses and pulled out Pride & Prejudice. It took him all of five minutes to fall asleep.

Francis watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest. It was now about 12:00 and the general consensus that it was time to go to sleep. Francis was the last one awake and currently turning off Arthur's light. His book was lain across his chest, and glasses were ascue on his face. Francis gently took the glasses, and put them on the shelf along with the book, he took one last look at the Brit, before turning out the light.