Chapter 1

"Here we are, my sweeties! Out you hop."

Eddie said "Hop? What are we, two? "

Trudy giggled. "Ooh, sorry, sweetie. I forget that you`re teenagers."

The lot of them shared scornful looks, then got out of the car. Victor, Vera and Jasper were already putting up the tents.

Trudy said "OK. In the first tent we have Nina, Amber and Mara. In the second tent is Patricia and Joy. In the third tent is Mick, Jerome and Alfie. In the fourth tent is Fabian and Eddie. In the fifth tent is Victor and Vera. Jasper and I will take the last tent. After we`ve all got settled in, we`ll start dinner. Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Good. Do you three need some help?"

Trudy darted to help. The students stood there. Nina poked her boyfriend.

"Hey, what`s up? We`re on holiday! No curfew."

Then she called "Hey, Trudes, no curfew, right?"

Trudy laughed. "Your curfew has been lifted to 11 P.M. You have free roam until then, but don`t stray too far after dark."

Then she returned to trying to pin a pole into the ground.

Nina said "See, Fabian? We don`t have to put up with pin drop! Why are you still so miserable?"

"My godfather and my housemother. It`s not natural. Look at them, Nins."

They looked over. Trudy was knelt on the ground, hammering at a pole. Jasper was trying to calm her down.

"Ew. I take your point. But don`t you think it cute? Trudy has been waiting nearly her whole life for someone to love. Aren`t you pleased it`s your godfather?"

"No. Not as they`re all googoo eyed at each other."

*Trudy`s POV*

Why can`t I get this stupid pole in the ground?!

"Calm down, Trudy, it`s almost in."

"It`s been almost in for fifteen minutes! Can you tell that this is the first time I`ve ever been camping?"

"Not at all. Don`t worry. Come here, I`ll help you."

He knelt down next to me, then started guiding my hands.

*Nina`s POV*

"Urgh, look now. They`re holding hands."

I looked. He was just being dramatic. Jasper was helping Trudy get a pole in the ground.

"Trudes has been having trouble with that pole for 15 minutes, Fabian. It`s not a bad thing that he`s helping her."

"It is. And they`re sharing a tent, Nina. It`s not good."

*Patricia`s POV*

Sick Puppies RULE!

"Patricia?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of sneaking off tonight, really scaring them senseless, while we sit in a tree?"

I laughed. "You know, after living with Jerome and Alfie, I see that as a bit soft. What we really need to do is leave spooky messages in the adults` tents and then hide away. A bit of fake blood on the notes would be a classic touch."

"Do you know what, Yacker? That may be your best idea yet."

"I`m full of them, Slimeball."

"Full of yourself, too."

"Says the American!"

Nina`s voice said "Oh, thanks, Patricia (!)"

"See, Nins, I told you so. Even Patricia agrees."

"Hey, Yacker, look at Vera and Victor."

I looked at them. They were stood kissing.

"Ohhhhh, gross, guys! Get a tent!"

They broke apart long enough for Vera to say "You two do it all the time, nobody spies on you. Nose out of our business."

Trudy`s voice came over, and she sounded amused. "You two could be mistaken for teenagers, with the way you keep kissing."

*Trudy`s POV*

Inviting Vera may have been a mistake. I can`t get Victor to help get the stupid tents down and Jasper`s already trying to calm me down.

"Here, darling, let me do it. You take a break."

He`s so sweet, isn`t he? I sat on the grass. It was damp and I sat in a mud puddle. I looked down.

"Oh, my...!"

"What is it, Trudy?"

"I just sat in a puddle."

"It`s OK, you can change later, can`t you?"

"I guess so."

"Hey, don`t look so down. It`s OK."

I`m such an idiot!

"I suppose it is..."

I was dressed in my white jeans and new grey top. Which was awful, especially as I`d got them all muddy.

"You know, Trudy, it`s not your clothes that matter. It`s who`s wearing them."

"I know."

Does he know that I like him? Not as a friend but more like a boyfriend?

*Jasper`s POV*

Trudy looked furious with herself. Why, I don`t know. She hadn`t seen the puddle.

"Tell you what. Tonight, if you like, we can go for a walk. Just us, in the woods."

She brightened up a bit. "That sounds fantastic."

I wonder if she knows that I like her? And not as a friend. I think I`ve found the one for me.

Sorry it was so sappy. But please review, the world is waiting for our rainbow kuppy!

RandomDizzy. :D