Author's Note: I really am sorry they're so short. They'll pick up as soon as I lay the foundation for everything. Just a small review response, then you may read:
to the Guest: Thank you so much! It's fun being the author because you get to know and watch people wanting to know. I'm glad you already want to know and you've only read the second chapter. It's encouraging! :) I haven't really foreshadowed any, so it's hard to tell who it is, but I'd like to hear your guesses! (But I won't tell you if you got it right or wrong!) Thanks for reading!
I had changed and unpacked within the silence of the tent. I had successfully intimidated the D-Tent boys into not bothering me for a while. Hopefully they would spread rumors about me and keep the other boys at bay… at least for a while.
Taking a deep breath, I looked around the room. I breathed out quickly, wanting to get the wretched stench of the room out of my nose. The place was a pig sty. I would have to make it clear to the boys that things were going to change.
Putting all my things back into my bag, and placing my dagger into my orange pants pocket, I dusted my hands and went outside the tent, the canvas closing behind me with a slap.
Immediately stepping outside, I realized that I was not as alone inside the tent as I had thought. Twenty or so boys were outside, and flocked to where I was standing. Apparently the D-Tenters hadn't done a good job of spreading the "tough girl" rumor. Sighing, I ignored their cat-calls and comments and tried to make my way to the mess hall, quickening my pace.
I burst through the door, basically running straight for the end of the line. I grabbed my tray with my shoulders hunched, as if to guard myself from being seen. The boys, in presence of food, seemed to forget me for a minute, and I embraced the solitude.
Coming up to the first station, I stuck out my tray towards the server. He laughed at me a bit. "This isn't girly food, honey. Good luck." He slopped some sort of sticky neon orange substance on my plate.
"Who says I like girly food? And don't call me honey, buddy boy," I said, moving down the line, smirking at him.
The last server at the end of the line gave me a slice of bread, which looked digestable. Thankfully.
Looking around, I was afraid that I would have to sit with someone. I accidentally made eye contact with Squid, who nudged Zigzag in the ribs with his elbow, then pointed at me. In a matter of milliseconds, they were all looking at me, calling me and waving at me to come and join them.
Dipping my head, I turned deliberately from their gazes and made my way over to an empty table in the corner across the room. I set my tray down on the table with a slam, trying to ignore the sets of eyes on the back of me.
Dipping my fork into the orange sludge doubtfully, I suddenly heard ten or so sets of footsteps approaching me. Groaning inwardly, I turned to see the rest of Tent D heading towards my table. I whipped my head back around, trying to pretend that I hadn't seen them, making it clear that I didn't want them to eat with me.
They didn't get the idea.
"Hey, Keely. Mind if we sit here?" asked Barfbag, taking a seat a little too close to me.
"No, of course she doesn't, Barfbag. Just thought you might want a little company during your first meal at Camp Green Lake," said Squid, scooting closer to me on the other side.
"Uh, th…thanks, Squid. But I was just fine by myself," I said, moving a bit closer to Barfbag, trying to make an even barrier of empty space on either side.
"Yeah, I doubt that. Who's going to tell you what's edible and what's not? Like that orange stuff… last time I ate that, I was sick for three days straight," Squid said, lowering my fork back onto my plate, wiping my fork onto a napkin.
"That means you didn't have to dig, right? Maybe that's not such a bad thing…" I said under my breath, not thinking that they could hear me.
The table exploded into laughter. "Sounds like this girl has some moxy to her. Kinda sounds like to me she knows what she's talking about. You've never dug no holes before, right, baby girl?" X-Ray said.
I rolled my eyes, "Don't call me baby girl, X-Ray. And no, I've never dug any holes before, but I can imagine what it's like."
"You have no clue," X-Ray said. Then, looking around the others' plates, he looked discontented. "Okay, boys, hand 'em over. Not going to make the new lady give it up… at least not today."
The boys all grabbed their slices of bread and tossed it onto X-Ray's plate. I narrowed my eyes. "What do you think you're doing?"
"What does it look like? They're making sacrifices for your belly and mine. I have to have decent food because, well, I'm their leader. You get to have food because you're a girl, and it's your first day. I may not be so kind in the future. You're welcome," X-Ray spat.
"I didn't request special treatment just because I have longer hair and different parts," I glared at him. "Give back their bread," I said, picking up my bread and trusting it in his face, "And take mine."
X-Ray leaned over the table, "No." He held up the chunk of all the stacked pieces of bread and took a huge bite out of it.
I gritted my teeth. I felt the two boys beside me tense up, and I tried to calm myself down. I breathed in slowly in my nose and out my mouth. I threw up my hands in defeat. There are some things that aren't worth fighting about, especially if the person you're up against is a hard-headed pig.
"So…" Zigzag said wearily, then eyed me, "What are you in for?"
I felt my stomach clench. Painful memories fled back into view…
Fire…screams...running…sirens…
"I don't really want to talk about that," I said, picking up my tray, "And I just lost my appetite." I swung my legs over the picnic bench. "Night."
There was a chorus of night's as I walked away. Glacing back, I saw the boys backhand Zigzag in the shoulder with frusterated questioning looks on their faces. I threw my tray into the dirty dishes and headed out of the door. And this time, no one followed me.