Chapter 3:

First Holes

Keianna rolled over on her cot and looked around. Everyone was still asleep, including her sister who was normally an early riser. She looked at her wristwatch and saw that it was four o'clock. Might as well get up. Keianna thought, sitting up on her got. She slid out of bed and pulled her jumpsuit over her boy shorts. Keianna walked over to her crate and pulled out a thin black spaghetti strap tank. Pulling her shirt over her head, Keianna reached inside her crate and pulled out her necklace case. She opened the case and looked down at the necklace. Biting her lip, she pulled the necklace out and put it on. Her necklace flashed blue and there was a red flash from Shineka's.

"Whoa!" Keianna whispered, closing the case and placing it inside her crate.

The bugle sounded and Keianna tucked her necklace into her shirt as the others began to stir. She sat down on her cot and put on her boots. Shineka walked over to Keianna after shoving her feet into her boots. Keianna stood and looked at her sister. She wore a red sports bra underneath her jumpsuit.

"I see you've got on your necklace," Shineka said. Keianna gave her a one shoulder shrug. Shineka flicked Keianna in the forehead. "Proud of ya' kid."

Keianna punched Shineka in the arm. With a grin, the two girls followed the boys outside. Shineka got in line behind Magnet in front of the shed with the word library written across the top. Keianna got in line and rolled her eyes. Good cover. she thought. The doors opened and everyone began reaching for a shovel. Shineka reached up and grabbed a shovel that had an orange band of tape around the handle. Keianna grabbed a shovel and followed after her sister. The girls made a face at the breakfast.

"I think I'll pass," Shineka mumbled.

"Ditto," Keianna agreed.

All of a sudden, the shovel was snatched from Keianna's hand. She looked back to see X-ray. He threw the shovel he had on the ground as he walked past the girls. Shineka looked at X-ray again. She placed her hand over the shovel and it flew up into her palm. Magnet came up behind them.

"You picked up X-ray's shovel," he explained. "It's shorter than the rest of them."

Magnet walked away and Shineka looked back at X-ray. He looked back at her, bit his lip, and winked as he raised the shovel. Shineka rolled her eyes. Squid appeared beside Shineka with a honey covered tortilla in hand. She looked at him.

"Smaller shovel," he said, "smaller hole."

"Yeah, I get it," Shineka replied.

Everyone walked out onto the lake. Mr. Sir assigned digging areas. As the boys started on their holes, Mr. Sir explained a few extra things to the girls.

"If you find anything interesting," he said, "I want you to report it to me or Pendanski."

"What are we lookin' for Mr. Sir?" Shineka questioned.

"You're not lookin' for anything," he replied, "you're building character."

"Then why do we have to-" Shineka began.

"Just dig!" Mr. Sir screamed, spitting bits of shells and seeds into her face.

Shineka closed her eyes and flinched. Mr. Sir walked back to the water truck. Shineka opened her eyes and wiped her face. Her lip started to twitch and Keianna stared up at her.

"Nasty bastard," Shineka said, shaking remenants of spit, seeds, and shells off her hand.

Keianna stabbed her shovel into the dirt as Shineka wiped her hand on the leg of her jumpsuit. Stabbing her shovel into the dirt, she began her first hole. Shineka glanced back as the water truck pulled off. With a shake of her head, Shineka scowled.

"I hate that man already,"

"Don't we all," Squid muttered

The sun rose higher into the sky, beating on the backs of the delinquent teens. Shineka wiped sweat from her brow and looked up to see her sister halfway into her hole. Shineka looked down at her hole and narrowed her eyes. Lucky heifer. she thought. the sound of the approaching water truck caught her attention. Everyone stopped digging and looked up.

"Lunch," Caveman said, answering her unasked question.

"Is it better than dinner?" Shineka questioned.

Caveman shrugged and took his place in line. Shineka and Keianna looked at each other, and went to get in line. After getting their food and canteens filled, everyone sat around their holes to eat. Keianna lifted a piece of bread and looked inside at the bologna and cheese mixture. Closing the sandwich, she looked at Shineka who shrugged. The girls bit into their sandwiches, deciding that their hunger was more important.

With lunch done, everyone resumed their silent digging regiment. The only sounds being heard were those of dirt and shovels. About two hours later, Shineka looked up to see Keianna and Zero climbing out of their holes. Zero spit into his and headed back to the camp ground. Keianna grabbed her things and walked over to Shineka.

"Need any help?" she asked her.

"No, I've got it," Shineka replied.

Keianna nodded and turned to head back to the camp grounds. After tossing her shovel, she went to the tent for her shower supplies. Keianna took a peek inside and saw it was empty. She quickly changed into her bathing suit; a black bikini top and black short bottoms. She heard a faint noise while gathering her items together. She looked up to see Zero in a pair of swim trunks with a towel around his neck. His hair was still wet from his shower, making it shine.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Huh?" Keianna questioned.

Zero walked over to his crate and stuffed his towel inside. He walked over to Keianna and lightly touched her necklace. She looked down.

"What's that?" he repeated.

"Oh," Keianna said. "A gift from my grandmother."

"The colors are moving," Zero said.

"Trick of the lights," Keianna replied, grabbing her shower stuff. "Gotta go."

Zero watched Keianna leave to take her shower, his head tilted slightly. With a slight shrug, he turned and got dressed.

Shineka, Squid, X-ray, and Armpit all finished around the same time and were walking back to camp together. Shineka looked towards the showers and shuddered slightly. No way in hell! she thought. tossing her shovel into the growing pile, she hurried after the boys.

"What do you do for fun around here?" she asked.

"That would be the Rec Room," X-ray replied. "After we shower up, we'll go."

"Would ya' mind lettin' me shower first?" Shineka inquired as they neared the tent.

"What for?" Armpit questioned. "There are four stalls out there."

"Fine," she exasperated. "Can ya' stand out here while I change?"

"No problem," X-ray grinned.

Shineka walked inside the tent to see Zero and Keianna laying on their cots. She looked up at Zero and, without a word, he got off his cot and went outside. She reached into her crate and changed into her bathing suit; a red bikini top and red and white short bottoms.

"I'm decent!" she called, grabbing her remaining shower items.

The boys came inside while Shineka and Keianna walked out. Shineka headed to the showers and Keianna went into the Rec Room.

After their showers were done, all of D tent was inside of the Rec Room. Keianna was sitting on the couch, picking at the stuffing while trying to decipher what Zigzag was watching on the busted TV. Shineka was standing around the pool table with X-ray, Magnet, Squid, and Armpit. Zero was leaning on another pool table watching Keianna. Caveman appeared by his side.

"You gonna go talk to her?" he asked.

"Who?" Zero questioned.

"Keianna," Caveman replied, watching the other boys start a game of pool with Shineka. "You've been staring at her for the past ten minutes."

"No, I haven't," Zero denied.

"Alright," Caveman said, "five minutes. Go talk to her."

Zero looked at Caveman who nodded towards Keianna. With a sigh and shake of his head, Zero walked over to the couch and sat down. Keianna looked beside her and at Zero.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey," Keianna replied.

A quiet, small conversation budded between the two. It wasn't a big conversation. Just the usual questions one would ask to get to know someone. Shineka looked up to see her sister engaged in a small conversation. Shocker. she thought, returning to her game of pool. Quicker than expected, the dinner bell rang. Everyone stopped what they were doing and headed to the Mess Hall

Sorry for taking so long to update. I've been extremely busy with work and school. I kind of had a bit of writers block as well. I'm not too sure on how I feel about this chapter, but I'm glad it's done. Well, you know what to do. Click that review button and let me know what you think. All ideas and suggestions are welcome. I apologize once again for the long wait on updating. Love you all. Ciao!