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Summer Camp
First Day- Part One
"Scientists are perplexed by an unexpected meteor shower last night at approximately 1:00 AM. The shooting stars were believed to be in the vicinity of Northern Europe, yet no crash site has been found. Some hysterical witnesses claim that the shower was actually an invasion by giant aliens. No UFOs have been confirmed as of yet, however, researchers say, this phenomenon…" Relena turned the dial on her portable CD player/radio. Loud rock music blasted out of the headphones.
Minister Darlian winced. "Could you please lower that, my dear?" he asked.
Relena looked at him over her shoulder. "Huh?"
"Turn the music down," he repeated, louder this time. He looked more than slightly exasperated.
"What? The music? Oh." Relena did as she was told and took her headphones off her ears. "Sorry," she said, pouting. She frowned at her father.
"Thank you." He ignored her tone. "We should be landing soon," he added.
"Oh goody," Relena replied. She rolled her eyes in disgust and made a face. Her father sighed. He'd had to deal with this attitude the whole trip. His hope had been that they could spend some time together now, before she got there. He should've known better. Relena was normally a forgiving child, but she was also stubborn too. Guess which one she was being today, despite his efforts to change that.
From Relena's perspective, however, on plane ride wasn't going to make up for a whole summer, plus missed birthday parties, Christmases, etc. The camp was six weeks; she was on vacation for eight, seven now. But who was to say that he'd be spending that last week with her? Or even that he'd be there when she came back. It didn't seem likely at all. Most people envy me, Relena thought to herself, but really they're the lucky ones. If someone asked her what the worst thing about being a politician's daughter was, she could up in one simple word: everything. The Darlians were good to her, she admitted it. They gave her everything a girl could desire: money, fancy clothes, toys, her own horse even. But if anyone could prove that money didn't buy happiness, it was Relena. There was still something missing. Not love, there was plenty of that. But it was only a thin thread tying them together, a thread that threatened to snap at any moment. Yet he kept pulling it tighter and tighter. Relena would give up everything she had to roll it up and tie them together, even for just one summer. But no, she would be shipped off to camp, with all the other rich brats whose parents didn't care about them. And then he would go on a plane again to who knows where and for who knows what. Top secret Alliance business, she supposed. Whatever it was, it apparently was more interesting than spending time with his daughter. And definitely more interesting than this place. After all, what could be exciting about an ordinary, normal, summer camp?
* * * * * *
The day before…
Duke Dermail stopped in the middle of the dirt path and turned around. "Come along now, we haven't got all day," he snapped.
Dorothy rolled her eyes. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Maybe he'd be slow too if he were carrying all the suitcases, she complained to herself. The duke had repeatedly told her that no job was too demeaning for one of their noble stature. Consequently, he had his servants (and his granddaughter) do everything for him, giving the excuse that he was an old man. An old man, who brought down five deer on his last hunting trip, that is.
Dorothy lifted her suitcases with a grunt and followed her guardian into the large wooden building called, according to the faded sign, "Main Office/Mess Hall." Treize awaited them on the front steps, waving. He was dressed like a golfer on safari in tennis shoes, khaki shorts and a matching short-sleeved top, and a visor. Her cousin apparently wasn't as familiar with the wilderness as he claimed; though he was an expert hunter. But we won't be doing any hunting anyway, she recalled.
A tall woman with her hair braided into two buns and wearing glasses and a military uniform stood next to him. Dorothy wondered how her cousin was still breathing, the way she was on top of him like that. Talk about clingy. The woman looked stern from a distance, but as they approached, Dorothy observed that she was staring at Treize with a look that could only be described with one word: love. She suppressed the urge to gag. Public displays of affection, even if it was just a look, sickened her. Especially when it involved a relative. Little did she remember, her parents used to look at each other in a similar manner (though perhaps not quite as obsessive) and she had reveled in it. But that was a different time and a different Dorothy.
"Welcome!" Treize called to them, keeping his visor on with one hand. He put the other on his companion's arm.
"Hello," Duke Dermail replied, with much less enthusiasm. He elbowed his granddaughter.
Dorothy scowled at him and waked him in the knee with her suitcase. He moaned in pain, but she ignored him, having little sympathy for the elderly and none for him. "Hello, cousin, so nice to see you again," she said sarcastically.
Treize wisely ignored her tone. "And you as well. May I introduce you to my dear friend Lady Une? She'll be in charge of the camp.
"Pleasure to meet you," Lady Une said. She didn't sound very pleased. She shook Dorothy's hand, squeezing it tightly. Once they were off Treize, her eyes looked stern and fierce. The word "psycho" flashed in bright lights in Dorothy's mind. She'd have fun with this one.
"Wonderful to meet you, too," Dorothy replied. "Treize has told me so much about you!" She smiled her best false smile.
The woman had no reaction whatsoever. "Hmm," she murmured, and that was all.
Dorothy was near yawning already. "If it would please you, I'd love it if you showed me to my cabin," she continued, putting all she learned in that awful charm school to use.
Lady Une gave her a look that said, "Are you kidding me?" She opened her mouth to reply, but Treize jumped in before she could speak and possibly start a fight with his young but fiery relation.
"I'm sure Lady Une is going to be very busy until the campers arrive," he said quickly. He thought for a moment. "Zechs should be here. Lady Une, can you send for him? He can accompany you. Yes, that's what we'll do. I believe you'll be in Lucrezia Noin's cabin, so he'll know the way. He can introduce you."
Dorothy smirked. She had no interest in her counselor. Perfect. This was more like it. "Goodbye then, Grandfather."
Duke Dermail, still rubbing his sore shin, looked up at her. "What? Oh, yes, I suppose so."
"Unless you would like to stay for a cup of tea?" Treize offered, out of sheer politeness only.
His uncle glanced at him in surprise, clearly not expecting the offer. "No, no, I think I'll be quite all right. I'll show myself out of this… camp, thank you very much." He wrinkled his nose at the word "camp." If he himself didn't like this place, he had no qualms about sending his granddaughter there: all the better, in fact. "Goodbye, Dorothy. Behave yourself." He scurried down the path, out the gate and into his limo, as fast as his old legs could carry him.
Treize frowned in disgust. No hug, no kiss, no nothing, not even a handshake, for heaven's sake. What kind of barbarian has he become? I swear, since Alicia died…
Dorothy waved to her grandfather, her back towards Treize, missing the look on his face. "Whatever you say, Gramps," she whispered, with a little laugh. "I'll miss you… Not!"
* * * * * *
"How did we get stuck carrying all this stuff?" Noin complained, setting her box down and wiping her forehead. The sun beat down on her with ferocious intensity, as if it were personally bent on making her suffer. "It's a good thing I brought a lot of suntan lotion," she added.
Zechs shrugged and picked up another with ease. "A downside of being friends with the one in charge. You're an instant volunteer, even if you didn't."
"So this is your fault then?" she teased. She wasn't really upset. Noin wasn't one to shy away from helping someone out, or exercise for that matter. She wasn't one of those stereotypical girls, who was afraid she'd break a nail if she lifted five pounds. "What is all this stuff for, anyway?" she asked.
"Equipment mostly," he replied. He peaked into his box. "I've got jump ropes, ring toss, I think, and a few deflated basketballs in here."
"I have fencing uniforms in here," Noin said, checking hers as well. "Treize sure is going all out for this, considering, well, you know what. But I've gotta say, I never thought of him as being into kids."
"Are you kidding me? He loves them, babies, toddlers, elementary school kids, brooding teenagers (like myself) all types. I'm surprised he doesn't have any of his own yet, though I doubt Lady Une would be crazy about the idea. Although if he asked… But anyway, why do you think he still visits the academy even though he doesn't teach anymore? Last Christmas, he went to an orphanage dressed up as Santa Claus to give out presents."
"Aw! That must've been fun," she commented with a laugh.
"Yeah, it would have been if he hadn't made me dress up like an elf."
Noin doubled over. "You? An elf? With the pointy ears and everything? Ha ha ha ha!" Her laughter could be heard all the way to the colonies.
"It's not funny, Noin," he growled.
"Oh, yes it is!" She clutched her side. "At least… at least, he didn't make you… dress … as Mrs. Claus," she choked out and started again, nearly falling on the ground.
"Get up! You're embarrassing yourself. And me," Zechs told her, frowning.
"Lieutenant Zechs! Lieutenant Zechs!" The teens snapped to attention as a second year cadet rushed up to them, panting.
"What's the matter?" Zechs barked. He hadn't meant to sound so rude, but something about the messenger's harried look was making him nervous.
"His Excellency wishes that you come to the office immediately," the boy replied. They exchanged a look.
"Did something bad happen?" Noin asked. The urge to laugh was suddenly gone. He shook his head, making her sigh with relief.
"No, nothing's wrong. It's just that his Excellency's cousin, Miss Catalonia, has arrived and-"
He was interrupted by a loud groan as Zechs' face fell. "Oh no! Not Dorothy! I'd rather have an emergency, preferably one that I won't come back alive from. God help me."
"Who? What's so bad about that?" Noin asked, lifting her eyebrows in confusion.
"Dorothy Catalonia is Treize's cousin, as he said, and it's your bad luck that she happens to be in your cabin. She's the most sarcastic, evil person I have ever met in my entire life. As she might say, once upon a time, according to my so-called best friend, she was a kind and gentle little girl. Well, I don't buy it. She's a terror, that's what she is. Satan would be afraid of her. And unfortunately, she has a crush on me. She probably told Treize to get me and he can't refuse anyone anything. I'm going to kill him."
"Calm down Zechs!" Noin shouted, appalled by his sudden burst of emotion. And surprised too. She didn't think it was in him to rant like that. "She can't be that bad."
"Beg your pardon," the cadet come in, surprised and shocked that he even dared to interrupt those who were once his upperclassmen and idols, now his superiors, "but I don't think so. Lady Une was quite disturbed when she sent me. More than usual, I mean. I didn't see the girl myself though. It could be something else, but…"
"See, even he says it, and he hasn't met her! She's a devil; I swear it. And no one will ever get a bit of kindness out of her, you'll see. You'd better start praying right now, Noin."
Noin rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Oh, come on. You've got to be exaggerating a little. Maybe she's changed. I'm sure she's grown up from when you last saw her. Teenagers are like that. I mean, you wouldn't believe it, but when I was younger, I used to be such a… I don't know what. Tomboy, my mother would say. I constantly used to beat up the boys on my street… Zechs what's that look for?"
He was staring at her, trying to suppress a snort. "Um, I hate to break it to you, my dear, but you still do that," he snickered. She smacked the back of his head.
"Well, fine," she huffed. "But it could happen to someone else."
"I'll believe it when I see it," he replied, folding his arms across his chest with an air of superiority. "Come on, let's get this over with." He jogged up the hillside path that led to the office, Noin lagging slightly behind him, to meet their doom.
