Disclaimer: Alas. This is where every story starts, at the disclaimer…so much white space below! Eeeek its making me nervous…lol…well many people enjoyed the last chapter, and I am very glad about it. A few commented on how they liked the length. You must remember, longer length longer wait for the update. But I will try to make them longer. Now, to satisfy your thirst for excitement, the plot shall thicken in this chapter…hehehe…and also I,m not the most enormous fluff fan ever, but do you guys want more? Lol tell me what you think please!
Chapter 11: Good and Bad news
Back at camp the boys (and girl) were greeted with much happiness. Everyone was glad to see they were okay. That is everyone, except Dr. Pendanski and Mr. Sir. They seemed rather grumpy around Terry. Apparently some other boys from E-Tent and G-Tent had gone missing in the sandstorm as well, and they hadn't returned. Not that that wasn't enough of a crisis, Mr. Sir and the bus guy had to rush off to the hospital with Hedgehog. No news had been heard of him. In D-Tent, everyone had been examined by Dr. Pendanski and were now confined to their cots for the day, or at least until the commotion had slowed a bit. The other tents were not as fortunate. They had been in their tents all day. In D-Tent, all way quiet. From next door in E-Tent, bored voices tried to spark a conversation.
"Have you seen that new girl, Lazer?"
"Duh."
"She's hot, huh?"
"Yeah. I was debating whether or not to talk to her. That last guy got creamed."
"Tota
"Uhhh, guys, I think 'she' is listening!" Said Zigzag rather loudly, with an eye roll. There were muffled giggles from the boys of D-Tent, and then stunned silence from next door. Terry frowned and crossed her arms.
"Why is everyone in this camp so perverted?" She exclaimed, annoyed. There was silent laughter from everyone.
Squid spoke:
"This is a boys' camp. Most of these guys haven't seen a girl in almost two years. So naturally, you're gonna get a little more attention." He took out the toothpick in his mouth and examined it.
"You are kinda pretty..."
The boys looked at him at this comment. Terry blushed and turned away.
(Squid) 'Did I just say that OUT LOUD?'
(Terry) 'Did he just SAY that?'
There was an awkward silence, as usual. No one said anything.
Terry buried her face in her knees.
'He thinks I'm…pretty…'
Meanwhile Squid was getting hot under the collar, what with all the stares. He tried to keep it cool by getting up to walk to the table for a drink, but ended up flat on his face after tripping on a shoe. After standing up again and brushing himself off, he said:
"WHAT? You're all thinking it! I'm just saying it!"
"He's got a point- I mean um…Who wants to play cards?" Said Caveman frantically. Everyone laughed.
"Me! I'll deal!" Said Squid, swiping the deck off the table. Magnet joined them on the ground. So did Zigzag. Soon everyone came over to play a nice round of hearts. But Terry was still sitting on her cot, baffled and embarrassed at the same time.
'Alan thinks I'm pretty…'
Just as they were getting into the game, the supper bell rang. Everyone shot up and raced out of the tent, pushing and shoving. Terry just got up slowly, with a light smile on her face. Zero was about to leave also, but he noticed the girl just getting up and she looked like she was in La-la land. He decided to ask her, since the tent was empty.
"Terry, you like Squid don't you?"
She paused at the door, reaching for the flap. Thinking, she replied:
"Who wants to know?"
"I can tell you do."
Terry was shocked for a minute, then she pushed back her bangs and sighed.
"Yeah. I do. Why do you ask?"
"Did you see how jealous he got when you were fussing over Hedgehog? And how he always blushes when you talk to him. I think he likes you back." With that said, Zero brushed past her and exited the D-Tent. Terry stood, open-mouthed.
'He likes me? No one's ever liked ME…'
Coming out of the tent in a bliss, the girl spun around and hugged herself before running to the mess hall.
She stood in the lineup, humming and smiling like a maniac. When the chef plopped a ladleful of watery lentil soup in her bowl, Terry smiled and said,
"Thank you! This looks delicious."
The short, pudgy chef behind the counter raised his eyebrow at this comment. Then he smiled slightly and reached down below. He produced a small chocolate cupcake and handed it to her.
"Here ya go, dear." He winked and motioned for the next person to put their tray out. A boy from E-Tent put on a fake grin and added,
"Wow! This is the best looking soup I've ever seen!" The chef frowned and barked:
"NEXT!"
When Terry arrived at the table, Zigzag eyed the cupcake.
"Hey Lazer, where'd you get that?"
"The chef. It never hurts to be polite," She chirped, while taking a slurp of her soup. Zigzag was surprised at how good of a mood the girl was in. Usually the brown haired chick would just mope around and make smart-Alec comments to anyone who tried to establish communication.
"I'll trade you for my bagel!" He offered hopefully.
"Here," She said, while breaking off a piece of it. She handed it to him and took another spoonful of lentil soup.
"Gee, thanks! He said, gobbling it up. Looking to Zero beside her, Terry asked,
"Want some?"
The small boy took the piece of cupcake and put it on his tray. But he didn't say anything.
'Oh yeah, I forgot he doesn't speak in public…'
She slurped up the rest of the soup and then popped some cupcake in her mouth, looking at Squid. He was stirring his soup round and round, resting his head on his fist. He looked up at X-Ray, who was pointing at something. At the other end of the hall, Dr. Pendanski was talking on the camp phone. He was fidgeting with his hat and had a rather worried expression on his face. He shook his head and then hung up. (A/N: Mmmm…beef Jerky…lol sorry) X-Ray nudged Armpit.
"He's fiddling with his hat string again. That means something's up." He whispered. The whole table was watching him now, as he shuffled down the hall between the tables. Eventually, the Doctor made his way to the D-Tent table. Wiping his nose, he put his hand on the table and spoke to the teens.
"Your friend, 'Hedgehog'…he's at the hospital in critical condition. The poison spread to his vital organs and well… There's a fifty-fifty chance could make it through tonight." The sunscreeny nosed man coughed and walked away. Terry suddenly wasn't as happy. A boy could die because they got lost and he tried to find them….but was it their fault?…
'Mr. Sir DID technically loose us…'
She got up and put her dishes in the dirty dishes rack by the counter. Then Terry pushed the doors open and hurried along the boardwalk to the rows of tents. Further down the path she could see the 'Library'. Suddenly, she felt a hand grab her shoulder. She spun around, and it was Squid. He looked kind of embarrassed. His eyes were down, and his hands were in his pockets. He kicked the ground.
Squid's P.O.V.
He swallowed hard and gathered up his courage. He ran to catch up to Terry, then grabbed her shoulder. She whirled around, evidently shocked. Her expression softened a little when she saw it was him…that was good. He looked down, too shy to look into her eyes. He fumbled for the right words to say.
"Terry…I—I…" He shoved his fists into his pockets.
'Think, you loser!'
"I want to tell you something…" He could feel heat seeping into his cheeks.
"I-…I-…" Squid couldn't finish. Then, annoyingly, the rest of D-Tent pack came out of the doors and over to the two.
"What's goin' on y'all?" Asked X-Ray. He grinned.
"N-nothing. We were just about to leave…"Stammered Squid. He was blushing more than ever.
"Yeah, those rosy red cheeks of yours don't agree!" Laughed Caveman, lightly punching him in the arm. Everyone laughed, and X-Ray spoke again.
"What was you doing with Lazer?"
But instead of Squid trying to make up another excuse, Terry joined the conversation.
"We weren't doing anything. He was just asking to borrow my shampoo. Right Squid?"
"Uh…right!" Squid smiled appreciatively at Terry. She winked and then handed him a mini-bottle of Pantene Pro-V. (A/N: You know, like the little free sample hotel ones?) She ran up to the tent. Squid watched her longingly.
"Sorry dude, it just looked like…well…you know." Said X-Ray. He laughed again and the gang made their way back up to the tent.
'Man, why does that always have to happen?'
Hmm…not a cliffhanger. But yes, that actually does happen a lot…lol. Well the blank space is filled up YAY! Review Plz…
