Okay, I was gonna make you guys suffer with another chapter of not telling you what Charlie & Jesse's prank was but I'm not really that evil so here it is………..
I reluctantly got up from my spot next to Fulton as we broke into our teams.
Fulton, Ken and me on one team and Portman Guy and Connie on the other.
We made our way over to the tent where Charlie and Jesse were deep in slumber thanks to Ken's "special" hot chocolate mix. I could hear them snoring a good ten metres away. It was a good thing they chose a spot away from everyone else.
"You're damn lucky you're not sharing with Conway" Portman grumbled at Guy who gave him a toothy grin.
"What can I say? I was born lucky" Guy replied kissing Connie on the cheek.
"Whatever" Portman replied. It seemed to be his favourite comeback tonight.
Portman reached into the backpack and pulled out two of Dwayne's lassos. He then handed one to Fulton.
They each placed the loop around their middles, the Bash Brothers were to be the anchors for this little prank.
Kenny's job was to loop the other end of the rope over the thick low set branch of the tree and through the top corner of the tent peak and to secure a second rope to the corner of the tent.
Guy's job was to do the same on the other side.
Connie and I had the job of carefully pulling out the tent pegs and keeping the flysheet straight. For it to work the tent had to look exactly like it did on the ground.
I looked up at the tree and noticed something shiny sticking out of the branch. I shone my torch on it, it looked like one of those fasteners that had two prongs sticking out that you wind the rope around in a figure eight.
"What is that?" I whispered to Fulton who looked at what it was pointing at.
"Its what's gonna hold the ropes in place" Fulton replied.
"Yeah I know but what is it doing up there?" I asked amazed that the tree would just conveniently have something like that ready for our attack.
"Portman and I hammered them up there when you guys went exploring earlier" Fulton replied seeming proud of himself.
"Wow!" I must have given the reaction he was looking for as his grin grew wider. I couldn't believe the lengths they'd gone to for this joke.
"Guy says we're ready on that side" Connie came running over to us.
"Tell him we're ready too. Jules can you do the count of three?" Fulton asked me.
I nodded. As I held my torch up so they could see my hand.
I held up one finger.
Followed by two fingers.
Followed by three.
On the count of three Portman and Fulton both started moving forward until the tent started rising. Ken and Guy were both up the tree on opposite ends of the branch waiting for the slack to tighten before fastening the first rope to the branch.
Connie and I had the task of making sure the bottom held intact which meant that we had to support Charlie and Jesse's weight. It was hard at first when they were positioned on the opposite sides of the tent but as the tent went higher they rolled into the middle coming together. Connie simply took one end and I took the other.
Neither boy showed any signs of waking up nor did they move.
Once the tent was high enough Ken and Guy secured the first rope. Then I had to help Fulton remove the loop from his middle. I must admit it was kinda of something I was looking forward too.
Connie had to do the same with Portman but judging by the look on her face when I told her we had to do it she wasn't too keen on the idea at all.
"You ready?" I asked Fulton. His face was beginning to show signs of physical exertion.
Fulton nodded as he held on to me for support.
I placed my hands on the rope around his waist and gently started moving it up to his shoulders. I glanced up at Ken who was taking the weight of the rope. The second part of securing the tent in place was wrapping the second rope around the branch and tying it up just in case the first rope failed. We weren't trying to kill Charlie and Jesse after all.
"Are you okay?" I whispered to Fulton.
He simply nodded.
I continued lifting the rope over his head and held it up waiting for Ken to take it off of my hands.
I could feel the burn of Fulton's eyes watching me but I couldn't bring myself to look at him yet. If I did I knew I'd drop the rope.
Ken finally took the rope from me and I put my arms down finally having the courage to look at Fulton.
"Thanks Jules" Fulton replied touching my cheek.
I'm glad it was kinda dark because I knew I was blushing.
"You're welcome" I eventually replied not wanting that moment to end.
We were interrupted by Ken climbing down the tree.
"That should hold it" he announced oblivious to whatever it was that was going on between me and Fulton a second ago.
"Good" Fulton replied snapping out of it.
"Gotta run" Connie whispered to me as she shot past. We all stared after her wondering what on earth she was on about.
"I'm gonna get you" we heard Portman threaten.
I really wished I hadn't turned because Connie had dacked Portman and he was standing there in a pair of briefs with his pants around his ankles.
"Oh that is something I did not want to see" I say turning away quickly.
"Sure Julie" Portman replied as he tried to run after Connie but hadn't quite pulled his pants up in time. He fell flat on his face with his butt up in the air.
I heard the other boys burst out laughing and I turned around to see the sight. As scary as it was, it was also completely hilarious as I too started laughing.
"SHHH!" Ken eventually scolded us through tears of laughter in his eyes.
We had to shut up otherwise someone was going to hear us.
"Let's go" Fulton suggested picking up any leftover supplies and shoving them into Portman's backpack. We didn't want to get busted over something stupid like leaving the evidence behind.
We followed the direction Connie took which led us to the other side of the campsite and closer to our tents. The time had come when we all had to go to bed.
Guy had caught up to Connie and the two were now having another goodnight make out session.
Portman and Ken retired to their tent but Fulton pulled me back.
"Hey, thanks for helping out" he whispered.
"Anytime, it was fun" I replied truthfully.
We fell into an uncomfortable silence. I had no idea what to say to him.
"Well goodnight Jules" Fulton whispered leaning in and kissing my cheek.
"Night" I mumbled unable to wipe the stupid grin off of my face.
He retreated back to his tent leaving me standing there dumbfounded. His lips felt so soft against my skin.
I finally found my feet and made my way back to my own tent where Connie was waiting to hear the gossip.
I promised her I'd tell her tomorrow and rolling over I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
