FAUX, GROUCHES AND PHONES


Traveling Cam

Super Gargantuan Mega Store

TV section

5:35 p.m.

Two hours earlier

Ezekiel finally has his toque back and looked up at the camera with a weak smile.

Ezekiel-TVzilla.

The camera flips over to next camper and her best friend. Jasmine's hair is badly windblown and LeShawna had her afro back.

LeShawna and Jasmine-TVzilla.

Izzy is shown next bouncing up and down in excitement. Owen next to her had thrown his arms up in absolute joy.

Owen-TVzilla!!!!! Woo hoo!!!! Yeah Baby!!!!

Cody and Harold appear afterwards sitting side by side. Both techno geek and the lanky nerd are grinning broadly at the camera.

Harold-We came…

Cody-We autographed…

Harold and Cody-We saw TVzilla!!!!! YES!!!!

They slapped high fives and then low fives which was a big mistake. Cody's slap was slightly off and hit Harold's cast by mistake causing the former Bass to yell out in pain.

Harold-OWWWWW!!! IDIOT!

Cody-Sorry…my bad.

The ladies man chuckled nervously and the camera cut out.


Outside the store, the group of the teens watched as the large box containing the new television and several other bagged purchases were placed on the truck flatbed. Ezekiel's father and one of the store members were securing the items to the pickup truck with several pieces of rope.

Cody whistled in approval, before walking over to Ezekiel who was as usual standing next to Izzy. "Heeeey NICE TV! Watching DVD's on that will make it seem just like the movies! Nice taste Ezekiel my man! Nice taste!"

The homeschooler's apprehension faded some and he stared back at the other brunet in confusion before speaking. "Well actually Izzy found it. I joost wrote down the dimensions mom wanted. The smallest the TV could be and the largest eh."

"And naturally Izzy picked the best one she could find for friend Zekey! And once it's hooked up Izzy wants to watch-"

"Getting home, Dinner, and helping Annabelle in the kitchen. Then we'll worry about hooking up that contraption." Ezekiel's Dad dryly interjected as he finished tying a knot in the rope. Then the raven haired man checked each of the other ropes with a fine eye.

After a moment, he gave a nod of satisfaction. "Good. All secured. Ezekiel, Owen and Izzy say your goodbyes so I can get back on the road." Ezekiel's Dad commented before walking over to start the truck.

Ezekiel did so, his manner of polite conversation much more hesitant and far less boisterous then that of Owen and Izzy. He had just reached the last camper that he remembered, LeShawna, when it happened.

Cody's Dad closed his phone in disgust before he turned to the group with an embarrassed and apologetic smile. "Apparently there are no inns or hotels anywhere near this area." He chuckled nervously as the news slowly sank in.

"Okay so where IS one then?" LeShawna asked with a raised eyebrow. Before Cody's Dad could speak, someone else spoke up. "4 ½ hrs away eh." Ezekiel said nonchalantly before noticing everyone was staring at him in horror. He shrugged.

"Yoor oot here in the middle of farm country eh. Only thing around here is homes, farms and the woods with a few small stores spread oot here and there. The big ones well you goot a drive in most suitcases eh." The prairie boy explained.

LeShawna recovered from her shocked daze first when she remembered something important. "Uhhh...Ezekiel honey… YOUR home wouldn't just happen to be ANYWHERE near here would it?" Ezekiel shook his head.

"I live an hour and a half away which is why my dad wants to get going befoor we're really late for dinner and…" The toque clad brunet trailed off when he realized the gravity of the situation and he paled.

"Why does everyboody suddenly want to sleep at my house eh!" Ezekiel complained out loud before he let out a sigh. "My Dad's lousy with electronics, boot will noot admit it. Yoo'll need his approval eh.

"EZEKIEL!" The homeschooler jumped. "Cooming Dad!" With that he quickly raced over to his father's pickup truck with Cody following behind him. As Ezekiel climbed in the truck next to Izzy and Owen, the techno geek approached the driver's side window.

Cody grinned nervously as the window rolled down and the irritable face of Ezekiel's father stared back at him. "Ummm…Mr. Ezekiel's Dad… if it's okay I'd like to suggest a trade…"


The two sisters from the projects entered the room and immediately froze at the sight of a very lifelike red fox lying on a single bed with a yellow comforter. "Is that a real fox?" Jasmine asked in disbelief. LeShawna sighed.

"Knowing crazy girl I wouldn't doubt it." LeShawna commented before walking over to the bunk bed on the other side of the room. Setting her suitcase down on the bottom bunk, she turned around to see the would be actress slowly creeping towards the single bed.

"Jasmine! What are you doing?!" LeShawna hissed as the skinner girl crept closer to the bed. "Seeing if that's a real fox!" Jasmine whispered back before stopped just a few feet short of the bed.

The taller girl waved her hands, yipped, clapped her hands sharply, but the creature didn't move. Jasmine smiled and strolled over to the bed. "See LeShawna I told you it's not…"


"Okay guys, careful with that baby….just a slight left…watch the corner…..the right corner not the left….slowly…..slowly….now down a little bit the living room ramp is coming up…down…gently….gently…watch the armchair…and the couch…easy…easy…and okay! Set her down!"

Ezekiel, his father, Cody's Dad and Owen were more then happy to do so, as was Harold who followed behind the quartet carrying a few of the many bags filled to the brim with DVD's and other goodies from the store with his good hand.


Traveling Cam

By the Old Shed

Harold looks around in amazement before grinning.

Harold-Awesome. So anyway after all that stuff Owen bought from the store AND the photograph and autograph session we did bringing the store a LOT of free publicity, we were each allowed to pick out TWO FREE DVD's.

The auburn haired male holds up his DVD's with a grin.

Harold-Check it! I got Alter Vehicles, that's where all these vehicles turn into giant metal robots and Terry Lotter Chalice of Flame where this wickedly awesome girl uses magic to battle this snake man who comes back from the grave on several occasions.

Harold pulls out a fake wand from somewhere and aims it at the camera as he continues.

Harold-Wouldn't it be so wickedly awesome to have magic? With just a ZAP! Bullies would be a thing of the past. I wonder K J Rowing is putting out a spell book…

Static.


Cody grinned broadly showing the gap in his teeth as he rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Great! Now that that's set we just need to do a little rearranging in here before I can start hooking this baby up!"

"That will have to wait til after eh." Turning, the males noticed an older brunet haired woman leaning on a crutch smiling at them. "Dinner's on the table boys." Ezekiel's mom commented simply watching as the males reacted.

Owen let out a happy cry and rushed off towards the dining room, followed by the two fathers walking at a more leisurely pace. Though Ezekiel's mother was smiling she was watching the interaction between her son and the other two remaining boys with a watchful eye.

Ezekiel while still uncomfortable over the whole situation was nodding to or responding to questions the other boys asked and though the moments were rare, he actually smiled or chuckled over a comment or two.

Finally Annabelle nodded to herself. It was a start. Letting the trio go ahead of her, she made her way to the dining room just in time for chaos to erupt in the form of two screaming teenage girls. The girls had been so intent on running away from the room that they didn't notice the older woman in the hall.

To Annabelle's surprise and relief both her son and the boy with the glasses grabbed and pulled her away from the danger as both girls rushed towards the front door. "What got into them?" Cody commented as Ezekiel and Harold let Ezekiel's mother go.

Ezekiel shrugged. "I think they met Faux eh." Harold and Cody stared back in confusion. "Faux?" The prairie boy nodded. "It's a real fox Izzy found eh. He loikes sleeping on Izzy's bed eh."

Harold nodded. Yep...That would explain it."


Traveling Cam

By the Old Shed

LeShawna looks around the shower curtain in disbelief before shaking her head.

LeShawna-I'm not even gonna ask.

She shakes her head again before continuing.

LeShawna-Well Shawnie has now has been at Ezekiel's house for 2 hours now and I've unfortunately seen my first taste of the wildlife. Can you believe it?! Izzy has a REAL…LIVE FOX on her bed.

The sister scoffed.

LeShawna-And Jasmine just HAD to be sure of it. I guess I should be lucky. Izzy could have been sleepin with that pet snake of hers.

Static before it shows the very ecstatic face of Jasmine.

Jasmine-That's 6!!! 6 out of 22 campers from Season 1 are now here with yours truly!

Her bright smile fades away and she shudders.

Jasmine-And between you and me that crazy white girl is crazy! I mean seriously! I just about did an impromptu take on Juliet's big scene at the end but without the dagger… when that THING moved around in my hands!

She fake swooned and the camera switched to Ezekiel who is smiling a bit.

Ezekiel-When…um…LeShawna and ummmm…wot was her name? I doon't think I remember her from the show at all…

The prairie boy suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and flushed slightly as he continued.

Ezekiel-Well they almost crashed into my mom so Harold and I grabbed her oot of the way while they ran ootside screaming eh. I was real surprised to see that Harold helped me. And he and Cody asked if she was okay.

Ezekiel ducked his eyes under his toque as he spoke.

Ezekiel-My mom is the noicest and kindest person I knoo eh. Boot when some jerks find oot aboot her having a prosthetic leg…

The brunet's body shook and his fists were clenched tight as he took in several deep breaths. Finally he spoke.

Ezekiel-They have NO right to say that aboot her eh!!!!

Ezekiel raged before taking more deep breaths to calm himself down. Though his face was still flushed with anger, he smiled a little at the camera.

Ezekiel-Boot Coody and Harold….after how they treated my mom…I think…I think….I think I can give them another chance eh.

Static.


The nice thing about having Home Ec teachers for parents was the innovative creativity, but Ezekiel's mom seemed to bring that to a whole new level. LeShawna took a bite out of her bread and her eyes widened.

"That is tasty!" The sassy sister exclaimed taking another bite. Annabelle smiled. "Strawberry Hazelnut with joost a little bit of crushed orange foor a different taste eh." LeShawna shook her head in amazement. "Oh you have goot to give the recipe!"

Most of the other teenagers nodded and made similar comments. Ezekiel's mom smiled from the praise. "I doon' t mind boot ummm…" Ezekiel took a sip out of his glass before he continued where his mom left off.

"Wot mom means is we recipe trade eh. Mom and Dad and well me…we loike to try different things when it comes to food as you can see eh."


Traveling Cam

By the Old Shed

Jasmine-Strawberry Hazelnut Bread…

Cody-Mashed Potatoes with Cinnamon and Garlic…

Harold-Beef Roast with a Soy Sauce, Honey and Mustard Marinate…

Izzy-Isn't this food GREAT!!! Oh hey! Meanie Shawnie and that actress girl scared my poor Faux! Yeah…he ran off so Izzy went on a Faux Hunt! Yeah…I kinda got dirty and snowy and Zeke's mom sent me to the showers…but food like this…is WORTH waiting for!

Owen-I LOVE staying with Zeke's family!!!!

Static.


Geoff had started to leave the restaurant parking lot when his phone rang. Putting the car back into park he answered it. "Dudes! Geoff here! What's up?" There was silence. "Hello? Anyone there?"

Wot's up is the ceiling and aboove that is the house roof eh.

In an instant Geoff's pleasant smile turned to shock as did Bridgette's. The surfer gasped. "I recognize that accent! Geoff….that…that's…!" Geoff nodded. "Ezekiel's Mom."

And which boy am I talking to eh? The one whoo's name upsets my Zeke to this day? Or the one whoo upset my Zeke at the party eh?

Geoff and Bridgette collectively winced from the innocent yet barbed questions. Particularly Geoff. The moment the party animal and the musician had admitted their less then proudest moments with Ezekiel, the phone clicked off.

As Trent had summed it up, they had royally blown it. Geoff while upset had had no choice but to try to move on. The back to back dinner outings and movie date had helped, but not much. Only the news broadcast over an hour ago had Geoff acting like his old self.

The television transmission had represented hope. For better or worse, Ezekiel was forced to confront three more of the ex-campers and that outcome meant everything. A slim chance of redemption…or the final nail in the coffin.

Which boy am I talking to eh?

Now that the chance had by some miracle presented itself again, Geoff was at a loss of words. Bridgette sighed before speaking up. "That would be Geoff. The first one. And I'm…Bridgette." There was silence for several seconds before Ezekiel's mom spoke.

You were one oof the girls next to my Ezekiel. A public schoo educated girl who judges people by looks and noot by character oor heart eh.

In the car, Bridgette's lazy green eyes flew open from the verbal slap. She opened her mouth to protest, but the homeschooler's mom only continued.

How did you put it eh? Yoo were a real friend and an honest player? Do you think it was fair to vote oof someboody who jumped off that cliff and made one oof those dumb boys vs. girls cooments over someboody who did noot jump?

"I…"

I knew it was a bad idea from the start eh. It happened during that spelling bee contest. This STOOPID homeschooled kid comes oot of nowhere and beats the champion. Who woodn't get upset eh?

"I didn't-"

Admittedly his father is a bit on the crude side at toimes which my Zeke tends to pick up. Boot did he deserve to go to the hoospital foor that eh?

Bridgette gasped at this latest piece of information and tears started to come to her green eyes. Sensing his girlfriend's discomfort, Geoff who was also upset, frowned. Mentally he willed himself.

"I admit it. Bridgette…DJ…Duncan…me…well everybody! We messed up! And….we're…we're sorry. For all of it." The party animal took a shuddering breath before he continued.

"We want nothing more then to apologize for everything! For everything that happened on the show, the hotel…even if he will NEVER forgive us we HAVE to try. So please…can we talk to him?"

No.

The surfer girl and party animal stared down at the floor. As much as they did not want to, they had expected such an outcome. Shaking with emotion, Geoff screwed up his courage to try to change Ezekiel's mother's mind.

Apologizes are done in person or noot at all eh.

Or not. The blonde couple exchanged a shocked glance as they recognized the unexpected opportunity. And Bridgette was quick to jump. "Sure! Sure! We'll do it in person! We can go right after Chris-"

Ezekiel is gooing to a boy's school in Europe. His father's old school eh.

The blondes gasped. "Boy's school? In Europe?!" Bridgette said in shock. "But why? Why not one of the schools near your house? Next to her, Geoff nodded. There was silence on the other end before Ezekiel's mother spoke again.

Dooctors orders were for my Zeke to be on the shoo. When that ended in a woorse disaster then the spelling bee, his father put his boot doown on going to the school eh. If nothing else happens my Zeke will be leaving right after Christmas.

"Then we'll go before then! Tommorrow! Bridge and me! To apologize." On the other end of the phone Ezekiel's mom chuckled darkly.

You do realize it is the hoolidays eh? I'm sure you two have much more important things to do then driving oot in the middle of nowhere joost to apologize to my Ezekiel.

"Mrs. Ezekiel's Mom…Nothing is more important then spending time with your friends and family. And if Zeke won't come to us, then by golly we're gonna come to him!" Geoff's anger faded and he sighed.

"Bridge and I and the others…most of us are good people. If you just give us a chance to prove it…even though we kinda harshed on Ezekiel like a lot and we didn't give him a chance after the whole guys are stronger and smarter fiasco, and we kicked him off instead of DJ or Courtney who didn't-"

Bridgette quickly yanked the phone away. "What Geoff is trying to say is we are sincere about apologizing. But we can't do that if we don't even know where your family lives. Please…please give us that chance."


Annabelle hung up the phone before wandering into the living room. Ezekiel, Izzy, Owen and the rest of the teenage guests were dressed in pajamas, nightgowns and other sleepwear and watching a movie on the new television as they munched on popcorn.

"Candy Canes and Gingerbread! The Grouch is stealing the candy canes!" Owen gasped. Next to him Cody laughed. "Dude he always steals those." LeShawna nodded. "Wouldn't be a Christmas movie without some jerk tryin to ruin it for everybody."

Harold grinned and turned to Ezekiel. "Classic choice. But why this one?" The homeschooler flushed a bit before speaking. "Owen has been talking in his sleep agaain aboot the Grouch taking candy canes from him eh. I thought it might stop if we watched the moovie."

The glass wearing male chuckled and Izzy on the other side with Faux on her lap, stuck out her tongue at her friend before grinning. "Well don't forget that Izzy has next pick!" Ezekiel reluctantly grinned back remembering all too well Izzy's choice of movie.

Annabelle continued to silently watch the interaction between the teenagers and she sighed inaudibly to herself. "I sure hoop I made the right decision eh."


Imagi's Ramblings: Quick reminder…Annabelle is the name I gave for Zeke's mom and is not Canon. ;)

As far as the recipes go…the last one is real the first two…well they could be or could not. I'm sure a good cook could make it work though. :)

So yeah…more angst, more craziness and more with Faux. :D Hope you liked! :D

Thanks as always for the reviews! :D

Imagi