CRUNCH…. SNAP…..CRACK.
Whatever the noise was. It was enough to wake James from his slumber. Father Peter and Marco were sound asleep in the tent. The wee English fella stepped out of his sleeping bag and grabbed his video camera and a flashlight. As he stood outside the tent, James pressed record and pointed both the flashlight and camera towards where the sound was coming from. The flashlight shone eerily against the tree trunks in the distance but there was no one there. He shifted from left to right every time the noise occurred. It sounded like stone crashing on stone, a single clattering noise, so he thought. The only other sound he could hear was his English breathing. The night had brought a brisk chill in the air which he felt as he shuddered standing in his shorts and t shirt. James scrunched his eyes and tilted his ear towards the strange sound.
CRACK!
James gasped with fright as he turned to his left. The sound was closer but there was still no one there. There was silence. He could only hear his own voice whispering and shaking from both fright and the cold. Asking himself what the noise was.
"Hiya James?"
Feeling a hand on his shoulder; James jumped…. He jolted round to see a figure standing there. The flashlight jolted everywhere before he could see who it was.
"…. Orla?" He squeaked. "What is wrong with you? You scared the shit out of me!" He groaned. His face contorted with fear.
"Ach, that's a grand impression of Erin, that is, James." She laughed. James shushed her.
"What are you doing up at….. 3am?" James whispered, looking at his watch.
"I needed the toilet. What are you doing up?" Orla replied curiously.
"Shhhh…. Listen." He whispered. James pointed and they both listened. Orla furrowed her eyes with curiosity, but there was nothing.
"I don't hear anything." Orla said. Shaking her head. "Why, what was it?"
"Well, if I knew, I would have said." James huffed.
"Fair answer. Alright, Night James." She yawned, she ruffled his hair and bounced back to her tent.
"Yeah…. Night Orla." He looked around, feeling himself shudder from the cold again. He sauntered cautiously back to his own tent. Neither of them had noticed that Coco Pops had been standing outside Clare's tent the whole time. His ears erected, on alert.
A few hours later, just before 7am. Orla was up again. Always the early riser. She stood in her t-shirt, long shorts, and husky slippers as she breathed in the early morning air. Strapping her hunting knife around her waist, she walked over to the campfire to get it going again. She then regarded the fire with a strange curiosity. Her eyes widened, she hummed an alarming groan at the scattered pieces that lay on the ground. She darted quickly over to the boy's tent.
"Marco?….. James?..." She whispered in alarm.
"Oi! What d'ya want?" A voice came from behind.
Orla jolted round and sighed to see Marco in front of her. She was just about to speak when the tranquil silence of the campsite; the gentle crackling of logs on the smouldering campfire, the splendour of the sun shining through the small gaps between the fir trees….. There was a sudden, bone chilling scream. James darted out of the tent. Everyone quickly clambered out of their tents in succession, Clare, Laurie, and Erin along with the younger pupils. Father Peter poked his head out of the tent in alarm while Coco Pops barked hysterically. They all looked in the direction of the scream. Meanwhile, Sister Michael and Sister Josephine had just descended upon the camp.
"Who has done this?!" Jenny cried. Her eyes popping out of her head from anger and despair. Her arms were stretched out towards the campfire. Only Aisling was there to comfort her. The gang and the camping party began to walk over towards the campfire. Jenny was visibly upset.
"What the fuck is going on out here?" Michelle groaned to herself. She held her throbbing head as she emerged from her tent.
"This is such a cat! Which one of yous threw Jenny's guitar into the campfire?!" Aisling cried.
"What's going on?" Michelle asked again as she sauntered closer to the campfire.
"SOMEONE THREW MY GUITAR ONTO THE FIRE!" Jenny screamed angrily.
"Argh! Fucking hell!" Michelle groaned; her head throbbed more. "Ease up, my head is banjaxed as it is!"
"Why should we give a shite?" Tina O'Connell shrugged. "At least we won't hear any more of that crap she sings!" Quipping to her friends.
"I beg your pardon?!" Jenny strained.
"Ye heard me!" Tina repeated. The other members of the camping party began to agree in unison.
"Oh I see! It's like that is it?!" Jenny barked angrily.
"Well, they're only speaking their mind, Jenny." Michelle shot.
"Oh really? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if YOU had something to do with it yourself!" Jenny snapped suddenly.
"What?!" Michelle snapped back. "You reckon I had something to do with this?"
"I am not reckoning! I know it, Michelle! But why should I be surprised? What with your family's background!" Jenny cried hysterically.
The gang stood in awe. Looks of repulsion and shock adorned their faces. Aisling couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing. Michelle flew into an instant rage and grabbed Jenny by the collar of her shirt. The head Prefect screamed with panic as Father Peter jumped in to intervene while the younger pupils crowded around them, cheering, and goading them on. Coco Pops was barking nearby, only to be snatched up by Clare. Erin and James pulled Michelle back while Aisling shielded Jenny.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Sister Michael bellowed. Everyone froze.
"Ach, now you're gonna get it!" Jenny sniped at Michelle.
"There's a slight situation, Sister." Father Peter explained.
"You're about as perceptive as the blind man, Father! I can see there's a situation!" She ordered.
"Michelle threw my guitar on the fire, Sister!" Jenny whined.
"No, I fucking didn't!" Michelle protested.
"QUIET! THE PAIR OF YOU!... This is far too early in the morning to be dealing with this shite." She groaned quietly, rubbing her eyes with annoyance.
"She has done it, Sister. She's always saying she's going to do something or other to me…. Where there's smoke, there's fire! And let's face it. They all know a wee bit about that!" Pointing her finger at the others.
Sister Michael interjected. "There is a world of difference between Saying and Doing things, Jenny. If I did half the things I said I'd like to do every time you girls drove me insane, I'd be slopping out in Parkhurst or someplace!..." She paused. "But this is a disgusting act and I'm drawing a line under this right now! Michelle, did you do this?" The Nun demanded.
"No!" Michelle answered categorically, staring straight at Jenny.
"Did anyone here actually see Michelle do this?" Sister Michael demanded to know. The camping party was silent while Jenny glanced around in despair.
"There's your answer. You cannot make accusations without proof, Jenny! But, I shall be making discreet enquiries with the other campers to see if they saw anything. But if I find out that anyone here is responsible, eternity in the company of Beelzebub will be a picnic compared to five minutes alone with me!" The wide eyed, white faces of fear were plentiful and evident as Sister Michael walked away.
"…. I think she's in a really good mood this morning." Marco quipped.
"Ach, class." Orla replied.
After breakfast. The group sat amongst themselves as they waited for their duties for the day. It was decided that the entire group was too large to go on a hike together. A suggestion was made by Father Peter that they split the group in two and would go on separate days. Sister Michael agreed. But not without sensing an ulterior motive from the Priest.
She decided that Party One would be comprised of Clare, Michelle, Laurie, and Aisling's groups; with Marco going along for the hike with Sister Josephine. While Father Peter stayed behind at camp with Sister Michael, along with Party Two; which was comprised of Erin, Orla, James and Jenny's groups. Whilst they were getting ready, Michelle couldn't help but notice that Jenny had glanced over at her more than once. She shot an intense glare back which caused Jenny to flinch easily.
"I swear if she doesn't stop staring, I'm gonna fling that yoke onto the fire next to her bastard guitar!"
"Oh Christ, stop giving out Michelle, we know ye didn't do it." Erin shot.
"Fucking right I didn't do it!" Michelle repeated. "I was too pished."
"What? Ye mean to say you brought alcohol on a camping trip where we're supposed to be minding minors? What if one of them finds it, Michelle?!" Clare panicked, darting around to see if anyone had heard.
"Clare!... Seriously, calm the fuck down. I'm not in the mood right now." Michelle growled.
"Alright, Michelle. Just take it easy." James said.
"Don't tell me to fucking take it easy, James! Did yer lot take it easy every time ye fancied coming over here to invade us? Oh but when those German fellas came flying over…. Ach, That was a fucking travesty! Ye English prick!" Michelle shot.
"Aye, them English lads should have really let them German lads win that football match, James?" Orla said.
"What? What do the events of the London Blitz and the 1966 World Cup final have to do with any of this?!" James yelled hysterically.
"Calm down, James. I was only being sarcastic." Orla replied, her eyes furrowing curiously at James.
"….. Look. The point I'm making is, I'm gonna get her back for what she said! Ye heard her slagging off our family!" Michelle's voice burned as much as her eyes were.
"Yeah, I agree. that was well out of order." Marco agreed.
"Just don't take the bait, Michelle. Otherwise, she'll use that against yourself and then the teachers will assume it was you, and then you'll be in deep shit." Laurie advised.
"What? Ye got nothing to say, Erin?" Michelle shot, noticing that she had been quiet.
"What?... I…. I agree too." Erin said hesitantly.
Michelle narrowed her eyes at her friend's response. James couldn't help but notice the look between them. The hike was just about ready to go.
"So, what were these weird sounds ye heard last night, James?" Clare asked, spotting the same tension. Just as James was about to speak. Aisling walked up to them.
"Guys, can I talk to yous quickly? Look, I know I don't speak much. To be fair, I don't get much of a chance. But seriously, ye don't know anything about what happened, do yer?" Aisling asked. "And if ye did, I'd like to think you'd be decent enough to say something, hi?"
James paused, spotting Michelle scowling at her. "… Well, first; No, Aisling. Honestly, we don't know who smashed the guitar. And yes, if we did know, we would say. I know Jenny gets under Michelle's skin, and Erin's skin, to be fair…." He was then troubled on how to continue.
"…. What I think James is trying to say, Aisling. Is if it were Michelle…. Don't you think she'd have been a lot more…obvious about it, right?" Marco turned to Michelle. "But also, Jenny did go a bit too far with that little remark….. that was well out of order." Marco said.
"….Aye, I admit…..that was too far." Aisling agreed nervously. "Whoever did this was an absolute arsehole!" She shot.
"Good choice of words there, Aisling." Michelle admitted.
"Thanks." Aisling shot a nervous smile at him. "Also, I've been hearing from some of Jenny's group that some of their stuff has gone missing."
"What? Ye mean stolen?" Erin asked.
"Come along now girls. We need to get a move on!" Sister Josephine interjected before moving to assemble the hiking party. Clare, Laurie, Michelle, and Marco gathered their things and made their way over to the assembled mass. Orla made a point to go with Marco.
"Are ye sure ye got everything? Ye know, water for Coco Pops? his chews? I put that spare wolf shirt, and a few tubes of emergency Rolos in your rucksack." Orla said, a hint of worry was in her voice.
"Emergency Rolos? What are they for?" Marco asked.
"In case ye fancy a Rolo?" Orla shrugged with a puzzled look. Marco reached into his rucksack and pulled out a tube of Rolos. He split the tube in half and gave it to Orla. She happily threw back her half tube. Marco held one back.
"Uh oh!" He muffled, still chewing on his Rolos.
"What?" Orla asked.
"I think this might be an emergency." Marco said with a serious tone. Orla appeared to be alarmed. "Do I love someone enough to give them my last Rolo?" He asked with a perplexed look on his face, staring straight at Orla who shuffled nervously. Then Marco smiled as he placed the last Rolo in her hand. He laughed at the sight of Orla blushing. She grabbed him for a hug.
"I love ye too, bear." Orla said lovingly. The camping party wooed at the pair of them.
"ORLA! MARCO!" Sister Michael shouted. They jumped together.
"Oops. Looks like we've been caught…. Ach, fuck it." Marco said, planting a quick kiss on her lips. Orla beamed a large smile as he said goodbye and walked off with Coco Pops. Soon the hiking party was out of sight. Orla swayed as she walked back to Erin and James. But she couldn't find them. Opening the entrance to her tent. She found the pair in the middle of a secret snog.
"Oops. Sorry you guys." She sniggered.
"Orla! Shut the tent. Someone might see!" Erin hissed in a panic. She rolled her eyes as Orla entered the tent and closed the flap.
"That's not exactly what we meant, Orla." James sighed. Orla paused for a second. It finally dawned on her, and she scurried out of the tent, running straight into Sister Michael.
"Oh, HI SISTER MICHAEL!" Orla cried. Erin and James froze.
"Orla! What did I say about the rules?" Sister Michael sternly asked.
"Aye, sorry Sister. It won't happen again." Orla frowned sadly.
"Very well. Just see that it doesn't. Have you seen Erin and James?" The Nun asked. Orla's eyes started to shift everywhere. Erin shrivelled inside the tent, praying that Orla wouldn't say anything.
"For God's sake, Orla. Answer me! Yes or No?" Sister Michael demanded.
"If we're talking about previous encounters, than yes, I have seen them loads of times. But as to their current whereabouts as this specific moment in time… I'd have to say no, sister." Orla sighed. Erin and James mirrored the same sigh.
"Right." Sister Michael narrowed her eyes at Orla. "Well, when you see them, tell them they have to occupy Erin's group with an activity until lunch. We'll take a walk around to Drum Manor, and then it'll be a collective activity in the afternoon."
"Ach class. What is it, Sister?" Orla asked.
"I'm going to give yous a Judo class. James and Father Peter are going to be the practice dummies. Carry on." She said, turning to leave. Inside the tent, James' eyes almost popped out of his head while Erin bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing.
"Whoa! Did ye hear that yous two?" Orla asked from outside the tent.
"Is she gone?" James whispered.
"Aye, she's gone." Erin and James shuffled out of the tent. Making sure the coast was clear.
"Well, this is just brilliant. Now what exactly are we supposed to do?" Erin complained, throwing her arms up in the air.
"Well, I see yous later. I've gotta go take care of my group." Orla trenched off.
"What you gonna do with them, Orla?" James asked.
"You'll see. Bye!"
"I seriously hope she's not thinking about teaching them how to use that crossbow." James worried. "Knowing her, she'll have them up against a tree with an apple on their heads or something." Erin rolled her eyes at James' joke.
"Catch yourself on. Wait a minute!" Erin darted back into her tent. She emerged a minute later, clutching onto her diary. "This stays with me! Not having Orla broadcast my entire life to the rest of the school." She growled.
Erin attempted to occupy her group with some poetry reading, which went down like a sour plum. James then suggested that he teach them how to penalty kick, which went down just as expected. Suffice to say; they were relieved when the time came to venture out to the Drum Manor ruin. James, as always had his video camera on hand. Capturing the height of the tall trees, as well as capturing Erin on camera, which she 'shied' away from unconvincingly. Following the scenic route through the forest. The group, led by Father Peter soon came upon Orla and her group, who were lined up doing some sort of dance routine. Erin and James chuckled as they heard the song 'King of the swingers' playing from a portable hifi player while Orla applauded with an excited approval as the young group enjoyed repeating the moves that she'd shown them.
"Very groovy, girls." Father Peter smiled.
Joining them on their trek. They finally came upon the old ruin. A majestic, mature Cedar tree partially obscured the walls and turrets of the ruin.
"Apparently this is known as a fake Tudor Castle, as it was built in Victorian times." Father Peter explained. The younger members of the party didn't seem impressed. But Orla seemed enchanted by the 'garden' that was growing on the inside of the manor. Erin's mind drifted as she took in the sight of the tall gothic like tower that stood above the trees. Foliage spilled over the walls of the manor.
"This is class! The outside is on the inside! It's like Alice in Wonderland or something." Orla beamed as she looked around in wonderment. Her words seems to stir something in Erin. A dream like gaze that James had certainly noticed.
While the rest of the party sat down to eat lunch around the balustrade on the other side of the ruin, which looked onto an area known as the 'Pleasure Grounds'. Erin sat at the base of a cedar tree and pulled out 'Hamlet' to read. No sooner had she begun, James sat a short distance from her. Meticulous of anyone spying them sitting too close together, but close enough in case one or the other wanted to hold hands. He smiled warmly at her while he ate. Spotting that they both kept glancing over at each other quite frequently. Erin decided to put in a little practice.
Remembering Laurie's words of advice. She leaned against the cedar tree and crossed one leg over the other. Her shorts were already enough for James to acknowledge her legs. While she held and 'read' her book; James watched Erin slowly run her index and middle finger from her knee and up to the hem of her shorts and back down again. James then looked round awkwardly as Erin slowly crossed her legs over. She comically flicked her hair back, but he was too entranced. Their eyes locked on each other as he bit his upper lip. Erin then admired the grey shirt he was wearing which complimented his ever-changing young physique. No doubt, his football training had made him even more alluring to her, which was part of the trouble.
Wondering what he was thinking about; Erin went in for the kill. She pulled out a can of Diet Coke, hearing the song by Etta James in her head from the TV advert. She thought it ironic that the songwriter's last name was James as pulled the tab back and brought the can to her lips, arching her head back, gulping down the cool drink. James felt a tremendous electricity run through him. Gulping himself; his eyes did not leave her. His head twitched and his face contorted awkwardly just like Erin's in an ironic twist of fate. Erin looked over and smirked at James, feeling extremely pleased with herself. She winked at him and flashed a smile. She brought the can up to her mouth and took another drink.
"Erin, could I talk to yous?" Jenny suddenly said. Erin instantly spat out her drink. The other girls turned and laughed at her as she wiped her mouth.
"WHAT?!." Erin was now startled. "Ach, what do ye want Jenny?" Erin snapped. Annoyed at the interruption.
"Listen. I had a chat with Aisling. And she told me what James and Marco said. And I'm gonna address that. But I've just had a wee chat with some of the girls in my group."
"Our groups!" Erin corrected her.
"Right…. And some of them have mentioned that some of their stuff has gone missing." Jenny said.
"Yeah. Aisling said something about that earlier." James acknowledged.
"Aye. And it's not inexpensive things either. Sister Michael has been informed, but I can't help but wonder whether it might be linked with what happened to my guitar?" Jenny said curiously.
"Hmmm, interesting." Erin spoke with a curious whisper. Her eyes narrowed as she bit down on her pen. "What stuff are we talking here, jewellery? Walkman's? Trinkets? Money?" She asked.
Jenny looked astounded. "That's incredible! That is precisely the sort of things they've said!"
"IS IT?... Ach, well. Ye know how it is. Ye pick up these when you're wired to it." Erin sad proudly. James furrowed his eyes at her.
"Well, I admit I'm no Detective Columbo." Jenny said, making Erin glare at her crossly. "But I heard that you had something to do with solving the mystery surrounding Mr O'Driscoll. So, if anyone could….. unravel this mystery….. it might be you?" Jenny implied. She seemed to struggle to pay Erin such a compliment. But Erin had already begun to smirk inside. James didn't fail spotting this either.
"Well…." Erin paused. Trying not to sound too smug. "I can…. Certainly, give it a go?" She said.
"Hi you guys." Orla suddenly sat amongst them. "Are yous ready to go back? We gotta go learn how-to beat-up James and Father Peter." She said with excitement.
"Orla!" James groaned.
"Sister Michael isn't gonna beat up James!" Erin huffed. But James wasn't so sure.
As they walked back to the tent green, the new information swirled round inside Erin's head, She failed to spot that James seemed slightly trepidatious about what he was about to encounter. Orla was certainly shaking with anticipation for the Judo lesson. But Erin was too preoccupied as they gathered around in a circle for Sister Michael to appear. She pondered what Jenny had told her and began scouting the group members. Some of them were part of the fourth year, which included Tina O'Connell and her two cronies, Aoife, and Kara. Given how outspoken they'd been upon the discovery of the expired guitar, the seeds of suspicion had already been planted, but Erin knew from her years of watching Jessica Fletcher that it was best not to jump to conclusions just yet.
Now standing in their pairs; Sister Michael stepped before them in her Judogi. Some of the fourth years smirked at the Gi but quickly fell in line once the Nun gave them 'the look.' She then rolled her eyes when Father Peter stood next to her in his own Judogi. Causing the girls to snigger more.
"Ach, I love their wee karate pyjamas. They are so class! I'm gonna ask Mammy to buy me some." Orla whispered to James. Causing him to shoot a familiar look of bewilderment at her.
"Right girls. Pay attention. First things first. I am going to demonstrate 5 basic throws, then, in your pairs, you will practice on each other. James, stand by me." She motioned with her hand. James shuffled nervously near her. "Now, I shall demonstrate on Father Peter, but you'll all take it in turns on James."
"What?" James gasped.
"Can I have a first volunteer?" She asked.
"I'll do it!" Orla bounded forward.
Sister Michael took a few steps forward; She motioned Father Peter to join her.
"It's alright girls. I've been training too. This won't hurt a bit." Peter assured them confidently.
"Well, here goes. Throw 1. This is called Ouchi gari- an inside trip. Father Peter…" The two locked up. "Very simple girls. Hands grip the lapel and the sleeve….." She paused as they watched. "And then…." She threw her leg through Father Peter's leg, sweeping him swiftly down to the ground, she fell atop of him, causing him to groan while shifting herself into the finish position. The girls broke down with laughter.
"Very simple…. Ach, for Christ sake, Father, get up man! You're making the place untidy….." Sister Michael remarked as she brought herself up. "Now… Orla. Your turn with James."
Orla grabbed James and quickly repeated the steps. James yelled as she took him down, crashing on top of him. The girls laughed loudly, including Erin.
"Are ye alright, James?" Orla asked, still gripping him. James could only groan a response.
"Impressive….. Most impressive." Sister Michael commended her. "Come now. Altogether. Girls. Get a grip, when you're ready, sweep the leg. And then switch. And just like Orla did… Show no mercy!" She ordered.
The girls went into the simple routine, a mixture of success and failure. Sister Michael corrected the ones that needed it while Orla was having a blast continually taking James down.
"Alright, Orla. My turn!" Erin barked. "Ye take Jenny!"
"WHAT?" Jenny now felt very afraid.
"Thank you!" James said. But quickly found himself back on the ground with Erin crashing on top of him.
"WOW! It is class!" Erin beamed. "Give it a go, Jenny!" She beamed.
James found himself becoming very familiar with the green as the afternoon wore on. Each girl taking a turn to take him down. Sister Michael demonstrated and found tremendous pleasure in showcasing each take down on Father Peter. Showing how to shift from the Ouchi gari into the Osoto gari- an outside backward throw. The girls watched in awe as she effortlessly threw Father Peter using the Koshi Guruma- a hip throw. Tina O'Connell and her friends seemed unimpressed and attempted to saunter off, but quickly learned the hard way once Orla, Erin and Jenny had taken each of them down with the Ogoshi hip throw. James had taken note of the takedowns and was eventually afforded the chance to practice with Father Peter. Both gingerly taking a turn. Sister Michael, usually the sternest of people, seemed to crack a smile as the girls laughed their way through the enjoyment of the tutorial.
Meanwhile, on the bank of Lough Fea; Michelle, Clare and Laurie were also laughing at the footage from Marco's camera. Finally, being able to show and tell them the story of James' finest hour when he pranked the hotel clerk, framing the school bully in the process on their trip to the lake district.
"I can't believe that was your James who did that!" Laurie said to Michelle.
"You two were proper shiteing the tights when ye ran away!" Michelle laughed. "Wind it back…. Christ no wonder ye two got bullied. Those bokey haircuts are enough!" Michelle sniggered. They laughed at Marco's Beatle hair style as the footage played again.
"You know…. I was thinking of growing it out again." Marco said.
"Catch yourself the fuck on!" Michelle cried playfully.
"Aye, as your mate, Marco. I advise yer. Don't have yer hair like that unless ye want a bullet up yer hole." Laurie warned.
"I think it suits him…." Clare spoke up. Michelle and Laurie shot puzzled looks at her. "….Nah, just joking. Ye do look like an eejit." She cracked. Making the others laugh.
It had been a scenic route from the campsite to Lough Fea. Walking through the forest route towards the Lough. The sunny weather had made it the best kind of day for a long walk. Michelle looked curiously at Sister Josephine who was comforting an emotional member of the first years. The younger nun then turned to Aisling and the two were in conversation. The feisty Mallon spied the nun walking over to them.
"Girls. Can I have a word?" The Sister asked.
"Aye yes, sister." Clare said.
"Aisling has brought something to my attention. Some members of the party mentioned to her that some items have gone missing." She said. "And I've just spoken to Ciara over there who said she can't find a necklace that belonged to her Grandmother."
"Well before ye say anything, Sister. We had nothing to do with it!" Michelle snapped.
"I'm not saying you were, Michelle…."
"When did she last see it, Sister?" Marco asked.
"She said she put it in her rucksack for safe keeping last night at camp, but when she looked just now, it was gone." Sister Josephine said.
"So, it could have fallen out back at camp?" Laurie suggested.
"That's what I said. However, given the circumstances with what happened to Jenny's guitar…"
"Ye think someone might have stolen it, Sister." Clare concluded.
"Well, pass not judgement, girls…. At least not yet." She replied.
The group pondered those words as she walked away. They then darted their eyes everywhere as they heard Coco Pops barking. Marco looked and found him next to Ciara's rucksack. He looked towards Marco, barking relentlessly.
"What is it, boy?" Marco handed Michelle his camera and sauntered over. The pup seemed to be intrigued by something about Ciara's rucksack. He barked with excitement, leaving Marco confused.
The time had come to pack up and make their way back to camp. The dusty walkways in the forest once again bared the stampede of the young hiking group. Clare and Laurie discussed the similarities between their own group and the younger members of the party, seeing all of them in their own individual year groups, not straying from each other. Chatting and laughing amongst themselves without a care in the world. It was a symbolic sight to behold. Just like them, they were packs that would stick together. Michelle escaped into her own world with her mixed tape of dance music on her Walkman. Sister Josephine led the party while Marco had stayed at the rear with Coco Pops to make sure there were no stragglers.
While James sat and nursed his bruises from the judo class. Erin sauntered around the tent green. Again, pondering the information from Jenny Joyce about other members of the party reporting items missing from their rucksacks and tents. Now in her Jessica Fletcher Detective mode, The petite blonde considered the actual possibility of there being a snake in the grass within the camping party. It was just after 4PM when the hiking party finally arrived back to the camping green.
"We back, Motherfuckers!" Michelle cried. Seemingly in a more jovial mood than when she'd left. "Fuck-a-doodle-do! What happened to you, dickface?" Michelle asked, punching James' arm.
"Argh! and good afternoon to you too." He growled with his teeth gritted.
"Everyone was practising their Judo skills on James this afternoon." Erin informed them, smirking, she nudged James' other arm.
"Ye look a wee bit dishevelled, James!" Clare regarded him.
"Dishevelled? He looks like he got his arse kicked." Marco proclaimed. Suddenly, he yelped and found himself flying over something, hitting the ground hard. He looked up and saw Orla smiling down at him as he lay there. Michelle burst out laughing.
"Fuck-a-doodle-doo! That was a fucking cracker takedown, so it was, Orla!" Michelle cackled.
"Hiya, bear!... Mwah!" She beamed happily. Planting a kiss on his nose.
"Looking a bit dishevelled down there, Marco?" James chuckled as he looked down at his mate.
"Jesus, Orla! Will ye let him up." Erin ordered.
"Oi, I'm not complaining." Marco spoke up, making Orla giggle.
"Uh, excuse me, again!" Sister Michael now stood over them. "That was nicely done, Orla! But I don't think that last move was a recognised one." Sister Michael said firmly.
"Sorry, Sister." Marco and Orla said together as they brought themselves to their feet.
"No doubt I'll enjoy our little entanglement tomorrow, Mr Galluci. I'm looking forward to it." The nun was almost salivating as she smirked at him before walking away.
James failed at hiding the supressed laugh, the others quickly followed suit, except Orla, who was genuinely puzzled. Marco suddenly felt a twinge of fear run up his spine.
"Before you ask, I ain't swapping places tomorrow." James said to him.
"Jesus Fucking Christ! She's gonna eat ye alive!" Michelle cackled. Marco went to answer but stopped.
"Orla, are you sniffing my hair again?" He asked.
"I like it, it smells nice. Smells very different from James's hair. Like a bounty bar." Orla remarked, running her fingers through it.
"What does my hair smell like?" James asked.
"Are ye seriously asking that question?... Fruity if ye must know." Erin revealed.
"Fucking boke!" Michelle yucked.
"James does have a cracking bounce in his hair, it has to be said." Clare regarded. James felt Orla pat his head.
"I dunno, looks a wee bit…. peculiar to me." Laurie said.
"Why, what's wrong with it? I've got a nice set of hair. Right, Marco?" James asked confidently.
"Oh yeah, definitely. I've got hair just like yours…... It's just not on my head." He smiled as he walked away to start prepping dinner. James gawked as the girls laughed. Erin then motioned everyone to gather round.
"I don't understand." Orla said.
"Pubic hair!" Michelle said to her, sniggering.
"Michelle!... Right, So we all know that some of the girls here have had things go missing, aye?" Erin began.
"Aye, So what are ye getting at?" Michelle asked.
"Well, it's obvious. There's a snake in the grass, girls."
"Where?!" Orla cried. Jumping up from her seat in alarm.
"No, not literally, Orla! I mean there's a thief amongst us." Erin sighed.
"Oh Fuck! Here she goes again, murder she wrote, just shittier." Michelle groaned. James then nudged her arm.
"There was another odd thing that happened while we were at Lough Fea today." Clare said.
"Aye, Coco Pops started barking when he was near that Ciara girl's bag. Like he sensed something?" Laurie said.
"Did he now?" Erin asked. "Hmmmm, interesting….." She said, purring almost. She crooked her eyebrow as an idea came into her head. "Marco, I'm gonna have Coco pops with me tonight is that OK?" She called over.
"Yeah, alright." He called back.
"Oi, What's wrong with Orla?" Clare said. Everyone looked and saw Orla was staring, away from the group.
"Orla?" James asked.
Erin turned and noticed where Orla was staring, a dreamy smile adorned her face. Erin looked over and saw Marco was flicking vegetables up with his knife, catching them effortlessly with the edge of the blade and chopping them hard and swiftly. He then proceeded to twirl the knife like a propeller. The knife swung with ease through his fingers with a seamless motion. He twirled the knife into its holster and took another one out to cut something else. Michelle noticed Orla chewing on a strawberry twirl. Her eyes grew wider and wider, never taking their focus off Marco.
"That is soooo class." Orla said quietly. "I've never seen anyone use a knife like that before…."
"Orla?... Orla! Is anyone there?" James asked.
"Oh shit! I've seen that face before." Michelle smiled.
"Why? What's wrong with her?" Laurie smirked.
"Ach, nothing. She's just turned on. That's all she is." Michelle answered nonchalantly.
They glanced awkwardly at each other. Leaving Orla smiling as she sat in her daydream. They went about their business before dinner was ready. As the sun began to set, a blend of rouge with orange and blue spread across the sky with white scattered clouds. The sunset looked warm as it pierced through the fir tree. Erin and James decided between them to go around to the members of the camping party who had reported an item missing. Erin made a note of what had bene taken while James had the idea of bringing Coco Pops with them. Unsurprisingly, the wee dog had reacted the same way he had earlier. Erin's detective mind began to ponder who the culprit was. But there was one factor that was troubling her. Coco Pops did not react towards any of the girls in the camping party. That night, Erin lay in her sleeping bag, while Coco Pops had already crashed to sleep. The hike obviously taking it out of him. Erin read the list of missing items, but soon found herself drifting off.