Chapter 2 Cranedale

The coach rolled to a squeaky stop in the Cranedale campsite, it was just beginning to grow dark and the wind blew quite heavily around the wooded area, Kym stared out into the darkness, a couple of hours on the motor way turned into four as the traffic piled up, the coach had arrived at Cranedale late, thank God they had cabins to sleep in instead of tents, that was one small mercy about this trip. Chrissy was asleep next to Kym she had been so for the last hour, her two friends Infront were also a little dozy, only Kym remained awake her stomach turning and jumping her eyes sparkling with excitement, she had spent the journey here pretending to read her book, however she couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept wandering and daydreaming, mostly about Mr Richmond seated at the front, she had sneaked a few looks his way during the journey, he was mainly talking and laughing with the other teachers, really not too interested in what the students were up too, the same with the students, both forms of people mainly ignored each other for the whole journey. This disappointed Kym, she wished he would have come and at least spoken to her. But the only teacher who came to see her was Mrs West, her English teacher to ask after Chrissy. Kym sighed and tried to ignore the disappointing act.

Thinking back she remembered some of the times he had come out of his way to see her, once when she had been off for three days at a video project, he came across to the upper school from lower just to talk to her, also some of the things he had said to her, strange and confusing at times.

"I see where you get it now Kym" he had once said "What" She had replied. "Oh nothing you just look like your mum" He had replied, it was the fact that he had said it three times in the space of 15 minutes was what puzzled her. Also the most recent thing he had said to her when she couldn't come and help him one lunch time.

"Oh you are away today" he said to her when she went to speak to him in the morning.

"Yep" she replied.

"Ohhh Kymmm!" he moaned as if he'd miss her not being there with him. He was in Kym's decision a puzzling man, but still she seemed to love him

"Right everybody off came Mrs West's voice from the front of the coach as the engine cut and the door opened. Everybody stood up and began to pile off, Chrissy being one of the first, Kym sniggered at bit at her friends desperate behaviour, Picking up her bag Kym made her way down the coach to get stopped in a queue for the door.

"Excited" came a voice from behind her. Kym blushed and turned to look into Mr Richmond's face.

"Oh yeah absolutely" wow she even convinced herself that time. Mr Richmond smiled broadly at her, he reminded her ever so much of Elton John, she loved Elton John, he looked most like him when he removed his glasses, although with a bit less hair, fake not real, in Elton's case bless him.

"Great, I'll make sure I give Divine plenty of running around to wind her up a bit" he said. Kym laughed Mr Richmond had never forgotten the day Divine 'twagged' to put it nicely Sports day. Divine Light and Mr Richmond had a completely different relationship to Kym and Mr Richmond, Divine hated him with every fathom of her fibres, she called him arrogant, and he said she often hurt him with some of the things she said to him, He wouldn't go as far as to say he hated Divine though, not even in front of Kym.

"Cool" she said climbing from the bus him following behind her, carting an old green back pack, type camping thing.

"Found it in a skip" he said proudly gesturing to the backpack. Kym looked at him for a moment trying to determine his seriousness, he was ever such a good liar, he had often scared her with stupid practical jokes. From what Kym could tell he seemed to be telling the truth. Shaking her head she headed off to her friends who were pulling disgruntled looks, whilst he hurried off ahead of them to discuss arrangements with the other teachers.

"Spare us the details" Divine said looking at Kym disgustedly. Kym ignored her and walked on towards the cabins and the group of teachers looking a bit annoyed (all except Mr Richmond who was grinning stupidly) at the fact that the students were dawdling along. From what Kym could see the camp was a large wooded area with a lake, tennis courts, football pitch and a tarzen line hanging over the water, and amazingly enough a small amount of mini mountains, it was actually quite pretty even in the dark.

"Welcome to Cranedale kids" came a voice from the front of the group. A tall grinning woman was stood looking a them, she was tall thins and a bit too happy for this late hour, She creeped Kym out a little, there was just something about her which just wasn't fitting the happy type camping woman who seemed to just be there always. Yes Kym didn't like her, She looked at her friends each shared the same expression of disbelief at this woman treating them as kids, She glanced at Mr Richmond he was looking at the woman wearing as he put it his business expression basically he was watching her seriously.

"Cabin 9 girls", declared Mrs West making Kym jump, she picked up her bag and followed the small group of girls heading away from the boys group heading the other way with Mr Richmond.