“I'm sure it is.”

“No way, why would she be here?”

“Same reason as us? And I'm sure that tall one called her ‘ladyship'.”

“I'm not convinced.”

“Watch out, the others are coming back!” the first voice hissed.

It wasn't the voices that woke me from my sleep, rather a subtle temperature difference across my legs.

“Look at sleeping beauty.” Steff chuckled.

“And to think she's only interested in bikes.” Pia sighed.

“Am not!” I mentioned sitting up and propping my sunnies on the top of my head.

“What'd those girls want?” Connie asked as she passed me a cold bottle of Sprite  ®.

“No idea, I only just woke up when you got here.”

“You need to do your back.” Pia suggested.

She was probably right, I was starting to redden in the less tanned areas and I so do not want to get burnt.

“What time is it?”

“Nearly twelve.” Con told me.

“Hmm.” I sighed.

“Hark at her ladyship!” Pia chortled.

“Moi?”

“Yes you.”

“Well sit down you plebs, you're keeping the sun from my august body.”

“Certainly madam.” Steff dipped in a faux curtsey; well it's not easy in a string bikini.

“So what did I miss?”

“Not much, there's a couple of lads from school here.” Pia advised.

“Only Freddy and Ralf.” Steff supplied, saving me asking — not that I'm bothered.

I plonked my bottle on the grass before retrieving my book, The Complete Hitchhikers Guide — A Trilogy in Five Parts.

“You still reading that?” Con enquired.

“Its good, you should try it.”

“Maybe if it was in German.”

I hadn't even noticed that I was reading a book printed in English, I guess I've become pretty much bilingual. Not that my German is perfect, not by a long way no sirree, but like Sophia down at the wedding, I doubt many natives would call me on it.

“Excuses, I have to read your German books.”

She blew a raspberry.

I turned over and made myself comfortable.

“You should undo your top Gabs.” Steff opined.

“Whatever.” I shrugged.

“I'll do it.” Pia stated.

There was a sudden feeling of release and moving flesh and I barely stopped myself from revealing everything by rolling over.

“Cheers!”

“My pleasure.” Pia pretty much snorted in amusement.

“Piasena Sebenschuh, you are so bad!” Con observed.

“No fun in being good.”

“You need more cream Gab.” Steff advised.

Splat!

“Ow! That's cold!”

“Well lie still before I think of dripping it somewhere else.” She teased.

“Give the bottle here, best do her feet too, can't be getting burnt tootsies.” Con suggested.

At least Con warmed the lotion up before dribbling it down the soles of my feet.

“You want food?” Pia enquired some time later.

“Hmm?”

“Well you'll have to come with then.”

“Okay.”

Well I nearly exposed myself having forgotten that my top was undone. I dug out Jules' sarong and wrapped it around my waist.

“Your tan is coming on nicely.”

“Better than the patchwork look eh?”

“You need more exposure when you're not riding.” P suggested.

“Not likely.”

We had by now reached the fast food stall that I must admit had been wafting pleasant smells across the Lido for some time. There was a bit of a queue so I spent the wait checking out the scenery around the main pool. Plenty of splashing going on still, the waterslide was attracting quite a bit of attention and noise then away from the water the volleyball courts were all fully occupied too.

“So princess, what's your poison?” Pia asked.

“What?”

“Wakey wakey Gabs, food remember.”

“Erm, hotdog?”

“Anything on?”

“The works please.”

“Yes your highness.”

“So that's, one frikadel, two hotdogs, one with everything and a schnitzel.” Pia placed our order while I continued scanning the playground.

There was something weird going on and I couldn't quite place it, sort of like I was being watched but I couldn't actually see anyone looking our way even.

“What you looking for?”

“Dunno, it just feels like someone's watching us.”

“Creepy, here, you take the ‘dogs, I'll bring the rest.”

I took the proffered comestibles and waited while P did the paying bit.

Some girls were having a conversation which moved to whispers as we passed.

‘I'm telling you Jen, it's her.”

‘What about the other one?'

“Probably a maid or something.'

“Who do you reckon they were talking about?” Pia asked.

“No idea, maybe they're reading a magazine or something.”

“Gott, I thought you'd gone to Bonn to fetch it.” Con joked taking her hotdog from me.

“There was a queue.” Pia mentioned.

“You guys noticed anything funny, like someone watching us?” I asked between mouthfuls of sausage.

“Not in particular.” Steff shrugged.

“Well her ladyship here thinks someone's watching her.” Pia told the others.

“P!”

“Well it's true.”

“You make me sound paranoid.”

“Anyone fancy volleyball in a bit?” Con enquired changing the subject.

“Have to let this go down first.” I opined.

“We'll have to wait for a court.” Steff observed.

“Maybe not,” Con started, “Freddy said he'd hold their court for us if we wanted so who's in?”

I guess it'll be better for me than just laying in the sun.

“I'm in.”

“Great!” she enthused.

“So like who are we playing?” I asked Con again as we walked over to where I could see the Strech's, Freddy and Ralf.

“There'll be someone.”

I'm sure there will.

“Hi Con, Gabs,” Ralf was the first to spot us, “only you two?”

“The others weren't bothered.” Con sighed.

“Well I'm jiggered.” Freddy told us.

“We can't just play against Ralf.” I pointed out.

“How about me an' Gabs versus Connie and Ralf?” I know that voice.

“How long've you been here?”

“All day.” Max admitted.

“You could've said hello.”

“You looked like you didn't want company.”

Was Max my ‘stalker'?

“We playing or having a domestic?” Ralf interrupted.

“Ralf!” we both complained.

“I was just saying.” He stepped back defensively.

“Come on Gab's, you and Max me and Ralfie boy.”

“whatever.” I sighed.

Now don't run away with the idea that I'm this uber sportsman, I'm pretty nifty on a bike but decidedly mediocre at pretty much everything else and volleyball is no different. You might have seen the pro's on the telly or the serious on the beach — scrub those images from your mind as none of us are particularly gifted and the nearest to a spike I can manage is getting the ball over the net. Still we had fun, even if this non contact sport became a little too touchy once or twice.

“So you guys straight home?” Max enquired as he and his buds joined us as we returned to our now in shadow campsite.

“Guess so.” I shrugged.

“Hi Max, guys, how was the game?” Steff enquired.

“A right laugh, you should've come.” Con advised the sluggards.

“Do you guys fancy getting a pizza or something before we head home?” Max offered.

“Fine by me.” Pia noted.

“Okay I guess.” I agreed.

“That's settled then, we'll go and get changed, meet you ladies outside in fifteen?”

“Twenty.” Steff made a counter offer.

“Twenty it is.” Max agreed for his half of our enlarged group.

The boys headed off to the changing rooms.

“Gabriella von Strechau has a certain ring to it.” Pia teased.

“Does not!” I snapped making a lunge for her.

“Me thinks she doth protest too much.” Pia grinned as she dodged my movement.

to be continued....

Maddy Bell 08.06.11  © 2011