Silence enveloped us, at first I thought it was because we had nothing to say to each other but I had soon realised that that was not the case.

Damon was slowly wrapping bandages around my left shoulder around my arm, keeping it up, now prompted by a towel.

I hissed through my clenched teeth when he started to tie the knot at the top of my shoulder.

Eugene was now on the phone with my mum, but I told him there was no point because her and dad were both working. As per usual.

Finding myself intrigued (once again) I was shamelessly staring down at Damon's upper arm that was showing, because of the plain white t-shirt he was wearing.

"Wheelchair?"

Damon sat back, into the sofa they had gotten me up to.

"Yeah, wheelchair."

"Why?" I questioned curiously as a frown drew at his lips.

"Thought it looked cool."

I bet there was more to it then he was letting on, but I decided to drop the matter as I nodded.

After mustering up the courage, I spoke up.

"Thank you."

It was silent, but I didn't dare look back at him. His ego was big enough as it was.

"Sorry, what was that? I didn't quite catch it." I ignored him when a thought ran through my mind.

"You know, now that I think about it, I haven't even properly introduced myself." I tapped my chin before turning to him.

"Well, just in case you were wondering, I'm Bree Hale."

I sort of found it funny how he knew my dog's name and not mine, well, until now.

"Mm, I'm going to stick to dumb, but not idiotic, rich girl."

I sent him a dirty look, shaking my head as he winked back at me.

"Fine. Tattooed freak." I smiled back angelically as he scoffed.

"Ouch." He mocked waving around his hands.

In response I grinned proudly, happy with my little comeback even though Damon thought it was stupid, I was proud.

"If tattoos are so interesting to you why don't you just get one?" Damon asked bluntly as if it was the normal thing to do when you were bored.

"Too young."

"I got my first when I was fourteen." He said, as if proving to me there was no such thing as being too young.

Sending him a questionable look as to how he got a tattoo at fourteen he shook it off.

"They'll look bad on me when I'm older." I tried reasoning with him as I watched him raise his left hand to scratch at his arm just below where the wheel chair was located.

The wheel chair was tiny, barely visible. Very well hidden amongst the other intricate tattoo designs on his arm.

"You're going to look bad either way when you're older." Ouch.

"As in, skin is gonna wrinkle, you're going to shrink and most unfortunately boobs are going to sag." I coughed on my own saliva at this as he stared at me with a pleased look on his face.

"So, in conclusion you may as well get them." What was this? A year six naplan persuasion piece? 'In conclusion'.

"You're right, about the whole wrinkles thing."

He nodded.

"But I can't, I couldn't."

"Yes, you can." He laughed as if was no big deal whatsoever.

I could see why he didn't take tattoos seriously, his body was covered in ink.

"Do you ever regret any of your tattoos?"

He thought for awhile as I slowly (quickly actually) grew more and more concerned.

"No. I don't." He smiled to himself. "I mean, if you don't count the one down there." He looked down turning to his side as he peered down at his arse.

"No." I laughed, covering my mouth as he nodded, a large grin.

"Oh yes, oh yes Bree-Hannah." I groaned, how come everyone knew about that name? "Want to see?"

Screaming, I covered my eyes with my hands; just catching glimpse of him tugging down at the hem of his shorts revealing some skin.

"You're viol."

-

"Sleep alright Bree?" Adrian asked as he caught glimpse of me walking into the kitchen.

"Great." I reassured him sticking both of my thumbs up as he grinned.

He was seated at the upstairs dinner table, the furthest corner chewing on a slice of toast coated with what seemed to be vegemite and avocado. I cringed at the sight of vegemite.

"Want some breakfast?" He offered as I nodded. "Jam?" I smiled, he knew, the usual.

Soon after, a plate with two slices of toast were placed in front of me.

I moaned in satisfaction. The strawberry jam was delicious, and 'rich'- yeah, I stole that like from master chef, whoops.

"Guess where we're staying for our annual sleep out." Adrian grinned, as I waited patiently for him to continue.

"Surfers paradise." He exclaimed excitedly as I chewed on my slice of bread.

"You're kidding?" He shook his head. 'That's hours away." I reminded him, which wasn't of much help.

"An hour away." He smiled deviously back at me as I rolled my eyes.

"Potato, potata."

Adrian gave me a strange look as if he was stopping himself from bursting into laughter.

"You mean potato, potato."

The first time potato left his mouth it was pronounced as 'Po-Tay-toe' and the second time, 'Po-Ta-toe'.

I remained silent as he laughed, shaking his head.

"Yeah, exactly what I said." I faked.

"Right..." Adrian mumbled unconvinced, but I didn't care.

Taking this as my opportunity to drop the matter I continued to stuff my face even faster.

Crunch. Swallow. Crunch. I mentally repeated to myself while eating the toast that was becoming dry very quickly.

I hadn't even thought about the annual, it was only a few days away from now and was practically a Heywood/Hale tradition. I couldn't help but think if Damon would be attending or not, it was highly doubtful but there was still a possibility.

Curiosity only got the better of me with this topic because if he did come it would be his first annual sleep out, and everyone's first had to be perfect, well as perfect as sleeping in tents with mosquitos could get.

Damon trudged down the stairs and Adrian sent him a smile.

"Morning." Damon mumbled back as I sent him a look before averting my gaze and continuing to eat my food.

"The usual?" Adrian spoke as Damon nodded, pulling out the chair next to me, surprisingly.

"Good morning to you too." Damon grumbled, plopping down in his seat.

After talking about Pandora and how much Damon supposedly loathed dogs (he was a dog lover even if he didn't want to admit it) the annual finally somehow managed to come into our conversation.

"You're crazy if you think I'm coming." Damon spoke, eyeing the plate of bread and what seemed to be Nutella Adrian was holding. Damon took a slice off the plate once Adrian had placed it in front of him.

"And why not?"

He ate his bread happily, barely giving me any notice.

Fine. Sneakily, I wriggled my hand over without him noticing before pulling the slice back.

"Thanks." I exclaimed as he looked back at me, I took a large bite in his face.

This wasn't Nutella. Defiantly not. I covered my mouth with my free hand making sure I didn't throw up and using my other hand I placed the bread back.

I swallowed it. Why did I have to take such a large bite?

"Karma." Damon grinned.

"Vegemite? Really? Vegemite?" I managed to say. "Who willingly puts vegemite on their toast?"

Adrian laughed at this. "Almost the whole of Australia."

-

My legs bopped up and down against the cream tiles.

I turned to Damon who was staring down at my legs.

"Could you not?" I snapped as he snorted.

"Don't flatter yourself."

Sending him a very 'convinced' face he explained.

"Could you not?"

I rolled my eyes at him before taking a shaky breath in.

Fiddling with my hands, my legs settled.

"I've never broken a bone before."

"Mm, you don't say?"

I stared at him, tilting my head to face him as he stared straight ahead uninterested, as if he had better things to be doing.

Okay, so maybe he did have better things to be doing but he voluntarily took me here.

So, that was a lie. Adrian forced him to. But, he could have at the very least pretended to be enthusiastic about the whole situation.

Within a matter of minutes the doctor came into the waiting room calling my name.

He led us through a series of hallways before reaching a room that was brightly lite, the colour white encircled us.

Damon followed in behind me, a tad bit too close for my liking.

"Young man, you can wait outside if you'd like." The doctor suggested as Damon stared at me expressionlessly.

He shook his head, making himself comfortable on a chair located against the wall.

"I'll stay. Thank you for the concern." He spoke half-heartedly.

I was surprised at this, surprised he didn't take the very first chance he had to run out of this place.

-
-
-

H E Y G U I S E !
Wish me luck as for I have maths with a teacher that hates my guts. She literally told me off for writing down the notes off of the board, long story short, she hates me.

Chelsea's words of wisdom:
Why doesn't she like vegemite? Ruins it all for me. Sorry but you're in Australia so EAT IT

(Kylie: dramatic eye roll 🙄)
Also Kylie: You typical bogan :)

Chelsea: I'm an Aussie gtfo

Chelsea:
Wait let me change that
Gtfooa
GET THE FUCK OUT OF AUSTRALIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

(Kylie: oh sweet Jesus. *sign of the cross*)

Chelsea:
Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
With golden soil and wealth for toil
Our home is girt by sea
Our land abounds in natures gift

*insert the rest of the national anthem, she's literally still sending me it right now.*

-

Funny story, in my primary school every Monday we would have to stand on the basketball courts outside as they would raise the aboriginal and Australian flag in front of us as the national anthem would play and we'd have to sing it.

So this one very, VERY hot day people started fainting, like A LOT of people. They were being taken to first aid.

This kid a few people in front of me fell to the ground and as the teacher came around to place him on the wheelchair he kept his eyes closed. When he was being wheeled off the kid looked back at me literally smirking, pretending to be passed out. To be honest, he's still the biggest savage I know to this very day.

- Kylie