"No apologies, he'll never see you cry, pretends he doesn't know that he's the reason why you're drowning."

Noah slept the entire bus ride, his head nestled on my shoulder as I people watch. I have many talents, I can play four instruments, I excel in five sports, I'm skilled in three arts, I have the best tech skills around, and I'm a professional when it comes to knife and gun handling. I spent hard working time on those skills, forcing myself to be good. But the one thing that always came naturally to me is people watching.

Tristan is sitting with his latest fling, Daniel. They're sharing headphones and watching something on Tristan's phone. I'm pretty sure they're holding hands but I haven't got a good enough look yet to tell.

Jameson and Maja are sitting next to each other, but they aren't talking. Jamie's been distant and quiet for the first time in his life ever since he found out this whole mystery he's been solving has basically been revolved around Emily. 

I'm not entirely certain of whether he's spoken to Maja or not, but based off this interaction, I'm guessing not. But I notice the subtle brushes of fingertips every now and then. I notice him offering her snacks silently, communicating through their eyes. And I noticed how he carried her bags despite her profuse protests of not wanting a man to do things for her.

Xander sits with Amelia, not for any particular reason, just because I stole his best friend. He's always been a social butterfly, he's never had issues making new friends. The conversation flows between them the entire ride. They talk about things from politics to music, from puppies to the economic state of the world. They're both so well spoken but also passionate about everything they say.

Avery is sitting next to some sophomore girl. They aren't talking much, and Avery is sort of just staring out the window with music playing. Her thoughts undoubtably running marathons. I can imagine right now she's thinking about the inheritance, Jameson, Grayson and Taylor Swift.

Thea is a little harder to read. She's sitting alone, gazing out the window with her bag on the other seat so nobody could take the seat next to her. She spends the whole journey on her phone, her face unwavering the entire time. I can venture a guess that it's Rebecca she's texting, based purely off the occasional curve of her lips, and the soft gaze in her eyes.

Noah stirs beside me and captures my attention. His atmosphere suddenly changing from calm to something I struggle to decipher. Noah's always been the hardest to read. He's the definition of kind, which for others would suggest that he's got a perfect life. That he's not got a single weight on his back. I originally thought that until we started dating. I've seen a side to him he doesn't show to many people, but I know it's not the entire perspective. And it kills me that he's so reserved. Not just because I hate not being able to read him, but more so because I can tell there's something troubling him. 

 I reach out a cautious hand, delicately caressing his cheek. Initially he flinches in his sleep, tensing at my touch. But he relaxes himself once more when he realizes it's me. 

Unconsciously, his hand drifts to my knee, circling his thumb gently. I plant a gentle kiss on his messy mop of soft hair.

We spend the whole drive like this, and it kills me to have to wake him up when we arrive.

"Hey Noah?" I whisper softly as everyone else starts filing off.

He moans a little, clearly not awake or even close. Everyone's now off the buss and Mr Jenkins is approaching us.

"Noah?" I say a little louder now, nudging him slightly more aggressively because I don't trust Ant Jenkins to be alone with me for a second.

He jolts awake, looking at me with alarm, then he stands up, grabbing his back pack from under his seat and then offering me a hand up.

"Hey coach." Noah smiles sweetly. Save your sweet smiles for people who deserve them, baby.

"Thatcher." He nods briefly, before his head turns to me.

That look. It eats me alive. He looks at me for one second and my whole body tenses up. It's like that one look is enough to send me into cardiac arrest. He scans me up and down, eating me up with his eyes.

"Hawthorne." He says a little softer than he was when he addressed Noah.

I take Noah's hand, getting to my feet and instantly forcing my body into Noah's so Ant can see that I'm very much with Noah for keeps.

"Excuse us." I tell him firmly when he blocks the aisle.

"Not gonna have any more blood test tampering are we Spencer?" He smirks. I feel a crippling chill spread across my body. There's something so disgustingly dirty about that smirk.

"I said move." I say sharply, nudging him out of my way and leading Noah by the hand off the bus.

As we retrieve our luggage from under the bus, Noah takes my bags for me. "You know that was a little rude. I know you were pissed off, but he was just trying to be friendly." Noah suggests with a frown. My boyfriend, forever the protector of the people.

He doesn't see what I see. All my boyfriend sees is a teacher joking around with a student and her being a total jackass.

What do I see? Him fucking me pretty much every day in secret. Him splitting the condom and not telling me. Him jacking off to bikini pictures of me taken when I was 15. Him crying because I said no. Him bending me over a rock when I was drunk out my mind and fucking me up the ass. Him slapping me and trying to assault me. 

"You're right." I reply to my boyfriend. He wasn't. But he didn't have to know that.

We set up camp just how we did last time, receiving the exact same schedules as last time.

7 hour bus Sunday afternoon. Bus departs at 7am. Bus arrives at camp at around 2pm.

Mon. Morning. Day 1: Track.

Mon. Evening. Day 1: American Football.

Tues. Morning. Day 2: Tennis.

Tues. Evening. Day 2: Golf.

Wed. Morning. Day 3: Swimming.

Wed. Evening. Day 3: Gymnastics.

Thur. Morning. Day 4: Dancing.

Thur. Evening. Day 4: Baseball.

Fri. Day 5: FREE DAY.

Sat. Morning. Day 6: Volleyball.

Sat. Evening. Day 6: Soccer.

7 hour bus Sunday afternoon. The bus will arrive at the school at 11pm. Parents must sign out all pupils. All pupils attending will have the option to miss school the following day if arrival time should exceed that of anticipated arrival time.

This time, I opt out of the bag full of illegal products, and stick to just some candy instead.

As I'm going to sleep that night, I see a dark figure in the doorway and see my phone light up from my nightstand. I sigh, pushing myself to sit up. Open door.

I groan and push my feet through the dark cabin, creaking the old door open whilst everyone else sleeps.

Nobody is at the door. I step outside to look around, only for an arm to slip around my waist, and another to grip tightly over my mouth.

I try to scream but the hand muffles it, leaving me to flail around with horror and try to kick the attacker.

"Hey, it's just me." Noah speaks up with guilt and sadness.

"Asshole!" I bark, pushing him off and folding my arms over my chest.

"Sorry.. shit, sorry." He frowns, realizing I was genuinely scared for my life.

"It's fine." I murmur, shifting coldly in the brisk breeze of the Texas midnight.

"I couldn't sleep. I just wanted to see you." Noah coos, leaning a hand in to brush the hair off my face.

"More nightmares?" I frown, bringing myself closer to him, selfishly trying to heat myself in the process. He seems to get the signal, wrapping his arms around my body and holding me close.

"Yeah." He hesitates before answering.

"C'mon, you can sleep with me." I nuzzle my face against his chest, again trying to take all the heat he's willing to give me in these paper thin pajamas.

"Would that be okay with everyone else though?" He furrows his brows. "In less than 5 minutes your sister will be in my brother's bed. If they have an issue with you then we're all going down together." I smirk, leading him inside.

He flops down on my bed and once I've shut the door again I lay with my head against his chest.

"If you're not sleeping in an hour, wake me up and we can go for a walk." I grin, nestling close to his chest and relishing in the closeness.

He doesn't way me, though I know he wouldn't actually do it even if he was awake. I'm certain he slept though, because I felt his body un-tense and relax after about 20 minutes.

"Hey! Hawthorne! Thatcher!" Ant Jenkins voice booms loudly.

I physically jolt awake, sitting up instantly. I make direct eye contact with my gym coach standing at the side of my bed. 

Noah wakes up in a haze, looking around with confusion.

"You understand how wrong this is, don't you? On so many levels! Not only does it break school policy, but also the law! You are both minors!" He yells.

"Yeah, both minors. What would be against the law would be if one of us was a minor and the other was like.. a grown man?" I say pointedly, pushing the sheets off of me so I can walk to the bathroom, where I plan to curl up in a ball and die.

I'm now achingly aware of his eyes on my thin pajamas. His greedy and perverted eyes drinking me in.

"You two slept together under the supervision of Heights Country Day. Which means you are in big trouble." He growls. "But that'll have to wait, because you have to get your ass to the track in 20 minutes." He turns to me.

My eyes widen. "Fuck!" I hiss, pushing into the bathroom after I grab my track uniform.

I hear the cabin door shut eventually and feel safe enough to come out once again wearing the tight underwear-like uniform.

"Ave? Can you do my hair?" I beg, tossing her my brush and hairspray.

Barely awake she mumbles a yes, helping me slick my hair off my face tightly in ways my own arms wouldn't bend.

I can imagine Jameson and Maja are getting the same grilling Noah and I got as Jenkins checks all the cabins.

"Something about that guy has never sat right to me." Thea hums. "Are you kidding? He's so hot." Kassidy moans, thrusting into her pillow and pretending it's him.

"Shut up." Amelia rolls her eyes. Ever since she literally leaked my fucking nudes, nobody has really liked her much. Maja's not spoke to her in a while, which I guess she's claiming is because she has a boyfriend now, but I know it's just because she hates her.

"You guys are no fun." She groans. "You know what else isn't fun?" Thea hums. "Leaking people's nudes?" She says flatly.

"Okay I had like no choice. I said sorry." Kassidy shrugs innocently. "Did you?" I raise a brow.

"I'm sorry." She says before quickly cutting herself off, "See, just did." She smiles proudly.

"Why'd you do it?" Amelia asks, taming her tight coiled curls into a thick braid.

"Look.. Spencer, I need to tell you something. I know it'll hurt.. but I just need you to know." She starts gently.

"Go for it." I say, sharing a small knowing smirk with Avery once she's finished tying my hair back.

"Noah kissed me." She confesses. My heart sinks. "Hmm?" I furrow my brows.

"It was before I knew you guys were dating. I spent the night at Maja's, I kissed him, and he just totally kissed me back, it was seriously electric, tongues and everything." She explains.

"Fuck you." I snort, realizing every word that leaves her mouth is bullshit.

"I wish it was a lie, Sweetie. I really do. But it's true. Just ask Maja." Kassidy insists. As if on cue, Maja walks through the door.

"Did you get grilled by Jenkins?" I ask her. "No? He just said he expected better." Maja shrugs with a confused frown.

I curse the bastard under my breath.

"Hey, Maj, remember when I kissed Noah. He kissed back, right?" Kassidy bargains. 

"You definitely said he did." Maja agrees, completely done with Kassidy's lies.

"You don't believe that I kissed him, do you?!" She accuses. "Oh, I don't doubt for a second that you kissed him. I can't say I believe he would kiss you back." She shorts.

"Case closed. If it means that much to you, I'll just ask him." I offer. "Well obviously he'll lie." Kassidy huffs.

"Point proven." I sing as I lace up my shoes.

"Okay, I need to go for track. Wish me luck." I say, heading for the door as echoes of luck follow me out the door.

I take my blood test, Jenkins in the corner of the room beside the blood tester and 2 mediators to ensure I'm definitely the one taking it.

"A moment to give my student a pep talk?" Ant asks the others once the test is done.

Without hesitation they just leave, and I want to scream at them to stay. But soon enough the room is empty and he's right beside me.

"You try anything and I'll scream." I warn instantly.

"Try anything? Hawthorne this isn't some soap opera. I'm not dumb enough to try anything when there are witnesses outside the door." He glares at me through slits of his eyes.

"Yeah, because that's reassuring." I shiver with fear.

"I just wanted you to know I'm sorry." He tells me.

Punch him.

Accept his apology and be the bigger person.

Or wait for him to say something stupid.

"I've missed you."

There it is. Now I don't have to decide.

"That's funny, I actually just thought that about my boyfriend." I snark back.

"There was a time where that used to be me." He mutters.

"You made it abundantly clear we were never a couple. You fucked me for fun, remember? You told me I was never a person to you, just a hole to fill?" I remind him.

"For fucks sake Spencer!" He yells, aggressively kicking a cabinet. "I'm tryna be nice here. Go run that hot ass off and when you get back we can have a grown up conversation." He tells me.

"That's the thing though, I'm not a grown up. Am I?" I smirk.

"Quit being so snippy. I know you still want me. Nobody can fill that hole like I can." He grits out.

I snort to myself, "You have no idea how wrong you are." 

I can tell me laughing at him makes him more angry. "Every time that kid nails you, I bet you miss all 6 inches of me." He smirks proudly.

"Okay buddy." I guffaw, enjoying the way he's trying to make a point but failing miserably.

"I bet he doesn't make you come like I do." He jabs.

"He doesn't make me fake it like you did, if that's what you mean. And even if he had no dick he'd still mean more to me than you ever did, but luckily his 9 inches are more than enough." I say firmly.

"You're lying." He barks.

"You and I both know I don't need to lie right now." I sneer.

"I swear to god baby, don't play with me." He growls, stepping closer and closer. I cower away until my back is slammed against the wall.

His body barricades mine and he keeps me pinned. 

"Trust me, kid. The second you realize he isn't a real man, you'll come running back." He purrs.  

As I try to push free I realize that despite how strong my brothers and boyfriend are, it doesn't actually keep me protected when they aren't around, because grown men with muscles can still man handle me like this.

"And the second.. you do.." Ant speaks eerily slow. His knee pins my leg open a little, bucking against his and the wall desperately. I physically jump when his searing fingers delicately caress my lower thigh and slowly dance up. "I'll be here.." He swears. His fingers reach my upper thigh, right where my skin is only covered by the mere running underwear-style uniform.

"To satisfy you.." he continues, his thumb sliding over my underwear as I squirm disgustedly.

"In ways nobody else ever can." He finalises solemnly. 

I manage to bend the leg he doesn't have pinned, using as much force as I can to knee his calf. It doesn't do much but it makes him falter, which is all I need to free my hand and slap his stupid face firmly.

"Keep your hands off me or I'll fucking kill you." I hiss.

"Relax. I'm just teasing you. You've got a race to stretch for." He laughs, running a hand through his hair and laughing to himself.

I slam the door open and jog to the field, knowing he can't do anything to me as the stands fill with everyone at this camp from all 7 schools. 

Jameson, Maja, Avery, Xander, Amelia and Noah all walk in together. The second I see them I wave them over frantically.

They look around confused, but nevertheless come down to the track to see me.

I throw myself into Noah's arms the second he gets over. His hands trail up and down my back comfortingly. "You nervous?" He asks sympathetically.

I don't answer, I just breathe him in.

"You good?" Jameson asks, still begrudging and tense because he's resilient to not give up on being moody after his Avery mystery went to shit.

"Mmm-fine." I mumble against my boyfriend's warm chest.

"I'm sure I don't need to wish you luck, but good luck." Maja offers a smirk. I smile in response and separate from her twins chest, giving my friend a nod and myself a quick shake.

I step back towards the track, stretching as I wave goodbye to my friends.