I'd spent the rest of the day doing some necessary training.

If we're going to take down the rebels I need to be as ready as humanly possible. After the fiasco with trying to find Maximus, I can't be in situation like that again. I worked and worked in the training room until I felt like I was physically going to collapse.

I was just about to get up from my spot, laying on the gym floor, when Zach walks in. "Hey," he says and I sit upright.

"Hey," I respond and can't help but look down. I feel awful for snapping at him but I needed to say something otherwise I was going to break completely.

"Look, I'm sorry about the other day. I hate us being off... it's weird and I don't like it," Zach says and grimaces.

"I'm sorry too, everything has just been really overwhelming and I shouldn't have taken it out on you," I admit, my guilt outweighing everything else.

"And I shouldn't have demanded things out of you when you weren't ready to talk about them," he admits and gives me a small smile. "So are we good now because this is killing me," Zach says and I can't help but laugh a little.

"Yes... we are good," I say and he smiles brightly. "So how are things with Natasha?" I ask, needing to change the subject. His cheeks blush and my heart warms at the sight.

"Good, like really good... great even," he beams and I can't help but be happy for him. "You and Colton? You guys must be together by now," he gossips like a school girl.

"That is a long story for another time," I laugh and he rolls his eyes.

"At least tell me you're happy with him... or do I need to beat the asshole up?" Zach says and I laugh at the idea of Zach trying to beat up Colton. God, I would love to see that. That would not end well for Zach though, that's for sure.

"Yes I am happy, happier than I've ever been," I am simply unable to express how happy I am when I am with Colton - so happy that our past of hating each other seems like a different reality.

I don't tend to dwell on our past together but we have both changed drastically since then - for the better but some parts for the worse.

"I'm glad we got to clear things up," he says and I nod. I'm just glad to have my best friend back.

"Me too," I smile. "Well, I need to go shower but I'll catch up with you at dinner?" I suggest and he nods his head before I leave the training room.

***

Upon arriving back at the room, I am greeted with an angry Colton. How lovely. Papers are everywhere, glass is covering the floor, everything in the room is a complete and utter mess.

"What's wrong?" my voice breaks through the sound of him smashing yet another glass against the wall.

"My mother... she's gone, disappeared off the face of the earth," he shouts and lobs something else but it smashes so quickly, I didn't even get the chance to see what it was.

"I don't think wrecking our room is going to solve anything," I shout back as he still continues his temper tantrum.

Stepping over the broken glass and splinters of wood from god knows what, I walk closer to him.

"I'd rather see it as a form of re-decorating, my love," Colton says and I scoff.

I have never seen him so dishevelled in my life. Usually he keeps his anger contained, or somewhat at least, he never goes into a full blown rage. I suppose it was bound to happen though, seen as he always tries to keep it under control.

It was inevitable that he was going to break at some point.

"Just stop!" I shout as he picks up a chair and goes to throw it. He puts it back down and stands deathly still. When he turns to face me, I am almost brought to my knees.

His eyes are glassy and his face pained.

"I can't do this Rose... I keep trying and trying to make things right, to take down them bastards but it's just not happening," he sucks in a harsh breath and runs his hand over his face. The epitome of exasperated.

I close the space between us and it's like I can almost feel the pain coursing through him.

Colton sinks to his knees before me and wraps his arms around my waist. I hadn't realised he had been so affected by this. This is why I just wish he would tell me things.

"You can do this and you will... we will, I'll be right by you through all of this," I say softly and brush my fingers through his hair.

I kneel down so that I am face to face with him. The glass grazes against my knees but I ignore the subtle stings and put all of my focus into Colton.

"I really thought that we could do this, that with the help of the other sectors we could take down the rebels but everyday it just seems more like a death wish if anything," he admits and I take his hands into mine.

"As long as we know that we did everything in our power... that's all that matters," I say but he shakes his head.

"That's not good enough, they all are going to die for what they did to you," Colton spits, his defeat turning into pure blind rage. "There's no other outcome acceptable," his eyes meet mine.

"You can't just fight for me, you have to fight for yourself," I explain but he doesn't agree again.

"You're the only thing worth fighting for," he brings his hand to my cheek but I bat it away. Colton's eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"That's bullshit and you know it," I am beyond angry. "You are worth it and for you to suggest otherwise..." I trail off, the thought paining me more than I am able to comprehend.

"I'm sorry, my love," he whispers and brings his hand to my face again. I don't bat it away this time but lean into it. "I love you," he says softly and I can't help the warmth that spreads through me - soothing the aching in my chest.

"I love you," I whisper. Those three words making any anger dissipate like ash in a breeze.

***

After showering, we cleaned the whole room and came to find that Colton had broken a lot more stuff than he had expected. We're now on our way to the cafeteria for dinner. Training and then cleaning worked up quite the appetite and now I am practically starving.

"How was training?" Colton asks as we walk down the empty corridor. The hallways are always silent and void of people durning meal hours.

"It was well needed you could say," I admit and he chuckles a little.

"You should have taken my training sessions when they were on offer but... you being the stubborn person you are, just had to deny me," he says and I scowl at him.

It's not my fault he was one of the broodiest people I had ever met, who also had an obsession with pushing me around like he had some sort of claim on me. Sorry that I didn't want to train with someone like that.

"I'm not stubborn," I scoff and he raises his eyebrows.

"You'd like to think that wouldn't you, my love," he chuckles and hooks his arm around my waist as we walk through the cafeteria doors.

The room is bustling with life, everyone happy and laughing without a care in the world. As if we're not in the midst of war and as if we're not going into battle in merely a few days.

I immediately spot Zach in the crowd and go to move towards him but Colton tugs me back by his arm around my waist. "Nope... no way," he says and I groan.

"Why?" I whine. I'd told Zach that I'd see him at dinner and I plan on sticking to my promises.

"Because... I don't like him," Colton shrugs and begins leading me towards the food. My stomach grumbles at the sight and I vow that it's the last time I skip lunch, especially whilst training.

"You don't like anyone," I sigh and a grin spreads across his lips.

"Anyone but you," he whispers in my ear and I hate myself for smiling. I should be angry at him for taking me away from my friend, I shouldn't be smiling at him. I quickly recover and force myself to stop smiling. "Oh c'mon..." he groans.

"Nope," I will not give in to that charming smile of his. I will not let myself drown in those beautiful jade eyes.

"You're sexy when you're angry," he says low so only I can hear him and squeezes my uninjured hip. I look away so he can't see the blush rising in my cheeks. Dick.

"Hm... the food looks good," I blatantly ignore him. The food doesn't look good but I'll do just about anything to change the subject of this conversation right now.

"Sure, if you like bland slop," he grimaces as I take a plate of food. He's not wrong but at this point I'd eat anything. Besides, it's better than nothing.

I lead us towards a table in the far corner, wanting to stay away from everyone - Colton doesn't seem to care. I'm actually pretty sure he smiled when I began lead us towards a more empty part of the cafeteria.

I take a seat at the table and Colton sits down next to me, instead of in front of me.

"The silent treatment is it?" he questions as I begin to eat my food in silence. Not the silent treatment, it's more... the ignoring treatment. His hand touches the inside of my thigh and I'm sure my breath gets lodged in my throat.

His hand begins to trail higher and I drop my fork. It hits my plate with a clang and a few heads twist in our direction.

"Colton..." I warn but he says nothing.

He uses his free hand to eat his food but still keeps his other on my thigh. So this is why he wanted to sit next to me instead.

I spot Zach beginning to walk towards our table and Colton squeezes my thigh. I shoot him a scowl but he only laughs to himself.

"Hey Rose... being held captive again?" Zach jokes but Colton doesn't seem to take it that way. He stops eating and looks up to meet Zach's eyes.

"It's almost as if this isn't any of your business," Colton laughs but it's not one full of humour, but one full of venom. The sound sends a shiver down my spine as Colton begins to rubs circles on the inside of my thigh.

"It was a joke... relax," Zach says but this just seems to fuel Colton even more.

"You want to re-" Colton starts but is cut off when someone storms into the cafeteria, shouting and hysterical.

"They're here! They're here!" the small girl shouts and the whole room falls silent.

"Who's here?" someone shouts back but I fear we already know the answer.

"The rebels! The rebels are here... they're outside!" she screams, tears flooding down her face. My heart drops to the floor. They're not supposed to be here, we don't have everything in order.

If they decide to attack... we're all dead.

***

A/N I can't believe it. We're now coming to the end and I can't think you all enough. This story has literally become apart of me and I have grown so attached to the characters. The last few chapters will be out on 29th May. Get ready and I will see you all then! <3333