Ava’s POV:

“Are you insane?!” they all shrieked at the top of their lungs.

I’m so glad Ryan isn’t here; he would have marched down the stairs, thrown a pillow at me, and kicked everyone out.

“No, I’m not insane. If you want me to go, I will only accept the challenge if you all come with me. You shouldn’t dare people to do something you would never do.”

Victor scowled and everyone else retrieved their jaws from the ground. What did they think was going to happen? 

“So, are you lot coming? Don’t tell me you’re scared of a stupid story!”

Eventually, they all started to nod their heads. Well, all but Lucy, who took some persuading; which only left Victor.

“Well, Victor? What do you say?”

He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, before answering.

“You’re on, Brooklyn.”

He smirked. Did he think I was going to back down? Hell no! I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, too.

“Game on, Sinclair. So, when are we going?”

A week later, I was packed and ready to go. I told Ryan I was staying at Kerri’s for a week or two. He wasn’t too happy about it, but he let me, all the same.

I know I probably shouldn’t lie to him, but I didn’t want him to stop me, or be worried.

“I’ll see you when I get back, Boots.”

He pulled me off the stairs and gave me a hug. I was going to miss him, just as much as he will miss me. But I wanted to find out more on this story.

“I’ll miss you, Giggles.”

He eventually let me go, but he insisted he drop me off, so I let him.

“Bye, Ry.”

Kerri was waiting by the drive as we got there. Once I got out, he waved goodbye, before driving away.

Kerri’s jaw was on the ground.

“That’s your brother?! Why haven’t you introduced us?!?!”

Note to self: Don’t go to the boxing ring to see Ryan with Kerri.

“Everyone’s inside. Come on; my parents are out.”

Kerri grabbed one of my bags and we walked through the door.

Ryan’s POV:
A week ago, when Ava told me she wanted to go to her mates, I didn’t really want her to go.

I tried to persuade her not to go; now it sounds selfish, but I didn’t want her to leave. I would feel alone. But, I was glad she had friends.

When the day came, I insisted I drop her off and I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

She was three-quarters of the way down the stairs when I lifted her off of them and into my arms. I’m gonna miss her.

Since it’s been me and her, I have been a little overprotective. But she was all I had left. I knew my job wasn’t the best and I barely spent time with her, but I didn’t want to come home to an empty house.

But, anyway, I let her go and we drove to her friend’s house.

Her friend was waiting on the drive as I pulled up.

“Bye, Ry.”

She called as she got out of the car. I was going to say goodbye, but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. So, I drove away, waving goodbye before I did.

Ava’s POV:
“Wow, Kerri! Your house is amazing!”

She smiled and walked me into the living room, where everyone else was waiting.

“What kept you, Brooklyn? We thought you bailed.”

Nobody was laughing at Victor’s remark. I wouldn’t bail, even if someone paid me to.

“Okay, well, I’ve just go to fetch my stuff and then we can go. The quicker we get there, the quicker we can set up before it gets dark.”

With that, Kerri ran up the stairs, leaving us in the front room. Victor crossed his arms and the rest of us started to get our bags ready.

I decided to call Ryan.

“Hey, Snips. Is something wrong? I’ll come and get you.”

It was so funny how he was already going overprotective when it had been only a few minutes.

“No, Boots, I’m fine. I was just letting you know that the signal on my phone is bad, so I may not answer if you try to call me.”

I heard him sigh deeply and take a deep breath before he spoke again.

“Okay, just call me every day, okay? Any problems, call me, okay? Promise me, Avy.”

How many times does one person use ‘okay’ in one sentence? And call me? I swear, he is getting paranoid.

“Okay, okay, I promise, Ryan. I love you. See you when I get back.”

He sighed again and took another deep breath. I knew he wouldn’t like what I was really doing, but nothing was going to happen.

“Alright, Ava. I love you, too. Bye.”

As soon as I got off the phone, Kerri ran down. It was about three o’clock when we started to leave. We made it to Hollow Brook at around four o’clock. Thankfully, the sun was still up.

Victor was the first to suggest where we should camp; it was in the middle of Hollow Brook. He said it was where the ‘real action’ happens.

“Here we are. This is the perfect spot.”

Of course, Victor hadn’t carried his own bags; Lucas and Carter had one each. They all dropped their bags in certain spots. Of course, Victor and Lucy were close to the way out; that was no surprise.

As I was setting up my tent, I remembered the last time I camped out. It was just me and Ryan.

Well, until his friends came, bringing their little brothers and sisters. It was great; marshmallows, camp stories.

I was brought out of my happy memory when Carter suggested.

“So, who’s getting firewood?”

Everyone looked at everyone else. No one volunteered, so, in the end, I suggested, “Let’s all get firewood. That way there are no arguments and we all have plenty of it.”

Everyone started to get going, but Victor was just standing there.

“Well? Come on, Sinclair! This concerns you, too!”

He laughed and I looked at him straight in the eye. Did he think I was kidding?

“You’re joking.”

Did I look like I was joking? In the end, I just dragged him along.