As I paced around, I thought about Cole's betrayal over and over again. My mind felt as if lead was streaming through it instead of blood. My once jovial memories of him now felt as if they were tarred, disfigured into something grotesque.

"Scout, listen to me," Daisy sat me down, my anger still visible, "I know you're hurt, but being angry isn't going to help,"

"He lied to us all, Daisy!" I exclaimed, putting my hands in my hair, "How are you going to dismiss that so easily?"

Daisy calmly responded, "I'm not saying what he did was right at all, but you're only going to damage your wellbeing by holding so much resentment,"

I sighed, "You're right,"

"And that's the last of it," Olivia huffed, carrying some bags.

Noah and Eli followed in with the last few items.

"I'm so tired," Eli groaned, collapsing onto the floor.

Noah smiled lightly, "Once we get this tent up you can call it a day,"

"I'll help you," Daisy smiled at Noah as she helped Eli up.

The three of them went off to find a place to set up the tent, while Oliva sat down next to me.

"You okay?" she asked, putting an arm around me.

"Yup." I said popping the 'p'.

Olivia laughed at that, "You really don't have the best luck with guys do you?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, "I really don't,"

"I really thought Cole was the one for you, you know?" Olivia looked into the distance as she spoke, "You guys just had this connection that was so special,"

Not wanting to hear any more about him, I stood up, "Well, it was all built on lies, so who cares?"

I cared.

Even though he was a murdering psychopathic liar, I still liked him.

I had some seriously messed up taste in guys.

***

"AHHHHHH!"

"What the-" I turned around to see Eli freaking out about something, Noah and Daisy standing either side of him to try and calm him down.

Olivia and I ran over to them to figure out what was wrong.

"What's wrong, Eli," Olivia asked, kneeling down.

"M-my b-bear!" he wailed, causing my eyes to widen.

Don't tell me he lost it.

"He lost it," Noah looked tired.

Damn it.

He loved that thing.

I will never for the life of me, understand why, but he did.

"Where did you last have it?" Noah sighed, facing Eli.

Eli gestured for him to bend down so he could whisper it to him.

Why did he need to tell him so discretely?

Noah groaned after Eli whispered into his ear.

"Please, Noah," Eli begged, looking distraught at the thought of losing his bear.

"It's so far away," Noah replied, slumping on his chair.

"Where is it?" I asked.

He scoffed, "It's all the way back at Newsom Forest,"

Wow, that was far. We had travelled miles and miles away from there since this morning.

But that toy meant everything to that kid.

"Noah, just bring him the damn toy," Daisy glared at the lazy 18-year-old.

She pulled him out of his seat and raised her eyebrows at him.

"Fine," Noah relented, as he made his way back to Newsom Forest.

He really couldn't say no to her.

How cute.

Before Noah left our eyesight, Eli ran up to him from behind and gave him a hug, causing the faintest smile to emerge on his face.

"Thank you," Eli beamed.

Noah ruffled his hair, "Don't get into any trouble while I'm gone, little man,"

I hope Noah found it for his own sanity, as well as Eli's.

***

I helped Daisy cook the dinner tonight and took notes as she babbled on about the recipe.

She really was the best cook in the game.

"Daisy, did you ever think about going to culinary school," I asked, moaning after tasting the sauce.

"Are you kidding? That was my dream when I was younger," she exclaimed, "It would've been amazing!"

"You could've been like Gordon Ramsay," Olivia shouted from afar.

We both laughed as she set up the fire.

Daisy sighed, "Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way, with me getting kidnapped and all,"

My eyes softened as I recalled the story, "I'm sorry, Daisy,"

I rubbed her arm up and down in comfort.

Daisy had a rough time of it before she met us. She had actually escaped her kidnappers after 3 years when we found her. She was always the quietest, but she was a real fighter. I admired her a lot.

"It's okay, because now I have you guys, and Eli and Noah," she noticeably smiled more when she said the last person's name, which made me raise my eyebrows at her.

"Just get together already," Olivia rolled her eyes, as she came to help us.

Daisy blushed, "I don't know what you're talking about,"

"Oh shut up, how has he not asked you yet," I enquired.

"Well," Daisy smiled.

Olivia and I glanced each other, "No way!"

"Wait, wait," Daisy stopped us from cheering, "He hasn't yet, but I may or may not have overheard him and Cole talking about it at work. And Cole convinced him to do it,"

Well, that was the only good thing he had done then.

I scoffed, turning away, and looking after the sauce, as Daisy explained the rest of the story to Olivia.

Was I the only one that was still a bit irked at the fact that he had lied to us for weeks?

I looked up and nodded at Noah as he returned with the stuffed bear in his hands.

Thank God.

I didn't remember him carrying a rucksack with him, but I didn't think anything of it and kept making dinner.

"Cole?" Eli's voice made my eyes pop out of my face as I looked up.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

He was back.

***

"What the hell are you doing here?!" I pushed him, the sauce still on my hands.

"Scout, guys, please just let him explain," Noah gestured for me to back off.

Unwillingly, I agreed, huffing as I sat down.

"Cole, tell them what you told me," Noah nodded.

Olivia, Daisy and Eli sat and gave him warm smiles, letting him know that they were okay with him being here.

Cole looked at me for the same kind of signal.

I kept my gaze off him, I couldn't bear to look his way.

"Scout," Noah warned, "Give him a chance,"

I groaned, "Fine. You have 2 minutes,"

***

Two minutes had certainly passed, and the story was not done.

But I had to let him finish.

I began to feel bad for him, and everything he had been through.

It didn't seem easy, so I had to give him credit for that.

But the fact that he didn't think he could trust us, it still hurt.

"So yeah," he breathed, "That basically brings us to now,"

There was silence.

No one knew what to say.

"Wow, Cole," Daisy spoke first, "I-I don't know what to say,"

"Sorry for bailing on you," Olivia gave Cole a sympathetic look, "We should've let you speak first,"

"It's fine, honestly," Cole laughed, "If I were in your position, I would've done the same. I'm sorry for not telling you guys the truth,"

"It's okay, Cole, we forgive you," Eli hugged him.

"Thanks, Eli," he smiled into the hug.

"Just know, you can stay with us for as long as you want," Olivia mentioned.

"Yeah," Daisy agreed, getting up.

Well, that was just great, I had to put my feelings for him aside, and suck it up.

"Thanks, guys," Cole felt more comfortable now.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving," Noah chimed in, "Let's eat,"

Everyone cheered as they got up.

"Wait, Scout," I turned around to face Cole.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Can we talk for a sec?" he asked, eyes boring into mine.

"Sure," I sat back down, opposite him, gazing at the fire.

"So, I wanted to apologise to you again separately, for everything I put you through," he said sincerely.

I took a deep breath, "It's fine, really. I forgive you,"

Cole stood up and sat next to me, "So you're okay with me staying?"

"Yeah, there's no reason why we can't be here together," I smiled at him lightly, "I'll hide you from the police for as long as you need, if that's what you're asking,"

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Hi guys!! Back again with another update - make sure to give me a vote and a comment to let me know if you enjoyed this chapter x

Cole's back, he's explained his side, and the others seem to be sympathetic for the moment.

Scout is the only one that seems a bit cold but even she said she'll help him - what do you guys think of her attitude? Is it warranted or not?

What do you think will happen next?

Next update: do i have another chapter up my sleeve tonight??

Teaser: what's noah got up his sleeve??