Chapter Thirteen

The Traitor

Sam rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes shut, trying to take it all in. But all he wanted to do was sleep. His body felt as if he were floating and having his eyes shut made him sway on the spot. He used his rifle to steady himself.

"Sam? Sam!"

He opened his eyes and focused on Angie who was snapping her fingers in front of his face. Oh, yeah, they were talking, but he couldn't remember the subject.

"You're exhausted! You should get some sleep. You can't even concentrate on talking." She tugged at his rifle, but he held on tightly. He needed it to keep his balance.

"I can concentrate. You were saying something about Gina." He hoped.

"Yes, I was saying that I don't think we have a spy," Angie said impatiently. "All of us came in pairs except for her. I think she's the spy. She's been here for three days and all she's done except leech on Tom is check our progress with the traps."

"I do that too. Does that make me a traitor?" Sam asked, yawning.

Angie stared at him in disbelief for a second then groaned. "She's writing everything down as if she couldn't just remember where they are."

"Maybe she has a poor memory?" Sam said tentatively.

"If she had poor memory, she'd have gotten caught up in that net hundreds of times by now." Angie's tone was somewhere between indulgent and exasperated.

"Innocent until proven guilty, Angie." Sam shut his eyes. It felt as if they were burning. "But I'm keeping my eye on her."

"Get some sleep, will you? You can't even think straight anymore. I'll stand guard." Angie successfully yanked the rifle from him.

"You? No, Snitch Gravel might show up. And I can think straight." Sam said, making a grab for the weapon back, but Angie pulled out of his reach.

"He won't show up as long as Gina is here. Will you trust me on this?"

"You just don't like her because of Tom!" Sam said, annoyed.

Angie's face caught fire. "That's so not true!"

"Yes it is! You don't like her because she's Tom's girlfriend and it ruins your silly bet thing," Sam retaliated.

"Just get some sleep, Sam," Angie said between her teeth and started turned her back on him.

Sam watched her stomping away, unable to tell if he was angry with her or thankful. Saying he was exhausted was an understatement. Over the past days, ever since finding out there might be a spy among them, he'd been on constant guard duty. He couldn't sleep thinking someone might kill them in their sleep. Someone other than Clive. Even if he really did help with carrying stuff, the guy was turning into more trouble than he was worth.

He'd racked his brain, trying to determine who the spy might be. The only slightly suspicious one was JT, but Sam concluded that he was just unlikable, not a traitor. Besides, he was Steve's brother and Steve was nice and helpful. Angie had a point about all of them coming in pairs and being either related or connected.

As he walked towards his tent to get some rest, Sam tried to empty his mind. Maybe Angie was right and he really couldn't think straight anymore. Maybe a night of sleep was just what he needed. Though, seeing as he dreamed about Carlos every single night, sleeping might not be the best idea.

*

"God, you're absolutely blind," Kyle said, rolling his eyes.

Tom clicked his tongue. "Despite the glasses, I'm not."

"Don't pretend you don't understand what I'm saying."

"Maybe I really don't understand what you're saying." Tom crossed his arms over his chest.

This was turning out to be a fun evening. "Lying to yourself is making you useless."

Tom gawped at him. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"I beat the crap out of you in training today. You used to put up a pretty decent fight, but for the last couple of days you've been terrible." Kyle shook his head as though disappointed.

Tom flared up instantly. "I'm not terrible. I've just had other things on my mind."

Kyle nodded. "Yes, like how to better lie to yourself."

Tom shook his head looking confused and annoyed. And hilarious.

Okay, maybe he was being too subtle. "Just find her and tell her the truth."

"You just lost me." Tom grabbed the sides of his head. "Who am I supposed to find and tell what truth?"

Kyle sighed deeply. "Let me make it easy for you. Who do you have some feelings to confess to?" Tom only stared at him blankly. "Some nice, deep, sweet feelings you never show?"

"You want me to go and be sweet to Gina?" Tom asked as if Kyle had just asked him to eat a rock.

"No, damn it! What does Gina have to do with anything?" Kyle fought the impulse to hit Tom upside the head. "I'm talking about Angie."

"You want me to go and talk to Angie about my feelings?"

"Yes! Ever since the two of you started to not-so-subtly avoid each other, you've started being useless around here. It's obvious that her absence has a negative effect on you."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down. Angie's absence has no effect on me." Tom raised his hands as though trying to bring some sense to the discussion.

"Okay, I believe you." Kyle crossed his arms over his chest. "So the fact that she's been missing since yesterday morning does nothing for you."

Tom frowned. "What do you mean she's missing?"

Kyle only shrugged and Tom clenched his fists and rose on the tips of his toes to get closer to his eye level.

"Why didn't anyone tell me? Why hasn't anyone gone looking for her?" He lowered back on his feet and twisted left and right. Kyle stifled a laugh and Tom stopped his erratic movement. "You're kidding!"

"I actually am. Angie's fine. But I proved my point. You would've gone after her."

"Irrelevant. I would have gone off after anyone else." Tom took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Maybe, but seeing how hard you're trying to pretend you hate her, I'd have expected a different answer from you. Something along the lines of 'I hope animals eat her.'" Kyle smiled while Tom glared back at him as though trying to come up with a witty retort. "You care about Angie."

"That's not true!" Tom wheeled on the spot and walked away.

"You love Angie, you love Angie," Kyle kept repeating in a sing-song voice.

Tom walked back to him, fuming with anger. "That's it! I'm not talking to you anymore!"

"Yes, very mature."

"Like your chanting was more mature!"

"I thought you weren't talking to me."

Tom stiffened, struck dumb and Kyle had to hold back laughter again.

"If I didn't know how strong you are, I'd punch you in the face." Tom relaxed and sighed deeply. "Okay, let's say I play along. If I did care for Angie, what am I supposed to do?"

Kyle shrugged. "Make yourself useful. Go grab a gun and start patrolling."

"What?" Tom asked confused.

"I mean it. I'm taking a break tonight. You can fill in for me."

Tom stared at him for a few seconds. He threw his hands in the air, exasperated. "Do you ever make any sense? But no, this is my fault, putting up with your crap. I'm out. Enjoy your break." He swung around and made his way towards the center of camp.

"You sure have a way with people," Kay said, coming up behind Kyle.

"Hi Kay. What are you doing skulking in the shadows? Are you spying on me?" He wrapped an arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm not spying. I just didn't want to interrupt your special moment," she said. "You were a bit rough. Not to mention childish."

"Tom can take my roughness. And of course I was childish. I had to speak a language he can understand."

"You do know that Angie took Sam's place on guard duty, don't you?" Kay raised one eyebrow, an amused smile stretching across her full lips.

"Really?" Kyle asked, feigning shock. "I had no idea—"

"You knew!" Kay shoved him. "What are you planning?"

He grinned. "I just think Tom needs all the help he can get. It's painfully obvious to me that he's crazy about her."

Kay sighed. "Crazy or not, I don't like the way he's been treating her. I mean I know they have history..."

Kyle snorted and waved her away. "Kay, Tom has the emotional maturity of a four year old. And what do four year olds do when they like a girl? They're mean and push her around." Kyle rubbed the back of his head. "Though I'm not sure Angie feels the same about him."

"She used to. I remember how excited she was when they first met. She wouldn't shut up about him."

"Then what happened?" Kyle prodded.

"I don't know." Kay ran her hand through her golden locks. "She just stopped talking about him. Cursed at the mention of his name. I don't think I was a very good friend right then. I hurt too much after what happened to us."

Kyle wrapped his arm around her and kissed her hair. She squeezed him back and they stood in silence for a few minutes.

"My guess is that if you want to play Cupid, you need to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Angie too," Kay finally said. "Though I advise you against pushing her around like you did Tom. She might kill you."

"No, she won't. She wouldn't want to hurt you. And she knows that you'd wither and die without me." He ducked as Kay aimed a hit at him and laughed.

"That's what you think! It's not like my whole world revolves around you," she replied, waving her fist in warning.

"I know. Two planets can't revolve around each other. And I'm the one revolving around you."

Kay's fist fell limp to her side. "Why can't you be this sweet all the time?" she asked frowning once Kyle started laughing again.

"I am, you just can't see it."

Kay grinned at him, tears in her eyes. "God, I've missed you."

*

Angie's eyes stung. She shut them tightly, trying to drive the itch away. It didn't help. They still burned when she opened them. She'd had sleepless nights before. A lot of them, thanks to Tom, but never had she felt so exhausted.

She aimed the rifle at nothing in particular and then dropped it on the ground. What was the point? Snitch Gravel wasn't going to show up until Gina gave him the go. Angie had watched Gina carefully over the past few days and today had been no different. Tonight wasn't the night Snitch Gravel would burst into their camp.

She sat on a rock, next to her gun. Why couldn't Sam just trust her on this? She'd feel much safer with Gina tied up with Clive.

You just don't like Gina because of Tom. Sam's words spun inside her head. Tom. This was his fault. He couldn't even pick his stupid girlfriends properly.

Angie cringed. Something pulsated in the pit of her stomach making her nauseous. It happened every time she thought about Tom. The only way to make it stop was to remember every mean thing he'd ever said to her. But not seeing him over the past days had dried up her supply of offence.

The sound of crunching branches and leafs reached her. Angie strained to hear better, trying to distinguish the sound of footsteps and maybe realize what direction they were coming from. She also expected one of the traps to go off. None did.

Had she been wrong? Were there intruders in camp? She rushed to her feet, grabbed the rifle off the ground and scrambled up a slope towards camp. She slipped on a patch of wet leaves. The rifle flew out of her hand and she skidded on her knees to the spot she had vacated moments earlier.

Angie rose on her hands, cursing under her breath. Someone held a hand for her and she grabbed it instinctively, pulling herself to her feet. She froze, realizing how stupid she'd been, but panic turned into anger once she realized that it was Tom who'd helped her up.

He didn't let go of her hand, only held on tighter, his fingers entwining between hers. Angie tugged to release herself, but didn't manage it. Her heart thumped annoyingly loud and panic made its way back. Her knees already felt weak.

"Relax, it's just me," Tom said gently.

Angie flinched. He couldn't suddenly decide to be nice now! "You scared the life out of me, you moron! What are you doing up at this hour anyway?" She made her voice as scathing as possible.

He only smiled. "Sorry. I'm filling in for Kyle."

The warmth of his hand was spreading out through her entire body. She had to get him to snap back, to insult her. If he didn't, she would have no chance.

"Let me go! You should've come over like a normal person instead of sneaking around. And I thought I made it pretty clear that I don't want to see you!" She yanked her hand again, but he only held on tighter and pulled her towards him until their chests bumped.

"Yeah, I know. I'm just a bit hardheaded. You know that better than anyone." He didn't sound upset at all, just mildly amused. Angie's pulse ran so quick, it made her dizzy. She tried to pull away again, but the attempt was pathetic. Her head buzzed and she felt so comfortable leaning against his chest. "I've actually missed you around," he whispered in her ear and she shuddered.

She could vaguely remember telling him he had no idea how to flirt. How wrong she'd been. But she couldn't let him bring her down. Not this easily.

"You only want to win that bet." It came out so weak that Angie felt embarrassed.

"Who gives a damn about that stupid bet?"

Angie really started to panic. If he'd tell her that she'd won, she wouldn't be able to do it, to laugh at him, to hurt him. She'd probably throw herself at him. And that mustn't happen. Never again! Especially not with Gina there.

"Your girlfriend is the spy Snitch Gravel sent into our camp," she said hoping the shock would make him let her go.

Tom pulled away, his eyebrows raised. Once out from under his intoxicating aura, Angie felt much better. At least that's what she told herself to push the disappointment away.

"My girlfriend?" His voice was full of contempt. "For the millionth time, I don't have a girlfriend. Gina can cling on to me all she wants. But I don't think she's the spy."

"Oh, sure! She's not your girlfriend, but you're defending her." Angie put her hands on her hips, mocking him. "Why doesn't anyone believe me?"

"Because I don't think Gina has enough brains for something like that." Tom's answer caused Angie's hands to drop to her sides.

"You don't think..." she spluttered.

Tom shrugged. "Gina is a happy-go-lucky girl, fun and stuff but as deep as a puddle. I don't believe that she'd have the skill or motivation to outsmart anyone."

Angie looked at the ground, trying hard not to smirk. Well, there was an explanation that made sense. At least she wasn't the only one who saw Gina as a party queen. She shouldn't care. But it still caused her savage pleasure.

She shook her head, trying to snap out of it. Tom was still not shouting at her, but she had no idea what to say to him to annoy him.

"You do realize we're both weaponless and on the same side of camp?"

"You're useless." They both were.

"I agree with you." He took one step forward and took her hands in his. Angie took one step back, but he pulled her against his chest again. "I'm a total waste of space," he whispered.

"Damn you! Let me go!"

"Come on, Angie. We were getting along."

"Yes, right before you decided to call me a bitch." She broke free, her reasons for anger blissfully replenished.

Tom tilted his head, a small crease between his eyes. "I only said that because you were doing such a good job at beating me down."

Angie stared at him, wishing he didn't have those stupid sunglasses on, so he could tell if he meant what he said. She also wished she could keep being angry, but his attitude made it hard. She was starting to really feel like a bitch.

As though sensing her weakness, Tom took her hands again and came closer to her. "How about a truce? Let's just act normal towards each other and see where it takes us." He was coming closer which each word and Angie could do nothing but stare back.

It sounded like such a logical thing to do. Why continue this senseless insult war? Her stomach churned again, but Tom's presence wiped the meaning of it. There was no point in fighting anymore, not when he was being so nice to her. He moved one of his hands to her face, stoking her cheek, bending lower towards her.

"You're so beautiful." He came so close, their noses touched.

A scream broke through the night and they jumped apart. Angie tried to get her heart to stop thumping so that she could hear what was going on around her. Tom had sprinted up the slope, grabbing his gun in the processes. She scooped up her own rifle and ran after him.

Author's note: This chapter is dedicated to Autheras because:

a) first female POV of the story (there will be more);

b) it's the part of the book about the bet, mostly;

c) girls can be and are kick-ass here as well;

d) she's just awesome and so's her writing, so check out her stories :D