Bella's POV:

I glanced at the box and it was almost empty. My face heated up when the realization settled in my mind that I ate all the cookies that the guy sitting beside me offered me.

Last night, mom made mac and cheese that we ate before leaving for the airport. I did not have breakfast when I left the airport because I had no money. My dad never gave me pocket money and he refused to let me get a job. He believed that if I will get a job I would start to disobey him.

The guy sitting beside me moved, distracting me from my thoughts. His knees accidentally knocked with mine. I glared at him but he did not notice, as he was probably asleep. Soon the glare disappeared from my face and I found myself gawking at him. He had dark brown hair, which almost gives the illusion of black. His features were sharp; his clean razor-sharp jaw looked like it could cut the paper easily. His nose was too perfect and straight.

His eyes were the unique hazel color with the hint of black specks in them; they were captivating. My eyes widen in shock when I realized he was awake and staring back at me.

"Are you done ogling?" He asked with an arrogant smirk on his face.

"Well, I am sorry for staring at you like that," I said and the smirk on the jerk's face stretched. "I couldn't help myself because I've never seen anyone look so unattractive before," I added.

His smirk dropped like hot water and he glared at me. I was laughing in my head at his red face.

"I think you've dropped your spectacles somewhere. I'm a handsome guy," he said with a smirk and flexing his muscles.

Well, his comeback was good but I had practice in this game. I did not want him to think that I am interested in him or find him attractive.

"I don't wear spectacles, but I give you props for coming up with a good come back. If you want to assume you are a handsome guy then dream on? However, I don't agree with you," I said with a shrug.

I turned my face to look out the window but I knew he was glaring at me.

Mission successful!

For the rest of the ride, we stayed silent. Finally, the bus stopped and students jumped to get out of the bus.

After a lot of struggle, I was finally able to get out of the bus. The first thing that I saw was a large banner hanging on a wooden gate welcoming students. My school was not the only one taking part in this summer camp; there were other schools and colleges too.

I snatched my bag from the man who was about to throw it on the mountain of bags resting on the ground in front of the bus. Some poor students were scrambling around to find their bags and kicking others' bags out of the way. The place was looking like a mess.

A woman was standing in khaki shorts and a white shirt with the badge on her shirt and some kind of list in her hand. She was asking our names and informing us where we would be staying.

I searched for my tent and found it in the corner. I entered the tent to see two sleeping bags and a small charging lamp. I sat my bag in the corner and went out to search for some food.

I was hungry again; it had been three hours since I ate those cookies. What could I say my metabolism was fast?

I did not see any familiar faces of my classmates as I walked around trying to figure out where I could get some food.

I never made any friends after what he did last time. The memory of my tomboy friend Halsey splashed through my mind.

It was a summer day; I was playing outside with Halsey. She was our new neighbor. She was seven years old and I was a year younger than she was, but we were friends nevertheless.

That day she was wearing her brother's shorts and shirt with a football cap on her head. She had short hair and she looked like a boy. My dad came home early from work and saw me playing with her. He gripped my arm and looked at Halsey.

"Stay away from my daughter, you filthy boy. I don't want you to see near my house again!" He yelled at Halsey making her jump in fright.

He dragged me inside the house and slapped me hard on the face. "How many times have I told you not to talk to boys? And you were playing with him!"

His yell and slap scared me to death. I found myself tongue-tied. I did not know how to tell him that she was a girl. I knew if I argued with him, he would hurt me again so I kept my mouth shut.

Halsey never talked to me again. Dad found out later that he was a girl, not a boy, but he never apologized to me for hitting me.

It was the first time that I lost a friend...but it was not the last.

I felt a hit on my shoulder and stumbled back.

"Watch out, girl!" The guy yelled running away. I glared at his back swearing under my breath.

Finally, I found the open kitchen made up of bamboos and covered in leaves—the sign hanging outside was a clear indication that it was a nature camp kitchen. I made my way to the woman and she served me some noodles with broth. I took it and sat down in the corner, stuffing my meal in my mouth.

After I was done, I washed my bowl and placed it on the try to dry (it was mentioned on the board as one of the rules).

I was about to leave the kitchen when a loud announcement stopped me. Everyone was ordered to assemble near the lake. I followed the signs and reached the lake. There was a large podium in the center and a very old man was standing on it wearing khaki shorts and a white t-shirt with a bucket hat.

"Welcome to "The Nature Camp" everyone. I am Dr. Adger. Also, I am the founder of this summer camp. It is designed to make you all experience a technology-free lifestyle. I would like to introduce you to my team. We have Miss Taylor, Mr. Harris, Mr. Rupert, and Mr. Kevin."

Three masculine, well-built, and good-looking men stepped up on the podium. The girls were swooning right and left clapping their hands like small excited girls. The instructors were handsome but they all looked much matured than those girls.

"Miss Taylor would love to assist you if you face any problem here. Mr. Harris, Mr. Rupert, and Mr. Kevin are your camp instructors; they will take you on different activities and make sure you enjoy your stay here. We are going to divide you all into three groups. The group that is going to be successful in most of the activities will be given a treasure." Mr. Adger said with a beaming smile on his face. "We have very strict rules here against inappropriate behavior and violence, so everyone stays on your best behavior. I hope this summer camp becomes one of the wonderful times of your life."

Mister Adger stepped away leaving the podium. The instructors started to call the names of their group members.

Mr. Harris called my name and I made my way to his group. He took us to the other ground and started an introduction session.

I felt weird tingles on my body like someone was watching me. I looked around and saw the same boy who sat beside me on the bus standing on my left. He was gazing at me coyly. I glared at him narrowing my eyes making him break the eye contact.

I was trying to scare him by showing him how crazy and rude I was. It was better for him to stay away from me.

"We are going hiking. I want you all to get familiar with this place," Mr. Harris said.

We followed him as he showed us around. That guy stayed close to me which annoyed me to no end.

"There are some bears and wolves around here, so be careful at night," The instructor told us. My breath hitched and I stopped walking.

A few seconds later, I felt a warm breath on my ear. I tilted my head to see the same hazel eye guy leaning on my shoulder.

"Are you scared of wolves?" He asked.

Momentarily, I found myself distracted by his soft moist lips. I nodded my head in a daze.

"Then I hope one bites you tonight," he whispered.

The daze vanished as soon as his words fell on my ears. I hit him on the knee making him yelp in pain as he fell on the ground.

"What happened?" Mr. Harris turned and looked at a glaring guy on the ground.

"I don't know. He yelped then fell," I said shrugging and continue walking.

The guy got up and dusted his clothes. I felt him constantly glaring at my back.

"Don't step outside your tent for any trivial reasons at the night, it is unsafe." Mr. Harris suggested.

Our group walked around for a while then we were taken back to the kitchen for dinner. After dinner, I went to the washroom to do my business and brush my teeth. Then I came back to my tent to change into my nightclothes because the bathroom stalls were too small.

I opened the tent and went inside then zipped it. I turned back and stopped dead when I saw a very naked, a very sculpture, and a tan guy standing with his back to me in nothing but boxers. My eyes ran from his brown hair to his well-muscled back, to his narrow waist, and then stopped on his lean legs. I gulped at the sight of that good-looking guy. I couldn't lie to myself, he was sexy.

He turned and my attention went to his defined abs. It was clear he likes to work out.

Suddenly I felt hot and nervous. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I had kept all these emotions buried deep inside me. I had never felt so attracted to anyone before. My dad's lessons were enough to make me hate the male species so why was I feeling these emotions again.

"It's inappropriate to stare at anyone like this," A guy snapped making me look at his face.

All those emotions that I was feeling before disappeared like a poof. He was the hazel eye guy.

"What the hell are you doing in my tent?" I asked lividly.

"It's not only your tent. Unfortunately, we are sharing this tent," he said putting on his shirt.

"By the way, I am Gabriel," he said extending his hand to me.

"I don't care who you are. I don't want to share this tent with you and I am going to ask them to kick you out of my tent," I said and turned.

I was about to leave when he gripped my arm and pulled me back against his hard chest knocking my breath out.

"Listen carefully, shorty. I don't like drama queens like you. Stay here and keep your little mouth shut or I will be forced to teach you, how you can do better things with this mouth," he whispered in my ear.

His words, his husky voice, and his hot breath made me close my eyes. I felt my stomach clench in a very uncomfortable way. Luckily, an image of my father teaching me a lesson on how to stay away from boys appeared in my head.

I pulled my arm away from his grasp and turned to face him.

"Go to hell and stay away from me," I stormed out of the tent to take a breath.

After sitting outside for a while, I went back to the tent. He was still there, lying on his sleeping bag with a book in his hand. A round shape reading glasses were sitting on his nose making him look cute. He didn't strike me as a nerd but the way he was captivated in the book said otherwise.

"Can you step outside for a few minutes? I need to change,"

He didn't reply to me increasing my annoyance. I wanted to strangle him at that moment.

"Hello, Mr. Teaching the Lessons. Get out!" I yelled making him shut the book.

He glared at me looking angry.

"I don't follow anybody's order. If this is a request I can think about it,"

He was frustrating me in every possible way.

"Fine, then stay here and watch me change," I snapped.

"Is this an invitation? I would like to see a free show if there's anything to see." He said amused.

I wanted to jump on him and pull his hair for making suggestive comments. I didn't want to do anything that would lead me to trouble. I had already lied to my father and came to the summer camp without his permission.

"Please, can you step outside so I can change in peace? I'll call you when I am done," I said mustering the bright smile on my face.

"Great, it wasn't that hard, was it?" He asked getting up from his bed.

"You should smile more often; your teeth are not that yellow," He said with a smirk on his face, leaving the tent.

I changed into my pajamas and shirt, and then I opened my sleeping bag and got inside. I closed my eyes falling asleep.

I didn't call him inside.

___________________________________

Hello, lovelies!

I hope you guys are enjoying Bella and Gabriel's love-hate chemistry.

Do you like how Gabriel is patient with stubborn Bella?

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