............

"Do you hear that?" I asked Kyle.

We were walking back to camp, two hours later, when we heard shouting voices echoing around the woods.

"Sounds like fighting." Kyle frowned, instantly pulling me towards the direction where the noise was coming from.

We emerged behind the tents and they hid the scene where there was an eruption of voices.

Kyle released my hands the soon we reached the group. He was already running to the scene while I was rooted to the ground in shock. I wasn't the only one in this state because all the girls--excluding Sav--were staring at scene in horror too.

Ned and Ryland were fighting. The hatred and anger pouring through their faces was unmistakable. It took Dave, James, Sav and Kyle—who just got the scene—to prevent the two from tearing each other apart.

The profanities spewing from both of them almost made my ears bleed. It brought me out of my shock.

"Just calm down—" Sav's voice was a small siren through the chaos unfolding between the two.

Ryland struggled out of James's grasp, "Don't fúcking tell me to calm."

I stepped in front of Sav before Ryland could reach her. I held my hands in front me, a gesture to make him stop.

Ryland looked past me as he addressed Sav, "This is your fault." He glowered.

"Don't fúcking talk to her like that!" Ned's voice was deadly as he sprang in front of Ryland, punching Ryland in the nose, completely taking him off guard.

I felt's Sav's hands gripping my arm behind me. Ryland retaliated as he pounced at Ned and both of them tumbled in a heap on the grass. I watched helplessly as the guys tried to break the fight. Both Ryland and Ned were a bloody mess once Dave, James and Kyle managed to break them apart.

Ryland was forming a black eye and he pinched his bleeding nose, while Ned was sporting a purple bruise on his jaw and cheek. Even through their panting, they were still struggling against the guys who held them back.

While they were having a cussing competition, the guys tried to calm both of them, I turned to Sav accusingly.

"What happened?"

She was pale, looking ghost-like as she watched the fight between the boys. "Ryland found out."

"Found what out?" I gripped her shoulders, trying to get her to look at me.

When she did she scowled at me. "About me and Ned." She said this as if it was the most obvious thing in world.

I pressed my lips together. "Sav, I did warn you that it would get ugly. Is that what you wanted?" I asked, cocking my head toward the scene. The boys had managed to calm both Ryland and Ned, but the glares between them were unfailing.

"No!" Her lips trembled.

"You need to speak to Ryland." I told her firmly.

"But—" Her frown marred her features.

I shook my head. "You cheated on him Sav. You could've just broken up with him first. But no you had to go on and open up your legs for Ned."

She glared. "You have no right to judge me."

"Oh I don't?" I arched an eyebrow, my tone full of sarcastic derision.

Her lips curled in an ugly smile. "You of all people Keya, I thought you'd understand."

"For fùcksake, Sav." I released her shoulders. "You need to apologise to him. Despite what you think he's feeling right now, he's obviously hurting."

"I don't care." She frowned towards Ryland.

"What? Why? Did he do something to you?" I asked, for the first time I was worried that he'd hurt her in some way.

She inhaled, "No, he didn't do anything."

"Then why don't you want to talk to him." I folded my hands across my chest.

"Because I don't want to." She sounded petulant.

I frowned. "Sav you're being a total immature bitxh right now."

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious." She laughed sarcastically.

"What the fúck is wrong with you? I'm trying to help here. I'm trying to tell you that the best thing to do is talk to Ryland. If you don't see that, then I really don't know what you've been smoking."

"Look, I didn't ask for your help. Okay. This isn't your business." She lashed out.

I shook my head. "No it isn't, but you made of my business by confiding in me in the first place.

"Just leave me alone."

"You know what. Forget it. Fine I'll leave you alone. I hope you get into your sense that what you did was wrong. Ryland deserves an apology from you."

After telling her this I stomped off where James was trying to calm Ryland. My pace faltered as I approached them.

"Look if you're here to rub more salt in the wound, now is not the time." James glared at me.

I frowned at him for one second before turning my attention to Ryland.

"Are you okay?" I asked him. His nose had stopped bleeding, the bruise on his eye had it closed and he had a few scratches that needed healing attention.

"He's fine." James replied, grabbing my arm to stop me from reaching Ryland.

I was about to shrug my hand off but Kyle was there in a flash, prying James's hand from my arm.

"Don't touch her." He hissed, clenching his jaw.

James frowned at Kyle before holding both his hands out. He moved besides Ryland protectively, but his glare on us was unfailing.

Kyle placed a possessive hand around my waist; I tried to ignore him as I focused on Ryland.

"I'm just here on behalf of Sav to say—"

"She couldn't come and speak to me herself?" Ryland's voice full of contempt. "Busy tending to her lover, right."

I looked back and indeed Sav was busy with Ned. I frowned at them for a moment before turning back to him.

"Ryland, I'm sorry." I told him, wholeheartedly.

"Are you?"

I pressed my lips. "I have a First-Aid kit in the tent. Those scratches might get an infection." I told him.

I felt Kyle squeezing the skin on my waist. "You don't have to do this." I felt him whisper near my ear.

I shook my head, looking up at him. "I do."

He sighed, rolling his eyes before kissing my temple.

James was glaring daggers at us while Ryland just looked oblivious, busy trying to nurse his injuries.

"I'll be back." I told them as I released myself from Kyle's hold.

I ran toward the tent and retrieved the First-Aid kit my mother packed for an emergency. I guess this was an emergency. When I got back, Kyle was checking Ned while James was leading Ryland to their tent.

I frowned but followed them anyhow. Their tent was big enough to stand up, and as I got inside Ryland was sitting in one of their makeshift chairs with James staring worriedly at him.

"I got it." I made my presence known.

When I reached Ryland I began to examine his face. James got out of the tent, but I didn't pay attention to him as I concentrated on healing Ryland.

I cleaned the scratches, plastering them before giving him an ice-pack for his eye. He winced all the way through but I didn't relent.

"You'll be fine." I told him once I finished.

His lips curled into a reluctant smile. "Thanks." He looked up at me. Suddenly I was aware how we were too close for comfort, I back away instantly.

"So you going to him now?" His tone was resentful.

"Ryland—"

"No, Keya. Save it, I don't want to hear it." He grimaced. "Just tell me, how long has it been going on?"

"What?" I frowned in confusion.

He got up, his eyes never leaving mine. "How long?"

"Ryland—"

"Tell me!" His outburst had me flinching. He inhaled calmly when he saw my reaction. "Just tell me." His voice was lowered.

I shook my head.

"You knew all along didn't you?" He frowned.

"Ryland, as far as I know, Sav slept with Ned last night." I told him earnestly.

He surprised me by letting out an empty laugh.

"Look, I know you're hurting but—"

"Hurting?" He cut me off once again as he shook his head. "Keya I'm not in love with her. I just can't believe she beat me to my own game."

Wait...stop, pause and rewind. "What?"

"I just didn't think she would be the one to do it first. I mean I was faithful to her, but damn, some days it was just too hard." He continued like I hadn't interrupted.

I shook my head. "Ryland stop for sec... what the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't you know?" He arched an eyebrow, stalking closer toward me.

My heart sank as I backed away, not trusting his moves. "Know what?"

"Me and Sav...we were a means to end, Keya." He explained.

"What do you mean; you were a means to an end?" I still couldn't understand what exactly he was talking about.

"Too long to explain...I cared about her though, but they were other girls I wanted. I couldn't have them though, cos I was shackled with her and we agreed." He told me.

My face must have been a scowling mess.

"Look, let's just say that we were both using each other. I guess it kind of hurt when I found she cheated with Ned...of all people. It had to be him; I mean what exactly does he have that I don't, huh?" I knew his question was rhetorical so I kept quiet.

So this whole fight was all because his ego was bruised?

"I though you loved—"

He shook his head, cutting me off. "I don't do love, Keya... But I do want to hurt her back."

I don't know how my face looked to him but he seemed to get humour out if it. By this point he was standing poise before me, his lips curved into small smirk.

"What are doing you doing?" I leaned back when he grabbed my arms pulling me toward him.

"Help me get back at her." He looked serious. His blue eyes flickering down toward my lips.

"No, stop." I wrenched myself away from her. "Ryland that won't fix things."

"I know that." He seemed intent on his actions when he grabbed me again. I struggled against his hold.

"Stop it. I can't do this with you." I blocked him from leaning down.

"Why?"

"Cos I'm with someone."

He frowned for a fleeting moment before smiling. "C'mon Keya. I know you're single. Just please help me out."

"No I'm serious. I've got a boyfriend." The moment he freed me was when I backed away.

"Since when?" He arched an eyebrow.

"That doesn't matter." I glared. "So whatever you are trying to do right now won't work with me."

He looked suspicious. "You are a bad liar, Keya."

"I'm not lying. I'm seriously with someone."

"Who?" He was genuinely interested now. I guess I was glad because it distracted him from his earlier intentions.

To think that he was going to kiss me? I shuddered.

"Kyle." I replied him, straight up. So much for "keep them guessing".

He burst out laughing for a full minute once what I said registered. "What?"

I gave him a look that sobered his expression.

"Wait, you're actually with Kyle now?" He couldn't believe it.

"Yes."

"Oh wow. I guess we all saw it coming." He laughed again.

I didn't falter my look so he held his hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay. Fine. You're off limits."

"You need to talk to Sav and sort it out with her. I'm done trying to fix things, I should never have been involved in this mess in the first place." My patience with him had ran out.

"Ouch." He held a hand on his heart in mock misery, but he was smiling.

I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe I wasted my time with this." I muttered under breath as I headed for the exit.

"Wait." He grabbed my hand, halting me.

"What—" Just as I whipped around, my sentence was cut off when he launched his lips to mine, completely knocking me off guard by his kiss.

I gasped out of shock and shoved him off me. I slapped him smack-hard on his jaw.

Ow. That hurt my hand more than it hurt him.

He was smirking.

"—how dare you!"

"—I can't believe this!"

"—Dude, what the fuck!"

These sentences were said, respectively, at the exact same time by me, Sav and Kyle. I whipped around to the front entrance and Sav was standing next to Kyle, both of their faces mirroring each other.

Seconds passed in my utter shock and mortification before Kyle reacted as he lunged for Ryland. A crunching sound echoed in the tent from the punch.

I snapped out of my shock as I grabbed Kyle's arm, preventing him from ruining more of Ryland's face.

"If you ever lay your filthy hands on her again." His voice was deadly menacing, his face pulled into an ugly glare. This was the exact side of Kyle I always avoided seeing.

"Kyle, stop!" I managed to put space between him and Ryland. He struggled against me, intent to reach Ryland and mare more than just his face.

"Kyle!" I reached up and grabbed his face with both of my hands. "Look at me!" I implored.

He was breathing heavily when grudgingly looked down at me. His fiery eyes impaled mine, searing with anger I've never seen before.

My eyes bulged as I stared at him, willing him to calm down. Before I knew it, he gathered me into his arms as he hugged me tightly.

"It's okay." I rubbed his back, ignoring the fact that I could hardly breathe from his constricting arms.

With his face buried deep in my neck I looked over at Ryland, whose right cheek was smeared with blood. An unlikely bruise was already forming, making his face swollen.

He caught my eye. 'Go.' I mouthed at him.

He frowned an ugly frown, his stubbornness preventing him from moving.

"Just go." I breathed out loud. That brought Kyle back up as he released me. I looked at him and he seemed calm enough.

I moved toward Ryland and took his arm as I dragged him to the tent exit where Sav was still nursing her shock. On the way there, I dragged her too and led them both outside, beyond the tents where it was remote and private.

"You two need to sort your shít out. I really don't care what you do to yourselves anymore." I told them both.

"Yeah right." Was Sav's sarcastic laugh. "Why would you kiss him if you didn't care?"

I glared at her, before turning to Ryland.

"You knew they were at the door didn't you?" My accusation brought a smirk from his lips.

I couldn't help but slap him hard again, and this time my hand stung.

I clenched the pain away as I turned to Sav. "Believe what you want to believe, Sav. I'm not gonna waste my breath by trying to explain myself when the person that needs to explain is you both. I'm really done caring. You both deserve each other." And with that I left them to it as I went back to Kyle.

He was waiting for me by their tent and I rushed to him, hugging him the instant I reached him.

"You okay?" He asked, rubbing my back.

"M'fine." I muffled against his chest.

I looked up at him. "Are you okay?" I asked worried.

"I heard everything. What you guys talked about. I just didn't think he would—" He stopped himself, his jaw clenched at the thought of it.

"I'm sorry." I buried my face under his neck breathing in his scent.

"Hey," he kissed my forehead before taking my hands. "It's not your fault. You shouldn't be apologising."

I looked at our feet. "I know but I just thought—"

He titled my chin up, making me look at him. "No, I wasn't angry at you. Just at him. I know you'd never do that to me, Key."

I gave him a small smile. He returned it with his lazy but sexy smile, the one that crinkled his eyes.

"Good." I told him, my smile full blown now.

"Good?" He asked, grinning.

"Good." I nodded.

He chuckled low on his throat before pulling me under his arms and kissing the top of my head. We stayed this way for a while, with my eyes closed, my face buried deep in chest.

It took a while to realise that the camp was quiet. I broke our embrace, frowning around me.

"Where's everyone?" I asked.

"They went to the lake. They didn't want to get involved in the...you know, drama." He smiled wryly.

"I don't blame them." I shook my head but I frowned afterward. "What about Ned? Is he alright?" It was then that I realised I hadn't even spoken to him.

"He's fine. He's in our tent, eating."

"Oh." Suddenly the thought of eating had my stomach growling awkwardly.

Kyle chuckled before leaning down to peck my lips. "Hungry?"

"Starving." I replied even though now I was craving something more than just food.

He caught my look and his eyes heated briefly with desire before pulling me into a rough but heart shattering kiss. I melted in his arms, breathless for more when pulled away.

"Come on, let's go an find you something to eat." He smirked, teasingly.

"Gah. You're such a tease." I smacked him on his stomach. Damn, it was like hitting a solid wall of flesh.

"But you love me for it." He laughed and tucked me under his arms before kissing my forehead as we walked toward where the leftover food was.

"In your dreams."

"Yes you are in my dreams, all the time." His look turned serious.

I gulped down a hard lump of lust and hid under his arm, my heart doing somersaults. "You better stop being romantic now. I can't stand it." I lied.

He shook his head. "But I've been told being romantic was one of best traits."

I snorted. "Gee, who lied to you?"

He narrowed his eyes before reaching out with his other hand to tickle my sides.

I sprang away in a yelp, the images of him tickling me to death springing into my mind.

"What?" He asked all-so-innocent, while waggling his fingers.

"Don't you dare!" I yelped again when he reached me. I twisted myself so I was out of his reach.

His eyes gleamed with a new motive. I bit my lips and before he could lunge for me, I bolted.

It wasn't long when he caught me and we tumbled on the grass with him torturing my poor armpits and sides with his fingers.

My lungs burned for air, my eyes crinkling with tears of laughter as I tried to breathe under him.

"Please...Please...Stop!"

He grinned down at me before taking both of my hands and pinning them on top of my head.

"I love your laugh." He admitted.

"Well, I hate it. I sound like a tortured donkey."

He chuckled before leaning down, rendering my attempts to breath.

"I love your how your curls are tangled with the grass." He told me.

"What?" I was horrified. I tried freeing my hands so I could fix my hair but he wasn't nudging.

"Be still a moment." He stopped my trashing.

I stopped breathing; his eyes were pulling mine into another trance. He leaned down suddenly; shifting his weight off me as kissed me hard, biting my lower lip and everything.

My moan was muffled, the sound getting lost when he darted his tongue into my mouth. We made out in the grass ceaselessly, forgetting time and setting as we got lost into each other. When we stopped, he lay down beside me and we both faced the endless blue sky blanketed with sheets of white clouds.

He held my hand, our fingers entwining together and soon enough I closed my eyes to enjoy the moment. It was until my stomach growled that he laughed and pulled me up to fetch for some food.