After dumping all the fish into the water and explaining to Brandon that pirates came and ambushed us, we did the usual; first, we had dinner, danced ridiculously and chatted around the bonfire. We also snuck a few drinks in when the principle and camp guides weren't looking and snuck back to our tents around two in the morning.

Then we were forcefully awoken at six am. Story of my life.

I must admit I was warming up to Mason and all the other students here. Even Kaden, which came as a shocker to me seeing as he is a highly intolerable human being.

Sebastian and I became a little closer because we were both fond of drooling over the male gender. A few students I've never seen and some I've only gotten a glimpse of in the hallways became a little acquainted with me as well.

It's Sunday afternoon at the moment and we're preparing for our last task before we head back home and say goodbye to the dreadful camp. "So babe, you gonna take me up on that offer and give me a lap dance for my birthday?" Kaden wiggled his eyebrows flirtatiously as he nudged me in the arm.

"Not gonna happen fuckboy, I thought you had something going on with my best friend. She seems to really like you from that party."

"Who?! What was her name, Katey. . .no Stacy, no Aliyah, no it was something else." He babbled on as his hands rummaged through his hair. At first, I thought he was joking but the pure confusion on his face said otherwise.

"It's Sasha," I snapped. He stuck his tongue out towards me playfully but didn't expect me to smack him hard against his chest. Hissing in pain, he quickly clutched his chest and sighed. "I don't like Sasha, I mean she's hot but eh I'm looking for girls like you."

He slung his hands over my shoulders, pulling me ridiculously closer to him and then tilting his head upwards as he outstretched his hands as if there were some invisible artifacts before him.

"Look at it this way, the two of us date, then we get married and you make my babies. I divorce you after and go for a younger woman while you stay at home and cry over our failed marriage until you die because this handsome hunk left you for a younger babe." He sighed dreamily.

Is this boy delusional or something?

Does he even listen to himself before he speaks, I mean he just planned out our future together.

A future that consisted of dating a scumbag, being forced into a marriage and getting pregnant by so said scumbag. In the midst of it all, I get left by that asshole for a younger woman whilst I'm stuck with a baby and a stomach that never went down.

Yeah, not gonna happen.

"Get your hands off me," I growled lowly as I brushed his hands away from my shoulder and stepped a few inches away from him. "I'm not giving you that lap dance for your birthday and you better fix things with my best friend before I kill you!" I exclaimed with a bittersweet smile.

With one last glance at his horrified expression, I pivoted on my heels and strutted towards Brandon who was currently packing up some gears in his bag.

I finally had the balls to talk to Brandon, I've been eye gawking him the entire weekend but he wouldn't pay attention because he was always so. . . angry.

"Hey, Brandon," I mumbled nervously.

Halting whatever it was that he was doing he peered up slowly and flickered his eyes to mine. For a moment I expected him to scream at me but then when a smile slid across his lips I let out a breathy chuckle.

I like seeing him smile. "Hey Michelle, are you ready for your last challenge to bond?" He fake gagged, emphasizing on the word bond as he chuckled. Wow is this a new and improved Brandon? "Where's Brandon and what have you done to him?"

He chuckled amusedly and slung the bag over his shoulders before flashing me a sympathetic look. "I've just been angry and frustrated the entire weekend because my parents were the ones who made me volunteer to do this so I guess I took my anger out on you guys."

Figures, he was forced into this just like the rest of us. So I have no reason to blame him for his hostile behaviour.

Right?

"It's cool."

"Yeah, so I'm sorry for making you and whatever that dudes name is clean fish. Wait I mean you guys basically threw it away and blamed it on pirates so," he flashed me a wary look and shrugged.

"You knew we threw it away?!"

"Yes! It's cool though I was being an ass. We didn't even need fish, I was just trying to get you guys to do something other than arguing."

"You ass!" I chuckled softly as I shoved at his chest. He smiled and regained his footing before bouncing on one foot then the next nervously and appeared as if he were contemplating on whether or not to say something else.

"Can I have your number?" He asked as his hands ran through his brown lengthy hair. Okay, this really is a new Brandon. First off I'd never expected him to ask me for my number because he seems so reserved.

Secondly, he looks like someone who has a girlfriend. And thirdly no one in their entire life has ever been afraid to confront me, well that's besides Tristan.

I stretched out my hand, gesturing towards his phone. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and placed it in the palm of my hands. His phone was already unlocked so I placed in my number and typed up a name. Elle 💖

I placed the phone back into his grasp. "I'll text you tonight Elle?" He smiled as his eyes trailed down the edges of his screen before he slipped the phone back into his pocket and flashed me what I could only describe as an adorable smile.

"Looking forward to it." I smiled back. He nodded his head softly and bid goodbye before pivoting on his heels and disappearing in the crowd of students.

I waited till he was out of sight before spinning on my heels but only for me to smack right into a brick wall which I'm pretty sure isn't actually a wall but it's whatever, it still hurt like a bitch! "What the freak!" I hissed in pain as my body greeted the ground painfully.

"Dollface what a surprise!" Mason beamed sarcastically as his eyes trailed down onto me, his face etched in amusement. "Well, a little help would be appreciated ass face!" I hissed angrily.

He chuckled lightly and grabbed me gently by the arm before hoisting me onto my feet. I dusted off my clothes and flashed him a wary gaze before shoving at his chest and walking away. "Hey, you can't blame me just because you have two left feet!"

"I crashed into you and you didn't catch me!"

"Babe this isn't a fucking movie where the girl crashes into a boy and he surprisingly wraps his hands around her and says a few flirtatious words that has her pantie all soaked!"

I halted dead in my tracks and pivoted on my heels to take a closer look at him. His face showed no sign of amusement so that meant he was really serious about what he just said.

This boy has no filters.

"Well, fine!" I exclaimed in defeat. He laughed softly and slowly strolled towards me. "I saw you talking to Brandon, why didn't he help you up?" He arched his eyebrows quizzically as his once amused faced flashed into a stoic one. How the hell do you flip between emotions so damn quickly!?

"Is that what this is about?" I scoffed. He rolled his eyes and shook his head lightly, a tutting sound emitting from his lips.

"Don't get in over your head, baby." He frowned deeply, his once sparkly brown eyes now dull as he lightly patted my head and rounded my body. I stood there perplexed as he trekked towards Laila and wrapped his hands around her waist before smashing his lips down onto hers.

And that shit hurt.

I mean does Mason even have a freaking heart!? I'm sure by now he knows I've gained feelings for him even if it's just a little.

Getting jealous over me having a conversation with Brandon doesn't justify the fact that he has to eat someone else's face off after literally telling me that he'd be there for me not too long ago.

Guess hypocrites run in his blood.

But why should I be upset? We're not even dating, we've just kissed one or two times out of the blue. But if he can play these games with me then maybe he's not worth it after all. And maybe I can join in on the fun as well.

Maybe two can play at that game.

•••

"So all you have to do now is attach the string to the middle so you'll be able to fly it after," he said as he placed the string and kite into my hands.

"It's that easy?" I asked in sheer confusion as I stared down at the kite. "Of course, Elle. It's that easy." He chuckled in response.

I nodded my head in understanding and tied the string to the piece of wood. "Well, I bet it was easier watching you make it than me trying on my own." I giggled as I rose to my feet and flicked the kite into the air.

I waited in anticipation for the kite to at least catch some momentum and flail in the air but instead, it toppled right back down and I pouted, watching my failure head-on. "We have to go somewhere with wind." He laughed as he grabbed the kite from my hand.

"Follow me," he nodded his head towards the hill and pivoted on his heels, leaving me standing there dumbstruck. Shaking my head softly I followed in suit behind him.

From the wooden stairs that trailed from the bottom to the top of the mountain, I was given a pretty beautiful view of the camp beneath us. I watched the ocean blue waves crashing against the shore, the birds flying in the air as they serenaded the students trekking against the plush yellow sand. And with each step we took their bodies became little specs of stars in the sky.

"So what school do you attend Brandon?" I asked as I tore my gaze away from the scenery and towards Brandon. "Washington State High."

"And you had to volunteer for Columbia High?" I chuckled. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and frowned. "Yeah, it was my mom's idea so."

We came to a halt at the top of the mountain and I realized that the walk wasn't all that bad, "here you go princess, try it out." He smiled as he placed the kite in my hands.

Unlike before the wind indeed picked up the kite and I whirled in the air much to my surprise. "I can't believe you taught me how to fly and build a kite." I squealed excitedly. "You are so stuck up." He snorted in amusement.

I lowered myself onto the grass and patted the spot beside me. He smiled and sat down beside me, "what do you mean I'm stuck up?" I asked. I was the least offended but I still needed to know what he meant by that.

He flashed me a wary look before averting eye contact. "I don't mean it in a bad way, I mean you're so caught up in your parent's abundance that you don't get to do stuff other kids did in their childhood, am I right or wrong?"

He's right, I'm the daughter of the Whites. A well-known family in Washington DC, I never got the childhood I always wanted but I still got a family and love.

"No offence."

"None taken."

"I'm glad we decided to do this." I smiled. He nodded his head and slung his hand over my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.

"I'm glad I met you."

Tilting my head to his, our faces were only inches away from one another. His brown eyes flickered from my eyes then to my nose and finally, it settled on my lips. He hesitated and I smiled as I stared into his eyes, fangirling over his flawless eyelashes.

But I knew that look in his eyes. He wanted to kiss me. But why should I feel ashamed to kiss him, Mason had no problem sucking off Laila's face.

Brandon here is handsome, I love his personality and sense of adventure.

And I like those type of guys.

Before I could answer my battling question on whether or not I should seal the deal and kiss him, his hands caressed my cheek softly and he dipped his head lowly. Our skin brushed up against one another and my cheeks flooded in heat. If I could describe the palpitation of my heart then you'd admit me to a hospital.

His eyes were still interlocked with mine and then he arched his brows as if asking me permission. I swallowed hard and finally closed the gap between us in a tender kiss.

This kiss was nothing like Mason's. It was soft, gentle as if I were a porcelain doll that he needed to handle with care. Mason's kiss was one that made my headache, it sent my body into complete overdrive to the point where the moment my eyes lay onto him I feel a somersault or emotions.

But this kiss made me feel more loved than craved. I liked it, I liked this. Maybe this is what I needed, tenderness and not danger.

Brandon was the first to pull away from the kiss. He had this ridiculous giddy smile on his face that forced me to smile back. I mean how could I? "Did I already tell you I was glad that I met you?" He huffed out, I giggled and flew my hands over my mouth, contemplating what the hell just happened.

"You did."

"Great."

•••

"I guess I'll text you tonight?" Brandon mumbled.

"Yeah, I'll be waiting."

Smiling I got up on my tiptoe and wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him into a hug. "Bye Brandon," I mumbled before placing a chaste kiss on his cheek and pivoting on my heels to board the bus.

As I stumbled down the bus my eyes immediately slid towards Laila and Mason sitting in the back. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and her face nuzzled in his neck.

She giggled at a joke he mumbled into her ear, making the anger boil up inside me and hold me back from flinging onto the both of them.

His eyes immediately came in contact with mine, I averted eye contact with him and slumped down into one of the seats. I pulled my phone and headphones out of my pocket and slipped the earbuds into my ears, I pulled my legs up on the seat and let my head fall back with a loud sigh.

My eyes shot open when a loud plucking sound echoed next to me, I looked out the window and saw Brandon waving the pink kite in his hands towards me frantically.

Opening the window, I giggled softly when he popped his head inside. "You forgot your kite, Elle" He chuckled as he dropped it on my thighs.

"Is that the only reason you came back here?" I asked suspiciously, he shrugged with a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. I shook my head in amusement before cupping his cheeks in my palms and smashing my lips down onto his.

At first, he seemed flabbergasted but immediately kissed back. Before things could get heated I pulled away because I certainly didn't want a show.

"I guess we'll talk later."

"Yeah." He mumbled before stepped away from the window. Flashing him a smile I shut the window and leaned against the seat to resume my listening to music. I plopped my legs up and placed it comfortably on the seat in front of me and stuck my headphones back into my ear.

"Hey, I know I said I wanted to bang you but please have some respect," Kaden exclaimed in annoyance as he shoved my feet off the seat. "Dollface," Mason chirped as he lowered himself down beside me.

I blatantly ignored him, shaking my head slightly at the audacity that he had to speak to me. "Was that you and Brandon I peeped kissing? That's really petty of you don't you think?"

I snapped my gaze towards him, seeing as he already had an amused smirk plastered on his face, that only riled me up even more. Who the hell does he think he is!? "Don't you think it was a bit petty when you kissed Laila in front of me?!"

"You're not my girlfriend!" He snapped.

"And you're not my boyfriend!"

"But you two sure do act like a god damn married couple!" Sebastian shouted in frustration as he snapped his head towards us and scowled deeply.

I narrowed my eyes at him and he mirrored my expression, although I was extremely frustrated he still has a sense of amusement behind it. "Why so clingy Missy?" He smirked. "I gave you like what, three kisses and you already think I'm obligated to be with you?"

"Excuse me, I never said you were obligated to be with me. Hell, I don't even freaking like you anymore so go SCREW YOURSELF." I cried out.

He nodded his head, a humourless chuckle escaping his lips."That I shall do," he hissed venomously before pushing himself off the seat and rushing to the back in the arms of Laila.

Sebastian immediately took Mason's previous spot and sat down beside me before flashing me a seriously? look.

"Go screw yourself, babe? don't you think that's a bit extreme?" He mumbled in disappointment.

"Well that boy Infuriates me, I've known him for like what? four weeks now and he's already blowing my freaking mind!"

"He'll come around, I mean you can't catch feelings that fast can you?" He chuckled nervously as if asking me in a clever way whether or not I was feeling Mason. I knew what I was going to say would seem crazy to others but to me. It's not.

To me, it's perfectly fine.

Perfectly normal right?

"Then explain to me why it feels like I already love him?"