I want to claim that I'm getting used to these early morning starts but I'm not. To be out on the field at five AM has to be a crime worse than most of these criminals even committed. But today was different, I was on my best behaviour.

I couldn't say for certain how long that would last but I'm going to give it a good go.

"We're breaking off into smaller groups today, heading out to the woodland and building a raft. It must be strong enough to hold four people and you will be testing them out on the lake. Check your groups with private Baldwin" Axel called off with maximum disinterest.

So far today I've managed to behave myself enough to not get any punishments. It hasn't been that hard surprisingly, I just keep myself off his radar.

"You're with me Harp" Nicole exclaimed excitedly. It was merely minutes later when we were joined by two male recruits who introduced themselves as Trevor and Nate.

I instantly warmed up to Nate, he laughed at everything and was easy conversation. Trevor on the other hand kind of reminded me of a hillbilly serial killer so I was wary for sure.

Nate was one of those men with a goofy smile constantly on his face. I suppose in high school he would've been deemed as the class clown. He had the potential to be unattractive but boot camp turned even the nerdiest of people into hunks. All this physical training makes our bodies sculpted into a bodybuilders dream.

Trevor on the other hand seemed darker, his eyes were empty, void of any compassion - just like a psychopath. His manner was quiet, keeping within himself but what little comments he made seemed well thought out and were spoken with a cunning tone.

"We will collect these logs and attach them together." Nate told us, pointing at heavy logs on the ground.

"Won't they be too heavy, I think they might sink." I tried to lift one but I couldn't even half raise it from the ground. Nate laughed at me.

"Worse that will happen is we all go for a swim. Besides boats are heavy and they float, it's all about spreading the mass out on the surface so the water becomes heavier than the raft."

He lifted the log and slung it over his shoulder. I followed close behind worried incase he dropped it and injured himself but to be perfectly honest he seemed to be carrying it with ease.

Trevor also grabbed one and followed us towards the river but Nicole didn't even attempt to help.

"Okay fine but I don't want to go for a swim so you better be right." A huge mischievous smile appeared on his face and he dropped the log. I backed away from him slowly, knowing his motives.

"Nate, no." I laughed and ran.

He chased me, but I placed myself behind a tree, peeking out from the side. He hovered in front of the tree trying to guess which way I was likely to run next.

Then I ran left and he pounced on me grabbing me by the waist and tickling. I coiled over laughing, I couldn't breathe because I laughed so hard and tears streamed my eyes.

"You don't want to go for a swim huh? Maybe I should throw you in the lake." He laughed.

"Philips what are you doing?"

Nate froze and released me, standing to attention. I looked up at Axel and then back at Nate, deciding it was best to also stand to attention.

"Speak." Axel ordered.

Nate cast his eyes down.

"Apologies Lieutenant sir, we were just having a bit of fun." Gone was the carefree fun tone Nate had been using for the past hour, he was now nervous and dare I say slightly frightened.

"This is bootcamp, there's no time for fun. You've earned yourself twenty laps around the assault course. Keep your hands to yourself." Axel spat out with vexation.

"Sir, yes sir!" Nate recalled.

Axel walked away, keeping his posture straight and mighty. "Jesus, twenty around the assault course, bit extreme isn't it?" Nate relaxed his posture and I fully agreed with him. The assault course was lethal.

Trevor had secured two logs together with some rope by the time we had returned to the river bank. Nicole and I were in charge of tying the knots while the guys did the heavy lifting. Once the raft was big enough we all sat on the edge of the river, taking a well earned breather.

"What brought you both to bootcamp?" I asked them. I already knew Nicole's story, she burgled houses of the rich and famous.

"I ran a drug empire." Trevor muttered causally.

"I hot wired cars, changed the number plates and sold them on." Nate informed us.

"I would love to know how to hot wire a car." I dreamed, gazing far into the distance. It always looked so cool in the movies and even though it's a skill I most likely would never use it would still be handy to have.

Nate slung his arm around my shoulder "I'll teach you." He promised.

"Attention!" Axel shouted from behind us. We all jolted with a fright but climbed to our feet instantly, standing to attention.

"You're just sitting there." He pointed out blankly. I opened my mouth to speak but closed my lips again, thinking better of it.

Axel walked over to our raft, I couldn't see him because I wasn't allowed to turn my head but somehow I knew that there would still be disapproval in his eyes.

"Did you do these knots Philips? They're pathetic." I closed my eyes in frustration.

Don't answer back.

Don't answer back.

Don't answer back.

Axel walked in front of Nate, looking his body up and down. His eyes were distant and cold, lacking all human warmth. I would say that Axel took a personal dislike towards Nate but let's be real, he's like that with everybody.

"Drop and give me fifty." He shouted, we could all feel the intense power of his words. Nate dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups. He seemed to do them with ease, unlike my attempt two days ago.

Once he had finished all fifty, in a short time frame I might add he stood back to his attention position and didn't seem to have broken a sweat.

"Twenty on the assault course, twenty on the track and I want one hundred more push-ups from you. Your team can finish the raft."

Don't answer back.

Don't answer back.

Don't answer back.

"Permission to speak Lieutenant Sir?" Nate asked.

"Permission declined." Axel said coldly before waking off.

"Damn, I hate that guy. What did I even do?" Nate complained. I gave him a sympathetic shrug "you know what?" He asked, linking his arm in mine. "I'm gonna teach you how to hot wire a car tonight. His car." He pointed his chin at Axel. "Meet me outside shed thirty at nine o'clock. Well go out for a late night drive in his Lamborghini."

He shot me a cheeky smile and a fire burnt inside of me, it was the same fire that pumps the adrenaline around my body whenever I break the rules. However I was torn between keeping my promise to axel to be on my best behaviour or having fun with Nate.

"Right Philips, that's it! I'm calling for a disciplinary slip." Axel shouted. Nate dropped his arm from my shoulder immediately.

"For what?" He asked with a harsh tone.

"Did I grant you permission to speak?" Axel stormed over to us, standing tall in an intimidating manner.

"Apologies Lieutenant sir." Nate replied, casting his eyes downwards.

And that was the moment my mind was made up. Axel was a jackass on a power trip and I didn't owe him any loyalty to keep my promises. Tonight I was stealing his car with Nate and going on a joy ride.

That thought made me ridiculously excited.