CHAPTER TWO

What Happens When One Digs

"Lottie!" a voice yelled and I jumped before turning to see Stanley standing over me.

"What," I grumbled, pulling the covers over me more but they were yanked back and I let out an involuntary yelp. The covers were thrown back over me and I cracked open an eye to see Stanley flushed and the others either grinning or jaw dropped. Then I remembered: I was wearing shorts. "I can't sleep in pants."

"Oh," he muttered and I couldn't help but laugh, "Uh, it's time for breakfast." I nodded, stretching and unhooked my jumpsuit pulling it on over my shorts. They really weren't that bad. The shorts I mean. The boys were stupid, but the shorts weren't that short, at least I didn't think they were. I followed the group to the Rec Hall, my hands shoved into my pockets but this time I didn't let Stanley get my food.

"It's a nice gesture, Stanley really," I told him quietly, "But I can do it, promise." He smiled, letting me ahead of him and I tapped his hat playfully. I liked him; he was a nice kid. He reminded me of Minnie somewhat, besides the fact that he was a guy of course. As we sat, X-Ray sat next to me again and I sighed at the food. "Why does it look so unappealing?"

"Because it isn't, it's supposed to give us the, uh, energy we need," he sounded like he was quoting someone and I had a feeling he was.

"Charlotte," a voice boomed and my head snapped to the producer. It was Mr. Sir. Once he knew he had my attention, he made a gesture for me to come with him and I bit the inside of my mouth, rising. Slowly, I followed the man out of the room but when he moved out of the way, I broke into a run being swiftly caught.

"Oh god, Lottie, I was so worried," the older woman told me and I laughed, hugging her tighter.

"I'm fine Minnie, I promise," I whispered, pulling away and she brushed some of my hair out of my face.

"I missed you around the house."

"It's been a day," I pointed out but she gave me a 'be quiet, you' look and I laughed, hugging her again.

"I wasn't able to bring you anything. Honestly, how do they expect you to get away from here or contact someone with a pair of shorts," she exclaimed and I grinned, "Dear, why are you wearing that?"

"Do you expect me to walk around with out anything under this?" I asked and she laughed, "Are you supposed to be here?"

"I'm here aren't I," she sniffed indignantly and I giggled, "But by the looks of it, I'll have to leave soon. Be good, will you, Lot? The Warden told me what happened last night."

"Minnie, it's not-."

"Sweetie," she gave me a stern look and I looked at the ground, nodding, "You can't go around doing things like that."

"You know I don't!" I pointed out stubbornly.

"Yes, I know you don't," she smiled, tucking a stray hair behind my ear, "I'm going to chop off all your hair."

"Never!" I laughed, jumping back.

"Alright Miss, we've got to get started for the day, visiting is over," Mr. Sir stated and I looked at Minnie, wrinkling my nose.

"We'll see each other soon," she promised and I nodded, "I'll miss you, Lot."

"I know," I sighed and she raised an eyebrow, "I'll miss you too, jeez!"

"That's what I thought," she laughed, pulling me in for another hug, "Maybe this place'll be good for you." I hugged her tighter, feeling her slip something into my pocket and smiled. "Be good."

"I know."

"Wash your hair."

"I know Minnie."

"Be safe!" she called, her head out of the car.

"I know, Min."

"Don't break too many hearts!" she yelled, speeding away and I went wide-eyed.

"Minnie!" I screeched but I knew she couldn't hear me over her own laughter, "God that woman."

"Who is she?" a voice asked and I jumped, "Sorry."

"It's fine," I muttered, looking from Stanley to Minnie's disappearing car, "She's my foster mom."

"Foster mom?" he repeated and I realized what I'd said.

"Uh, yeah," I turned away, walking to the mass of boys gathering outside a shed. I started fiddling with my hands and X-Ray raised an eyebrow.

"What's up with you?"

"Nothing," I mumbled, looking at the ground but shoved my hands into my pocket, only to pull out a necklace. I smiled slightly at it before slipping it on.

"It's nice," Stanley told me.

"Thanks," I smiled. As I looked in front of me, I saw X-Ray holding a shovel out. "A shovel?"

"Digging," X-Ray stated, "Just take it." I did so and he walked off, leaving me slightly confused. What was his problem? I looked to Stanley but he shook his head. Weird. Hector caught up to us and stood on Stanley right, while I walked on his left.

"Hey can I ask you something?"

"Who?" Stanley asked slowly and I gestured to Hector.

"Sure," he shrugged.

"Why's your nickname Zero?" Stanley looked briefly at Zero, who stared at the floor.

"Cause I wont amount to anything and I'm not worth anything."

"Who told you that?" I demanded, stopping. He stopped too but didn't look up.

"They say it everyday."

"Who?"

"It's more of a who doesn't thing," Stanley told me but before I could say anything, he added, "We have to go."

"Caveman, Charlotte, Zero, this ain't a holiday, get a move on!" Mr. Sir yelled and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, Lacy, get a move on," a voice taunted and I saw the boy who hung out with Zigzag.

"Who're you?" I asked and he smirked.

"I'm Magnet, and this here's Squid," he gestured to another boy. I nodded before the group stopped and I almost walked into the person in front of me. X-Ray turned slightly but saw it was me and looked ahead of him. Had I done something? I was confused.

"Ms. James!" someone barked and I looked to see Mr. Sir waiting for me. Uncertainly, I walked over and he explained the process. I was to dig a hole; it had to be the size of the shovel. Both width and height. I was going to die. Sighing, I picked a spot, near Stanley and Hector. X-Ray happened to be close too. Shoving the digging utensil in the ground, I kicked it further, unearthing the sand. It took forever to dig the blasted hole but when I was done, I realized there were still people digging.

"You missed the water break," someone stated and I turned to see Hector sitting at the edge of my hole. He held out a canteen for me and I smiled in thanks. "Done?"

"I think so," I muttered, looking around, "but I'm trapped." He laughed.

"Put your hands on the edge and pull yourself up," he instructed. I sighed, attempting and failing to pull myself up.

"It's hopeless," I whined and he looked momentarily surprised before he burst out in laughter, making me blush. A shadow covered me from behind and I turned to see a figure standing over me but I couldn't make out the face, due to the brightness of the sun. He offered me his hand and I gratefully took it.

"Put your foot on the side," he told me and I did so as he pulled me out of the hole. Standing at his side, I realized it was X-Ray and smiled at him.

"Thanks." He nodded, walking back to his hole and I looked back at Hector. "Did I do something?"

"Not that I know of," he chuckled, going over to Stanley's hole and sitting by it. I noticed Stanley smile up at Hector and momentarily wondered if there was something more than friendship but shook it off. Looking back over at X-Ray, I sighed. He was furiously digging into the hole.

"Jesus," I coughed, shaking the dirt off and he looked up.

"Sorry," he muttered, throwing dirt in the opposite direction.

"S'alright," I coughed and he glanced up at me, shaking his head as he smiled. I decided to sit down, dangling my feet into the hole and he leant against his shovel, looking at me. I squinted at his shovel, looking back at mine and held it up, jumping down into the hole. I took his shovel and measured it to mine. "You gave me a shorter one."

"I did," he chuckled, licking his lips.

"Why?" He shrugged, taking his shovel back before digging back into the ground. I looked at him confused, but backed up against the wall, placing both hands on the wall behind me and attempted to pull myself out. It didn't work. X-Ray turned to face me, rolling his eyes and lifted me up so I was sitting on the edge again but I didn't leave. He stared at me; I was barely as tall as him sitting on the ledge. It made me feel short. I reached out, taking off his glasses and placed both of my hands on the edge, tilting my head. "Are you mad at me?"

"No," he smiled, turning away. I was confused. I had been here for two days and I had changed. I was getting feelings for a boy, I barely knew. What was happening?

"Hey, Lottie," I heard Stanley call, "Me and Hector are gonna head back. You wanna come." I squinted in his direction, shaking my head and he smiled. "See ya."

"Bye," I waved.

"Why're you staying?" X-Ray asked when I looked back at him.

"I figure I'd be bored if I went back."

"And you wont be bored here?"

"I dunno, will I?" I asked, tilting my head again.

"You're a strange girl, Charlotte," he stated, a smile playing his lips. My stomach twisted when he said my name and I threw my arm over it in surprise. What was that? "How'd a girl like you end up here?" I broke eye contact, staring to the side but heard him move. He had started digging again.

"X-Ray?" I finally asked and he looked up at me, "Have you ever wondered why things happen?"

"Everyone has," he told me and I nodded, "Why do you ask?"

"I dunno," I shrugged, swinging my feet gently.

"What really happened?"

"He came at me," I muttered, sniffing. His grip tightened on the wooden handle. "I stopped him." He nodded, waiting for me to continue. "I didn't mean for anything to happen."

"It was his fault," he stated firmly and I nodded, looking up at the sky. I didn't understand how I was so open with him. It's like I couldn't not answer a question he asked me and if I didn't, it was hard. "Who was that lady?"

"Minnie," I smiled, thankful he'd changed the subject, "I live with her."

"What about your parents?"

"Never knew them," I shrugged. He nodded and we slipped into an awkward silence before he started digging again and I pondered my attraction to him. It was more than physical. I knew that. I just felt better around him. Suddenly, he jumped out of the hole, wiping the sweat from his forehead, jerking his head towards the camp and I took his outstretched hand. We headed back to camp and went into the Rec Hall.