Thank you for the Review HungerGamesHolesFan and yes, it is nice to see these still get written :D
Enjoy!
Belladonna's POV
An alarm that sounded like the trumpet used in every crappy Army/Navy Seals movie blasted through my dreaming and woke me up. I groaned, burying my face into my pillow. It drowned at least some of the noise out.
"Belladonna," a voice that sounded like Hector's whispered in my ear while a hand shook my shoulder. "Belladonna you've gotta wake up. I'm not goanna be able to help once the others wake-" the voice cut off and I heard some footsteps walking away as other groggy voices started to sound through the tent.
I only rolled over again, hoping that they would forget I was here.
"Aww, looks like the Princess wants more sleep," I heard a voice that sounded like Zigzag say. Someone else, who I think was Magnet, laughed.
"She don't wanna dig no holes holms," he chuckled in his Spanish accent.
"She ain't no Princess guys," Squid's deep Texan voice said, sounding like he was standing up. "She's somethin' alright, but she ain't no Princess." as soon as the words were out of his mouth I felt someone grab the side of my cot and flip it, sending me flying onto the ground. "Rise and shine," Squid laughed as I scrambled out form under my blankets.
"You know you're fixing my cot again?" I said as I stood up, facing Squid's smug grin. He had a toothpick in his mouth and he was chewing it casually.
"Who says?" he challenged.
"I do and you know this won't end well," I said and started walking towards the exit. I stopped though. "And a toothpick? Seriously? You look like hillbilly," I said before walking out of the tent.
It wasn't even light out! What the hell kind of time is this to wake us up? The other kids were waking up as well, dragging themselves over to a table covered with nasty looking tortillas.
As I walked along, past a fancy looking house (Fancy looking compared to the rest of this crappy Camp) I heard a voice coming from inside. I slowed my walk, listening to the voice.
"Well I need more gas for my car!" a female voice yelled. There was a pause. "Well how can you get it to me?" she snapped. "By Mustang? That's ridiculous!" what's wrong with Mustangs? They're good cars. "Fine, just get the gas here when you can and make sure that damn Mustang won't make a mess in my camp!" ok that one was weird. Oh well, it probably just leaked.
Moving away from the fancy cabin, I made my way over to the table holding the tortillas. I stared down at them in disgust. They looked like they were covered in grease, looking slimy and inedible.
"Don't worry, it's only honey." I looked over to see Hector standing beside me, munching on a tortilla.
"Great…I hate honey," I said, turning away from the table. A hand stopped me and I looked over to see it was Armpit, Squid standing beside him. I looked to my other side but Hector was gone again. Damn that boy moves fast.
"You didn't eat all your grub last night girl, ya only had your bread. You need to eat if you're goanna survive your first day," Armpit said sternly. I shook my head.
"I'm not eating that, I can't stand honey," I said stubbornly. Armpit sighed, picking up a tortilla.
"Whatever, but you'll be sorry you stubborn-" he stopped at the look I gave him. If there was one thing I hated it was being called a bitch just because I spoke the truth and I knew what I hated. Instead he just walked off towards a shed marked library, muttering under his breath. I was about to follow but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
"You need to eat something Bell. You didn't even get all your bread last night," Squid said quietly, worry clear in his voice. My brow furrowed.
"Why do you, or even Armpit for that matter, care?" I asked. He took his hand from my shoulder, looking away with a blush across his face.
"You helped me, why shouldn't I return the favour? As for Armpit, and the others? D-Tent sticks together, no matter how annoying one of us is," he said. I glared at him, but his first point seemed fair. Picking up a tortilla, I gave Squid one last glance (Who nodded encouragingly) before taking a big bite.
"Oh God this taste's like crap too!" I cried, spitting it out. Squid chuckled, looking around before swiping three extra tortillas.
"Come on, honey doesn't taste that bad," he said, handing me another tortilla. Instead I threw the one I was holding on the floor.
"No! You can't make me eat it! Butt out!" I snapped, turning and walking away. A hand grabbed my wrist.
"Bell! Just eat the damn tortilla!" Squid yelled, shoving it in my face.
"Stop caring about me!" I yelled, shoving him on his chest. He stumbled back, his death grip on my wrist making him pull me over. Although he managed to stable himself, I was sent tumbling onto my front, landing on something sticky.
I pushed myself up, swivelling around onto my butt and sitting on the floor. Stuck right on the middle of my chest was my discarded tortilla, covering my whole chest in the disgusting stick substance called honey. I could hear laughing around me but I could barely hear it through the blood pumping in my ears.
I lifted my glare up to the shocked looking Squid, his eyes wide and the toothpick hanging from his jaw. I could feel my blood boil as I slowly stood up, coming to stand right in his face. I snatched the toothpick from his mouth, snapped it in half and threw it on the floor, stomping on it before peeling the tortilla off my chest and throwing at his face.
"Stop doing me favours and caring you stupid hick!" I yelled right in his face as he pulled the tortilla off his face. I could feel a lot of eyes on us but I was to busy staring down Squid.
His face was contorted with rage, surprising me as he went from shocked to livid in about three seconds. He advanced on me and I'm not lying when I say I was actually a little scared. His eyes were filled with pain, anger, resentment and definite hurt.
"Don't call me a hick," he hissed, before turning and walking away. I watched him go, realising there was a crowd around us as he pushed his way through.
Slowly the crowd started to walk away, some giving me accusing looks. I didn't care though so I just headed over to grab a shovel since everyone else had by now. I noticed X-Ray coming towards me but I just kept my head down. His hand on my arm stopped me though and I looked up to see him giving me a hard look.
"What?" I snapped.
"You shouldn't have said that to Squid," he said sternly.
"Why? I kept telling him to leave me alone and now he finally is," I said. X-Ray shook his head.
"Because no one deserves that," he said before walking away with the other guys. I stared after him as he caught up with Squid, who had his head down. X-Ray tried talking to him, but he just stayed quiet.
"You will dig one hole everyday. Five feet by five feet. Your shovel will be your measuring stick," Mr. Sir explained as we walked. I was ordered to walk with him so he could explain what they did here. "Once you are done you will return to camp. If you find anything interesting you will report it to me or Pendanski. If the warden likes what you find you get the rest of the day off," he finished.
"And what am I looking for?" I asked, leaning on my shovel as we stopped in an un-dug area.
"You're not looking for anything. You take a bad kid, make them dig holes all day, turns them into a good kid. That's our policy here at Camp Green Lake," he said, sounding pleased with himself.
"Well that's a sucky policy. Did you come up with that all by yourself Genius?" I asked with a smug smile.
Mr. Sir sneered at me, spitting his sunflower seeds by my feet. "You'll be digging here. Good luck," he snarled before stalking off. I rolled my eyes, impaling the ground with my shovel to start my first hole.
"Why are you always so mean to Squid?" I looked up to see Hector leaning on his shovel, watching me dig.
"I'm not mean to him," I panted, copying his stance. God it felt good to stop digging, my hands were killing me! Hector raised an eyebrow. "Look; he comes up to me, annoys me so I make him leave me alone," I explained. It was perfectly logical to me.
"Ahhh…so it's like in school. The guy crushing on the girl will pull her pigtails instead of telling her because he wants her attention?" he asked. I blushed darkly.
"I don't like Squid, Hector!" I snapped. "And he doesn't like me!" I finished.
"Right…" he said, not sounding very convinced. "Well if he doesn't like or care about you, then why does he still look pretty upset about what you said this morning?" I looked up at him and he pointed over to where Squid was digging.
I looked over to see him with his head down, his cap pulled down over his eyes as he dug slowly. But I could still see the hurt expression I caused earlier clear on his face. It made my stomach twist guiltily, which was weird for me considering I haven't felt anything but anger in the past seven years.
I shook my head, picking my shovel back up and continuing to dig. But I could still feel the guilt building in my stomach. What is this boy doing to me? I don't have feelings! It just doesn't happen to me!
I glanced up, wiping the sweat off my forehead. In the corner of my eye I noticed Squid looking at me. But when I turned my head he was back to digging. I sighed, deciding to focus on the searing pain in my hands.
"Break time!" I looked up, just noticing that a huge truck had pulled up. Climbing out of my three ft by five ft hole, I wandered over. I was the first to get there.
"Ahhh Belladonna," Pendanski said as I walked up. "I have your canteen here," he said, handing me an empty gallon sized ice tea container.
"Great…can you fill it up?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow.
"Well that's up to what Rex has to say," he said.
"What?" I asked as a hand grabbed my shoulder and started to yank me back.
"You're at the back newbie," X-Ray demanded as he started to pull me over to Hector. I frowned, digging my heels into the ground.
"Why? I got here first!" I demanded. X-Ray's eyes narrowed as the guys all shifted back slightly.
"You come here and straight away you start to mess with our ways. You refused to give up your bread, you got Zero to talk and you've messed with my friends! But you will not mess with the running order!" he snapped harshly. I didn't even flinch, staring back at him.
"Screw you and your running order! I'm not a part of your group so why should I have to follow your ways?" I snapped back before pushing my way past him and back to the front. X-Ray grabbed my arm again, this time being a lot less gentle.
"You can't just-"
"X-Ray!" both of us stopped our shouting match and turned to Squid. He was still looking angry at me, but his stance was tall and strong. "Just let her get her water and then we can get back to digging," he mumbled. My eyes widened, and I think all the others did too. X-Ray backed off, looking pretty pissed.
"Well Miss Jones? Is that another sexist remark or a kind gesture?" Pendanski asked with a smirk. I stayed on my spot, stunned.
Squid was still doing nice things for me…even though I had upset him pretty badly? This kid was making no sense!
Slowly, I walked over to Pendanski and handed him my container. He filled it, sneering at me. "Looks like Belladonna has a soft spot for you Alan," he said. I stayed quiet, still staring at Squid. When it was full he shoved it into my hands and I walked away, catching Squid's eye as I walked past. He glanced at me, but generally kept his eyes to the ground. After eating the crappy ham and cheese sandwich and an apple, I started digging again.
Finally I was done! And my hands looked like something from a horror movie! Huge blisters covered my palms on both hands. I gently touched one and instantly regretted it because it hurt like hell!
I also faced another challenge; getting out of the hole. How in God's name an I goanna do that? I hate being 5'6ft! Taking a big of run up as I could in this stupid hole, I leapt at the side, gripping it with my hands. This didn't work and I slipped back into my hole.
"Damn it!" I groaned. I tried again, with the same result. I would try a third time, but slamming my hands on the ground didn't go well with my blisters. I groaned, realising I would have to do the one thing I hated more then anything. "Can somebody help me?" I called. Unfortunately I had seen most of the others leave, having finished their holes.
"Hey babe, I'll give you a hand if you give me one," I looked up to see the guy I had nicknamed Lurch smirking down at me.
"Get lost Lurch, I'd rather get bit by a yellow spotted lizard then touch you!" I snapped. He snickered and I felt a sick feeling drop into my stomach.
"You resist now baby, but trust me, you'll come around," he had an menacingly dark tone to his voice as he said that, before walking away. I should have taken the help then kicked him in his man berries.
I groaned, sitting down against the back of my hole. "Well, if I'm goanna be stuck in here, at least there's shade," I mumbled to myself as I shut my eyes.
"Before the lizards find ya and make you their snack," I looked up to see Squid standing above me, blocking the sun with his head. I didn't say anything, just stared at him. Wordlessly, he leaned down and offered me his hand. Steeling my nerves, I gripped his hand, feeling my skin sting intensely at the contact. With a grunt, he pulled me out of my hole and all the way onto my feet, barely stumbling.
"Thanks," I mumbled. He nodded before he started walking away, back to his unfinished hole. I sighed. Ok, I was being very unfair now and I knew it. "Hey Squid?" I called after him. He didn't stop, just jumped back into his hole and continued digging. "Squid!" I tried again but he continued to ignore me.
Fine. Like I want to apologise anyway!
Picking up my shovel and canteen, I stormed back to Camp, leaving footprints in the sand as I walked. 'Stupid Squid, dumb name by the way! Not even willing to hear me out! Well I tried so now I can stop feeling guilty! Right? God this place sucks!'
"Get that animal away from my car!" I heard a voice shout. I looked up from my feet, surprised to find myself back at the Camp already. Looking towards the voice, I stopped in my tracks as I watched a man leading a brilliant white horse away from the Wardens cabin.
"Ohhhh…Mustang," I said to myself. "Now I get it," I mumbled, chuckling at my slowness.
"Well your car should start now. Give it a go," the man leading the horse said. The Warden nodded, leaning into the car and turning the key.
The engine let out a huge bang, making me cover my ears at the volume. Unfortunately the horse didn't like the bang either. It reared up, neighing loudly as it kicked. The man holding the reigns cried out in pain, letting them go to cradle his hands against chest.
The horse charged away, galloping madly…right towards me. I screamed as it reared up in front of me, my hands lifting to try and calm it down. A front hoof struck out, hitting my hand.
"Ahhh! God!" I cried, holding my injured hand to my chest. I crouched down on the ground, shielding my head under my arms. I heard the horses hooves thump the ground by my head and knew I was going to get trampled.
"Hey! Someone get that kid away!" I curled tighter into a ball, feeling tears stream down my cheeks.
I was going to die because of a stupid horse!
"Bell move!" I lifted my head at the familiar voice and stared up in shock. Squid was running towards me, his hat, canteen and shovel discarded on the floor as he raced towards me. He grabbed my shoulders, pulling me back.
But the horse didn't stop shying and kicking. Squid's hands left my shoulders and he ran at the horse, grabbing the reigns and swinging himself into the saddle.
"Whoa! Calm down you dumb animal!" he yelled. "Zero! Get Bell away!" he ordered. Suddenly I felt Zero's hands on my shoulders, pulling me back.
"Are you ok?" he asked worriedly. I didn't answer I just watched with wide eyes as the horse bucked and reared, trying desperately to throw Squid from the saddle. But Squid held on, pulling at the reigns and mane while his legs gripped the horse's middle. Finally the horse slowed, panting as it settled.
Squid was also panting, sliding from the saddle as the man came and took the reigns.
"Thanks kid," he said, sounding a little shocked. Squid only nodded before looking at me. I was still on the floor, my hand in my lap. Squid walked over to me, kneeling down.
"Are you ok?" he asked quietly. I couldn't do anything, shock taking over. "Come on," he mumbled. I looked to Zero, but he just nodded before walking away. Hesitantly, I took Squid's outstretched hand.
"Ah!" I cried, snatching it back. He looked scared, gently grabbing my hand and turning it over. The hit had burst the blisters, blood and other gross stuff coating my hand. He winced, letting out a hiss.
"I can fix that," he said gently.
Something about the way he said that filled me with warmth, like I was remembering something from a long time ago. The look in his deep brown eyes only encouraged the feeling, so I let him pull me up. Wordlessly, not even glancing at any other camp member that had seen his amazing taming of that mad animal, Squid led me over to our tent and sat me down on his cot.
"Here, let me look at it," he said. His voice was quiet, unthreatening. He knew how scared I was. I think it was because only he had been close enough to see how close I was to death. "Oh, those are some big blisters," he said. I snorted.
"You're telling me," i mumbled, earning a chuckle.
"Yeah, first hole's always the hardest," he replied. I let him take my hand and I watched as he took my canteen and gently washed my hand.
I hissed at the stinging but kept quiet.
"Sorry, it'll hurt but I promise to make it quick," Squid mumbled, not looking up form my hand. Once he was done, he took the white rag I had sometimes seen him wear around his head and ripped off a strip, washed it, then tied it around my hand.
I thought he would be done but no, we wasn't. He then pulled me into a comfortable sitting position beside him, my hand sitting on his lap while he massaged the skin gently.
"It supposed to ease the swelling and sooth the irritated skin," he said quietly as he continued his work on my hand.
"Ok…it feels nice," I mumbled, leaning back slightly. My shoulders brushed his chest and I jumped slightly, pulling away. He pulled me back and so we sat like that, Squid gently treating my hand while I rested against him. "You don't make any sense," I mumbled, feeling sleepy all of a sudden.
"Hmm?" he asked, pressing on one of my blisters. I winced and he froze. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"It's ok." we were silent for a little bit longer. "It's just…I insult you, I even assaulted you and you're still being nice to me. You fixed my bed-"
"Twice," he added.
"-looked out for me when I wasn't eating and now…you saved my life," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Why? I don't deserve it," I said. Squid stopped his treatment of my hand, staring at it.
"You needed it," he said simply.
"But I didn't ask for it," I argued. And to my surprise, Squid laughed.
"So? I've barely known you a day and yet I can read you like a book." that hurt a little, considering I'd always worked hard to keep myself closed off. I looked away from him. "You're strong, stubborn. You won't ask for help even if you need it," he said, lifting my chin to look me in the eye.
"Glad I gave you that impression," I said and he chuckled.
"But you're also hurt," he said and my smile faded. "You're scared to."
"I'm not afraid of anything!" I snapped brashly and Squid backed up.
"Calm down," he said, taking my hand again and resuming his work. It did relax me a little. I noticed him taking extra time on the tips of my fingers, his own fingers brushing over the rough pads.
"Well what do you want me to do then? Since I owe you about three favours," Squid looked to be thinking.
"I want you to think about what you're going to say before you say it," he said. I furrowed my eyebrows. "I see the way your brow furrows after you've said something insulting, like you didn't mean to. So think about it first," he explained. I nodded.
"I can do that," I said and he smiled.
"I want you to accept help when it's given," he said, sounding stern.
"That might be a little tricky. You can't erase years of pain Squid." his brow furrowed. "Long story," I said and I could tell he knew I didn't want to talk about it.
"Finally: I want you to give the guys a break. They want to look out for you, D-Tent does stick together. But they won't if you mess with the order or insult them." I sighed.
"Fine," I grumbled. Squid smiled. I couldn't help but smile back and I watched as his widened.
"You should keep doing that, it compliments your face," he said. I realised then that, so far, Squid was now the only person who had seen me smile, not smirk, but smile.
"Thank you," I said, blushing.
"Yo Squid!" our eye contact broke, both of us looking to the door to see the rest of D-Tent running in. "Yo where did you learn to do that?" Armpit exclaimed. I also gave Squid a questioning look, who blushed slightly.
"You don't grow up in Texas without learning how to break a horse before you can walk," he said.
"Well you saved Chica's life!" Magnet said, slapping him on the back.
"Yeah he did," I said shyly, locking eyes with him for a split second before we all looked to the other guys.
"Yeah, so I think it's time you show him, and us, some more respect," X-Ray said, standing in front of me. I clenched my fist, not liking his tone. But a cough from Squid reminded me of my promises.
"You're right," I sighed, looking up at him. His eyes widened.
"I-I am? I mean, of course I am!" he said. I laughed, finding his surprise cute.
"Hey! Look at that X, you got her to smile," Squid said, winking at me. The rest of the guys laughed, Armpit patting me on the back.
I laughed again.
Well look at that! Looks like Belladonna does have a soft spot for Squid. And Squid seems pretty keen on her, risking his life like that. More drama ensures I assure you :D
I wonder why Squid reacted so badly to Belladonna calling him a hick?
Review and find out!