A big thank you to everyone who is reading this, especially to those who take the time to leave me a review, its really nice of you. I am at the moment getting a bit behind on some of my stories so I am going to be focusing on this story, Hidden Benefits and Baggage, if anyone has any questions about any of my other stories please PM me. Thanks Jodie xxx
Chapter Three
Stevie woke early the next morning and smiled at Smithy as he slept, they hadnt really made up from their fight but whatever he said she still loved him to pieces, he had been really horrible but she just couldnt find it in her heart to hate him. He grunted slightly as she pulled the blanket up and over his body, as her fingers brushed his bare back she felt tingles. His skin was cold but so soft. She took a deep breath before climbing from her sleeping bag and making her way out of the tent, she walked over to the car and pulled the door open and grabbed her coat from inside. After their kebabs the previous night, they had brought cans and came back to camp to make a fire, but Stevie had decided to leave the men to it and had gone to bed at just after nine. "Morning.." she jumped at the rough voice behind her. "Morning Callum.." she smiled as she turned to face him "You sleep ok?" he asked and she sighed "I have had better nights... but it wasnt the worst". A grin covered his face "So you and Smithy?" he asked and she shook her head "There is no me and Smithy... we kissed the other night and thats it.. Im not interested in him in that way.. I dont know what his problem is". He smiled "Maybe he wants more..." they both jumped at the voice behind them "Or maybe I just dont like people making me out to be the bad guy when I did nothing wrong". He opened the car door she was leaning on and she moved over, she smiled at Callum as he spoke "Smithy we wernt gossiping about it" he smiled "No.. cause it sounded like it". He pulled a small black bag from the car and headed up the field "Im going to have a shower".
"Hey... Smithy.. please.." he turned to face her as she tried in vain to catch up with him "Listen.. we werent talking about it.. he was just worried about me.." he nodded "I bet he is..." she interupted "And what is that ment to mean?". He laughed "Oh give yourself some credit... Im sure you can work it out". She shook her head "I really dont know what your problem is Smithy but if you dont snap out of it we arent going to have a friendship left so please.. just get over it". He shook his head "And what makes you think I want a friendship left... me and you.. we are done" he stormed off up the field and she felt tears stinging at her cheeks as she watched him go. What had happened was a mistake but surely she ment more to him than bareing a grudge? This was a man who shot a armed gunman to protect her, a man that she secretly thought had beaten Devlin to a pulp to protect her. How could she really mean nothing to him now. She returned to the small camp and slipped into the tent she shared with him unnonticed, the last thing she wanted was his friends asking questions, infact all she really wanted was to go home and curl up in her own bed and be away from him and the stress he brought her. She sat in the tent for what felt like hours, wiping the tears from her cheeks until the zip flew up and he appeared. "Yeah whatever Callum.." he called before moving inside, he stared at her as she recomposed herself "Whats up with you?" he asked and she wiped her face quickly once again "Nothing.. Im fine.." he grabbed his bag and pulled his phone out before moving back out of the tent, she sighed as she followed him out. "We are going fishing.." Leon smiled at her as he fiddled with his fishing rod "You fancy it?". Smithy glanced at her "She cant be quiet enough" she noticed a faint smile outline his lips and she returned it as the men all got there stuff together. "No.. erm.. leave me the car keys and I will pop into town shopping". Callum chucked the keys at her "Knock yourself out". She watched as the men all began to head down the field towards the fishing lake.
"so come on then spill?" Callum smiled at the man sitting inbetween Ben and Nate. "What?" he asked. "Are you shagging her?" he smiled. "Like I said Im not interested in Stevie.. she is far to high maintance". Callum laughed "Oh come on... any man in there right mind would give Stevie one... you telling me the thought hasnt crossed your mind.. you aint so much as thought of her naked?". He smiled "I have thought about a lot of women naked.. dont mean I want to shag them all.." Nate interupted "So why are you giving her such a hard time?". Smithy shook his head to dissmiss the question and Ben cut in "I thought you too were close friends.." Smithy nodded "We are..." his words from earlier suddenley coming back to haunt him, he really didnt want to lose her, just because deep down he was in love with her. "We were close... but sometimes people drift apart". Leon sat up from where he layed next to Callum "Funny how you too drifted apart after your little snog" he glared at him "Shut up" Leon rested back to where he had layed and Callum stared at Smithy "What is your problem eh?" he paused and Smithy just kept his eyes staring out at the lake "If she really means that little to you mate... why are you so hung up on her?". Smithy kept his eyes straight, knowing he couldnt break his hard man attitude infront of these men.
She hadnt found much to buy, but deciding to buy herself something to wear tonight to grab the mens attention she had found a cute little white top she just couldnt resist, she had also found something little for Smithy in the hope it would help to sort the issuee they were in the middle of. When she arrived back at the tents some three hours later she smiled at the three men sitting round the fire "Alright.." she begen "What do you think?" she asked showing off her new top. Ben, Nate and Leon all nodded and she smiled "Where is Smithy?" she asked and Nate gestured down towards the lake "He and Stone have stayed at the lake.." Leon cut in "We got bored so decided to come and sit here instead.." Nate interupted "Now your back we are going to go into town and get some marshmellows to melt tonight... you wanna come?". She shook her head "No you're ok.. I will go and look for Smithy and Callum". As she headed down towards the lake she pulled out the beer glass from the shopping bag that she had brought him, in big black letters it read 'Mr Grumy' accross it and she hoped it would be enough to lighten the mood he was in and get them back on track. As she passed Callum half way down to the lake she smiled "Where you off too?" she asked and he pointed back down to the lake "As far away from that prick as humanly possible... what ever is going on between the two of you sort it out... he is doing my fucking head in". She watched as he disapeared up towards the camp before she continued down towards the lake. She glanced round it was huge but she could see him so began her way towards him.
She stood behind him trying to think of something, anything to say to the man she normally could spend hours chatting too. "I erm..." he interupted "Callum sent you to do the dirty work..." she moved over and rested down next to where he sat on a blue blanket "No.. I am worried about you.." he interupted "Well dont be". She placed the beer glass to his lap "I got you this today.. I want to put things right between us Smithy.." he cut in "And whats right Stevie... me pretending I dont have any feelings for you". She glanced down was this what this was about? "What are you saying Smithy?" she asked trying in vain to read his face. He looked so vunrable as he remained sat on the blanket "Noting" was all he responded. "Smithy.. do you have feelings for me?". He stared up and into his eyes, she could see the past years in his eyes as he stared into hers. He shook his head "Dont flatter yourself" he replied and the gaurded look returned to his eyes. "Smithy..." she began and he cut in "I dont get you.. you really think you are something special eh?". She shook her head "Thats not fair.." he interupted once more "Well you clearly think you are too good for me". She smiled "No.. I dont Smithy..". He nodded "Yeah you do.." he paused his eyes watching her reaction intently "You know what.. fuck you Stevie.." she nodded "And that is exactly what this is about.. the fact you want too.. grow up Smithy". She rose to her feet and began to storm away, his words dragged her back "You get off on tearing people apart?" he asked. When she turned back he was stood facing her. "I did nothing wrong.." he interupted "You kissed me". She nodded "Even if I did.. we should be over that by now" she walked back down to him and smiled "Im sorry that I am not interested.." he interupted "Yeah... cant ruin your street cred eh Stevie.. and lets be honest however hard I tried and however much I worshiped you.. I would never be good enough for perfect little Stevie Moss". She moved a bit closer to him "No.. I wouldnt go near you because you are an arsehole... I mean look at you.. none of your friends want to be near you.. what does that tell you?". He smirked "That little tarts aint worth the effort.." she couldnt help it, she felt herself lose her temper and considering how he had treated her the last few days he deserved it, she pushed him, not thinking about the lake he was now facing tpwards. As she did it, he lost his footing and she let out a smile as she realised he was about to go head first into the lake, that was until he grabbed onto her wrist and she felt herself stumble with him until both splashed into the water.
The ice cold water cut at her skin and she suddenly felt so helpless as she swam round, looking for Smithy, she noticed him by the bank and swam towards him "You ok?" she asked trying not to gulp the cold liquid, although it had been a lovely day it was still November and the water felt like ice. "Yeah.." he began "No thanks to you". She tried to climb from the water up the muddy bank, well aware her now see through top was clinging to her body. She felt his hands on her waiste and she pushed him away "Dont touch me.. Im fed up with you and your attitude Smithy". He laughed "I am trying to help you". She shook her head "Well dont... I would rather drown" he nodded "Fine.." he let go of her and she slid instantly back into the frezzing water, she tried again to scramble out but slipped, he was now nearly out of the water, feeling the rage in her she grabbed for him and pulled him back into the water, watching as he sunk under the water, once he surfaced again she was trying to climb out once again, she felt his hands on her waiste and she fully expected him to force her back into the water but instead he had spun her round and pushed her back against the muddy bank, his lips were on hers, and her hands shot to his chest to push him away but instead they just rested on his cold body, enjoying the feel of his hard muscles through his wet top. His lips gently moved against hers, his hands holding her cheeks. He was completly owning her as his tounge begged for entrance, which she knew she wouldnt deny him. He moved his body in closer she no longer felt cold or trapped in the water, this moment felt perfect and she never wanted it to end, because despite how much she wanted to hate him she couldnt he still ment the world to her.