When he finally pulled away I was furious, but also embarrassed. For some reason I felt ashamed to have Bass watching us. Connor must have seen my rage because he said, "it was the only way they wouldn't come down this alley."

"No, you could have come into the building with me and we'd already be out of this hellhole." Bass said it calmly but he was obviously not calm. He was practically shaking.

"Let's get out of here." I looked Bass in the eye and pushed passed Connor, bumping his shoulder. I look down the street and seeing no Patriots I make a run for it, the gate was just a few hundred feet ahead.

"CHARLOTTE!" Bass basically screamed and it stopped me dead in my tracks. I whirled around and he seemed furious at me for just running out in the open, but I needed to get away from those two. While I was turning I heard a blast and instantly felt pain in my arm. I looked down only to see the blood flowing. I grasped my arm and looked at Bass. He only stared at me with a look of horror, but only for a second. He took his gun and shot the Patriot in the head, then sprinted to me. He looked me in the eye with fear, "Charlotte, are you ok?"

"I'm fine, we need to get out of here." I searched in his eyes for a plan but he was just frantic. He grabbed hold of my good arm and nearly dragged me out of there. Every movement sent a wave of excruciating pain to my arm, but I had to keep moving. I bit my lip to suppress the pain, but that only made my mouth bleed. Once we were a safe distance away Bass turned to look at me.

"Give me your arm," he ordered. But he wasn't just all business; as I slowly lifted my arm he gently grabbed me and softly touched the skin around the bullet hole. "We need to take the bullet out, and it's going to hurt." He looked into my eyes with sadness; like he was sorry he needed to do this.

"I'll be fine, just do it." I stiffened my body, preparing for the worst. He was looking at me, waiting for me to look back. I finally gave in, and he lifted his free hand to my mouth, using his thumb to wipe away the blood.

"I'm sorry Charlotte, this is my fault. If I hadn't screamed at you, you would have been outside the fence and all right." He looked so guilty; it was hard to be mad at him, since it was kind of his fault.

"Why did you yell my name?" For some reason the thought only occurred to me now. I was escaping, in the clear. Why stop me?

Instead of answering he just gave me a sad look, and repeated: "This is going to hurt." He grabbed my arm with one hand and started to dig out the bullet with the other. I screamed out but I put my free hand in my mouth to silence myself. We were only a little ways outside the town. After about a minute I passed out.

When I woke my arm was sore, but the bullet was sitting next to me, proof Bass took it out. I looked to my arm to find it washed and wrapped, obviously with care. When my senses started to wake out of their slumber I heard screaming.

"I thought I told you to NEVER disrespect Charlie like that!?" Bass was screaming, his hands balled into fists.

"I was trying to save us and it was the only thing I could do!" Connor was screaming too, but it was obvious he was trying to hide a smirk.

"Bullshit. You could have hidden with me and we could have taken those guys out." Bass said it plainly, hiding his emotions with his hard expression. I couldn't quite read him…

"I don't like killing people," Connor was obviously lying. I mean how many people has he killed in his life? Not to mention he's a Monroe.

"HA! You've got to be kidding me. Tell me the real reason you did it," Bass was trying to get answers, but Connor did have a point that the kiss drove the Patriots away, even if I didn't like the idea.

"Why do you care so much? I mean we slept together so I figured kissing was no big deal." Connor said it mockingly, as if to make Bass jealous. I truly did not understand the Monroes.

Instead of a reply Bass just punched Connor right in the face, sending a river of blood out of his nose and Connor to the ground.

"Don't do it again," Bass didn't answer the question, but he is obviously pissed. I watched him storm off and while Connor was dealing with his nose, I slipped off to find him.

"Bass?" I called his name a couple times, but to no avail. It was like he disappeared.

"Charlotte, what are you doing up? You should be resting your arm," well this was a 180 from what I just saw.

"What just happened between you and Connor?" I cocked my head to the side and he just glared at me.

"I'm sorry I thought you'd appreciate it. I never really saw you as the 'relationship' type." His words were cold, and he was hurt.

"Well sleeping with someone then kissing to save your life isn't exactly a 'relationship', Bass." I was getting defensive. What's his deal? "Have you never slept with someone just to do it?"

"Yes, but not with my friend's son." He was done arguing. He made it clear this was the end of the conversation. But I was not done.

"Why the hell does this mean so much to you? And we're FRIENDS now?" I couldn't believe him, why was he so worked up?

"YES Charlotte I thought we were friends. But I don't know anymore." That really was the end of the conversation. He walked away, but not his usual saunter or even his pissed off walk, more like he was defeated. And for some reason, I felt defeated too.