Chapter 7: Soft On the Inside, Metal Shell On the Outside
Brooke POV
The loud sound drew me up from my horror filled slumber. I sat up, running my hands through my hair. I knew I was softening up to the d-tent boys, so I just had to find a way to push away from them. I knew my heart couldn't stand anymore heartbreak, and I knew being friends with them will only end up with a knife in my back.
I quickly rubbed the head of my new lizard friend who I was still trying to decide on what to name him. I got up, twirling my hair into a bun. I pulled on a white tee, tying the arms of my orange jumpsuit around my waist, and lastly pulled on my sneakers. "Mornin' Brooke," Magnet greeted with a lazy grin. I merely scoffed and brushed him off, leaving the dark tent sadly noticing the crushed look that appeared in his face which caused my chest to heave. I tried to push away the weight I felt on my chest, but it lingered there.
Squid POV
I looked out of the corner of my eye at Magnet, his face looked crushed for a second before disappearing but I knew he could feel the pain still, I had felt it too. Over and over again whenever I thought I was getting somewhere with Brooke only for her to push away from me, I could tell she knew she was starting to soften up to both Magnet and I. I have no idea what Magnet had done/say for her to quickly be kind to him, but I felt this burning in the pit of my stomach every time I thought about it. Shaking my head, I finished getting ready, coming out of the tent only to catch myself looking for a certain metal eyed girl. Why do you keep thinking about her, you're starting to like her aren't you, my thoughts taunted.
I shook my head again, lowering it to the ground to erase the thoughts that flew in my mind, but the second I look up, my eyes immediately caught onto Brookes. She stared back at me, her gaze less hard that it's usually is, when she notices that were staring at each other instead of glaring like we always do, she sends a sharp dagger my way before looking somewhere else, and I swore I saw a light blush grace her cheeks. I don't like her, she just gets on my nerve, that's all, I tried to convince myself. The only reason you get angry towards her is because she refuses for you to take care of her when you know you so desperately want to because you know that's the only possible way for the two of you to get close to each other, my thoughts reasoned. I shook my head for the millionth time this morning and went to go stand by d-tent.
"Alright boys… and er- girl, time to get to digging," Mr. Sir yelled, opening the 'library.' All of us grab our shovels and hike out for another day of blisters accompanied with the heat of the sun.
I quickly glanced at the pale bluish haired girl, trying to prove to myself that I didn't feel anything towards her, but I was proved wrong when I felt my stomach do summersaults; my god, she was turning me into some school girl with her first crush. I watched her as we walked, but then I noticed I wasn't the only one, Rattlesnake was staring intently at her, biting his bottom lip as he stared at her backside, and with him, was Flare, a guy with a red streak through his hair and was nicknamed after his quick flare-like temper. He stood next to Rattlesnake, like always since he was basically Rattlesnake's lackey, and he too stared at her backside, his hands twitching slightly at his sides as he absently licked his lips.
My anger then sparked inside of me, and before I knew what I was doing, went by Brooke's side, slipping an arm around her shoulders. Brooke stiffened for a moment then went back to her straight posture when she saw my face, she raised an eyebrow, questioning my actions but I only sent a large grin her way. And before she could shove my arm off of me, I sent a quick glare behind me at Flare and Rattlesnake, showing them that she was under my protecting, and I removed my arm from her shoulders.
Brooke growled and grabbed my front of my shirt, making me forget all about the two partners in crime, leaning near my ear to whisper, "don't ever do that again," she stated, lightly pushing me away.
"Oh c'mon, just being friendly sweetheart," I answered playfully, trying to play it off. Brooke simply scowled and rolled her eyes before going off to go dig her hole.
Brooke POV
I didn't know what came over me when Squid wrapped an arm around my shoulders, but I could feel my body relax, like I he would never hurt me or attack me. But I came right back to my senses when he grinned at me with that annoying cheeky grin. He threw his arm off my shoulder but not before looking back behind him. I quickly snapped at him which had no effect on him, at least not like before where we would end up in an all out brawl, and left to go dig my hole. Should I be harder on them, am I getting to soft? I snapped at Squid and all he did was act playful, what is wrong with me, what is going on? Why isn't he getting mad at me, my thoughts freaked. I was totally stumped at the moment but decided on putting in the back of mind and to continue digging.
Time passed extremely slowly, it was more heated today, and I felt like sight start to blur ever so slowly. I tried to drink water to fix it, but it only made me feel sick with a tummy full of water and barely any food while working in the blistering. I knew I had been through much worse, but today I couldn't stand it. My vision blurred more and more, and by the time Mom and Mr. Sir came by with lunch, my knees wobbles, my vision was filled with red dots, and I collapsed in my hole. My chest heaved with deep breaths and I pressed a palm against my forehead, reminiscing in the coolness of my palms against my heated forehead.
"Brooke," a voice questioned. I slowly lifted my head, my mind hazy. I find a Hector looking down upon me from the top of the hole. "Are you okay, you don't look so good," he stated, a slight frown coming upon his lips and a concern look piercing his eyes.
"I-I'm f-fine," I slurred, finding Hector now blurred slightly.
"Are you sure, have you been sleeping?" he questioned, pressing the subject.
"Please Zero, I'm alright, go get some lunch, I'll be right behind, just let me rest for a second," I stated, feeling sleepiness starting to consume me. I vaguely notice Hector nod hesitantly, and leave my sight, only just before I felt my conscience slip from me, and I was surrounded in darkness.
3rd POV
Hector got his lunch as fast as he could and came back to Brooke's hole only to find her slumped over, her eyes closed with blood dripping out of her nose. He jumped into the hole pressing a hand to chest to see she was barely breathing and that was when he started to panic. "Mr. Sir, someone, we need help!" Hector yelled getting out of her hole.
"Zero, you can speak?" Armpit asked.
"What else can you do Zero," X-ray then asked.
"What's going on here," Mr. Sir growled, walking up to the group, while the rest of the d-tent walked up behind him.
"Something's wrong with Brooke, she's barely breathing and her nose is bleeding," Hector yelled, not caring that he was talking to them for the first time.
That was all everyone needed to hear before running to her hole, Mom coming up behind them as well. They found Brooke just like how Hector found her, blooding dripping from her nostrils, her body crumple, and her breathing so weak you could barely see her chest more. "I'll call the ambulance, she needs to see a hospital as soon as possible, for now we need to keep her breathing," Mom instructed, with the little medical training he knew. Squid was instantly by her side, pulling her body up and out of the hole. He carried her bridal style over to tents, ignoring the confused stares of the other campers. He sat her down on his cot, pulling her body to his so that she lay in between his legs, her back against his chest and her face pressed against his neck. "C'mon Brooke, we were just getting used to each other, you can't go yet. We haven't even got to the point where we aren't screaming at each other the whole time," Squid growled which turned into a slight chuckle at remembering their many brawls through a short amount of time. He slightly shook her in hopes she would lift her eyelids and show the pretty metal eyes of hers.
To be continued…
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