Hello. Hi. Greetings from an author who needs to drink a glass of Sulfuric Acid for not updating in, gosh, A YEAR or more?

To all my readers (If I still have any, assuming they haven't given up on me), I am so SUPERBLY SORRY!!

And to think, I left you with a mild cliffie. TT!

SO here is the eleventh chapter to a story I never thought I would continue.

This chapter has been sitting around for ages, so I figured now that my writing streak has come back, I should put this up. (I'm also writing another 200 page novel that I plan on eventually getting published.)

So, LET THE SUCK CONTINUE!

The Name's Ashlyn

FINALLY!

Chapter 11

"It's okay, Gregory. I'm a big girl; I can take care of my self. I have for the past eight years." I added, trying to fight the sadness from my voice.

"I know. Just, don't get hurt." He said and tilted my chin up so he could lock his gaze onto mine.

"I can't make that promise." I said softly.

He sighed quietly, and placed his warm lips over mine for a split second before whispering in that chillingly deep baritone voice of his, "Then I'll just have to protect you myself, won't I?"

He put his mouth over mine again, and very gently bit my bottom lip, requesting entrance.

Naturally, I complied.

We started a tongue war, battling for dominance, and without any resistance (I was too pre-occupied with keeping my frantic brain cells in check) he was, of course, winning.

I pulled away slightly, breaking the kiss.

"Nope. My turn." I murmured, our breath mingling.

We met once again, and I slipped my tongue into his heated mouth.

He tastes like hickory smoke.

I could get used to kissing him.

I explored him, memorizing every detail.

Did you know he has two caps and a filling on his teeth? I also noticed he had scars on the inside of his lips, from braces long removed.

"Mmmfh" I let out.

"What?" He said, reluctantly breaking the kiss.

"You had braces?" I said, my face mere centimeters from his.

"Yeah. They were put on when I was eight. Seems like a lifetime ago." He said, pulling me closer, onto his lap.

"Mmm? I would have never guessed." I said arching an eyebrow.

"Good. I like to have people think that my teeth are naturally straight, white and shiny." He said, and before I could comment any further, he claimed my lips once more.

Unfortunately, we were interrupted.

"Ashlyn?" A voice weakly said, cracking on the syllables.

Oh crap.

I quickly got off Gregory's lap and stood up.

"Blaze, it- it isn't…-" I blurted out.

"Oh really, Ashlyn. Isn't what? A relationship? Is it just a 'friendship with benefits?' Is that what you think of us? What you think of A- tent? You think you can just go around sleeping with everyone? You SLUT!"

"N-no, Blaze, let me explain-"

"No need, I've seen enough." He said and stormed out of the tent.

I stood there, mouth open, trying to figure out how to react.

"Do you want me to go talk to him?" Gregory said, still sitting on the bed, his eyebrows furrowed so intensely, it looked like they were glued together.

"No," I said motioning him to stay," Let me talk to him. I need to fix this before he tells the guys. Or any of the counselors."

Oh, Jeez. My face blanched at the thought.

"Do what you got to do," he said.

I kissed him on the forehead and raced out of the tent.

Blaze was walking out of camp, towards the blankness of the desert.

I cursed under my breath and started running towards him.

"Blaze! Goddammit! BLAZE!" I screamed at him.

He glanced over his shoulder and quickened his pace.

"Blaze! Come on! Talk to me!" I yelled at his retreating figure.

He started running.

I easily caught up with him and tackled him to the ground.

"What do you want from me, Ashlyn?" He gasped.

"I want to talk to you about what happened back there."

"It's not going to make a difference, I know what I saw."

"No, Blaze, just let me talk to you."

He sat up, crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at me.

"Fine." He spat.

I let out a breath and sat in front of him.

"How long?" He asked, not making eye contact.

"Since yesterday. We just, kind of, clicked. I guess."

He snorted. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Okay, we are two horny teenagers who need to express our sexual needs through each other before we rot from the inside out. Happy?"

He looked at me, and picked up a pebble.

"Why didn't you tell us?" He said, playing with the pebble.

"I didn't want you guys to be mad at me. You guys are the only true friends I've had since I dropped my old ones."

"Why'd you drop your old ones?"

"I was going through a difficult time, I dropped them for a gang called the Death squad, I only hung out with them so I would look cool."

"Oh. That was kind of stupid."

I laughed. "Yeah, it was. Look, Blaze, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I just didn't want to lose your friendship."

"You lied to us."

I sighed." I know, and I am so, so sorry for that. Just please, forgive me, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I couldn't talk to you or the rest of A-tent."

"You'd still be able to talk to your 'boyfriend,'" He said, a hint of resentment laced through his words.

The realization hit me like a bullet.

"Are you? Jealous?" I said, squinting at him.

His head snapped up and he quickly shook his head.

"N-no, I'm not-"

"Yes you are! Do you like me like that? As in, like, like?"

He pulled his knees up to his chest and hid his face in them.

"Maybe." He quietly said sounding muffled.

"Oh, Blaze, if I had known, I- I would have never-"

"Its okay, I've been rejected before, it's not a big deal for me."

"Blaze, you're not making it any easier for me."

He lifted his had from his knees.

"Really, Ashlyn, I'll be fine. It's just a crush."

"No, it's not okay, I hurt you. And I regret that. A lot. I-"

His arms wrapping around my shoulders and pulling me into a tight embrace suddenly cut me off.

"Will you just shut up for a moment? I'm fine. I forgive you. The only thing we have to worry about now is breaking the news to the guys." He pulled away, a grin on his face.

"Shoot! You're right!"

"Yeah, the expressions on their faces are going to be priceless! I know I didn't have a clue until I walked into your little make out session." He teased.

"Shut up!" I exclaimed, punching him in the arm.

"Ow!" He laughed, rubbing his bicep. His face turned serious.

"Ashlyn, I'm sorry about what I called you back there, it was out of line." He said his hazel eyes half-lidded with guilt.

I smiled, and gave him an understanding peck on the cheek, thoroughly enjoying the sight of the blood rushing to his cheeks.

Holy, moley, why are blushing boys so DAMN cute?!

"Also... can you, like, not get mad at Inferno? It was me who kind of came onto him, not the other way around." I said, biting my lip.

"Sure. Besides, I should have seen this whole thing coming, with the way you were grinding into Inferno while you were 'teaching him how to play darts'." He said, a wicked grin crossing his mischievous face.

"Uh! I was NOT grinding into him! I was just...-"

"Just what?"

Jerk.

"Just never mind, you butt! Come on," I said," It's getting close to dinnertime."

You butt. That was seriously the best insult/tease I could think of.

He laughed and stood up, offering a hand to me.

I accepted and he pulled me up.

"I have to go the tent and handle some thing, you go ahead to the mess hall, I'll meet you there." I said, jerking my head towards the tent.

He nodded and took off to the large, rectangular building that served for the mess hall.

I smiled, happy that I don't have another member of the 'I hate Ashlyn Egan' club to deal with.

Humming softly to myself, I started towards A- tent.

"Gregory?" I called out softly once I reached the tent," Are you here?"

"Wha? Oh yea, I'm here." He said, his voice coming from beneath his cot.

"What are you doing?" I laughed.

"I dropped something." He said, just a little too quickly. Like he was trying to hide something. Lucky for him, I'm not the overly suspicious type of girlfriend who burrows herself in every facet of her boyfriend's life, leaving no room for private matters.

Yeah, deciding not to push it was one of the best decisions I made during my little diddly at Camp Green Lake.

Time to let it go.

I mentally shrugged and walked over to him, where he was keeling.

"So, did you fix things up with Blaze?" He asked, getting up from the floor.

"Yup. He and I decided we should tell the guys so the won't get the shock of their lives like he did." I said, licking my thumb and trying to rub away a bit of dirt from Gregory's cheek.

"Okay, well, how are we gonna do that?" He said, grabbing the offending hand. (Mine. Apparently he doesn't like being rubbed at.)

"Well… we could, like, walk up and be all holding hands, and like acting like retarded love struck morons." I grinned.

"Uh, okay. Just without the retarded moron part." He said, flashing me a smile.

I grinned even wider.

Without warning, he gave me a massive bear hug that knocked the air out of me.

"Erm… Greg…ory… need… air… lungs…suffocating…" I gasped, my words muffled by his jumpsuit.

What is it with the boys at Camp Green Lake and spontaneously throwing themselves on me?

"Oh, oops." He said, quickly letting me go.

Oh blessed air, how I worship you.

As I caught my breath, the dinner bell went off.

"Mmm, dinnertime." Gregory said, and grabbed my hand.

"Yeah, if only it weren't so vile." I said, making a face.

He laughed and kissed the tip of my nose.

Then we walked out of the tent together.

How. Romantic.