Questions, Answers and Strange Stares

"Where have you been?" snapped Sophie when Rhydian finally returned. "We've got a schedule and we had better stick to it if we are going to make it back."

"Whatever," mumbled Rhydian, his eyes drawn towards Maddy but every fibre of him begged to look away. It felt worse than when he had first returned, when he'd found out she'd changed. That had been the most heart-breaking experience.

Now someone was burning the remaining pieces and crushing them beneath their boot.

"Anyway," Sophie continued but Rhydian couldn't have concentrated even if he had wanted to. What had Maddy meant? That's just how it has to be. Why? Why must it be that way?

And what had changed? Before the weekend, Rhydian and Maddy had been almost as close as they were before he left. He'd thought... Evidentially he was wrong.

Purposefully, Sophie had trudged off down the path. Without a glance backwards, Maddy linked her arm through Dean's and followed the team leader. Rhydian hurried to keep up.

Rhydian sighed. Why had he agreed to this trek?

"And we have a second place!"announced Jefferies excitedly as Sophie's team trudged miserably into the camp. "Well done everyone. A very good time, I must say. Now we have some sausages on the stove ready for you so, help yourselves."

While Sophie began a long conversation with their teacher about he highs and lows of the hike, the other three teenagers plodded past, dragging their worn, dejected feet along the ground.

Shuddering from cold, Maddy hugged her arms around her torso and pulled her blanket up over her shoulder. Her hood was already covering her head, hiding her beautiful hair and snuggling up against the back of her neck.

How she wished that she could join the rest of her friends by the fire. Every time one of them or Jefferies had asked if she wanted them to make space, she declined, faining a headache. Already Maddy could feel her blood beginning to boil as the fire flickered and grew as they added fuel.

On the other side of the fire, close to the tents, Rhydian sat with Shannon and Tom, chewing half-heartedly on a burger. Maddy remembered the glassy, betrayed haze in his eyes after their conversation in the woods.

It still hadn't fully left his eyes.

Maddy couldn't look at him. She closed her eyes.

Dean scooted behind the circle of tents, hiding whenever the teachers or one of his classmates glanced in his direction. Jefferies was in the middle of putting everyone t bed and if Dean were to avoid one if his long, tedious lectures about 'getting enough sleep' or 'why sleep makes your homework better' or whatever it was today, he would have to escape sooner rather than later.

Everyone believed that the both of them were only in the relationship for either the popularity boost or the physically side of it. They didn't seem to realise that the majority of the physical side was only in the rumours.

Despite what everyone said, Dean did care about Maddy. He really liked her.! ever since he had first seen her street dance on stage. Obviously he wouldn't go so far as to say he loved her but...he wanted her in his life.

Unavoidably, rumours had sprung up like vipers ever since Rhydian had returned, especially since the events of the dark room. But Dean trusted Maddy. He knew her well enough to know that she would never cheat on him.

Of course, as it would have anyone, the kiss in the dark room had upset him, infuriated even, yet when Maddy phoned, promising that it was a mistake and that it would never happen again, Dean had believed her. He trusted her.

Still though, he couldn't stop thinking about the strange looks Maddy and Rhydian were giving each other during the walk today. They weren't guilty or longing or loving. If anything, the only words he could think to describe them would be sad.

He would have been blind to have missed their little field trip together, even if Maddy thought he hadn't noticed.

It didn't matter, though. Dean wanted to be with Maddy. And if Rhydian was going to make him fight for her, so be it.

Watching him waltz confidently around the edge of the camp, Rhydian dropped the sleeping bag he had been unravelling and stalked Dean. He was heading away from the camp, towards the line of trees, looking back over his shoulder suspiciously as he did.

Rhydian hated the smug, cocky way Dean strode around like he owned the place, as though everyone should worship the ground he walked upon, the air he breathed.

Slowly, Rhydian followed a little way and guessing where Dean was going, doubled back a few steps and jogged around the outskirts of the camp, planning to beat him to the destination.

Ever since the hike, Rhydian hadn't been able to draw his mind from what Maddy said. What had suddenly changed between them? Why?

Rhydian had a few ideas.

He reached the area he guessed Dean was going to breakthrough the tree line and disappear into the forest beyond. Scouting along the trees to find the biggest and sturdiest, Rhydian chose a large pine tree with lots of strong branches placed in optimum positions. Steadily, he climbed it.

Only moments later, Dean strolled underneath seemingly without a care in the world. He walked past Rhydian's tree and, with a last look over his shoulder, turned into the forest.

Like a cat, Rhdian pounced. Now out of sight from the teachers, he fell out of the tree, landing on Dean's back. His knees hugged his opponent's chest and almost immediately, Rhydian's hand covered Dean's mouth to stop him crying out.

The boys hit the floor with a thump, Rhydian's landing only slightly cushioned by Dean. With his legs straddling him and his arm over his mouth, Rhydian leaned forward and whispered in Dean's ear. "I'm going to get up now, but if you even think about shouting, you'll regret it."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rhydian realised how much like a cheesy Robin Hood from the eighties he sounded.

It didn't matter anyway because Dean nodded frantically in reply.

Rolling onto the hard ground with a crunch of leaves, Rhydian wanted to lie flat on his back and retrieve his breath. However, he knew there was no time for that.

"What have you said to Maddy?" asked Rhydian fiercely, his forearm across Dean's chest pinning him to the trunk of a tree.

"Nothing! I haven't said anything," gasped Dean.

"Then why has she been acting so strangely?" Rhydian refused to relent, sure that Dean was responsible.

"I dont know." With a shove on Rhydian's shoulders, Dean pushed him away. "And you were acting just as weird. Why were the pair of you giving each other those looks today?"

Rhydian said nothing.

"Look, Maddy is the most fantastic girl I've-"

"I know,"interrupted Rhydian. "Maddy is-"

"Maddy is with me, alright? She won't tell me what happened between you two but to be honest, I couldn't care less. So long as it stays in the past, it's none of my business. I'm even going to ignore what happened in the dark room but only because Maddy wants me to."

Rhydian took a few steps back and turned away trying to control himself in case he changed.

"Listen, I'm telling you, man to man. Stay away from Maddy. She's with me and if you ever go near her again, I'll make you pay. Understand?"

Hello, I hope you liked that. If all goes to plan your won't have to wait long to find out what happens because I will update tomorrow.

However, I am wondering where to take the plot. Many people have asked me if I could now introduce Jana to make Maddy jealous. Originally, it wasn't part of the storyline but I have found a way to incorporate it but it may mean that I cannot update tomorrow. If you think I should, vote YES in the reviews or NO if not. I don't mind but I will count the votes after Wolfblood airs at tomorrow (once it has finished of course at 5:30)

Thank you for all your support,

Indigofrog :)