~Part 2~ the Fountainhead

"You'll all stay here the next few weeks in this encampment. I want 2 people each in one tent. You can pair up yourself, and if you don't know anyone just stand here and we'll arrange something." Mr. Smith explained.

Jess looked around and found that most of the boys were all paired up.

Next to him stood a 'dorky' boy who was looking at him. "What?" Jess said, not expecting to stay with him for this whole 4 weeks.

"D.d...D...Do you wanna be my mate?" The guy stuttered. Jess looked around trying to find someone else to share his tent with, but he didn't saw anyone anymore.

"It seems to be we're gonna be tent mates." The boy now said a bit more convincing.

"Huh." Jess said as he sat on his bag, looking around as he saw Rory with Lane who sat behind them in the bus.

Lane looked at him, and then said something to Rory; Rory looked at Jess but then noticed him staring at her so she quickly looked away. Jess couldn't help but smiled.

"What's your name?" The boy asked Jess as he tried to have a conversation.

"I'm sorry, but do you know that girl Rory?" Jess ignored the boy and went right trough him as he pointed to her. He was really interested in her; there was something in her that attracted him.

"Who? You mean Rory? Oh, no don't even try it, she's way off limits." The boy said.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you haven't met her mother. Rory attracts many guys but her mother is always really concerned about her. And Rory has a boyfriend too." The boy explained.

Jess nodded his head, he met her mother already, he knew how she was. But he didn't like that she already had a boyfriend, so he decided to ask about him.

"Where is her boyfriend?" Jess asked not taking his eyes off of Rory.

"He couldn't come along for some reason." Michael explained

"Really?" A smile came upon Jess's face as many thoughts went trough his mind.

Rory looked so innocent when she laughed and yet there was something about her that made your blood run faster trough your veins. He pushed the thoughts of the girl out of his mind and focused himself on the boy who was going to be his tent mate for the rest of the month.

"Your name is?" Jess asked him, but was only asking it because he wanted to be a little bit polite.

"Michael and yours?" He held out his hand, waiting for Jess to shake it. But Jess walked just past him.

"Jess" He said uninterested.

"Well, Hi Jess, I just know we are gonna be best friends." He said happy as he followed him.

'This is gonna be a long month' Jess thought, but then his eyes caught again the sight of Rory. 'Or maybe not...'

"Is this a good spot?" Michael asked Jess for the hundredth time, but Jess just simply shook his head. Michael wanted a spot far from the others, but Jess wasn't interested in it, he wanted to stand next to Rory.

"See that spot?" Jess pointed. "That's where I want to stand."

"Are you sure? Because I'm not, I don't know if they will like us standing there."

"Who are THEY?" Jess asked curious.

"Just them..."Michael said pointing with his head to all the people.

"So, if I'm getting this right...you are AFRAID of them?" Jess asked raising one eyebrow.

Michael nodded his head in shame. Jess grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the others.

"This is were we are gonna stay, if they like it or not." He said simply, opening the bag were the tent was in. Michael smiled and helped him unpacking.

20 minutes later the tent was standing strong, and Jess was unpacking his stuff. "Ugh, it's just not working; I don't know how to do this Lane." He heard Rory complaining outside.

He pulled his head out of the tent and looked at them, which was simple because they were standing next to them. When Rory noticed him looking and laughing she got angry.

"What do you have? Mind your own business." She shot angry.

"I am!" Jess said sarcastically. "So, can I help you?" He said a few seconds later when he realized that he was kinda cruel to her.

She looked up to him, surprised that he actually wanted to help her. She smiled and nodded her head. "That would be great."

Jess could be done in 10 minutes, but meanwhile he was talking with Rory about 'The Fountainhead' so it took a little longer. Rory thought it was a great book, but Jess disagreed with her, he couldn't really have an opinion about it, but he tried anyway.

"How can you talk about a book, when you haven't even read it?" Rory asked him laughing.

"Well, I've read a little bit. But I got bored, so I brought it back." He answered.

Rory grabbed her bag and opened it; soon she found what she was looking for and handed it over to Jess. "Here, read it, I'm sure you'll like it." She said.

"No, I really don't like it." Jess stated and pushed the book back into Rory's hands and went on with the tent.

"It's done." He said a few minutes later as he put the last stick in his place.

Rory sat on the grass reading the fountainhead and walked up to him. "Thank you very much. Now are you sure you don't wanna read it?"

Jess looked at her; he really didn't wanna read it. But if reading it meant that he would have to give the book back to her and talk to her again he was gladly to take it. He smiled and took the book, and then he walked back to his tent to put the book in his bag. He would later give the book back without even reading it, but she didn't have to know that.