Chapter 11: Some secrets aren't what you expect
The next day Magnet spent pestering Ash. "Come on what's your secret?" He asked her during lunch. She took a bite of her apple, ignoring him. He shoved a cracker in her face. "Come on, tell me and I'll give you my cracker." She sighed as the other guys came over. Grabbing the cracker from magnet's hands she crumbled it up, throwing the handful of crumbs at him. "Magnet, dude, just leave her alone she don't wanna talk about it then let it be." Said Caveman, stuffing the last bite of a sandwich into his mouth. "I want to know! Don't you guys?" Magnet asked, some of them nodded, others with more respect for peoples' privacy shook their heads no. "Tell us Salsa! Come on what's so bad about it?" Said Armpit; he had already gulped down his whole lunch. "Leave her alone." Said Zero, for the first time he had said something to someone other then Cavemen. "Whoa…I made Zero talk! Woo!" Armpit danced around like making Zero talk was the best thing to ever happen to him. "Hey Salsa," called Squid. She looked up, just as he shoved a handful of crackers in her face. "Me and magnet came up with this many crackers, if you tell us what your secret is." Ash stood up from sitting by her hole, and threw her half-eaten apple at Magnets head. "Keep your fucking crackers." She said. Magnet dodged the incoming apple and it hit Armpit in the head. Armpit looked up, taking off his cap and scratching his head. "Whoa…it's raining apples." Ash jumped down into her hole, picking up her shovel and digging again. Magnet looked down the hole. "Come on Salsa! Tell me and I'll stop bugging you!" Ash had stopped digging; she now leaned against the side of the hole a hand over her eyes. The others came looking down the holes as well. Zigzag blinked as Squid nudged him, whispering something to him. "I think Magnets gone a bit too far." Zigzag nodded. "So…are you gonna tell me?" asked Magnet staring down at Ash. She looked up, tears streaming down her face. "I killed my step-dad okay? He was drunk and he came after me with a knife, I picked up his gun for protection and I ended up shooting him." Ash collapsed to the ground, sobbing. Caveman, Zigzag, Zero, and Squid jumped down into her hole crowding around her. "She…killed someone?" said Magnet in shock. "I kept it a secret because I knew it would cause problems with you guys. I knew you would never like me if I told you." She said tears still streaming down her face. She hugged her legs to her chest and put her head on her knees, crying more. "We still like you, Salsa! Everything's okay, calm down." Cavemen pat her on the back. "Where did you get the gun from?" Magnet asked, Zero looked up glaring at Magnet to shut up. Zigzag jumped out of the hole silently, he hadn't said a thing or ate a thing either. He was still angry about the kiss, but now he knew it was all fake. Now he was mad that Magnet just wouldn't shut up and leave Ash alone. "Look man, leave her alone you've upset her enough as it is." Zigzag finally spoke. Magnet looked at him like yeah right who do you think your talking to. Zigzag clenched his fists and teeth, "What the fucking hell is your problem lately? First you kiss her; then you start bugging her about why she's even here. Just leave her alone!" Squid jumped up out of Ash's hole with Zero and Caveman. "Hey, why does he get to swear in front of the girl." Zero shoved Squid, "Man shut up." Magnet was taken back suddenly anger filled his body, "You saw me kiss her? What are you her personal bodyguard now? I-" before Magnet could finish Zigzag's fist hit him straight in the face. Magnet was thrown off balance, completely shocked at Zigzag's rash action. Magnet's expression grew fierce and determined. He lunged at Zigzag and his fist landed squarely on his sternum. Zigzag was forced back a few steps from the force of the punch but quickly regained his balance and was ready to charge back.
Shouts from all of D-tent were heard, but it was impossible to make out what was being said. Caveman seized Zigzag by the arm and tried to hold him back while Zero leapt into the fray and somehow wrestled Magnet to the ground. They struggled against each other's grips, kicking dirt everywhere. Zigzag fought against Caveman's grasp on his arm but he refused to let go, for everyone's sake.
In the midst of the fight no one noticed Mr. Sir communicating with someone through his walkie-talkie. A few moments later, an elegant yet rustic white car rolled up to the D-tent digging site and stopped a few feet away. Magnet and Zero relaxed, stood up and brushed themselves off. Zigzag's tension lessened but Renee could still feel his anger and rapid, heavy breathing.
"Oh no," Caveman said quietly. "It's the Warden." Everyone silently groaned. The Warden stepped out of her car, setting a black cowboy hat over her curly red hair. She was tall and thin, yet firm and commanding all in one presence. The Warden stepped up next to Mr. Sir, a most displeased expression on her face.
"Magnet, and Zigzag. I need to talk to you two right now," she said sternly.
Watch the Gay Pen Dance to the key
The warden led the two to Mr.Sir's cabin, the old wood floorboards creaking as the Warden paced the floor yelling sternly at Zigzag and Magnet. "Why were you fighting?" she shot at them, her voice was harsh and cold piercing the air like a knife, she acted like she had no heart. Magnet choked out an answer, heart racing as he prayed silently in his head. "Zigzag got mad at me, everyone's been kind of cranky lately. Having a girl around has been freaky too." The warden shot him a menacing glance. "Then maybe I should move the girl to a different tent." Zigzag felt his heart drop again. "No I don't think you have to do that ma'am. We will get used to her in time. I promise there will be no more fighting." Zigzag looked at Magnet, who was sweating up a storm, and nodding like a bobble head doll gone crazy. "Fine, she will stay in D-tent, but if anything, I repeat anything, happens involving fighting over her like it did this time, she's going to a different tent." She warned, glaring at them both and sent them on their way back to camp.
They walked extremely slowly, talking the whole way. "So I guess you saw me kiss Salsa last night…" said Magnet, watching his feet, kicking up dirt as he walked. "Yeah I did. I'm sorry for hitting you it was stupid to get mad over that." Said Zigzag absently; he kept his gaze on the digging site in the distance. "We shouldn't let a girl get in the way of our friendship. It was stupid to fight over her, and it was stupid for me to kiss her." Conceded Magnet. Zigzag nodded, but he was thinking about Ash, did she really like magnet? Was it even worth trying to impress her if she did? Thoughts and questions ran through Zigzag's head, confusing him on the matter more. "So everything's cool between us now right?" asked Magnet unsure of where they stood with their friendship. Zigzag looked over at his best friend and smiled. "Yeah, we're cool man."
Authors note: Hola everyone. I hope y'all like this chapter. I'm working hard today since I stayed home from school hehe . Once I get all the chapters I already have saved up on here, I'll work on writing a bit more.