I mean, this chapter isn't long, but it isn't short either. I thought you'd prefer a smaller one out sooner than a bigger one later. I could be wrong.

These next few chapters are all about Riley's friendships and her becoming badass. (Or, slightly unhinged, depending on how you look at it.)

Thanks so much to tinseltown and apaperheart. You can all thank them for me posting so soon. Or, you can be proactive in your life and review too.

June had been inside the dropship for the whole ordeal, and came running over to me when she noticed Murphy and I on the ground. Murphy glared at her, lifting himself up with ease and storming off to the tent where Bellamy and Co. were located. Most likely to harass them, which was rightfully earned.

June practically had to lift me up off the ground by herself, and led me back into the dropship. Everyone avoided eye contact with me, but at the same time I could feel their eyes still lingering on me. By the time we reached the dropship, I could hear Murphy yelling for them to bring Charlotte out. Hearing the anger in his voice, I couldn't help but let out a muffled sob.

Murphy was pissed, and it didn't take a genius to know that he was going to do something stupid. What's worse, I didn't even blame him. I guess he wasn't the only one who was pissed. I could feel their hands on me still, pushing me around from one to the other, and hear Murphy's cries.

"I'm so sorry, Riley." June whispered, as she sat me down on a hammock someone had made. "Let me get water to clean that out." She added, and I hadn't noticed until that point that my neck had been bleeding. It wasn't the smallest cut, and it most likely had happened when I had pushed myself away from Connor. Regardless iit had left a huge trail of blood down my neck, and onto my shirt.

Time seemed to be functioning out of accord. One moment, June was near me, whispering apologizes, and the next moment she's cleaning up my throat. After blinking again, she suddenly appeared to be in the middle of the dropship, scolding Octavia. I didn't want to be in the dropship any longer, under their apologetic stares. Instead, I slipped out and quietly made my way to Murphy's tent. I couldn't hear chanting anymore, but I didn't look up to see what was happening. I didn't want to know.

Relief washed over me when I entered his tent. There was something soothing to me about being around his stuff. I laid in his bed, curling myself up in his sleeping bags, and finally letting myself cry. I cried for a long time before his scent being around me seemed to calm me down, and I fell asleep imagining him holding me, telling me how his day at school had gone. Just like how he did when we were kids, and I didn't want to go home to an angry father.

I was shaken awake, and when opened my eyes I had expected to see Murphy. Instead, I was greeted by darkness and the faint outline of curly hair. It was Reed. Behind her, I could faintly make out Sterling's outline. Reed turned on the light next to me, which was a shity lantern with J.M. carved on the bottom. It didn't add much light, but it was better than nothing I suppose.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice cracking from dehydration after crying.

"I don't know how to tell you this." Reed said, her voice quivering, and behind her Sterling shifted slightly.

"Tell me what?" I asked, finally making out their faces better in the semi-darkness. Reed was near crying herself, and Sterling looked like he was in the most awkward situation of his life.

"They banished Murphy." Reed finally spat out, as her hand found mine underneath the sleeping bags.

I didn't even know how to respond. Banished Murphy? Okay, I knew he was kind of an asshole sometimes. I mean, pretty much all the time. And he did pee on Connor. But, he was then nearly hanged. Also, his ex-best friend whom he likes to mark with his own lips was being felt up a bit before her own near death. (I'm talking about myself, incase you didn't catch on.)

I wanted to punch Bellamy in the face. Hard. And when I finally decided to do just that, Reed moved out of the way silently. Sterling, on the other hand, grabbed my upper arm. Honestly, bad move on his part because I had already wanted to punch someone, and after this morning, I did not want anyone touching me.

"Let go of me Sterling. I'm five seconds away from losing my mind." I hissed, trying to keep my breathing even as I tried to yank my arm out of his grasp.

"Just take a moment to think before you do anything rash." He said, his grip slowing loosening on my arm. I hesitated, contemplating what he said. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and considered my options.

Before I could do a mental list of my options however, someone came inside the tent. My eyes shot open, and I could feel my blood pressure rise at the sight of Bellamy. Just seeing Bellamy's face cause a replay of this mornings events in my mind.

"Are you going to banish me too, Chancellor?" I spat out, my hands forming into fists at my sides.

Bellamy frowned, and looked down for a moment. "No. I'm here to tell you that I'm going to make sure nothing bad happens to you." His eyes held mine, as if he was making a promise to me with them. I wanted to punch his eyes out.

"You mean like you did this morning?" Reed scoffed, jumping to my side. "You can't just hang someone and then banish them when they expect the same thing to happen to the real perpetrator." She grabbed my hand, forcing me to loosen it out of the fist I was making. "She doesn't need your protection." Reed stated flatly, a look of determination spreading over her face as she held my hand tighter.

"She has us." Monty's voice added, and I looked around the tent surprised. Slowly, near the collapsable chair, a tiny piece of tent moved. Monty's head popped into the tent as he slowly started crawling inside. Bellamy gave an extremely annoyed look as he rolled his eyes at Monty. Reed on the other hand cheered, and Sterling had to stifle his laughter.

By the time Monty made it to his feet, Bellamy had stormed out. Sterling gave us all a quick nod before he left, his eyes lingering a little longer than I would have liked on Reed. Reed seemed to not notice however, and instead sat down on the bed. I tried to hold my distaste for the situation in. Not to be selfish or anything, but I didn't want her touching Murphy's stuff.

"Does that mean we get his tent now?" Reed asked as she grabbed one of the sleeping bags and began inspecting it. She raised her brow at me as she lifted a corner of the bag up. Clear as day was J.M. written with some shoddy marker on the sleeping bag.

I know I probably shouldn't smile about the fact that he even felt the need to mark the sleeping bags, but I did. I then shrugged and sat down next to her. Monty sat down in the folding chair and we all held each other's gazes before laughing.

"Well, I'm not giving up this tent. This is all his shit." I remarked, looking around at the tent.

"That he stole from someone else." Monty added.

"Yeah well it has his initials on it now so it's his." Once again today I felt like I was grasping for straws while trying to defend Murphy.

"Do I even want to know what you two's relationship was?" Monty asked, giving me a skeptical glance.

I glared at him for a minute before I forced myself to look away. Breathing became hard again, and after several minutes I spoke up. "He was my childhood best friend."

"Jasper was my childhood best friend." Monty stated dryly. "And I don't go around kissing him."

I couldn't help but snort, and looked at Monty again before saying, "Then you are obviously doing it wrong." Monty glared for a moment before rolling his eyes.

"Did you sleep all day?" Reed asked, as if it suddenly clicked in her mind that she had just woken me up.

I rolled my eyes and Monty smiled sympathetically at me before his eyes made their way to Reed. Finally I admitted,"You try nearly dying, then tell me if the stress of it all isn't exhausting."

"You cried yourself to sleep, didn't you?" Monty asked, his eyes drifting back to me. I had to look away from both of them as I nodded, embarrassed.

I could've been there for him, maybe convinced him not to get himself banished. But instead, I did what I always had done. I sat around and let himself get in trouble. Just like I had when he ended up getting locked up.

"If it was me, I would've too. Emotions are so exhausting." Reed remarked, and yawned before resting her head on my shoulder. "I'm so excited for this bed. I don't care if we have to spoon it up bro style Rhy, I want a piece of this." Reed continued, grabbing one of the sleeping bags and bringing it up over her shoulders.

This morning, I had felt so completely alone. But I guess, all it takes is a near-death experience to make your friends remember you exist. I know Reed, although hiding it with her obsession over a new bed, deeply regretted going out for plants today. And I had a feeling she wouldn't be leaving me alone for a while. And with Murphy being banished, I wanted her around me as much as possible.