Chapter Thirteen: Why I Care...

Trudging alongside X, the "lunch ladies" slosh food onto your tray. Cramps began pulsating with each step, as you sit beside Zero and begin to eat.

"Are you okay?" He asks in disbelief.

"What?"

"You're eating dinner without a single complaint… are you sick?" Caveman answers, reaching over the table to feel your temperature.

"I'm okay… just don't have the energy to fight back." You shovel a spoonful of God only knows what into your mouth. You continue to eat in silence, completely unaware of the pair of eyes watching you from across the room. Being the first to finish, you got up to return your food tray. "I'll meet you all back at the tent…" You leave the tray in the 'dirty' pile as another cramp waved over you. Bracing yourself, you place your hands on the table in front of you.

"Not feeling well?" You let out an irritated sigh, only one person could seriously piss you off. "I can help you feel better…" You turn towards Lump to see him casually leaning against the table beside you. You give him a sexy smirk and run a finger along his thigh.

"I was hoping you'd say that…" Standing between his legs, you brush your chest against his. "Meet me at the holes tomorrow night." You whisper in his ear.

Swaying your hips, you walk back to the tent; the whole room in complete shock at what just happened. Collapsing face first into your pillow, you let out a growl. Not two seconds later, your tent mates came barging in after you.

"Okay… now I know your sick." Caveman spoke sitting next to you.

"What the hell was that?" Magnet demanded.

"What?" You say into your pillow.

"What was with you and Lump back there?" Ricky spoke.

"Since when did you show him mercy??" Armpit spoke in astonishment. You slowly sit up and let out an evil chuckle.

"Oh, I'm not showing him mercy…"

"Please tell me your not planning something against him." X questioned.

"You know I am."

"Nikki, no. You don't know what he's capable of. He's dangerous…" X warned.

"I can handle it X…"

"You're not listening to me!!" He screamed. "He's gonna get what he wants from you… Stop being so reckless. It's not funny anymore. Daddy's not here to save you…" He spat. He barely had time to blink, as you leaped off the cot and stood before him.

"You listen to me…" You prodded his chest hard with your finger and spoke in a menacing low voice. "He is not going to continue bullying anyone in this camp. I am not gonna let another man think he take something from me." Hot tears burned your eyes, threatening to fall. "I am not gonna let them win…" You stormed through the tent flaps and headed towards your hole.

"You shouldn't have said that…" ZigZag spoke softly.

"I'm only trying to help her! She needs to step off her fucking pedestal. I don't even know why I care…" He was taken aback by Squid's fist colliding with his face.

"You fuck!" X sat stunned on the floor. "Her father murdered her mother right in front of her eyes. He threatened to kill everyone she loved because that's the kind of creep he is. You're an asshole…" With that said he sped out the tent.

"How was I supposed I know? She never said anything…" The guilt he felt dripped from his words.

"Would you?" The words Zero spoke were a kick in the teeth… nothing less. He finally rose from the floor and sat on his cot. He stared blankly into space as the rest of the tent went to bed.

"Nikki?" Squid whispered. "Nikki?" He ventured over to the holes, continuing his search. "Nikki?" He saw the shine of Mr. Sir's flashlight up ahead as he was pulled into a hole. He landed with a thud as a pair of hands dragged him to a wall. He was about to protest when a soft hand covered his mouth. The light above passed on, but the hand never left his mouth. He did the only thing he could think of.

"Ugh!" She yanked her hand away and wiped vigorously on her orange suit. "Did you have to lick me??"

"Did you have to pull me into a 5 foot hole??" Rubbing the back of his head angrily, she shrugged.

"Touche…" Her face fell as he spoke.

"Are you alright?" he asked, completely forgetting his pain.

"Yea..." the moonlight above illuminated her glossy eyes, the tear streaks clearly visible along her face. Wiping her tears away with his thumbs, he pulled her into his chest.

"I'm sorry X is such a dick. He shouldn't have said that..."

"He doesn't know..."

"You don't have to worry about him though... One good jab to the face fixed him right up." He felt her chuckle against his chest as he continued. "I never told you why they sent me here, did I?" She slowly snaked her arms around his torso, falling against him completely. "I left my mother's torture chamber of a house and went out into the world. As fate would have it, I found my father. I was filling my car up at a gas station when he came out of the store. He looked exactly how I remembered... He went towards his car, I walked up behind him to re-introduce myself and demand why he left our family when suddenly, I had my answer. There, directly in front of me, stood my father... with his new family. I just lost it... I went into this rage. So, I followed them home and waited. Just waited... waited for the

opportune moment to justify all the wrong he put me through. I sat parked outside their home with my 12 pack of beer, getting angrier by the second. When they all fell asleep, I throw a bottle of beer through their window and lit a match. They barely made it out with the hair on their heads as it burned to the ground. Let alone making it out alive."

"I'm sorry Alan..."

"Alan?" he chuckled.

"Yea... that sounded gross. I was trying to keep the mood serious..."

"Well... thanks. It means the world to know you care so much Nicole." He pretended to get choked up, all the while struggling to keep a straight face.

"Shut up!" She smiled, playfully swatting his arm. "No, but seriously... thanks Squid. I really appreciate it."

"It's like you said, 'what else is family for?'" Giving her one last reassuring squeeze, he spoke in a huff. "Now what do you say we climb up out of this hole?"

"Please..." Rising to their feet, she placed a foot in his hands. Finding her footing on the ground above, Squid was just making it up when she noticed the gleam of Mr. Sir's flashlight. "Shit!" She mumbled under her breath. Turning sharply, she tackled him back into the hole. Smashing to the ground in a tangled mess, they laid perfectly still until Mr. Sir passed yet again. "I think he's gone for the night." She chuckled lightly. "Sorry about landing on you..." She went to push off of his chest as his hand held her in place. Looking into her eyes, he kissed her soundly on the lips. Shocked, she stared at his face. She stood there for what felt like hours, just letting him kiss her. Getting over her shock, her lips nipped tenderly at his. This seemed to snap Squid out of his lust-induced trance. He pulled back suddenly, pushing her off him. He looked at her guilty features as she hung her head.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. You're like my sister, for Christ's sake!" Pausing, he took a deep breath. "That wasn't fair to you... or Zig-Zag." You quickly snap your head up to see him smiling at you. "He's a little crazy...but, he's lucky to have you, Sis." She found herself smiling widely at his approval and launched yourself into his arms.

"Thanks Squid..." They sat, wrapped in each other's embrace, just enjoying one another's company.

"Well, as much as I like being physically abused by you, we really need to get out of this damn hole." She chuckled at his words, both rising, once again, to their feet.

Assuming the position to hoist her out, he spoke, "After you..."

XoXoXoXo

Ah, my loyal readers...

I'm baaaaaack!

Sorry for the longest delay.

I've just been extremely busy.

Updating should go more smoothly...

Hope you enjoyed it!

-poisonedspork