Thought I give you our bad guy. The giant italic paragraph is a flashback just in case you get puzzled. And I would like some help. My English teacher is discouraging me from using the word GOT or GET and GOTTEN or GETTING. So if someone could count all of them for me, I would love you. I'm metally tired right now due to aall the work my teachers are hounding me with. I'm not enjoying it. And if you could also count TENTS because I felt like I was typing it over and over again.

We arrived at the camp just as the sun began to set. A group of boys stood in the middle of the camp. The tents had been set up by a few chaperons that arrived the day before so now it was up to me to assign people to where they would be staying. I pushed a few boxes together and stood on top of them.

"Hello," I called out. The boys stopped talking and turned towards me. "As you all know, I am your teacher and you will address me by Mr. Jones while we are here. My father, who you may also have as a teacher, will be addressed as Dr. Jones. This is Mr. Seper," I said pointing to Collin, "And his son Allen. This here," I pointed to Henri, "Is my son, Henry who is also joining us. You will treat these people with respect and call them by the names I have told you. Are we clear?"

A chorus of 'Yes' and 'Yeah' and 'Sure' flew back at me.

"So now that we know everyone, let's find out where you will be staying." I pulled out my clipboard and called out the names of people. Including Henri's who was staying with Allen. Thankfully Allen wasn't assigned to be with anyone so I acted as though it was that way all along.

"So let's get ya go…" BANG

I jumped down from the box and hit the ground like everyone else. 'Someone was shooting at us.'

BANG BANG

Two more gunshots rang out until we heard a voice.

"Get up you freaks," The voice was demanding. "I ain't gonna hurt ya."

We all stood up to see three men standing in the middle of everyone. I watched as Allen lent out his hand to Henri and pulled her up. He muttered comforting words to her to make sure she was OK.

"Hey, teach," the man in the middle called out to me. "I'm standing ove' here."

"I know where you are." I tried to keep my tone in check. I didn't need my attitude to get one of my students killed.

"We're going to need ya to pack on up and get outta here."

"Why? This site isn't closed for anyone else." I had checked myself.

"We are looking for things here ourselves without permission." The man's face was so distinct. I know I had seen it somewhere before.

"That's against the law," I moved closer to him. I couldn't back down.

"Who's gonna stop me, Muttly?"He took a step forward and got closer in my face. It suddenly hit me.

"So is Mutt your real name?" Victor asked. It was just him and me hanging out. Collin had other things to do.

"Na, my real name's Henry. Don't like it and never will. So I changed it, well not legally," I replied.

"We had a dog once and my dad called it Muttly. I think it works for ya," he thought.

"I don't think it works for me," In truth I didn't like it.

"Well I'm gonna call ya it." We both laughed for back then, it was just a joke.

Back then it was just a joke, now it was used as an insult.

"Victor?" I had to be sure.

"The one and only; who'd ya think I was? Santa Clause?" The words were light but underneath he wanted something more.

"No. And we aren't leaving. These kids are here to learn." Someone had to stick up for them.

"I'll give ya three days to get outta here. And if you're not, it might get bloody." He tipped his hat and walked the other way but not before giving a glare to Collin. "Hard to believe we were friends," he spat. "Look at how you two are professors while I tryin' to get by." He turned his back and left with his two goons; the same ones that held me back on that night so long ago.

I made sure that their car was far off before begging to speak again. "Is everyone alright?" I called out.

Mutters of ok's came back.

"Ok then. Go to your tents and head to bed. We will discuss matters in the morning." They all trudged off to bed with many yawning. It felt like it had been a long day.

I scanned the area for Henri and my dad. I saw Henri walking towards her tent with Allen but not before saying good night to her grandfather. She didn't even look back at me. Another nail in the coffin.

I caught up with my dad. "We need to talk," I said.

"Agreed," He was firm and calm even after everything that has happen today. "Collin should be in his tent."

We walked without saying a word until we reached the tent. It was soon clear that we had different opinions on the matter.

"We need to take them home," my dad always had the first word in.

"We will be fine here," I contemplated. "They said it could become messy. Victor is not a man of his word, I should know."

"But Victor can and probably will become violent if we don't do something about it," Collin had his fair share of taunts from him. Once even got a black eye after he stood up for me; I still feel bad about it to this day.

"Another reason to leave in the morning," My dad suggested.

"Here's my idea," I spoke up. "Let's stay until they come back. The moment one of them talks to us, we leave. I don't want to deny these kids of what they came here for."

"It sounds reasonable and they would at least get something in. This is government property so if he probably won't do anything," Collin pointed out.

"Fine but I don't want anyone hurt," my dad gave in. "And if someone does, it's on both of your consciences." He pointed a finger at us.

"Well it's done as this day, I'm turning in." I yawned.

"Same here after I check on Allen," Collin agreed.

"I'm with ya," Dad fallowed me out of the tent.

"How are you so calm right now?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" My dad was confused.

"After everything that has happened, with Henri and Victor, you still manage to look so cool."

"Well that's the outside; the inside is much more complex."

"Elaborate." I commanded.

"When those guys started shooting, the first thought in my head was I have to make sure Henri and Mutt are safe. I was so scarred but after everything I have been through, I have learned to hide it underneath the skin."

"Oh, I understand now." I couldn't believe that.

"Get some rest. Tomorrow's gonna be hectic."

"Thanks, I'm going to check on Hen to make sure she is alright."

"K then. But be careful using she."

"I will." He walked into his tent and I walked over to Henri's.

"You know," I began hearing Henri's voice as I got closer to her tent. "No one understands me like this. Not even my grandparents. I just can't talk openly to them about all this."

"What about your dad?" It was Allen.

"That's really funny." Henri again. "Haven't you've been listening to our convocation?"

"Of course I have but let me get this straight, you don't love your dad but you don't hate him either?"

"Yeah that's it." I couldn't believe Henri was saying these things. "He has never said 'I love you' and I have never said it back. I don't think I ever will. There aren't too many people who love me. Just my grandparents, that's it."

"I'm sure that will change soon," Allen insisted.

"Hopefully," Henri replied. "I feel so close to you, closer than a friend."

"Same here and it's only been like 20 minutes." They both laughed at that and I left.

I loved Henri more than myself. I was sure I did. I was supposed to be getting closer to her but how come I was so far?

Warning: I'm a hopeless romantic. As in I would love to have a boyfriend but I'm still waiting for a guy who is not a jerk or an idiot. But that is not the point. The point is, the next chapter is going to be an almost lovey-dovey piece between Allen and Henri. So far they are just friends but I have evil plans. I am not laughing evily this time due to the hair ball I ended up with last time.