Who Says

Part 2

Chapter 8

...

Katie sat up in the middle of the night. Her skin felt as if it were on fire. Yet she felt the coolness in the air. What was the meaning of this? The tingling sensation she felt through her body. It wouldn't go away no matter how hard she held herself. Biting her lip, she still felt the arm around her stomach. Bianca's arm. The girl was making her pulse quicken with just one look and her body couldn't hide it anymore. Her body always portrayed her. No matter what…

She laid in hospital bead. Hearing the occasional beep from the heart monitor. It was like she was reborn. Her body was getting used to her senses again. Her eyes squinting at the bright light from her room. The smell in the air. The film of saliva she felt in her throat. Closing her eyes, she wanted to be unconscious a little bit longer. Looking at the stitches on her arm, she knew she would end up here. But deep down, she wished Winnie hadn't made it time. There was peace in heaven then on this earth. To many obstacles weighed her down.

She didn't know if she was happy to be alive or not. More like indifferent. And once again. Her mother wasn't here. She was never there for her. She was never there for her. Why was she the only one in pain? Why was it so simple for the woman to move on. Feeling the tears down her face, her breathing slowed as she clutched her heart. This pain was too much to handle. And no one could save her from it.

Grabbing the tissue on the stand, she tried to lower her moans as she reached. But the more she felt tears, the more her body couldn't take the pain back. It had to be released.

"Why doesn't she want me?" She kept saying.

"Why doesn't she want me?" the cracking of her own voice, she didn't seem to notice.

Winnie walked back inside, seeing the girl rock back and forth. That damn Gwen. She thought she became use to the fact that the woman would never show up, but it never got old. And the louder Katie's squeals got, the more helpless the grey woman became.

"It's ak baby." The woman held the girl tighter in her arms.

"What's wrong with me?" The girl clenched to her lifeline.

"Nothing is wrong with you….it's your mother."

"You should have let me die…"

"I couldn't let you do that. Then you would have left me alone too.." The woman felt the girl hug her closer.

"You're my real mother Winnie…" The red head breathed slowly.

"And I love you as one." The woman kissed her forehead.

Bianca woke up slowly seeing the girl stare off into space. She was in her trance again. Sitting up beside her, her arm never moved from her stomach.

"You want to go talk to Ellie?" Bianca ignored her feelings for now. This was about Katie.

"No…." Katie laid back down feeling herself shutter again. Her back turned towards this hardened girl who had so much honesty in her heart. A girl who was so protective of her friends. With a mouth to match.

"Why do you do that with me?" Bianca bluntly asked.

"Do what?"

"Open up to me…and then shut back down. You are the main person telling me to be a friend and then when I do, you make it so hard for me to be."

"What makes you say that?" Katie knew the answer to her own question.

"The fact you have your back turned to me." The rebel saw in the darkness.

"Fine." Katie turned to face the girl. "I am facing you. Now what?" The jock did her bed to hold onto the bed sheets.

"You know what…whatever….keep your fucking apology that you will tell me tomorrow…. By the way you asked me to sleep in the same bed as you. Which means you needed comfort. Not the other way around." She returned to her bed.

How did this girl have the power to turn her world upside down? How did this girl's red hair become the only thing she enjoyed imagining. Getting into her own bed, she closed her eyes hoping she wouldn't dream about her.

Good. She didn't want to be near her anyways. Everyone always left her…or eventually distanced themselves from her.

…

Mike looked at the tattoo on his shoulder. Something he wore with pride. Something he wore that made a statement. A statement that he didn't know what it meant anymore. This place was turning him indefinitely. That girl. That damn girl Marisol. She was showing him a different way to be strong. How did she make him weak like that? How did she get him to tell her his secret?

But he pushed her back…..

"Now the girls can see what I'm working with." Luke smirked with arrogance as Adam shook his head. The boy in the swim trucks flexed his muscles as the others laughed. They were becoming more tolerable of each other's different personalities.

"Which would be nothing." Adam teased as he kept his shirt on. Though the boys did not ask why, he didn't tell them. He just let them assume that he had burn marks on his chest. He hated lying, but he had to become more comfortable with his body. Now that he had no chest, he had to work on his abs. and then he grinned. For once he sounded like a real boy. Before it was mentally. Now it was physical…in a good way.

"I can't wait to swim even if it is an obstacle course." Luke stated. "when my family was together, my parents would take us to the beach. My twin Becky…was so scared. I told her that sharks were in the water. We were 10….she cried the whole way there." He laughed.

"I bet now she is crying tears of joy that you are gone." Luke rolled his eyes at the quiet boy's statement.

"Actually I am too. My dad spares her. And of course she is coming and not him…." He said bitterly.

"Don't sweat it. My parents aren't coming. I'm pretty sure that my mom wants too, but my dad will convince her not to come. I deserve it though." Mike saw the girls walk out the cabin. Mare's body in the all over bathing suit. Her legs so long, her skin so smooth…..no…stop….

"Everyone deserves a second chance Mike." The nerdy boy said.

"Not as many as me…I have already made up mind about that." The boys went outside.

Marisol refused to look at the boy as they stood in front of the lake. This just proved that she could never be nice to people. They would never respect her. They would always think she was doormat. And she was. And then the feeling came over her again. Holding herself, she began to shake as the others looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine." She assured firmly as she waited for Ellie to arrive.

Looking at the lake she saw the water sectioned into three rows. With weightless balls floating in each row. Great. Another obstacle course….and another….damn it. She still felt Mike's eyes on hers. But she would not look at him. Today she would have a good day. She would refuse to look at his muscles….

"Imagine being held by those arms." Bianca whispered in her ear. As she blushed.

"Bianca just leave me alone." She blew her off as the rebel laughed cynically.

Apparently the girls woke up on the right side of bitch today. Looking at the red head with her peripheral vision, she wondered what she was thinking. The red head who constantly wanted to be near her, and then wanted to push her away. She saw the look in her eyes. Maybe it was wishful thinking. It was just wishful thinking.

Katie knew she was being mean to the girl. And she said that she would never do it again, but she did. She wasn't being fair to the girl. And last night she felt more at peace than ever. But what she felt…..

"Alright." Ellie interrupted her train of thought. "Partner time: Adam and Mare, Katie and Luke, Bianca and Mike." They all sighed in relief. They needed a break from each other.

Ellie definitely noticed the tension between the group. the way they refused to look at each other. The way they tried to distance themselves from one another. But it wasn't her business. Teens were always friends one minute and not the next.

"Pick a swimmer and a catcher….because we are playing Swim Catch today."

"Who thought of that brilliant name?" Mike commented as Bianca snickered. He had to get Mare to notice him someway. And he found himself looking at her shake slightly. This was all his fault.

"The object of the game is for the swimmer to gather as many balls as they can on their aisle….but they have to throw it to catcher while they are still in the water. The catcher has to catch the balls to earn points for their team. Pretty common sense." Ellie stated.

"Not for some of us." Adam looked at Luke laughing as the boy flipped him off when Ellie's back was turned.

"I will do it….I'll swim." Adam told the model as she shook her head.

"No…I don't want you to because you feel….." She began as he headed to the lake.

"Mare he is doing it for your safety." Mike interrupted as she looked at him with attitude.

"We weren't even talking to you. Don't you have a partner?" Adam said nothing at the comment. He definitely knew Mare was the HBIC at her high school. Seeing Mike walk away, he knew the guy had to feel a tinge of pain.

"I never thought I would see the day that you showed your emotions." Bianca stood by him.

"I'm not." He lied as he knew the model was right.

"It's ok to like her." Bianca told him.

"Bianca keep your own house in order. Let's just get this over with." He saw her redden as he saw her observe Katie with Luke.

"So Gina Carano…ready?" Luke saw Bianca watching them.

"Yeah." The girl wanted to be near something she was afraid of.

"Can you please make nice with Bianca…she keeps glaring daggers over here. I can honestly say it wasn't me this time….unless she has fallen for my….."

"She hasn't fallen for anything you have Luke." She cut it off. "Just don't throw to hard." She rushed them to the lake. Bianca was hers. Wait….did she actually see her as that? Hers?

Standing there. Too mad to even take in the breeze, they waited for the sound of Ellie's whistle. Instead of throwing the balls at the catcher, they wanted to throw the balls at each other.

Ring

Jumping into the cold lake, their bodies adjusted to the temperature as they swam. Adam gathered the balls as he saw Marisol wave her arms to him. Throwing the first one, he rolled his eyes seeing the girl not catch it. He knew the prissy girl would be the worst catcher. Even without her withdrawals. And not because of her personality. But she was pretending to not be affected by her symptoms.

Mare concentrated harder. She couldn't let her body win. She had to conquer. Seeing the ball on the ground, she wouldn't make the same mistake. Seeing Mike's eyes on her. She would prove them and herself wrong. He didn't have the right to try to protect her and hurt her at the same time. His muscles in the sun. That tattoo that grazed his shoulder. She wanted to…never mind.

Seeing the ball in mid air, she jumped catching it.

Mike didn't care about winning. And hated how Bianca forced him to be the catcher. It was as if she knew the boy wanted to be by Marisol. Which he did. And right now, he was so focused on her, he dropped the second ball. He heard the model snicker at him, but at least he heard her laugh. But he had to live down the fact that Bianca was right. And right now, she was laughing hard at him. Mare was turning him soft. He had to stay away from her.

Bianca hated how Mike didn't take advantage of his situation. For some reason he tried to distance himself from the gorgeous girl. Why was life so complicated? why did she want to…..kiss her? There. She finally admitted it. Seeing Katie in the blue one piece, she did her best to throw the balls. But it was becoming harder and harder for her. This girl was in her senses.

Katie caught the balls. She had to do something to keep from noticing Bianca's body and beautiful smile. She didn't want to be here anymore. She didn't want to be around her. Her life was so less complicated when she had to just deal with her mother's neglect. Now she had to deal with Bianca, the badass who had the softest skin she had ever felt.

Luke noticed how Katie stared at the curly haired girl as she tried to catch the ball. Was that who Bianca was staring at? Was she the one who got under the badass' skin? At times Katie would become a robot. She would shut her feelings down. But even he remembered the times the red head would blush seeing the rebel make an ordinary comment. Maybe he was just imaging it…

As they got out the water, it didn't matter who won. Some things were more important.

"The winner is….." Ellie tried to lift their spirits. "Katie and Luke."

"Yippee." Bianca sarcastically said as she attempted to walk off. She didn't care if she was rude. She just had to get away from Katie. She had to stop staring at Katie. Her hair clinging to her body. It was too much. It was too much for all of them as they headed back to camp.

"So are you going to tell her?" Adam walked by the badass.

"No way." Bianca stated as Adam smirked. "I mean….what are you talking about?" Bianca saw the red head walk back into the cabin.

"Look…Katie really needs you. Even if she doesn't know it…or she knows it but she wants to run away." The boy read her mind.

"Adam….I got to go." She said with defeat.

….

Mike didn't think Ellie would make them clean up the obstacle course as well. Taking the trash bag from her hand, she laughed as she left to do their chores. Biting her lip, the model grabbed as many balls as she could. The faster she would get this over with, the faster she could get away from him.

He wanted to apologize. Tell her she did nothing wrong. He was the one who was insecure. He was the one who was afraid to change his ways. He was…their hands touched the same ball….as they looked in each other's eyes.

"Sorry." He moved his hands from hers.

"As if you don't have anything else to be sorry about." Her sarcasm bit him as she put the ball in the trashcan.

"Mare…..you don't get it." He watched her eyes squint in anger as he admired her beauty.

"and you won't help me to understand Mike….what is your problem? You try to act so philosophical. You lie and say you don't want to be here. But I know you do. I know it. And every time you begin to drop your defenses, you raise them higher. But then you….you are just a hypocrite….just….don t talk to me."

"Mare….wait…." he tried to pull her to him as she quickly moved her wrist back.

"No….I was actually trying to be your friend. Before this, I was so sneaky and I did what ever it took to get a job. I rejoiced at other's pain."

"Look….do you know how scary it is for me to be like this?" Mike began.

"Like what?"

"Like I don't know where my actions are taking me. I want to be loyal to my best friend." He exclaimed.

"mike the best loyalty is to yourself. You have to trust yourself. You have to know that you have to save yourself. I know you love your friend. No one can blame you, but you have to leave what you did in the past. You have to better yourself. You have to let others help you." She bit her lip.

"What would that mean if I did let you help?" His defenses dropped as he watched her dimples show.

"It would mean that you won't feel lost in the dark. I mean…it can only get better not worse….but on one condition." She offered.

"Like…." He knew this would come at a price.

"You have to let me tell Ellie. She can help….I mean…" She tried to grab his hand as he shook his head.

"I knew there was a catch…." He felt the girl take hold of his wrist.

"No…no…she can help us….." Mare placed her hand on his cheek. Trying to calm his down. Seeing his panic. She wouldn't leave him alone. Not now.

"If my parents gave up, that means she won't even bother." He said with defeat.

"I won't let her do that…." She assured him. "Please trust me to be your friend…how about this….I won't tell her now…but eventually I have too."

…..

Luke looked at her delicate handwriting as he read her letter. Only she could make him feel the emotions he tried to hide. He didn't mean to make her feel like that. He didn't mean to leave her behind. He didn't think his actions would cause an emotional rift between them.

Miss you big brother. I know you don't want to hear that but it's true. Right now Dad can't even look me in the eyes. He knows it's his fault. And he still drinks. And he locks himself in his bedroom. He refuses to eat and I do my best to make him. This sucks. I never loved and hated someone at the same time before. I hate how he hurts himself and us. I hate how I can't be there for him and you. I hate how you aren't here to at least give me assurance. I just really miss you Luke. But don't worry. I will be there at Family Day for sure. Love always, Becks.

And he cried. Seeing the tears fall on the letter, he couldn't hold back anymore. Instead of fighting against his father, he should have fought for him. They were both in the wrong. Like father, like son. They forced Becky to be the mother to them both. But that wasn't her responsibility. It was their mother. The mother who forgot about them. The mother who took his heart the day she left them. The woman who somehow took their existence with them.

"Dude….." Adam broke his reverie. He had never seen the tough boy like this. Handing him a Kleenex the sandy teen refused it. He wanted to keep his dignity. No matter how little it was.

"Ummm….the humidity in the air. It's getting to my eyes….and my sinuses." He sniffled as he put the letter on his nightstand.

"It's alright…you don't have to talk this." Adam knew the boy would break eventually.

"It's just my sister carries the world on her shoulders. She worries about me ending up in jail…and dad dying because of his drinking….and this is how we thank her. By doing what we want to do. By disregarding ourselves to the extent that ….I just hate I can't be with her now."

"I know the feeling." Adam watched the boy contain his emotions.

"Really…..i'm honestly surprised that a guy like you is here. I mean not saying that you don't have a reason to be here….it's just that you have at least one parent who truly loves you….I know your dad doesn't for his own reasons….but at least one treats you right."

"Still isn't the same as having two at the same time…I'm really sorry about your mom though." The quiet teen stated.

"I just remember blaming myself for her leaving. It was as if I wasn't good enough for her….."

"Everyone feels like that when it comes to parents. That's why friends are so much easier at times."

"Why is that?" The obnoxious boy wondered.

"because you can actually choose them." Adam said simply.

"You are one cool kid Adam."

"I know." Adam nudged the boy.

….

Bianca came back in her cabin. She needed the shower. To wash the lake water off her body. Too bad it couldn't wash her feelings off. Seeing the girl lay on her bed with her back turned, she rolled her eyes as she grabbed a Capri Sun from the little fridge….slamming the door hard. No way in hell was she going to let the athlete sleep. She knew she was acting childish at the moment, but if Katie could…so could she.

Smirking, she began to slurp loudly as she saw the girl move slowly. She knew which buttons to press. Jumping in her bed, she laughed as she heard the mattress squeak. Finishing her juice, she crumpled up the packet as she threw it at the girl.

"Are you fucking serious?" Katie looked at the curly haired girl who looked innocent. The prissy tomboy knew what the girl was trying to do. How dare she try to bring attention to herself. How dare she read her mind. How dare she make her look in her….deep brown eyes.

"What ever did I do?" Bianca mentally laughed as the other grew angrier. Her smugness showing as she grabbed a pillow throwing it at the prissy tomboy who avoided it. She was surprised she didn't throw it back at her.

"Stop throwing your shit at me." The red head threw the pillow back at her. There was the fire again. The fire that always fascinated her. And gripped onto her. She looked so beautiful when she was furious. Her eyes squinted. Her mouth scrunched as she tried to lay back down.

"Oooooo…such vulgar language for the soccer princess." Bianca made fun of her as the girl turned her back to her again. "What other words do you know?" Bianca laughed as Katie sat back up.

"Just go to hell Bianca…..ever since I came here you have made it so unbearable for me." Her voice raised.

"How? By being there for you? Poor baby….you are so selfish…" Bianca bit back.

"I am not selfish. You are the one who acts like you are so tough….it's sickening…just leave it alone." Kate stated as Bianca walked over to her bed. Looking down at the girl. Katie hated how close she was at the moment. She just wanted to touch her. Tell her it was all her fault. That she was really crazy. That no one should depend on her.

"Katie do you even know the real you?" Bianca sat down beside her as the other tried to put distance between them.

"no….I don't…and for some reason you want to find out. Why? Can't you see I'm not stable enough. No matter how much I pretend to be. I go back and forth. I am hurt I am scared. And then when I am around you…why do I intrigue you so?"

"Katie you know why….." Bianca scooted beside her as the red head did her best not to look at her.

"We know the real reason for you pushing me back….the real reason you try to avoid my eyes.….." the rebel touched her cheek….as she played with her hair.

"You don't know anything." Katie got out of her bed as she tried to walk away from the cabin. But she felt Bianca grab her wrist. Her soft hand in hers. Finding relief as she laced their fingers together.

"No….I do" Bianca gripped her wrist. "You are not going to run away from this. You can't…because I know you….and you know me even if you don't want to admit it." Bianca began. "The way we are protective of each other. The way we can easily read each other's mind….."

"You don't know anything." Katie let her fear speak for her. "all you know is that I am cutter whose mother doesn't love her. If she can't, then how can anyone else?"

"Katie…." The rebel pleaded.

"No….right now…I can't trust myself…or whatever this is I feel. We have both been traumatic experiences and we could just be holding on to each other for comfort."

"Bullshit. I'm not using my life as a way to explain my feelings for you. Katie…I really care for you….like you….I." The girl began as the red head walked off. Bianca had to find some way for the girl to admit it aloud.

"Just leave me alone….I swear if you don't…" Katie turned around to find the girl still following.

"If you don't….what will you do? What will do?" Bianca threatened as she pulled the red head close to her. Blue met brown. Looking in her eyes…..their lips met. And the world stood still. Resting her arms around Bianca's neck, Katie felt the girl move them to her bed. Their lips never parted…no matter how heavy the fear got. The red head indulged herself for once. Simple pleasures truly were free.

….

Mare sat in the cabin office. Waiting for Ellie's approval. She just needed to talk to them. Tell them she loved them. Tell them she was sorry for everything. Hearing the dial tone from her phone, she smiled at the woman who was giving her her life back. who was not only fair, but just too.

Holding her breath as she heard her mother's sweet voice, she almost cried tears of joy. She never knew how much she missed her until she heard the rich tone of love.

"Hey Mom." Marisol put her hand over her mouth to keep from crying.

"Hey baby." The woman put her phone on the speaker as she sipped her coffee. She immediately noticed the strength in her daughter's voice. Nothing was worth more than this.

"Hey Mare." Her father's deep voice made her cry as he heard her breathe through the phone.

"I only have ten minutes…I just really needed to hear your voices. I really hope you guys don't hate me." She pleaded about her past. Biting her lip, she waited for the truth to be told.

"We don't need to talk about that….I just need to know how you doing….." Mr. Lewis wished his daughter was at his side.

"fine…my body is weaning itself. Slowly but surely. …but mom I want…." The girl began as her mom cut her off.

"No dear….we are fine…it's you who we are worried about. You don't need to worry about us….we should have never told you that. You have enough worries, but we didn't want you to think you weren't a part of this family."

"I'm glad you did…it makes me feel as if you trust me again. You trust that I am strong enough to handle this. Which I am."

"Are you making friends?"

"Yeah….I am…" She saw Ellie show her the watch. Damn.

"Umm…I got to go….ummm….I….I love you…."

"we love you too sweetie. See you next week." Mare hung up as she grabbed the tissue from the woman's hand.

"I really needed that."

"you did….and you have been working so hard. You deserved this privilege." She smiled at the young girl.

Seeing Mike sit at the picnic table, she blushed as he felt her eyes on him. Maybe they could be friends after all. If he wasn't so stubborn. Biting her lip, she sat beside him.

"So I was thinking….that we could start as soon as you wanted." He dropped his defenses.

"Yeah….come on." She grabbed his hand as he sat on her cabin steps. "Wait here." She walked inside…placing her hands over her mouth to keep herself from screaming. It finally happened. The two gave into their feelings. Seeing them kiss so passionately, she quickly grabbed some paper and pencils.

"What's wrong?" Mike saw her face flushed.

"Nothing…just something that should have happened a long time ago." She began to write simple words on the paper as Mike watched her. Moving a piece of hair behind her ear, he smiled as became shy. This was a good place to be afterall.