Chapter 49: The Woods

I woke up at my normal time even though I didn't want to. 5:30 a.m. is a bit early for a vacation of sorts but habits are hard to break. Especially if it's been drilled in your head since you could remember.

I did my best not to wake my cabin mates. They would only hate me even more. Well everyone dislikes me for something, whether it be because they're jealous, they know they can be mean since I almost never see my brothers at school, and other reasons unknown.

With nothing to do, I quietly put on my clothes and headed into the great outdoors. It feels so weird. Being with so many people, I mean. You only have so much space and you never know when a envious girl might be recording you to see if they could spread shit about you.

It was still dark but I didn't care. I didn't dare use my flashlight in case I might wake up someone, in case somebody does spy on me. A few stubbed toes is a low price to pay when you have rumors about you on the line. I honestly don't know how two 'superior rulers of the school' don't know all the big rumors going on. Maybe they do and just don't really care. I don't know what to believe anymore.

I strolled out into the same woody area as yesterday and climbed the same tree. For some reason, sitting in a tree makes me feel like I'm back at home, watching my brothers and Ian play basketball. I remember the day I first met Sasha. She had caught me gawking at Ian's perfectly chiseled, Greek god abs.

Does Sasha know that my brothers are in a mafia? Caden wouldn't dare keep such a big secret from her, would he? I've known my brothers are in the mafia. Hell they run it, but I guess it never really registered in my brain how dangerous they are. They're just my brothers. They also could choose anytime, anywhere to kill me. Whether it be a fast peaceful death, or a slow agonizing death. If it came down to it, I would choose the first option.

The sun was rising at 6:47 in the morning. That's daylight savings time for you. The birds began their beautiful melody. I sat there for a brief while, basking in the morning sun and the chirping of birds. I decided it would be a good time to head in after half an hour of just sitting there. Plus, my butt was starting to hurt a lot.

I leaped down and was blissfully strolling out of the woods when I hear a branch snap. I snapped my head to see where the noise was. Snap! There it was again. But where? I looked all around me but couldn't see a thing. I caught a glimpse of blonde dreadlocks. I've seen those before somewhere but I don't remember when or where.

"Hello?" I called out. Nothing. Just the birds chirping. No, there's someone here. I could've sworn I saw blonde dreadlocks.

A twig broke and I heard a person mutter a curse. This time I put my hands on my hips and pressed my lips into a thin line. "Now you've just called yourself out. Come out now and I won't tell Drill Sargent Stacy about this."

A boy with dark skin and blonde dreadlocks came out from behind a tree. He looked at the ground and kicked a pebble. His hands were behind his back and were no doubt wringing them together.

I tilted my head, my hands still on my hips. "Care to share why exactly you were spying on me?"

He glanced up at me. "I was not spying on you." His voice sounded like he was in the midst of taking testosterone supplements.

"Really? So you were just walking around the woods, heard me call out, didn't answer, and when I confronted you, you came out. Is that it?"

His face looked like he was trying to come up with a good enough lie. "I-fine. I wasn't spying on you. I was observing you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? In my book those words mean almost the exact same thing. Now tell me the real reason you were watching me." I said while studying him. I swear I've seen him before...

"Well you see-my friend told me to-well he-I don't know. I don't really have a good excuse except that you're really pretty."

Just as my eyebrow relaxed it was raised again. He was watching me because his friend told him to, but also because I'm really pretty? That would make me blush, only if it came from a certain brunette boy.

"You spied on me because I'm pretty? That would be creepy if it were true. Now, tell me the actual reason or I'll have no choice but to call Loud Nelly." I threatened.

He put his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. You got me. Technically I was spying on you but not why you'd think. The reason is I-"

"The kid who spray painted the school!" I shouted. He looked at me like I had two heads. "I know I knew you from somewhere, then I remembered where. You were one of the kids who spray painted the school. Aren't you?"

He racked his brain for a memory of that and burst out laughing. "That was pretty funny. How'd you know it was me?"

I shrugged. "I didn't. You had on a Halloween mask and I only saw your hair, but it's very memorable. Especially since I don't see many people with blonde dreadlocks. Hey, I didn't know you went here." I said. If he went here, then why was he spray painting his own school gate? I know damn well the students here take pride in how rich our school looks.

"I transferred here when we were sharing your school. My parents thought it would be better safe than sorry."

"Oh. I bet my brother would make me homeschooled if that ever happened."

"Oh right! I forgot you didn't have parents." He said. I know he didn't mean it in a mean way, sometimes words just sound like that, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt any less.

"I don't have a mom or dad, but I have Luke. He's my guardian. And Sasha. She's like my mom. She's Caden's girlfriend by the way. I don't need a mom or dad when I have Luke and Sasha and the rest of my siblings." I said. And it was true. I didn't. I don't.

"Okay. Well sorry for disturbing you. Goodbye." He said and began to walk off.

"Wait! You still need to tell me why you were spying on me." I called out.

He sighed and turned back around. "It was a dare. Since you're apart of a famous family, I'm surprised you don't have more watchers." He chuckled.

"That's not the actual reason and you know it." I stated. He's lying, that's easy to see to anyone with two brain cells.

He sighed again. "But it's a part of the truth! It doesn't matter anyways. I'm not actually going to go through with it."

"You better not. I could call the cops on you, y'know. For stalking and all that."

"I'd rather you not." He said.

"Okay then. Tell me the actual reason." I argued.

"No."

"Then how about your name?" I pressed. I need to get something out of this conversation where I definitely lost a lot of brain cells.

"Cael. I'll see you later Lidia." He called out while walking away.

I snorted. "I hope not." I muttered to myself.

I sighed and faced the way to 'camp'. Time to officially start another day.

So we Met a new character! Why do you think he was 'observing' her? Like all the other times I don't post for a week, writers block is a bitch and I want to kill it so ;). I hope you liked it and don't forget to vote, comment and obviously like:)