Boot Camp for Bad Boys

Chapter 11

       I held onto the prize that we just won at the shooting booth, staring at the dolphin’s black beady orbs–Caleb and I had won it together.

After our little exchange at the booth, I was more aware whenever Caleb approached me or even stood close to me. Of course, it may just be me overthinking it but with him being so close to me made it impossible to ignore, as much as I tried to look away or move further.

My eyelids were getting droopy and I had some sort of difficulty trying to keep myself awake amidst all the screaming and laughter that was happening around me—I didn’t exactly get much sleep at all since last night

I stifled another yawn whilst following Demi in tow and that’s when I felt someone hand circled around my arm and yanking me towards him. My eyes were wide open now when I knocked right into something hard on my side.

“You were about to walk into that tent pole, did you not see it?” Caleb raised his brow, hiding a smirk and I looked to my side, he was right indeed. Four different poles on each corner, and if I were to knock on either, I guess it’s’ safe to say I would land myself in a lot of trouble.

“I guess I’m clocking out for the night, I’m feeling so sleepy.” I smiled faintly.

“Alright then, let’s get you back to the bus. We’re just about to leave soon anyway.”

**

Scanning my surroundings with one eye open, I took a brief glance on the digital clock perched on Demi’s bed side table—4AM. I swear being in this Boot Camp had significantly messed up my sleep schedule and I was actually afraid to sleep any longer, afraid that I’d be yanked out of bed or woken up for another fire drill.

I stretched my arms in my sheets and my hand pushed against something soft and it fell onto the ground with a soft thud. I glanced tiredly to my right, watching the plush toy from last night lying sideways helplessly.

I vaguely remembered falling asleep in the bus on my way back but as to how did I get to my cabin, I haven’t have the slightest idea at all but I knew I was definitely tucked into bed by someone.

With one quick swift, I picked it up by its cottony tail and wrapped my arms securely around it and tried falling asleep again but Demi's light snores kept me up.

Well, guess who wasn’t getting sufficient sleep two days in a row? I’ll give you a hint: the girl who waxed her ex’s balls off.

Retrieving my sweater from the edge of the bed and pulling it over my head, I snuck out of the cabin and into the unknown.

The morning fog was a thick blanket and there were mud puddles in different patched of the ground from the rain—it had been raining an awful lot.

I made my way around the obstacle course, breathing in the night breeze as I hugged my sweater tighter around me. I halted when I reached the Olympic size pool, observing the water rippling at the surface when my thoughts drifted off to last night’s conversations with Caleb, even at the one back at the cafeteria when I couldn’t sleep that night.

I allowed my thoughts to float around as I took a deep breath in and sighed.

"Do you mind adding another party to your solo skinny dipping?"

I whirled my head around so fast I might have strained a nerve. My heart was pounding against my chest loudly out of the sudden fright only one can give another by sneaking up on them in the early hours of the day.

"God damn it Hawthorne! You've really got to stop sneaking up on me like that!" I hissed, but he only smirked lazily, much to my chagrin.

I stuffed my fingers inside the sleeves of my sweater and folded my arms hoping to contain whatever heat I had from my body. “Right, I’m sorry sweetheart.” Caleb let out a low chuckle, his voice was still thick with sleep. “Can’t sleep?”

I nodded. “I’m still very much afraid I might not be able to wake up for a surprise fire drill like the last time.”

He breathed in slowly and stared ahead thoughtfully, "Well, now since you're here, let's go for a walk."

I nodded and he waited for me to come to him before we took a familiar trail path across the track and onto the freshly mowed lawn once again. Despite it being camping grounds, the place was well-kept for, even the trees and flowers here got sufficient care from part-time gardeners who worked here.

We walked in silence, with the occasional brush on each other's sweater. No one said a word; it was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence. It gave me all the time in the world to pay attention to the insect sounds coming from the bushes.

Caleb finally sat down on a bench and patted on the empty spot next to him. 

A minute passed by and we were still not talking, both of us probably watching the thick fog floating around us.

There were questions I had wanted to ask him, questions that have been bugging me. It doesn’t take a genius to know that Caleb was a person who has always been really good at hiding his emotions, even from his friends.

I knew that, because in some way, I felt like I was just like him. There could be a hundred things that go through my mind but I'd rather keep them to myself. The fear of being judged was always there.

"I don't want to talk about it Allie, it's just, it's not the right time." He impassively stated.

"How did you know what I wanted to ask?" I asked quietly, pulling the lint at my sweater sleeve. "You wanted to ask the same thing the night before, in fact I know you're curious, but I promise you, when the time is right, I'd tell you everything. But till then, let me enjoy your company. It's been awhile I met someone as feisty as you." He turned his eyes to me, the amber seemed a little darker in them.

I let out a small laugh that never really evolved. I understood wholly that he didn't feel comfortable enough to tell me much for now but the fact that he wanted to enjoy my company took me by surprise me. I hardly ever thought of myself as someone fun to be around with, I hardly talk when I’m uncomfortable, and there were times I just didn’t know what to say neither do I know how to express any of my feelings.

It didn’t take me long to realize that besides Amanda, I didn't think I had any other friends who I hung out that often.

I was known as the trouble maker, and no one really wanted one as a friend.

I think a problem of my own that I find it hard to get along with others without hurting them. The inability of myself not being able to express my thoughts and feelings much made people slowly lose their interest with me—just like how my ex did, like how everyone else did.

"I want to bring you somewhere; it's a place I've found after sneaking around some time ago, I think you’ll like it." Caleb’s voice broke me out of my train of thought. He messed with his phone for a bit until the familiar white light appeared at the back of the camera lens.

He gestured me to follow him and I did.

"Why do I have this nagging feeling we're about to do something illegal?" I stumbled on a random rock whilst trailing behind him.

"Be careful Allie." he said bristly and he grabbed my hand firmly and I let him. I was going to need to get accustomed to his absent-minded touches here and there.

We walked towards the row of trees, out into a small clearing and into neatly trimmed tall hedges. Behind the hedge there was man made pond of sort with crystal clear waters and shade that was provided by the large Amazonian look-alike trees, were they oak?

I had never seen anything like this, at least not in the city where I lived, guess I don’t thrive on outdoor activities that much.

This place looked like some untouched private property belonging to nature and right now I felt like we were very much like intruders.

He pulled his sweater and shirt over his head and he was already reaching for his sweat pants. "What are you doing?" I asked, my eyes wide open. Oh boy, if I wasn’t already wide awake enough earlier, I sure as hell was now.

"What? You’ve never seen a naked boy before?"

I narrowed my eyes at him as I watched his eyes sparkled with amusement under the dark moonlight as he stood there in front of me with all his glory and my eyes couldn’t help but tracing his naked torso all the way to his sharp v-line that led to a probably endless pleasure of oblivion. Good god.

Huffing, I pulled my sweater over my head and kicked off my shorts, a cool gust of air hit barely covered body and I was only decked out in a tight camisole and my underwear, suddenly feeling much more confident. He watched me with measured interest as I stood there all exposed to him, his eyes tallying up my size.

"See, that wasn’t so hard." He said, as if reading my mind. Oh yea, being in a secluded area with a semi-naked boy was the least of my worries.

“Hey sweetheart, my eyes are up here.” He teased and I felt my face burn with embarrassment. As to how long I was staring at him, I really had no idea. But I knew I had to play it cool to crush that expansive ego of his.

“To your question earlier, yes I've seen tonnes of the male body and trust me, they have much bigger size of everything..." I gestured to all of his body, "and yours is what I would like to call moderately acceptable." I walked over to where the boy stood, his smirk faltered but his eyes replaced its own dark look and leaned in closer to him, clenching my hands into fists so he couldn’t see how much I was shaking from the little act of boldness I was portraying.

"Wasn’t staring at you, sweetheart." I echoed his words earlier, winking. “That did it.” I heard him growl.

His lips quickly formed into a smirk but before I was able to make anything out of it, he bent down and grabbed both my thighs with one arm and hoisted me over his shoulder, knocking the wind out of me. Did I not weigh anything to him?

“Caleb put me down!" I ordered, trashing in his arms but his grip on my back and behind my thighs was strong. "You're saying that, but your wandering eyes are lying.”

“Observing, I was observing.”

“Really, so tell me, did you enjoy what you were observing?” he sounded like he gave me absolutely no room to say no and that’s just what I did.

“No, not really.” Was my answer.

“Wrong answer baby.”

His arms went loose as he allowed me to fall backward and I fell right into the water. “I swear to god when I get out from here, I’m so going to kill you.”

“You can do whatever you want with me.” He regarded with a playful emotion that swam around his dark orbs and I watched him remove his grey sweats and jumped into the water, creating another gigantic wave, splashing straight into my face. 

I gathered both my arms and splashed the water in his face the second he resurfaced. He avoided my splashing and dove under water and grabbed both my legs and made me sink into the water.

I kicked at him but he managed to avoid them, grabbing me by the waist, he swam both of us to the surface. “You’re a big bully, you know that?” I gasped for air and smacked at his chest, swimming around to keep myself afloat.

The waters wasn’t so deep per se, and the water looked so clean. “So is this your little hideout for your kinky activities with the female campers?”

“Oh yes, every other night we’d be here sucking on each other’s faces.” He pursed his lips with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Just so you know, I didn’t come here to make out with you, you little nasty.” I splashed water in his face while he leaned against the bank. “I was only pulling your leg, only Demetria and Daniel know of this place.”

“Isn’t it a little cliché that you’re trying to say I’m the only other girl that you had brought here?” I prodded.

“Cliché? No, not really. I only found this place not long ago, it’s my little special spot when I need to think, and I think you needed to do some thinking too.”

“Needed to think?” I repeated, raising a brow as I swam towards him, resting my legs for a bit, letting it float around.

“You seem like you have a lot going on in your mind.” He stared at the waters with a thoughtful expression before turning to me. He wasn’t entirely wrong, but how did he see through me that easily?

“Demetria, that’s Demi’s actual name?” I asked, I actually never knew because it’s what everyone’s been calling her all these while.

“Yeap. So, what is your daily routine’s really like back home?”

“It’s pretty much been the same for years. School, after-school activities, assignments, homework, movie theatres, sleepovers…” I shrugged. “I’m not an extensively interesting person like you think I am.”

“So being here did shake things up for you a bit huh?”

“Oh definitely.” I admitted. “I never saw myself working out every single day, well, at least I knew my workouts were never consistent, and then instead of teachers, I get yelled out by scary instructors here in camp.”

“It’s definitely the screaming.” He chuckled.

“And you?” I asked, turning my head. He moved away from the bank and turned around to face me instead. I realized my heart beats were speeding up a couple of beats per minute and the sudden closeness was getting to me, not to mention the eye contact I was getting exclusively from Caleb.

“Well, the exercises here definitely isn’t something foreign to me but the obstacle courses were. The screaming and shouting, well our football Coach did that for us most of the times on the field. I guess it’s just the being apart from my friends’ back home strikes a little differently.”

“Did you perhaps call them or…?”

“Here and there. But sometimes I get really tired and I’m unbothered to check my phone. Oh, and the sleep’s schedules definitely messed up.” A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips and he splashed water at me. “Oh quit it. Now let’s put an end to it all to see who can hold their breaths the longest under water.”

“Why bother with a competition you know you’re going to lose?” he let out an infuriating overconfident chuckle and I rolled my eyes.

“There are times that I’m still appalled at how big your ego inflates.” I remarked.

“I appreciate your kind words as always sweetheart, on my count...” he trailed.

We sunk into the water at the count of three but we both shot up seconds later when we heard the hard-to-miss, ear piecing, glass breaking shrill screams of Buffy calling for everyone to wake up—It was her morning ritual after all; Buffy, honest to God, was a walking megaphone and the only person that could sleep through all the noise was Demi.

"We need to leave now before someone notices we're missing" I said and Caleb agreed. We swam back to the shallow back and he extended an arm out to me, hoisting me out on to the dry land. “You okay?” he asked once he watched me rubbing my arms up and down at the sudden change in body temperature. He took my hands, blew hot air into them and rubbed them against each other.

The action seemed awfully familiar and I was suddenly grateful when warmth hit the rest of my body.

“I’m going to get our clothes, you wait here.” He ordered and I nodded.

A horrified look spread across his face when he returned empty handed. “What’s wrong?” I asked as he searched the bushes for something.

"Remind me that we took off our clothes somewhere nearby and did not have wild monkey s*x to a point where we flung them all over the place?”

"What are you even on about?" I rolled my eyes and looked around the grass and realized our crisis.

"Oh…fuck me." I cussed as realization hit me like a truck.

"Not now Allie, maybe later.” He smirked and I looked at him worriedly, wondering how he still could remain calm in this situation. “So what do you think about running back here to camp ground inappropriately dressed?” he added.