Boot Camp for Bad Boys

Chapter 6

So we had exactly another two hours before dinner and the obstacle course begin, and I just woke up from a really long nap that I thought I was gonna be missing away from home. As much as I would deny it, after doing 50 laps, back and forth in the pool earlier soothe all the cramps from my muscles, it was as if like I never had cramps before this. But I knew for a fact that I woke up feeling even tired than before and that’s when I know I’ve taken a nap for way too long.

“Why the extra two cups?” I asked Demi after coming out from the bathroom. I had just brushed my teeth again and splash some water on my face in hopes that it’d erase the tiredness from my face. “Those two buffoon are sneaking over—which is something that they do most of the time whenever we’re not allowed to go outside due to the thunderstorms.

“That means when it rains, you’re not allowed to go out either?”

“Not really, technically if it’s just a normal rain shower, we’d still be out there training. They take the weather forecast here pretty seriously.” Demi said as she carefully laid down 2 mugs at a time on the wooden floorboards and threw a blanket around it with some pillows. 

“Hey, you mind if I ask what happened to your roommate?”

“Oh, well she left once after a year or so since she was doing pretty well. She aced in all her PE’s training and the left the instructors so impressed, they decided to discharge her early.”

“So, technically, if you performed well in all your training, you’d get an early discharge?” I confirmed. “Yeap, and provided you stayed out of trouble. And the only way to do so, is to not talk to anyone here or make any friends that’ll get you into trouble.”

“Well, were the two of your friends?”

“Yeah, we were. We got along pretty well, Danny and Caleb did like her too, and she was fun to be around with. And then, well I think she and Caleb had something going on. But I wasn’t so sure what happened after she was shortly discharged later. He doesn’t talk about it much either, and whenever we brought it up, he’d brush us away.”

“Oh..” I blinked. I had no idea that this happened from before and I didn’t expect Caleb to tell me about it either. I mean, the both of us have only just begun talking, there was no way he’d spill things about him that he thought I didn’t need to know.

“How did the three of you become friends?” I asked, but before she could answer, there came a silent knock and Demi’s ears perked up. “They’re here.” She announced quietly as she made her way to the en-suite. I watched them climb in through the narrow bath room window one after another, slightly drenched from the rain pelting and watched Danny stumble and fell into the shower. 

“Every single time.” Caleb sighed as he helped his friend up. 

“Damn it Demi, how many times did I tell you not to put your stupid swim suit here? I’d slip on this every goddamn time I sneak in.” 

“Not my fault when you have giant butter legs, dumb ass.” She reprimanded. I watched the three of them struggle in the en-suite before shutting the door behind them and turning off all the lights. “Hey guys, just in time for tea.” I said as I sat down with a bag of mini marshmallows in hand. I popped in open and placed it in the middle. “Oh, the perfect combo ever.” Danny rubbed his palms together. The two boys had a hoodie over with some sweats, and I had a thick sweater over me since it was freezing cold in and out of the cabin. 

“You look really tired, almost like crap.” Caleb said, stating the obvious fact. “

"Wow gee thanks for the filter right there.” I said sarcastically. “Kidding, you look fine.” He said without looking at me. Man, this kid was confusing.

"We were once in your shoes, trust me. I wasn’t the fittest either. Demi used to float on the surface or play dead in the pool when she could take it no more." Danny took the plastic bag and grabbed a fistful of the soft candy, dropping some into his drink and chowed the rest down.

"But we then got used to it eventually over the next couple of week since we did stuff like that seven days a week. The laps we did yesterday is done at least three times a week—Buffy calls it army training for stamina.”

 “Yeah, and by the end of the third week, Demi here turned into Hulk." Danny teased, nudging her on her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Asswipe.”

"Are you guys ever allowed to leave the campsite, for you know, like a day off or something?" I asked hopefully.

"Nope, but we did sneak out twice." Calen answered, squeezing a marshmallow between his two fingers, watching the cloud like candy bounce back into shape.

"Whatever for?" I raised a brow, watching his actions.

"Demi here ran out of hot chocolate and we ran out of snacks, but other than that, I'm out just to get me some girls." Daniel shrugged. 

“The amount of girls we have on campsite aren’t good enough for you?” Demi asked, propping herself up against a pillow as she took a sip of her hot drink she made.

Danny looked at Demi as if she grew a second head. “Are you serious? I’d rather die than hook up with any of these girls; some of them might kill me with just a thumb, have you seen the size of their biceps? God damn.”

"So, what happens if you do get caught?" I asked curiously.

"You're in it for isolation room. Your phone get taken away for a month and every day for a month, you get two hours of extra training than the rest of the campers." Caleb spoke it as if they’ve been through it and it was not much of a big deal.

"Oh that doesn’t sound so bad.” I said as I took a sip of my drink. “Why? Because if you’re thinking of it don’t.” Caleb warned and before I could tell him that I wasn’t gonna, an ear piercing scream from a few yards away made me spill some of my hot chocolate on my white sweater. "Oh s**t, not on this one too." I groaned and pulled at the fabric. I wanted to pull the blouse over my head immediately to wash it out, but then I reminded myself that there are two boys in the room and I was only wearing a bralette beneath this.

"Oh no, I know that scream. Guys, what the f**k did you do this time?" Demi hissed. “Why, whose scream is that?”

“The one whom made you run lap yesterday for talking back to her.” Caleb shrugged. “Buffy?” I probably sounded really surprised because that resembled a little girl’s scream, nothing like the sound of a Dinosaur. 

"Why do you always assume it has something to do with us when Buffy screams like a little girl?" Danny pulled a face, stuffing more marshmallows into his mouth. 

"Because the last time I checked, you're the only two boys on this camp ground who's got the biggest balls to mess with an ex-marine office.” Demi tried so hard not to hit the both of them. “She was an ex-marine? Damn Demi, why didn’t you say so earlier?” I said.

"She has a point." Caleb nodded. I watched him get up from the blanket and made his way to the en-suite, What? Was he leaving already?

"What did you two do?" I was really curious now as to what could possibly make an ex-marine scream like someone trashed her perfect little tea party?

"Buffy really hates snakes, like she'll scream the s**t out of her if she sees one even from a distance, we found out a couple months ago when we were training in the evening. She screamed her head off, jumping right into the arms of her boyfriend when a baby snake snuck up way too close to her.” Daniel explained.

"I guess she isn't as tough as I thought" I snickered, feeling kinda bad for her now.

"So to answer your question as to why we snuck out from the camp site, those two boys just had to go into a gift shop looking for rubber snakes." Caleb finally returned from the en-suite and handed me a wet towel. “Oh thank you.” I said unsurely, I wasn’t expecting him to do this for me at all, considering the fact that I was just about to get up and go change.

"You two bastards, let's hope she'll never find out it’s the both of you, this is the second time you guys, second time you’re using those stupid rubber snakes on her!" Demi pointed at them both.

"She never did find out the first time and she never will now either.” Caleb reassured the red head.

* * 

Dinner was fairly delicious tonight. We had some clam chowder with slices of beef stir fried with thinly sliced shitake mushrooms with a side of spinach and steamed corn.

Later on, we went back to our cabins and got changed into our sports attire for this evening’s obstacle course. I was already dreading the wet mud that we were gonna be in since it was raining all afternoon and I almost slipped twice on my way to the cafeteria and back to our cabins.

We were asked to do 5 laps on the track as warm up before we began the obstacle course. By the end of those 5 laps, I was already panting hard with sweat dripping down my forehead— so much for even showering earlier. Suddenly, the greyish evening sky rumbled above us, I felt a tiny rain droplet fall on the bridge of my nose and I frowned. Oh hell no, not again.

"Does this mean we don't have to do the obstacle course anymore since it's gonna rain? There’s probably thunder too." I sounded hopeful.

"Once you’re in training, there’s no leaving till you get your ass worked” Caleb whispered since the instructor was yelling instructions, claiming that there was no need to panic and there will not be any thunder storms. Okay weather man, whatever you say.

"But people could get sick under the rain." I reasoned.

"It’s a matter of agility. It’s called a Boot Camp for a reason, I guess if there’s one thing good you learn from here, it’s how to toughen yourself up. And since you into here, you might as well make the most out of it instead of whining every minute." Caleb spurt out his words as if he was giving a speech to his fellow arm squadron and I felt my frustration grow within me. 

He didn’t have to be so direct about it. I was just asking, geez louis. Fine, I decided that I would not be talking to him for the rest of the evening.

The whistle blew sharply and everyone including me sprinted to the training grounds.

Mud splattered all over my pant leg I felt the water puddles seeped into my shoes then my socks but I persevered since I didn’t want to be lectured for the second time this evening by the grouchy uptight camper Caleb. Monkey bars—a girl’s worst enemy if she hadn’t shave all week. 

"This should be easy” I tried my best not to feel intimidated with the rest of the campers that went over it so effortlessly. “Okay, you can do this Allie.” I gave myself a little pep talk and I jumped up and held on to the first bar tightly and my right hand to the second bar. It was so slippery—thanks to the rain that was now pelting on my head. My hands suddenly slipped and I fell to the puddle of mud forming below it.

More frustration followed as I held back the tears and the sudden pain that shot up my close to absent ass, the accumulated resentment I had towards my ex— if he hadn’t do anything stupid I wouldn’t have to wax his balls, destroyed his girlfriend’s nose job and thus causing myself landing here—in this stupid Boot Camp.

"Allie, get up." Caleb held out his hand to me. I ignored him at first, still pretty mad at him for being so mean to me. “Unless you wanna get stepped over by the rest of the campers, I suggest you get up and let me help you through this.” How the hell does he still looked so good even with the rain now full on pouring from the sky. This whole scene looked like The Notebook, except that I look like a drenched beaver and he was Noah.

“Fine, but don’t tell at me.”

“I’m not gonna yell at you Allie.” He promised. I accepted his help without further hesitation since I didn’t want to get trampled over. “Now, try again.” He ordered, nodding his head towards the monkey bar.

I swallowed the very last bit of cuss words that was about to spew out of my mouth and hung on, reminding myself that if I performed well enough I got to go home.

"Now, gather all your strength and hold on to the bars tightly and when you feel you can move on to the second bar, swing your body forward lightly and curl up your wrist to have a better grip" he said as he lifted me by my waist onto the first bar. I held on to it tightly and swung my body forward lightly and grabbed on the second bar and curled up my wrist slightly and grabbed onto the next bar with my other fist until I got to the other end. "I did it” I yelled excitedly, squinting my eyes through the pouring rain, pushing the stray strands of hair away from my face.

"Now you have to crawl under the barbed wires, keep your arms to your sides, head down and kick your legs quickly" he said as he got down to the other empty slot. I was already drenched in rain and mud I had nothing left to lose.

"Race you there" I yelled feeling a little too overconfident. “You might wanna close your...” before Caleb had finish his sentence some mud juice had entered my mouth. Maya.

“Oops didn’t see you there” she smirked and got out of the other end of the obstacle. That goblin I swear!

On the next obstacle I had to climb up a wall with a rope and then slide down on the other side. The wall was really high and there were sandbags on the other side in case you slide down head first. This one was pretty easy since I join my dad and his old friends’ rock climbing sometimes. I held onto the rope tightly and leaned backwards and walked up the walked like I was Spiderman or something.

Next, there was a medium sized pool of muddy water below the rope and the rain had made the pool overflow. "The trick is to grip onto the rope tightly, once you reach the other end, quickly let go"

Caleb went first using only one hand holding tightly on the rope, he landed on the ground safely. "Show off" I stuck out my tongue. He chuckled. "Let's see what you can do"

"Watch me" I gripped onto the rope and swung and went backwards until the rope couldn't go any farther and ran quickly, swinging right across the muddy pool of water and crashed landed into Caleb.

The rest of the campers were all over the place either splashing each other with mud or still stuck on the previous obstacle, some had already completed and were doing laps on the track under the officer’s supervision.

"The last obstacle is climbing on these tiny shaky wooden planks and whatever you do, don't fall into the water. As you can see there are no ropes for you to hold on so you just gotta balance, like a ballerina"

"A what?"

"A ballerina, don't they do those balancing things a lot?"

"I think only ballerinas like you do" I walked slowly past him and went on first.

He shook the planks behind and I was falling sideways. "Caleb!” I scolded. He caught my waist and grip onto me tightly. "I am not a ballerina" he whispered, “but tonight, it’s time you learn how to be one”

*

We left the obstacle course and ran all the way back to our cabins after running 10 laps on the track as a warm down. Thunder rumbled from above and the rain just got a whole lot heavier than it was an hour ago.

I hadn’t realized my scalp was bleeding until Demi had spotted a pool of faded blood stain on the shirt fabric that I was wearing. Caleb had offered to clean it up for me since he had the first aid kit back in his cabin.

"Danny, you follow Demi back to her cabin, you know what to do if they come round for patrols"

Danny nodded and followed Demi back to our cabin.

"C'mon princess, first aid kit is this way" he pointed to the cabins a little further down.

The inside of their shared cabin smelt like nature and their boyish colognes. I sneezed and sniffed and an instant shiver came over me.

"Whoops sorry, Caleb left the air conditioner running earlier" he quickly switched it off and threw the remote on the bed.

"Here, wear this first" he handed me a navy hoodie with an eagle outline in white on the back of the fabric and long cotton pants. "You can change in there, use my shampoo and whatever else you need, I’ll get some ointment for your bruise" he said as he opened his bed side drawer.

"Thanks" I said no more and I entered the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

Everything seemed so neat in here, well I expected boys to be all messy but their beds were made neatly, even their shavers and facial foam were all lined up.

I took a quick shower and scrubbed the mud out of my skin and hair, careful of the bruise on my head.

I pulled on the hoodie over my head. I was aware I had no bra on so I was grateful the hoodie was thick enough to keep me warm. His hoodie smelt amazing. I ran my hands through my hair carefully, straightening the tangled ends. Satisfied, I opened the door and entered the room.

I sneezed and rubbed my eyes. "Ugh, I don't feel so good" I mumbled as I sat on his bed.

"Here, take these" he handed me two white pills and a warm glass of water. I took them and washed it down with the water. I noticed that he was still in his previous clothes and he was drenched. He sneezed and chuckled. "Guess I have to take pills too" he smiled sheepishly.

"Go ahead and wash up, I don't want you to get sick" I smiled.

"You need your ointment first" he held up a dark orange glass bottle.

I shook my head. "I insist, go" I threw him his towel. "It won’t take long”

It took him a few minutes to wash up before he came out of the bathroom with only pajama pants on and towel in one hand. His upper body was on full display causing me to blush inwardly.

"I’m sorry I forgot my shirt” he sounded apologetic as he rummaged his closet for a clean shirt. He also got out the first aid box from above the kitchenette.

"Here, let me apply that ointment now" he unscrewed the cap of a red bottle and poured a few drops on a cotton swab and dabbed it on my bruise. I winced as the wound stung, shutting both my eyes.

"Sorry" he apologized.

"I’m alright” I answered. "Oh, is that eagle on your hoodie your school team or something?" I asked.

"Yeah, I play quarterback for my school" he answered.

"Nice" I nodded.

"Yeah, I have a game a few months’ time, after I get out of here"

"YOOHOO!" someone hollered as loudly as possible.

"s**t" Caleb quickly got up and flicked the light switch off.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"The officers are patrolling now" he whispered as he checked his phone and there were 5 unread messages from Danny alerting him that the patrolling starts now "C'mon" he hid me under his covers, quickly flicking the switch off and stayed by my side. I felt myself getting embarrassed for no apparent reason as he had his hand under my head for support in case I were to knock on the head board, his other hand over my chest holding my shoulder.

"When the officer asks for your identification, just say 1517" he quickly whispered. "That's Danny's identification" he clarified.

Footsteps came closely to our cabin door and there was a knock. “ID yourselves" the officer’s voice was pretty near the door.

"1516, Caleb Hawthorne" he said. "Your turn" he whispered.

"1.." I cleared my throat to sound more like Danny. "1517, Daniel Wolfe"

There was a silence at the door and I immediately broke out in cold sweat, on instinct my fingers grip his shirt for support. For the first time I was afraid of getting busted but then the officer wished us a good night before we heard boots walking down the wooden steps and away from the cabin.

"Phew, that was close" he whispered.

"Do they do this every night? And yoo-hoo, really I have to assume that was Danny?"

"Well, they do this once a week or maybe twice, and ‘yoo-hoo’ is the code to alert any of the three of us for whoever is coming to check up on us that is if we are up to no good”

“You can have my bed for tonight it’s not safe to go out at this time” he got out of his own bed and I felt warmth leaving my side. “I’m sorry to be such a bother at a time like this”

“There’s no need to be sorry, it’s been awhile since I’ve made new friends, rest well Allie”