Around me, tiny girls chirp happily, little legs wobbling under the weight of duffels — or rather what's left of duffels. Thankfully, our cabin's back to normal, any damage now fixed and ready to be inhabited again. Having already entered myself, it's safe to say that the cabin looks a lot less like it did at the start of the summer. Stripped of furnishings, the girls and I have a lot to do to make it homelier again. Funnily enough, stark walls and un-sanded floors gave the cabin the wrong vibe. And of course, there's the bunk beds to assemble.

Being no builder myself, I'd enlisted the help of Tanner and Braden, although Braden's about as much help as me, mind you. I swear he's been staring at the instructions to ensemble the beds for half an hour now, various wooden planks around him barely moving an inch every few minutes.

"Um, Braden? Are you sure you know what you're doing?" I ask for the fifth time.

"Yes," he grumbles, holding up to parts in confusion.

"He really doesn't, does he?" Tanner says, appearing at my side and surveying the scene.

Braden glares at him. "You try it then! All you've had to do is sand the floors, and that's easy, you were driving a damn machine!"

"Gianna didn't trust you not to crash it." He smirks. "Hey, not everyone can be as gifted as me, don't worry about it."

"That's it, I give up!" Braden groans, standing up.

"Gianna owes me ten bucks."

"You bet on me?"

"Obviously, duh."

"You're such a di—"

"Alrighty then!" I interrupt, "why don't you go help the girls?"

"The girls are doing fine, it's Braden that needs the help—"

"I will hurt you."

Tanner holds up his hands in defence before scurrying off to help the campers, much to Riley's delight. Eight years old and she knew what she wanted, and that just so happened to be Tanner. By the blush on her face, I'm pretty sure he knew but then again, guys were guys and I'm pretty sure if he'd had any inclination he wouldn't have whipped off his t-shirt revealing eight pecks of shimmering glory.

And trust me when I say that the puddle of water forming in my mouth wasn't because of the fumes the sander whipped up earlier

"Close your mouth, you'll catch flies," a rather gruff voice scoffs from the side.

I turn around, embarrassment on my face. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, c'mon, you were clearly staring."

I stay silent taking notice of his stiff stance. Sure, Braden was never a macho tough looking guy, but he is toned, just not like Tanner or even Colton. But he's attractive none the less.

He sighs. "It's whatever I just didn't expect you to be such a flirt."

I gape.

"Oh don't act like it's no true, I saw the way you looked at Colton at the bonfire and now you're ogling Tanner."

Who does he think he is, my dad?

"One, I can ogle whoever I want too. Two, I was staring at Colton because he backed me up and I was confused. And three, why the hell do you care?" I rage.

"I don't care."

"Clearly, you always take Colton's side."

"That's not fair!" he shouts, startling the girls.

Tanner quickly regains their attention throwing us a confused look in the process. We ignore him.

I turn back to Braden, eyes sharp. "What's not fair is you never giving me answers; blowing hot and cold with me. Yet, you infer I'm the slut when you flick between emotions faster than Ross Geller goes through wives."

"Well maybe you stop acting like o—"

"It's the twenty-first century Braden, keep the fuck up, women can do what they want now." I cross my arms.

He sighs. "This is stupid, I didn't even mean any of that."

"You bet it is. What's stupider: why you won't tell me anything about Colton and why you're still friends even when he's still an asshole to me. Why does everyone like him? For god's sake someone tell me!"

Um? ...I'm taking Al's advice at least, even if in the heat of the moment I wasn't exactly doing it quite how he probably imagined. But I couldn't help it, it just flooded out of me, things I didn't even know I'm mad about and consequently soaking Braden. I wasn't proud of my language either.

He stares at me, a frown evident on his face. "Why are you so hung up on that?"

"Why do you think?" I mumble, crossing my arms.

"Alexis..."

"No, just forget I said anything, it's clearly a secret no one wants to tell me."

"Alexis, c'mon please, it's not mine to tell."

I sigh. "It's whatever."

We stand saying nothing, being able to hear a pin if it dropped on the shabby floor, for what feels like eternity, both us uncomfortable.

Finally, Braden finds his voice, choking out, "Look, all I'll say is, Colton doesn't always intentionally mean to hurt you and for the most part he feels bad about it."

"So I've heard." I intertwine and de-twine my fingers. "I'm not even mad at you about that, you became an outlet for that issue, but I'm not forgetting your other comments in a hurry."

"Alexis—"

"It's okay. I've had enough now though." I cut him off, moving out the open, log door and down the steps.

I don't get much further though, slipping on the newly polished stairs and straight into the dorito-coloured arms of a boy.

"Shit!" I yelp, my heart in my ears, gripping onto the boy for dear life.

"Didn't know you knew any swear words?" The guy laughs.

It's deep but pleasant and I could listen to it for days on end. My stomach leaps and I turn my head to my unknown saviour, peering up at him through my lashes.

Colton.

Before now, I guess I'd never heard him chuckle before but this new-found trait of his somehow makes him seem like he's a human being with emotions and not just somebody who finds joy in pain.

"Alexis...?"

"Oh—yes! Um, thanks?" I say, making no move to get out of his arms.

His large figure cradling me seemed to have the opposite of when it's looming over me — it feels nice, safe even.

"I guess I did protect you after all, even if it was from yourself and not the hermit." He grins and I find myself mirroring it.

"It wasn't my fault!"

"Oh, I'm sure."

"I swear it was the polish on the stairs!"

This is weird but kind of nic– I'm so confused.

His eyes sparkle in the light, a casual, boyish smile spread across his lips. "I hate to break it to you but you're the clumsiest person I know."

"Lies!"

"This isn't the first time I've caught you from falling." He smirks, most likely with no cruel intentions but it's too late, he already transported me back in time.

I scramble out of his arm. "Yeah, well I've... um... I've got to go."

He frowns but doesn't stop me, watching me trip over my own feet, the world disappearing from my sight.

This is just a quick surprise update! Do you like these? A/N will be on Friday! Enjoy!

xox,

jessie.