Luck works in strange ways. Sometimes it brings two long-lost friends together on a chance encounter, other times you might stumble across a shiny dollar bill in the street. But like most things, luck is a random surprise.

My problem with luck, however, is that you can't count on it, – it occurs sporadically – but that's fine, I'm prepared to work for what I desire. What really irks me, is that the odd times I do trick myself into counting on it, it fails me. Which brings me to: bad luck.

Which is exactly what I'm currently experiencing.

"You have got to be kidding me." The vein in my fore-head pulsates.

"It will be fine Lexi?" Ashlynn's hand curls around me, rubbing soothingly.

"I know I had to partner up with him at least once this summer, but on the second week? And after the strip show two days ago? Is god even up there?"

"Stop being so dramatic." Brooklynn rolls her eyes, picking up her schedule for this week.

"Says the girl who started this war," I deadpan.

"So sad, too bad." She leans against the wall, crumpling some of the notices hanging in the Administration Office in the process.

"Why am I even friends with you?" I mutter, shaking my head.

"Because you love me and we feel bad for Brookie. In case you haven't noticed, she's not exactly a people person." Ashlynn pipes up, shoving her sister good-naturedly.

"Can't she go bother some of her other friends though?" I tease.

"She could if she had any."

"Hey, you are supposed to be on my side." Brooklynn grumbles.

"But I'm not." I laugh, giving Ashlynn a not-so-secret, secret high-five.

"Alexis!" My head snaps in the direction of the shout, trying to work out who it was.

"Alexis!" It's then that I spot Tanner running towards me, hands waving frantically.

He reaches me moments later. "Alexis!"

I grimace, clutching my ears. "Tanner, I'm literally right beside you."

"Oh. Oh, yeah. Sorry."

"It's fine, don't worry."

"Okay, well I better be off then. I have something important to tell someone before I forget." He grins, moving to walk away but I reach out, my fingers clasping around his arm and effectively stopping him.

He looks at me confused, yanking his arm back and forth trying to regain control. Finally, he stops and frowns. "Um, Alexis? Can you let go?"

"No."

"Oh. Why?"

"Because I'm nearly one-hundred-percent sure that I'm the person you were looking for."

"Oh, right!" Tanner exclaims, eyes flicking from me to a group of campers eating ice-lollies. His attention span is disastrous. Seriously, if Tanner is your only hope at surviving: you're as good as dead.

I exchange glances with the twins who are trying to hide their amusement. Tanner really is a hopeless case at times.

"Yep. What was it you wanted to say?" I ask, ending this madness.

"Oh, I was going to offer you some advice..." He trails off, still fascinated by the frozen-delights meters away and licks his lips.

"Right, may I have it?"

His eyes snap back to me, growing. "Yes!" he says with a smile before his exterior hardens slightly, "Colton... Colton is something else, okay? His threats are empty, trust me... how do I word this?"

With his pause, my brow furrows – Tanner acting serious is like pigs flying: unheard of. And weird.

He shakes his head. "Look, the easiest way to put this is like this. Colton is like a dog, unprovoked he's a pile of mushiness... somewhere deep inside, anyway... provoked? He acts instinctively he doesn't give what he says or does next much thought. Like a dog, it's in his nature to react when he feels cornered or scared."

"Scared," I echo. Not possible... or is it? I mean we gave Trump the nuclear codes, apparently common sense blows out the windows these days...

"Look, I know it's hard to believe, but yes, Colton's one, true weakness is being backed into a corner. Most of the time he can handle thinking things through, but as soon as he feels like there is no escape, he panics. He doesn't think through anything and he ends up getting himself into trouble."

Unmoving, I blink, tanner watching me carefully, more carefully than his cold treats. "... Okay?"

"It's a lot to take in but it still doesn't excuse his behaviour, he's being a dick. We wouldn't have agreed to let him come back this year after that night if we didn't think he had it under control but this is hard for him, he's bound to explode. Confronting your past is hard. Just don't provoke him." He breathes deeply.

"Um, okay?" Thoughts fly around my head at double time, bouncing off my skull and propelling themselves in the other direction.

I'm about to ask Tanner another question when he takes off sprinting in the direction of the campers inhaling their popsicles. It hangs on the tip of my tongue regardless, is Colton okay?

Time could have not flown any faster, even against my wishes.

The afternoon sun blares oblivious to my inner torment. Six, little boy's and six, little girls stand opposite each other wearing pure-white body armour, only some choosing to pull their protective helmet on over their face currently. Long sticks lie to the side in a cage to avoid any premature fights. I fan myself with a grimace, it couldn't get any warmer in this suit.

"I'm warm!" Lianna cries out, "Why haven't we started yet?"

"We'll start as soon as Colton is finished changing." I reply with a smile trying to fight the urge to poke her in the eye. Surprisingly, that isn't allowed.

"Well, tell him to hurry up!" she continues to wine. Poke. Poke. Poke.

Just as I'm about to reply, the devil himself finally appears. But my attention isn't on him, for I see three of Colton's campers surrounding Briella and jostling her. Rushing over, I grab Briella's hand scowling at the little Satan's and tucking her safely behind me.

"Over there now. Take off your protective clothing and sit. You are not taking part in fencing today. And if I see any of you being mean to Briella again, not only will you be excluded from more activities, I'll be phoning home." The anger in my voice surprises even myself.

"But–" they shout in protest simultaneously.

"No buts. Sit." Pointing towards the log that sits to the side of the fencing strip, I stare at them daringly. With a grumble, they stomp over and obey, allowing me to turn to Briella.

"Are you okay?" I whisper, crouching down to hug her.

"Yes." She nods, fiddling with her fingers.

"Briella, you have to tell me if this happens again." My heart is breaking for the little girl, how could they be so cruel?

"O-okay."

Before I can question her further, Colton shouts me over, "We need to demonstrate now."

Nodding, I pull the key to the cage, that's beside the green clearing, out of my pocket and fetch two, foil swords. Throwing one to him, he catches it, facing me and pulling his protective mask on. I follow suit.

"Fencing isn't too hard. But there are a few rules: you must face your partner and bow before the match, wait for the referee to shout 'En Garde or En Gard', and you can only strike your opponent from the torso to their chest. The first person to tap their opponent's chest, wins. Any questions?" I ask.

No one raises their hands. "Okay, Colton and I will show you an example then. Briella, once we have saluted shout 'En gard', please."

Bowing my head, I lock eyes with Colton but the glint in his eyes stuns me. "En gard!"

Colton whips his sword out and I do the same, bringing it out in front of me. They clash and clang, striking one another and searching for the winning shot. What was supposed to be a simple demonstration is now a war and neither of us are backing out.

It's irrational but deep down all I can think about is wining. I have too. I have to prove to myself that I wasn't the same little girl anymore. But I have to be a role-model for Briella more importantly. I have to show her that women are strong and independent – we don't have to back down to men. I wished I had known that sooner but Briella could. I just have to show her.

Grunting with exertion, I jab at Colton. It's mere inches away from touching his chest when he deflects it with a smirk. He takes a step forward, each shot pushing me backwards as I try to avoid being hit.

Not today bozo. I lunge forward catching him off guard and thrusting my sword forward. Sweat trickles down my forehead making the protective mask I'm wearing cling to my face. Again, Colton blocks it and forces me back again. Thrust after thrust. Jab after jab. It's ongoing.

But as Colton tries once again to send me backwards I trip over my own ankle falling to the ground. My sword clatters to the ground out of reach. I close my eyes, sighing deeply.

"Go ahead, win again." I mutter in defeat.

He peels off his mask and smirks at me. "Told you I'd declared war."

"Are you being serious?" I blink.

"Yes."

"Colton, there is no war! I don't want to fight with you." I cry out.

"But you stole my clothes!"

"And you spray painted all over my cabin and tripped me up. Plus, that wasn't me, it was Brooklynn!"

"I told you, I didn't do that and that was an accident," he growls. Tanner's words ring in my head and as I look around the campers, I know that we need to stop this now.

"Colton, let's just stop. There is campers watching us."

Laughing he takes a menacing step forward and prods me with the sword. The sword vibrates, bending and wobbling from side to side, Colton continuing to shove it in to my chest. I grimace from pain but I don't care.

I'm long gone now.

hey, guys early update bcs I am busy later on! I didn't know if i'd even have time to update this week but I did which is why there is no banners sorry! not a long a/n bcs I have no time sorry! sorry if this is a shitty update too!
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Qotc: What do you think of Colton?
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i'll add the fanart later too, no time ahh!

see you all next Friday!

xoxo,

Jessie.