August 7

Loon call Island, Lake Rosseau, Muskoka

Fucking Chiara.

"Grey, what an absolute treat. I guess chivalry's not dead, after all, am I right, ladies?" She trails her fingers over my bare shoulder as she leaps from the bow like a cat.

Giggles are the only response from the boat, and I lean over the canvas top to see who she's brought. I don't recognize anyone at first, not until a drunken squeal from the other bow seat pierces my eardrum and a small, dark-haired girl launches herself at me.

"Mads?"

"Greyson, Grey, who names their kid Greyson, anyway?"

Fuck. She's drunk as a skunk, slurring her words, and can barely stand up straight. Why do the other girls seem so sober, then?

"Hi, Mads, you having a party tonight?" I try to get a look at her face to see just how drunk she is.

"We're playing a drinking game, it's fun, you'll see. I want you and Theo to play with me. Chiara promised Theo would play with me." Her pout, which I imagine is supposed to be coy, or cute, is neither. She looks like a sad doll, the kind you have to tip backward to get their eyes to close.

Torn, wanting to leave, to see Elle, but something inside me is telling me to stay, to look out for her little, dramatic, and extremely intoxicated friend. Fuck. Life was easier when I didn't care about anything. Anyone. When I could just do whatever I wanted.

Wishing I wasn't about to do what I do, knowing I don't have a choice, I wrap my arm around Mads just as Theo wolf whistles from the top of the hill, and the girls go wild as they get a look at him in the spotlight. His lean, muscled torso gleams, clearly attracting these girls like moths to a flame. One flame. Watching the four of them scramble up the hill, I sigh, shifting Mads in my grip and turning to Chiara.

"What the fuck are you doing here? And why is Mads the only one who is absolutely wasted?"

She shrugs, examining her nails before walking past me. "Theo invited my friend Jen over, we were all at her place so we thought we'd tag along. I hear he likes a group. Pathetic, right? She's still into him after he left her hanging during my little game night. As to all this?" She waves her hand dismissively at Mads, "We're having a little initiation night. If she wants to party with the big girls, she has to learn how to keep up."

Grinding my teeth together, I let her walk away. Just listening to the way she speaks about her so-called-friends makes me ill. My sister once had friends like these.

"Don't move, Mads." I climb into her boat, turning off the navigation lights so her battery won't drain, then jump back onto the dock.

Dragging Mads to my boat, I take my phone out of the glove box, texting Elle.

'Get here, now. Chiara just crashed the party. Mads is with her, she's wasted. I'll take care of her, then I need a ride to your place.'

Grabbing the girl in question's bicep, I tug her up the path, intending to find Ry and dump her on him, while I talk to Theo.

This is literally the last thing I need right now. All I want is to crawl into bed with my girl, to keep all the thoughts and feelings twisting around inside me away for just a while longer.

When Mads stumbles, laughing like a lunatic, I give up, tossing her over my shoulder and letting her bounce limply as I wander back to the deck.

"I'm tossing some precious cargo in your guestroom T. Where are the keys?"

Theo walks around to check out the laughing girl with her head bouncing against my lower back. "Shit man, think she's okay?"

"Hey Mads," his concerned voice makes me a little less angry at him, he didn't orchestrate Chiara pumping her friend full of booze after all.

"Get Chiara the fuck out of here. Elle will be here soon, I figure Mads could use a real friend, not Queen Bitch and her rabid court of bimbos."

"I only invited Jen, Grey, I wouldn't invite Chiara, I know you two have history, I know she was a bitch to Elle."

"Well, if you didn't invite her, then it shouldn't be a problem to ask her to leave. None of us can drive her though, we've all been drinking, so get her out of here before she starts-" Fuck. Theo and I turn at exactly the same time as laughter bubbles up, wild, shrill. Chiara's already gotten into the shots from a bottle of Vodka that hadn't been here before.

"No one can drive, Grey. What do you want me to do?"

I'm trying to think when Mads slams my ass with both palms. I jolt in surprise. "What the-"

"Put me down, Hulkie. I want to play with Theo. Theo's nicer than you. Prettier too."

Theo's laughter makes me grin and shake my head. God damn drunk highschool girls, inhibition goes out the window sometimes. She's lucky she's with people who give a shit. "Give me the keys to the main house. I'll leave her in a guestroom with water and Advil, I'll tell Ry she's there, then I'm leaving."

Considering all the above actions as my only obligation, I move with purpose trough the forest, up the trail to the main house. Keys jingling in my fist, I hold Mads securely over my shoulder with one arm as she babbles relatively contentedly but incoherently. At some point, she'd started rambling about Craig.

When dampness spreads across my bare back, I realize her incoherent rambling has turned to weeping. Perfect. What the fuck am I supposed to do? Hud's the sweet one, Ry's the gentle one. A lot of good they do me now. Hell, I'm not even entirely sure Ry'll survive the attack of the bimbos.

"Stop crying. You're fine. He's an asshole." I pat the back of her calf awkwardly as I walk through the doorway of the guest bedroom, bending over to lay her as gently as I can on the bed.

"Why don't boys like me?"

"Boys like you just fine, Mads. Maybe just not when you're around girls like Chiara, or acting like her when you're not like her at all."

"I don't understand." When she turns her dark eyes up to me, shining with tears, I curse myself for looking at her. Idiot.

Sitting on the bed, I lean forward on my knees, resting my elbows as I try to decide what to say. Chances are she won't even remember. "Chiara likes to project a certain image and behaviour, Mads. She enjoys doing it, she likes the attention, the power, whatever."

When she tucks her head against my shoulder, I close my eyes. What is it with these girls? Sweetness really has no place around me, I feel like I'll break it. Dad always says there isn't room for softness in my life, not until after I achieve my goals. Nothing else matters. Sometimes, I think I don't deserve happiness, and love, at least not until he tells me I can have them. But he never will, it will always be about the next goal with him.

Mads is so much more like Elle than I ever realized at the end of the day, considering she hides behind that wall of drama and attitude. For some reason, it makes me want to be kinder, softer. Maybe even to spite my dad.

"Guys like Craig, hell, guys like me are attracted to that sometimes, because it's not real, nothing's real, so nothing matters. It's easy when you don't care."

"Elle isn't easy. She's real. She's perfect. You like her. Everyone likes her." I watch as Mads' eyes drift shut, feel her body sag closer to mine. Her words are slightly muffled against my arm.

I choke out a laugh. "Yeah, easy is definitely not the first word I'd use to describe her. Everyone likes her because she's kind, Mads. But yeah, I like her. More than I probably should. Not nearly as much as she deserves."

As soon as I say it, a weight, or more of a pressure seems to dissolve in my chest. It takes me a minute to realize why. Shit. Even talking to the nearly unconscious girl leaning on me is a cathartic experience. Is this why people are so damned insistent on sharing things with one another? Why Elle is so insistent on sharing her feelings, on hearing mine?

When I feel Mads sag completely against my side, I shift, carefully catching her and lying her down on the bed. Considering it to be for the best, I don't try to wake her up. I don't want my unknowing, captive audience member to think back and remember what I said.

I pull her strappy sandals off, cursing the tiny buckles before tossing them to the side of the bed. I pull a blanket up over her, grab a garbage bin to leave beside the bed, then head to the kitchen to get some water and Advil.

Placing both beside the bed, I turn the light on in the bathroom, then close the door most of the way before closing the bedroom door.

I lock the front door of the cottage again on my way down, wandering easily down the dark but familiar trail.

Elle's small boat is bobbing in the water at the end of the dock, telling me she's already here. Shit. I'd wanted to head her off before she walked through the crowd. If she thought Chiara was mean before, sober, well she hasn't seen anything yet.

Picking up the pace, I jog the rest of the way down, grimacing when I hear Chiara's shrill voice taunting Elle.

"Did we get you out of bed past your curfew, Bambi?"

Obviously, Elle knows better to engage, she's always been the smartest of us, and generally the most stable, but no one knows better than we do, that even our Elle has her breaking point. I hope we don't reach it tonight, since we never know which way it will go, temper, or tears. Anger or anxiety.

"Where's Mads?" Elle is standing nearly toe to toe with Chiara, and even though she's much shorter, her arms are crossed over her chest and the tilt of her head and stubborn frown tell me she won't back down.

Chiara only sighs, feigning a look of disappointment. "Probably passed out somewhere, or hooking up with Grey. He carted her off somewhere, ruining our fun, but maybe they're having enough fun for all of us."

I step around the corner, walking towards my girl. "Sorry Chiara, hate to disappoint. Actually, on second thought, I really don't care." Placing my hands on Elle's stiff shoulders as I come up behind her, I kiss her cheek. "All good babe?"

Her body relaxes slightly, but all I get is a short nod. "How's Mads?"

"She'll be fine, I left her in the guestroom sleeping."

Chiara, obviously annoyed at being ignored, chooses this moment to push more of Elle's buttons. "Such a disappointment, that one. We had such high hopes for our little fledgling. Imagine how upset she'll be that you ruined her last chance to join our little group. You might not care, Bambi, but Mads doesn't have the big, bad Greyson Pruitt to protect her reputation, and if you're not one of us, then you're fair game."

"What has Mads ever done to you, Chiara? Take your shots at me, I stole a boy toy you didn't even know you still wanted, until you saw him with someone else. Whatever. But Mads hasn't done a single thing, so leave her out of it."

"Oh, sweetie, how naïve you are. It's almost cute. Mads didn't have to do anything except be friends with you. It's as simple as that."

It's that exact moment when a very drunk, wobbly, and barefoot Mads stumbles back out onto the dock. Just as she's about to continue stumbling right off the edge and into the water, Ry makes a lunge to grab her, yanking her back towards the center. Mads' wild giggle is shrill, piercing through the silent night. "Why so gloomy, gang? I'm fine, better than fine, I'm ready to party! Who has the music?"

"I thought you said she was sleeping?" Elle's voice sounds strained, a mix of stress, concern, relief, but also laughter, which I can tell she's trying to hold down.

I only mutter under my breath that I had left her sleeping. "Next time, I'll lock her in the damn bedroom."

"Chiara, there you are! I was so worried you left without me."

A sly grin slides over her carefully made-up face. "We were just getting the party started."

Theo finally breaks away from a tense discussion with Jen, who looks a little deflated as she wanders back to her friends. "No, the party isn't getting started. Look, we've all been drinking, so you can stay here, but you're leaving first thing."

I don't point out that Elle hasn't had a drink, because I don't want her to have to drive all the girls home exposed to Chiara. Even if I go with her, it won't stop Chiara from sinking her claws in deeper with every minute.

When I thought the night couldn't go from bad to worse, Mads begins to gag, stumbling towards the treeline as she begins to retch.

Laughter bubbles around me and Chiara starts taking pictures furiously on her phone while Ry holds Mads' hair away from her face, rubbing her back.

"That's enough, stop it, Chiara, there's no need to be even more of a bitch."

Shocked gasps are the only response and as I turn, I watch Elle snatch Chiara's cell phone away and heave it into the lake. "You might say what you say, but I will not let you humiliate her like that. If anyone else takes a picture, I'll throw your phone in the water too."

Chiara's face is a mask of hatred and anger as she reaches her hand back and slaps Elle across the face.

I step between them in an instant, as Elle's hand flies up to rest on her cheek. She looks a bit shocked, I can't blame her, I don't think anyone's ever hit her in her life. Theo is at her side in a heartbeat, pulling her hand away to take a look, but she brushes him off, walking towards Mads where she shares a few words with Ry, who nods, then rifles through Mads' pockets.

When she comes back, she has Mads' phone, and scrolls through the contacts until she seems to find what she's looking for. She lifts the phone to her ear, waiting. Who could she be calling at this hour? It's after midnight.

"Hi, is this Chiara's father? Mr. Davis?"

Chiara freezes, but shakes her head, mentally calling Elle's bluff.

Elle pauses momentarily, listening, before continuing.

"Hello, I'm terribly sorry to be calling so late, my name is Elle Montgomery, I'm a student at Beaton, and a member at the Lake Rosseau Club. Your daughter is here, uninvited, there's been drinking, group bullying of a sixteen-year-old led by your daughter and she's just assaulted one of the residents. I think it would be best if you come get her and her friends before anyone else gets hurt or before they do any damage."

Chiara's face twists into an ugly scowl and she lunges for the phone. I stop her from getting any closer, listening as Elle gives instructions on how to find Theo's cottage. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling. How do you get rid of a bad stink? Flush.

"I apologize, Mr. Davis, there isn't any adult supervision here tonight, but the owners of the cottage in question are Dr. and Mr. Harding, and you're welcome to call my parents, Lincoln and Diana Montgomery. Their contact details are in the Club Member handbook, perhaps you already know them. I believe your wife sits on the Charitable Outreach Committee with my mother. I assure you, neither of our families will have any problem with our actions this evening." The subtle way Elle emphasizes the word 'our,' in both instances makes me grin. Damn straight, it should be Chiara's family that's horrified by her behaviour.

Elle is quiet for a moment before looking up at Chiara. "Thank you, we'll see you in ten or fifteen minutes then. Of course, Mr. Davis, here she is." Elle holds the phone out to Chiara. Her voice is sugar sweet when she turns to the girl in question. "Daddy dearest would like a word, Chiara.

- - -

Sometimes you need to fight dirty, even if it does mean calling the parents. Sometimes it's the only way to protect your friends, and yourself.  

When it comes to bullying, and peer pressure, you should always turn to a trusted friend, adult, or teacher, if you don't think you can resolve the situation yourself.

How do you think Chiara and Elle will get along back in the school year? Anticipating trouble?

Think the boys will be able to help Elle navigate surviving the Queen B?\

Is anyone else's heart-melting just a little to see Greyson taking care of Elle's friend Mads? I think Elle's certainly exposing a softer side of him.

Xx Toria