Bella's POV:

I heard the scream and sat up on my bed. My eyes went to his empty sleeping bag making me panic in worry.

"Is he still waiting for me to call him inside?" I mumbled to myself.

I got up and unzipped the tent. The warning of our instructor Harris came to my mind making me freeze on the spot.

"Is it even a good idea to risk my life for that annoyingly handsome guy?" I asked myself contemplating what should I do.

Hesitantly, I stick my leg out and moved it in circles to see if any tempting animal was outside ready to attack me. When nothing happened I pushed my head out keeping the firm grip on a zipper and glanced around quickly. He wasn't outside.

"Maybe some animal has already feasted on him," I thought zipping the tent again.

I felt worried about him for some mysterious reasons. I talked myself into stepping out of the warmth of the tent and search his ungracious ass.

"Why should I care if he has disappeared, right?" I asked myself looking around to find him.

"He is a grown-ass man. He can be in one of the tents and having the night of his life with some girl," I muttered in disappointment when I didn't see him anywhere.

I was about to go back to my tent when I heard the rustles of branches. I turned to see the plants rustling near the woods.

"Who's there? I'm going to call security," I yelled.

Suddenly someone was thrown out of the bushes on the ground in a very unfriendly way, certainly not a lovers quarrel.

I saw a shadow of two tall men running out of the bushes. One of them made eye contact with me giving me a mini seizure. When they were gone, I made my way to the person who was lying face flat on the ground.

I turned him to confirm he was alive and gasped in shock to find the hazel eye guy with his nose broken, lower lip split open, and face swollen.

"Hello, are you alive," I said and he groaned opening his eyes staring back at me.

"I'll call someone to help you, okay," I said getting up from the ground when he took hold of my wrist stopping me.

I kneeled again to glare at him.

"Don't tell anyone...anything. I'm fine," He said.

I pressed my finger on his swollen cheek making him cry in pain. "Is my point clear? You're not fine. In my opinion, you look beaten up,"

He rolled his eyes then sat up.

"Can you bring me a water bottle? I need to clean my face and hands," He said.

"Do I look like your maid?" I snapped. Then my eyes landed on his bloodied knuckles and I gulped.

I went back to the tent and picked his water bottle then came out and gave it to him. He poured the water on his head and washed his face and hands.

Now, his wet shirt was sticking to his well-defined body and it was not a good sign for my fragile hormones.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

"What?"

"I said thank you," he mumbled.

"I think there is water in my ear. I didn't even go swimming today,"

"You're so annoying, girl," He said getting up from the ground.

"Not more than you," I said watching him drag himself to the tent.

He was wincing in pain as he sat down on his sleeping bag and closed his eyes.

I felt a little bad for him and aggravating his condition. I didn't know why but I just liked irritating him.

I pulled out the first aid kit that my mom insisted that I carry with me. I didn't know it would come in handy for tonight.

I pulled out my towel and sat down beside him. He opened his eyes and stared at me with narrowed eyes.

"I'm just going to clean your cuts, not trying to strangle you or anything," I said teasingly.

His broken lips twitch up in a small smile and that was a signal for me to start my treatment.

I dried his wet face with a towel and cleaned his cut with alcohol pads making him whine like a baby.

"Stop whining," I said making him scowl at me.

Cautiously, I applied an ointment on his lower lip and couldn't stop staring into his eyes.

His eyes flickered to my lips and I retracted my hand back. I applied ointment on other small scratches on his face.

"Where did you learn it? Are you studying for medical?" he asked.

I shook my head with a sad smile on my face. I couldn't tell him that I started patching my cuts at a very young age and learned to heal them myself.

"I just want to graduate from school and find a job," I mumbled.

"You're in school?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes, it's my last year," I replied narrowing my eyes.

"Oh...I'm in university, it's my second semester. I'm studying business," he said.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

He frowned at my question.

"I mean, what are you doing in this stupid summer camp?"

"My university sends me here. This summer camp is pretty famous in Italy," he said.

My mouth dropped open at his words.

"You came here to attend this foolish summer camp from Italy," I said.

"Yeah...and for some other reasons," he whispered.

I didn't press him to tell me other reasons. I was already crossing the line by talking to him and getting to know him.

"You would need to see the doctor in the morning," I said.

He didn't respond so I turned to look at him; he was pulling off his shirt. I gulped then turned around.

I need holy water.

"I can't do this. My head is killing me and my hand is not moving," he muttered.

I turned to him to find him struggling to remove the shirt. His shirt was wet and dirty. If he fell asleep in it he might get sick.

I walked to him with my heart beating wildly. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and he didn't protest. I pulled his shirt off and he dragged his bag towards him pulling out a clean shirt. I helped him in putting his shirt on.

We didn't say anything to each other. The atmosphere was suddenly very awkward.

I remembered that I keep Tylenol in my bag always because of the headache that I get sometimes from not sleeping. I pulled the tablets out from my bag to find him kicking his jeans off.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? Can he stay decent for a second? I muttered to myself.

"Take this," I said handing him the water bottle and tablets.

"What's this?" he asked with barely open eyes.

"A pain killer," I replied.

"Thank you," he said taking the tablets while I didn't dare to take a look at his half-dressed form again.

I got in my bed and zipped it closing my eyes. He turned off the lamp.

"So, why did those guys beat you up?" I asked him.

"Did you saw them?" He asked me in concern.

"No...but they saw me," I said and he muttered something in a different language.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm cursing them in Italian," he replied.

"Cool," I said.

"By the way, they didn't beat me up first. I did," he said with pride.

"Yeah... I believe you," I said sarcastically.

"I fought with them yesterday. I didn't think they would follow me here," he mumbled.

He turned silent and I knew he was knocked out. I also fell asleep a few minutes later.

I woke up and my eyes went to his empty sleeping bag. I shook my head trying not to think about him and pulled my toiletries out of my bag. I made my way to the washroom and did my business. I came back to the tent and got changed into my jeans and simple grey full sleeves top.

I went to the kitchen to have breakfast. The woman smiled at me and gave me the cereal with some extra charms. I liked her. I sat down in the corner trying to avoid other girls and boys. I wasn't there to make friends and get to know people. I was just there to get through that summer camp so I could graduate without anything holding me back.

Suddenly a very swollen-looking Gabriel slumped down on the opposite seat.

"Excuse me, I am sitting here," I said.

"I'm sitting on a chair, not your lap, so don't get your panties in a bunch," he said with a smirk.

I was fuming with anger stuffing my cereal in my mouth.

The place was full of girls and boys otherwise I would have attacked him.

I stayed quiet finishing my breakfast and he did the same. I noticed a bandage on his cuts which meant he went to the doctor.

Mr. Harris made his way to us and looked at Gabriel with a concerned face.

"What happened to your face?" He asked.

I smirked when his mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"I beat him up," I said with a smirk.

Mr. Harris looked at my 5'2 feet frame then glanced at Gabriel. He had an expression on his face that clearly says stop joking.

"Why?" he asked sounding amuse.

I was about to tell him why when the hazel eye guy decided to open his mouth.

"Sir, why don't you come with me? I'll tell you everything." He said to Mr. Harris.

"No...I beat him because he was being a jerk. I asked him politely to step out of the tent but he didn't listen to me," I said accusingly.

He glared at me with clenched fists.

"Oh, love, we don't have to hide anything from Mr. Harris. He looks like an understanding guy," Gabriel said making me confuse.

Gabriel whispered something Mr. Harris ear something and his eyes widened. He peeked at me with a red face and gave Gabriel a look of sympathy with a pat on the back before leaving.

"What did you tell him?" I hissed.

"I told him you have some mental issues but you love me. I am just a poor guy who is in a relationship with you for a few years," he said with a wink.

"You better run before I get my hands on you," I said.

He stumbled out of the kitchen not taking a glance at me again. I walked out of the kitchen furious at his ridiculous story.

****

I tried to stay away from that good-for-nothing man. I knew if he comes in front of me again I would add some new bruise.

After lunch, Mr. Harris took us to climb some rocky hills. I had a slight height phobia and I was scared of going up.

Our instructor divided our group into two teams and I was in the team with Gabriel.

"See you up there, darling," Gabriel yelled catching the eyes of other girls and boys.

He winked at me and I wanted to punch his face.

Our instructor helped us into safety gear and instructed us to help each other. We all nodded and started to climb.

I kept my eyes focused on moving forward. I wanted to fight my fear and reach the top. The hill was not that tall but it was rocky. I made the mistake of looking down. My heart stopped beating and I started to feel dizzy. I was halfway to the top but my legs were frozen now.

"You can do this, Bella. You can do this," I mumbled and started climbing again only to miss the step and lose control.

I screamed clinging to the rope as my life depends on it. I kept my eyes closed too scared to look anywhere.

Suddenly I felt an arm around my waist pulling me closer. I risked and opened my eyes to look at my savior.

"What are you doing?" I snapped.

"Helping you," he whispered into my ear making me gulp.

"I...I don't need your help. You're a jerk," I said trying to get away from him. His grip tightened around my waist pressing me completely on his body.

I could feel his rigid muscles engulfing my soft one calming me down.

"I can let you go if you want," he said.

I looked down and wrapped myself around his torso. He chuckled at my actions.

"Are you taking advantage of the situation?" He asked.

I looked up to find his face close to mine. I could kiss him if I wanted to too.

What the hell is wrong with me? I'm not allowed to feel this.

"I'm not taking any advantage of you. You don't appeal to me," I snapped.

"Your eyes are telling me another story," he whispered.

I rolled them in annoyance.

"Are you planning to hang here all your life?" I asked mockingly.

"Put your foot on that rock and start climbing. I will be behind you to protect you if you will lose your balance again," he said helping me to stand on the wide rock.

I started climbing again and looked at him to make sure he was following me. He was staring at my behind with an attentive gaze and my face heated up at his stare.

"Pervert! You're doing this so you can see my ass," I said.

"Don't worry, you have no ass!" He yelled back laughing.

I cursed him with a twitch on my lips. I was slender, not skinny. I wasn't blessed with a large ass and breasts, but I didn't care.

Finally, we reached the top. Mr. Harris was already there and he pulled us up.

"Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?" Miss Taylor asked.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking," I said.

My eyes went to Gabriel; he was standing near the edge staring down. It was clear he wasn't scared of heights.

I made my way to him but stopped before I get too close.

"Thank you!" I yelled.

He looked at me with a charming smile on his face. My heart skipped a beat to see him smiling.

"I can't hear you come closer," he yelled.

I rolled my eyes and moved closer.

"Thank you for earlier," I yelled again.

"I can't hear you,"

I knew he heard me and he was just doing that to annoy the shit out of me.

"I know you can hear me, clearly," I yelled in frustration.

"No, I can't hear you. Come closer," he yelled again pretending not to hear me.

"I'm scared of heights!" I yelled.

He extended his hand to me. "More reasons to come closer," he said.

I looked at his hand and took a deep breath. I grasped his hand and he pulled me towards him.

He wrapped his arm around my back in a strong grip.

"Look down," he whispered.

I looked down and sucked in a breath. Everything looked tiny but the view was incredible.

We stood silently watching the view.

__________________________________

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