“YEAH! KISS IT BABY!!!” Kay’s scream rang through the centre of the camp as he pumped his fists into the air. “WE SOLVED THE RIDDLES!
WE WIN.”
Mr Hornton looked at Kay with a bored expression as he continued to avert his eyes and read the newspaper in his hands. “I believe you actually came 6th. I also believe Charlie most likely solved all the riddles”
Kay frowned, slowly lowering his arms in defeat as he saw five other pairs all sitting around the camp. He stood up straight as he scratched the back of his head. “When did they all finish… we—”
Mr Hornton flipped the newspaper page as he let his eyes scan across it.
“Hunter and Bear finished half an hour too early. The rest slowly came afterwards.”
Kay frowned as he shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “Actually… helped Charlie with a lot of them…” he mumbled with red ears as he rubbed at his earlobe.
Suddenly, Kay was tackled from behind as he almost went flying and scraped his nose up on the ground had it not been for the strong arms wrapped around him pulling him back. A tall, slightly sweaty Happy clutched Kay tightly as he nuzzled his face into the crook of Kay’s cheek like a cat being stroked.
“My baby I’ve spent too much time apart from you” Happy claimed as Kay’s eyes widened, his cheeks blistering red as he glanced around to make sure no one was looking. Thankfully, for Kay’s benefit, no one had heard Happy’s adorable comment and so Kay’s manhood was still intact.
Mr Hornton pressed his glasses up his nose as he stared down at Happy.
“Beau. You and Carter have not finished the riddles”
Catter laughed awkwardly, standing not too far behind Happy. “How did you know, Sir?” he asked bashfully.
Mr Hornton sighed as he shook his head. “Because you’d hand to me a slip attached to it, like the others did”
Carter chuckled as he slapped Happy’s arm. “Well we were still looking Sir but then Happy here, heard Kay’s voice and came running out.”
Happy shrugged innocently, still standing behind Kay with his arms draped over Kay’s narrow shoulders. “I heard my baby’s cries. Gotta go save him.” Kay rolled his eyes as he tried to nudge Happy’s arm away, but it stayed in place. “It was a happy cry, idiot.”
Happy grinned as he pinched Kay’s cheek. “Even better to come see you happy.”
Kay rubbed his forehead, glad Happy’s responses could only ever be heard by him and so the two sat down next to Carter who sat beside Hunter.
Bear stood up as he patted the seat beside him. “Charlie. Sit here.”
Bear watched as a boy came sitting down in where he had just patted, oblivious to the dumbfounded expression Bear was giving him.
Suddenly, Bear tapped the boy on the shoulder as the boy spat on the ground before looking up at Bear. “What?”
“That’s Charli’s seat.” Bear announced as he pointed to where the boy was sitting. The boy scoffed as he turned back around, ignoring Bear but he soon felt the crushing grip of Bear’s paw on his shoulder as the boy shot his head back up at Bear. He saw dark eyes glaring down at him with a warning expression as the boy quickly got up with his palms raised in defence as if not to anger the riled-up animal.
Darting away, Bear relaxed again as he sat down, Charlie sat beside him. The six sat together as Happy glanced around, his arm slung over Kay’s shoulder. “Still no Sam?”
Hunter’s head perked up like a dog hearing its name as he turned his head towards Kay. “You seen, Sam?”
Kay shook his head “No I said; Still no Sam?”
Hunter nodded, understanding as he deflated again and went back to absent mindlessly poking a stick into the ground.
Carter clapped Hunter on the back before leaning back and tucking his arms behind his head. “Ah—you’re so lucky. Just think of all the food you’ll get tonight.”
Hunter nodded, zoning out Hunter’s words as Carter turned to the rest of the group. “How did you guys find the riddles? Me and Happy couldn’t find the first one.”
Kay glanced at Happy who laughed sheepishly, ruffling his messy locks. “We did okay.” Kay responded with a shrug, getting pretty bored himself as he silently wanted to go to the lake with Happy again.
Bear nodded with his huge hands locked together. “Hunter was very good at riddles.” He nodded. He turned to Charlie who looked up at him before Bear turned his head back to the group. “Charlie says he also found it good.” Carter glanced between the two slowly as his eyes narrowed curiously. He thought about asking why Charlie never spoke, but Bear seemed to crush anyone who said anything about Charlie and so Carter thought it was best left unsaid.
Soon more students filed into the camp and Sam and Lyle emerged with them. The two smiled as they parted ways so none of the group could tell that Sam had partnered up with Lyle when he came walking over alone.
“Hey, Sam” Happy greeted as he waved. Sam waved back with the best smile he could muster up, but he lacked his usual cheery self as he glanced at everyone but Hunter. Hunter looked up, finally coming back to life as he seemed to just shut down and grow bored whenever Sam wasn’t around or mentioned.
Hunter stood up ready to walk his way towards Sam, but Sam sat himself down beside Kay. Kay turned his head to Sam. “How did you find it?” Sam shrugged as he glanced around, clearly upset about something yet only Hunter could see his change in demeanour. “It was a bit hard to be honest. Guess we wasn’t even close to winning?” he chuckled as he scratched his head.
Kay laughed as he nudged Sam. “Don’t worry. Happy never even found his first riddle.”
“Oi, you.” Happy growled playfully as he pulled a squirming Kay into a headlock. Sam smiled though it was pained and forced as he accidentally locked eyes with Hunter when Happy yanked Kay’s head down.
The forest eyes locked onto his with raw emotion laying unfiltered. The dark sea caught his caramel eyes swirling with sadness and Sam found himself being sucked into the dark depths of Hunter’s jaded eyes that brought up feelings he had never felt. Painfully, Sam broke away from Flunter’s gaze as he pretended not to see the intense gaze burning through his cheek.
Kay and Happy were giggling like children. Kay tried not to give in and laugh, knowing it would only encourage Happy to do it even more if he knew it made Kay laugh, yet he couldn’t help but always secretly enjoy everything about Happy.
“Alright, listen up. Well done everyone for returning safely. I honestly thought I’d be sending in a search team to find at least one idiot who decided to get themselves lost. So, congratulations on owning a brain.” Mr Hornton spoke up as everyone went silent.
He clapped his hands together, slapping his lips before he grabbed his pack and hoisted it up on his shoulders. “We have one last activity that you will be partnering up with your dorm mates with. The aim is to find the items on the list you are given and those who come first will be allowed to break one rule. As long as it is not a terrible one like… I don’t know… stabbing someone. I mean a school rule that is small. For example, we have the no piercings policy. If you win you’ll be allowed one piercing. Stupid little rules like that. So, no dramatic requests” he ordered as everyone started to whisper a little excitedly.
“Sir!” A boy yelled as he thrust his hand up into the air as Mr Hornton nodded at him. “Can we get a tattoo then?”
Mr Hornton sighed, mumbling under his breath but nodded. “Yes, as long as it is approved; meaning no stupid ones or ones in… ridiculous locations.” Everyone seemed much more motivated as they all huddled together with their dorm buddy. Sam stood up as he started walking towards the cabin with Hunter behind him. Once they got onto the trail where they could no longer be seen Hunter jogged up towards Sam as he wrapped his strong arm around Sam’s shoulders.
“Sam. Mr Hornton already gave me and Bear our junk food. He gave it us early so no one would get greedy over it. I saved some for you, I thought we could eat it together.” Hunter said softly as his usual cold voice was instantly left behind with the others.
Sam nodded, only humming quietly as Hunter frowned looking down at him. Hunter tried again. “I don’t know whether you like cakes but there’s some cherry ones here if yo—” he stopped when he realised Sam wasn’t looking his way at all but still ahead with a distant face. Hunter pushed the cakes back into his pack as he slung it around his back and walked on.
“Sam are you…” he stopped when he saw Sam look at the ground sadly.
Hunter had an idea of what it may be that upset Sam and so he decided not to say anything yet. So, he quietly walked beside Sam as the two entered the dorm and put their things away ready to participate in the next activity.
The two walked back to the centre before accepting their list of the teacher and going off to go search.
***
“Ooh—I wanna get my lip pierced!” Kay said excitedly as he roamed through the woods with hands in his pockets. Happy grinned as his eyes widened.
“I bet that’ll be nice to kiss.” He smirked. Kay scoffed as he whacked Happy but secretly smiled bashfully as he averted his eyes.
“What about you… what would you do if you could break one rule?” Kay asked. Happy turned his head up to the sky as he shrugged before wrapping his arm around Kay’s shoulders, his hand dangling.
“Dunno. I’m already got everything I need to be honest.” He shrugged. Kay looked at him with soft eyes before he made shook his head and gently pulled Happy’s arm off.
“Don’t you want anything else? The school never lets you break rules.” Kay said slightly shocked. Happy shook his head as Kay frowned.
He stopped, Happy falling oblivious to Kay’s paused stature as he continued to roam blissfully, content with just being out in the woods with Kay. Kay felt as if Happy was always there for him and always doing everything for him.
For once Kay wanted Happy to have something and so Kay was determined that if they won, he would tell Happy to take the prize of breaking the rule, even though neither was sure what Happy could break.
“Happy.” Kay called out as Happy stopped and glanced round to Kay. “If you find the objects on the list… ” Kay started, knowing that Happy would need some motivation since he never really got interested in things like this.
“I’ll kiss you for each item you find.”
Happy’s eyes widened and the tail behind him started to thump dramatically as he jumped towards Kay. “Really? You will?! Don’t lie to me?! Are you messing with me?! You really will?!”
Kay blushed madly as he turned his head and pretended to look peeved. “Dunno why you’re so excited. You kiss me all the time.”
Happy grinned as he leaned in, lips inches from Kay. “I always get excited when I kiss you. Plus… Kay doesn’t often kiss Happy first. I always kiss first.” Kay rolled his eyes as he reached out and flicked Happy’s forehead. “Don’t speak in third person like that. It’s annoying.” He lied as Happy grinned and ripped the list out of Kay’s hand, startling Kay.
“RIGHT! Let’s go see what’s first!”
***
Sam and Hunter steadily paced through the woods as Hunter glanced up at Sam every now and then. His guilt was overbearing as he watched the crease between Sam’s brows, the constant ticking away of Sam’s mind as if he was struggling to decide on something.
Hunter knew exactly what was on Sam’s mind.
Or so he thought he did…
Sam jumped when he saw Hunter’s hand in front of his face. He drew his head back, so he could focus on Hunter’s hand that had became blurry by being so close to his face. In Hunter’s fingertip was a small yellow flower that bloomed beautifully.
Sam frowned, brows furrowing as he glanced down at the list. “That’s not on the list I don’t think. Wait—let me check again”
Hunter rolled his eyes as he sighed, exhaling as he walked towards Sam and jutted his two fingers under Sam’s chin and lifted up his head. Sam’s eyes locked on Hunter’s abruptly as Hunter tucked the stem behind Sam’s ear.
“It’s not for the list.. idiot.” Hunter mumbled bashfully as he turned his back.
Sam’s eyes widened as his fingertips barely brushed over the flower tucked behind his ear. His cheeks lit red as he tried to glance at Hunter, but Hunter had his back turned so Sam could not witness how cliché and gooey he felt.
Hunter had never once in his life done something so cheesy with anyone yet. the minute he saw the flower he knew it would look perfect in Sam’s hair and so he could not stop himself. He found his big bad demeanour diminishing and a romantic, selfless person coming out of him whenever he was around Sam.
It frightened him how Sam had stripped him bare of his icy walls that he put up and left him exposed and vulnerable. He felt as though he had opened up to Sam and placed his cracked heart in Sam’s hands and silently pleaded with Sam not to break it.
It was almost as if Sam had tamed the bad boy.
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