The Project

10

James

It was the next morning and to say that I'm beginning to think Freddie and Riley have a complicated friendship is an understatement
"you're going to have to trust them considering we have to do challenges with them" Hayden said arguing with Freddie yet again
I'm not one for getting involved but Hayden seemed to fighting a losing battle at this point
"I don't want to" Freddie said
"Stop being a fucking toddler and man up" Hayden said before coming out to join us

With a short walk we were in the woods with the rest of the students on the trip
I could see Michelle, Thalia and Riley from where we were stood but that only met Freddie could too
"See, she's fine" Hayden said motioning to her, Freddie narrow his eyes at him before turning back to listen to the teacher
"Alright class, you'll all be given a number and that number links to someone else. Your task for today is a hunt with your partner, first 10 pairs to come back win" The teacher said before assigning us numbers

I feel incredibly bad for Eldon, he was paired with Freddie, I was with Hayden and West somehow got paired with Thalia 
Meaning Riley and Michelle must be paired? 

"And off we go" Hayden said handing me a map, I smiled and nodded in his direction
"I'm sorry about Freddie, he's a little  uh" He started
"Full on? Protective?" I asked making him chuckle
"Yeah something like that" Hayden laughed
"I'd be protective in my girlfriend was hanging with some strangers though" I said making Hayden laugh before looking in my direction

"They aren't together, don't worry about that" he smirked
"don't pretend that I don't know what James you are" he chuckled
"what?" I asked
"Are you or are you not the James who is in Riley's Letters?" He asked making me widen my eyes
"You know?" I asked
"I'm not stupid you mean" He laughed
"Sure James is a common name but then I saw the looks your boys gave you at the mention on her name" he said with a smile

"Speak of the little devil!" Hayden smiled making me turn to see Michelle and Riley approaching
"Hey Hayd" Riley smiled hugging him before turning to me
"if it isn't the boy who crashed into me the other week" Riley chuckled making Michelle and Hayden look at us confused
"Um, you're the one who came running through the corridor" I laughed making her chuckle
"Was this in science block?" Hayden asked and Riley nodded to which Hayden rolled his eyes

"Michelle, this is Hayden" Riley said smiling to Michelle
"This is James" Michelle said
"But I think, you already knew that" She smirked making my roll my eyes

--

The 4 of us decided to do the hunt together, nobody said it was against the rules so why not?
"So you're rooming with Freddie huh?" Riley asked as we walked slightly behind Michelle and Hayden who seemed to be storming ahead
"Yeah, he's definetly a character" I said making her roll her eyes
"Ignore him. He got dumped over these letters so he's not the most pleasant person to be around" Riley said attempting to defend him

"It isn't me I'm worried about, Eldon is in the woods alone with him" I laughed making Riley quickly join in
"In that case, I'd shoot his a text every couple hours" Riley said making me chuckle
"what's the story there? I know you said you grew up with him and Hayden but he's very full on" I asked

"honestly, I don't know. I can't remember a time he wasn't like it, I guess I just got used to it" She explained
"it's kind of how protective you are with Piper but amplified. You seem like the time to sit back and watch until she needs you. Fred doesn't give me that chance" she continued
"The chance?" I asked
"The chance to make a mistake, to do something that might not benefit anyone but me" she said making me sigh
"well hey, if you ever want an escape. I know 5 people who would happily come be your escape for a couple hours" I smiled

"you know, Thalia and Michelle said that after getting Eldon's messages about Freddie last night" She giggled
"We are a close knit bunch that is for sure" I said and she nodded
"We used to be the same" She said looking out to Hayden
"Used to?" I asked and she nodded

"I'm tight knit with the girls, they know everything, Hayden knows 90% of things and Freddie, well he knows what he needs to know" she said
"Sometimes that is the best way for it to be" I offered and she nodded
"until it all explodes" She said 
"Like all hidden secrets?" I asked making her smile 

"Like all hidden secrets" she said quoting her letter just like I had