Cabin 13 ~Book 1~

19

I couldn't move and I definitely couldn't breathe. My thoughts were consumed with flashes of my past with Ethan. All throughout the assembly I kept sneaking looks at him out of the corner of my eye. He sat there silently, looking ahead and smirking.

"This week the green group has been assigned dance techniques." The announcer said.

I heard Jesse groan from next to me as my face paled.

Dance Techniques? Really! It's just my luck that the day my rapist ex from the past comes back and somehow ends up in my camp group, we're assigned the most coupely activity ever.

"Do you want to be my partner?" Ethan whispered into my ear as we stood up. "We could...catch up. I've missed you Syd."

Jesse frowned. "Wait, you know each other?" He exclaimed.

"Yeah, we know each other well, don't we Sydney?" Ethan prompted.

Suddenly all eyes turned to me.

It took all that was in me to keep my face neutral and nod my head.

"Were you guys friends at school or something?" Tara asked, joining the conversation.

"You could say that." Ethan chuckled and ran his fingers through his dirty blond hair. "I haven't seen her in a while which is why I'm so happy that we were both sent to the same camp."

"Sydney doesn't look too happy to see you." Jesse observed. He came to stand next to me and pulled me roughly to his side. "I hope the relationship between you and my girlfriend didn't end badly."

"Not at all, right Sydney?" Ethan asked, his amber eyes boring into mine.

For some reason I couldn't find the voice to speak up about my past with Ethan. I didn't want anyone to know about what he had almost done to me. If he would let me, I just wanted to move on. Which is exactly why I replied:

"Nope, we just drifted apart."

Ethan grinned. "And I'm hoping that we can start over."

"Me too." I chuckled nervously.

"Great, now that that's cleared up, let's make our way to the gym. That's where you'll be taking dance techniques." Logan sneered.

As he led the way Tara pulled me away from Jesse and had us walk ahead of everybody.

"Okay, what's the real deal with Mr. Ryan Gosling over there?" She asked.

"What are you talking about? I just said that we were friends a while ago." I covered quickly.

"I'm not an idiot Sydney, I know that you guys didn't just 'drift apart'." Tara explained. "I want the truth. Did he do something to you? Did you date?"

I sighed. "No, he just-"

"What are you ladies whispering about?" Ethan asked as he came up to us. He walked in between us and rested his arms across our shoulders.

"Nothing." Tara muttered and pushed his arm off of her. She walked away then, leaving us both behind.

"Geez, what's up her ass?" Ethan joked.

"Nothing, she just doesn't like to be touched without her permission, you know, kind of like me. But you didn't care back then, did you?"I snapped.

I watched Ethan's normally golden brown eyes darken.

"That was a long time ago Syd, I've changed since then."

"You changed? Haha." I laughed sarcastically. "You've changed in 8 months?"

"Yes I have. I didn't know that you would be here but I'm happy that I found you. I will spend the rest of the summer making it up to you if I have to. What I did to you was really wrong and for that I am truly sorry." He told me.
"Yeah right." I responded and tried to side step him.
"Damn it Sydney, I'm serious." Ethan growled.

I stopped walking then and looked at him, and I mean really looked at him. I have to say, Ethan really looked sorry. I hate to say it, but I found myself believing him.

"Okay, but don't think me forgiving you means that we're friends now." I warned. "I have a boyfriend now."

"Oh yeah," Ethan frowned, "I remember him from the juvenile detention center I attended. Jesse Peirce right?"

I nodded.

"What are you doing with him Sydney? That guy is bad news."

I scoffed. "Like you're one to talk."

"I'm serious, I mean I've done some pretty messed up things in my life but even I can't hold a flame to the infamous Jesse Peirce." Ethan admitted.

"Whatever, I don't need relationship advice from you of all people." I hissed, feeling defensive.

How dare he call Jesse dangerous? What was the expression again? The pot calling the kettle black.

"I'm just trying to look out for you." Ethan defended.

"Well don't." With that said I brushed past him and walked into the gym.