Learning A Lake ✔

- Nine -

♢ Laura ♢

I really really really need to pee. My neon blue alarm clock showed the time: 02:34am. I gave in and got out of bed and slumped towards the bathroom. It was completely silent here apart from the occasional owl and the low hum of crickets in the grass that muffled through the open window.

I walked back from the bathroom towards my cosy bed but for some reason I turned my gaze towards Rachel's bed.
"Shit!" I whispered loudly. She's gone. Katie slowly sat up, she's a light sleeper.
"What? Go back to sleep Laura!" she moaned and rubbed her eyes. I quickly put the light on. "Rachel's gone!" I snapped. "So?" she questioned. "She's probably just gone to see Matt, turn the bloody light off." She stated before laying back down and covering her head with the duvet. My eyes widened at the mention of his name, I stormed over to her bed and tugged the covers off of her. "Hey!" She whined trying to pull the covers out of my arms.
"That is exactly why I'm concerned!" I shrieked and chucked her covers onto the floor.
"She'll be fine, stop panicking for fucks sake Laura, what's gotten into you!" Katie hissed back at me reaching towards her covers.
"SHE CAN'T BE WITH HIM, SHE JUST CAN'T." my voice cracked, here come the tears. I slumped onto Rachel's empty bed and Katie saw the hurt in my voice and came and sat next to me.
"Laura, calm down. Why are you over reacting?" Katie lowered her tone.
"She ju-just can't be with him!" I stuttered quickly. 

"There's something you aren't telling me, Laura?" She turned to face me with worry flooding her expression.
"W-when I left to call my sister earlier... he-he... Matt followed me." The tears started to fall now. Katie fell silent and let me continue. "He had been drinking, he tried to take... advantage of me." I almost whispered and pulled my knees up to my chest. Her jaw dropped.
"Laura! Why didn't you tell me?" She pleaded and stood up in shock.
"I tried to! I was with Ryan afterwards when you and Rachel came out of the hall. He and Oscar had dragged him off me. Oscar took him back to their cabin. You both wondered off too quickly because you assumed me and Ryan were having a moment..." I said getting up and putting my hoodie on.
"I'm sorry. I should have spoken to you." Katie sulked.
"It's fine, you weren't to know. Ryan calmed me down, I just knew I should have stopped you both to warn you. That doesn't matter now, I'm more worried about Rachel, I don't want a repeat of earlier!" I explained and shivered at the thought of Matt.
"If he hurts Rachel too, he won't be at camp much longer." Katie hissed as she began to get dressed too. 

"I think there is more to it than that. Ryan mentioned that he thought bringing him here would do him good, I think he has a problem with alcohol. He needs help." I stated.
"He just tried to rape you and now you are defending him?" Katie raised her voice again.
"Shh! I'm not defending him and he didn't try to rape me! I'm mentally hurt after what he's done but I think there's more to it than meets the eye. I don't want him to get kicked out of camp." I then slipped my converse on and headed towards the door.

"If that's not what happened, then what did happen?" Katie stopped me in my tracks before I could leave the cabin. 

"He just tried to kiss me, that's it." I reassured her and walked ahead towards the boys cabin. 

---

I lightly knocked on the cabin door.
"That won't wake them up!" Katie stated and banged on the door several times. After a few seconds a light flickered on and we heard footsteps coming towards the door. A very sleepy Ryan who had just put a dark grey dressing gown on opened the door. He seemed very surprised when he saw me and Katie stood on the porch half asleep. I had to admit he looked cute with bed hair, I couldn't help but look at his bare chest showing through the dressing gown.
"What on earth do you two want?" He glanced down at his watch. "It's nearly three in the morning!" He stated.