7 Minutes ✧ Syndisparklez

Favor

"What the fuck, what the fuck are we going to do?" Jordan's panicked voice mumbled behind my shoulder.

"I'm going to kill him-" Tom grunted, lifting himself off the ground. "I'm tired of this shit! We finally got back to a semi-normal routine, and he has to come back around to ruin it? Not again."

"Tom, don't do anything stupid-" Ethan began, following Tom out of the tent.

"Stupid? I'm sure whatever I'll do will be better than what you've done!"

"What do you think I've done?" Ethan asked back in defense. I scurried out of the tent to follow the two; Jojo followed suit. I barked out quick instructions for Jordan and Alice to stay in the tent.

"That's the thing, you've done NOTHING! You've done jack shit!" Tom was screaming now, his heated tone echoed amongst the tree tops.

"I've done everything I can-"

"It's not enough!" Tom shouted, shoving against Ethan's chest. "It's not enough, because my boyfriend and I are still receiving threats, and we're in no position to defend ourselves right now. He's suffering from PTSD, we're both struggling to fix our relationship, and my sister is pregnant; the last thing I need right now is a team of psychopathic freaks threatening my family. Yet, no matter who I turn to - including the GOD DAMN AUTHORITIES - they won't do shit!"

"That doesn't give you the right to kill him-"

"Damn right it does!" Tom pushed against Ethan once more.

"Put your hands on my husband one more time, and see what happens," Jojo threatened, standing in between the two.

"All that will get you is a free-ride to a lifetime in prison," Ethan spat.

"Good! At least I'd know my family is safe. I'd serve every day with a fucking smile on my face."

"You won't do it," Ethan taunted, then turned away from the conversation.

"Watch me," Tom hissed, poking his finger harshly against the detective's spine.

"You motherfucker!" Jojo screeched, pounding his fists against Tom's skull. "I told you not to fucking touch him!"

"Hey!" I shouted, rushing to break the fight apart. Chaos surrounded the whole camp, as messy insults and curses were thrown around in between flying fists of fury.

Ethan tried to pull Jojo away, but the adrenaline made the two scrawny men extremely strong - not to mention full of determination to beat the other to a bloody pulp.

"Enough!" A tired scream brought all action to a hault, as one of Ethan's empty glass beer bottles shattered against a nearby stone. "Stop fighting for shit's sake!" Alice heaved out, all eyes now glued on her disheveled figure. "Can't you see? This is what they want; they're going to try and pull us all apart so they can kick us while we're down."

"Well... it's working," Tom sighed.

"Clearly. I swear to god you guys, I'm so tired of fighting-" Alice's eyes began to well up with tears, her voice quivering. "And I just want some god damn sleep because I'm so pregnant and everything hurts. I haven't gotten a good nights sleep in the past month, so could you all do me and my unborn child a favor and shut the fuck up?"

We all stayed quiet for a while, allowing the crickets to chirp their midnight hymns once more.

Jojo pushed Tom away from him, muttering something under his breath before retreating to his own tent.

"Goodnight everybody," Ethan chimed, forcing a smile.

"'Night," Tom replied quickly, crawling back into his shared tent with Jordan.

I quietly snuggled under the cover of my sleeping bag, basking in the warmth of the furry blankets. The crumpled plastic ceiling danced above me, casting shadows of mythical creatures whispering the stories of their ancestors. When I bored myself of the childish hallucinations, I focused instead on the faint conversation in the next tent over:

"I'm here, baby... nothing's going to happen. I promise."

"Tom, you're bleeding-"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is we're going to be okay, I'll make sure of it."

"You really think so?"

"Of course... just imagine us two in our own house with a big comfy bedroom for us to lounge around and cuddle in all day. When we get married, maybe Alice's baby could be the ring bearer or the flower girl-"

"When we get married? I don't see a ring," Jordan stifled a laugh.

"You're getting ahead of me, but we'll worry about it later. You should get some sleep, love."

"You want to marry me?"

"Goodnight Jordan."