Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 15: Rise and Shine!

Warm breath was the first thing Emilia felt when she woke up.

To be exact, honey scented breath.

Her eyes fluttered open, gaze traveling to Tony in her half conscious wake.

Emilia groaned loudly when the bright sun crashed harshly upon her eyes. She hastily rubbed them, ridding the probable sleep boogers in her bleary orbs.

Tony was still shirtless, sleeping peacefully right beside her. A muscular arm was wrapped around her waist tightly, as if she was a teddy bear.

She tried to move his arm, but to no avail as it was firmly secured around her. She sighed, but at the same time was relieved. Tony not letting her go gave her a excuse to rest her eyes more.

And God! She needed it.

She felt utterly sleep deprived, like she had stayed up all night.
Which consequently, she technically had. She fuzzily remembered that she fell asleep at around 3 am. As she became more self aware, all the memories came flooding back rapidly.

Her finding Arthur and Tony passionately making out behind the tree. Tony dragging her towards a lake. The late night swim, and Tony telling her his sexuality story. Her fists curled up, when she recalled what Tony parents had put him through.

Through her silent cursing of his parents, Tony stirred, letting out a low moan. Her profanities halted, flickering her eyes over towards him. He gave her a faint sleepy smile, as he lifted his head up, lightly removing his grasp on her waist.

"Hello sunshine" He chirped "Sleep well I hope?"

She stared drowsily at him, her nose upturned.  "I don't get it. How are you so cheerful in the morning?" She grumbled not exactly enjoying his positivity in the early am hours.

"I'm use to it I guess" he said back nonchalantly "I normally work out around this time routinely"

Emilia gaped at him in horror. "By choice?!"

He chortled at her "Yes by choice. It's actually quite refreshing to do once you get use to it"

"I sincerely doubt that"

"Believe what you will, the routine works for me"

He hummed happily before standing up, stretching out sore muscles from the night before. Emilia was still splayed sloppily on the ground, looking like she had no intention to move.

Tony cracked a smile when he saw this, holding out a hand. "Come on Em. We're already in trouble for disappearing for the night" he reasoned, nudging her shoulder as he kneeled down. "Don't want to make it worse with more added time" He added, trying to persuade her.

Emilia sighed, but relented and grasped Tony's outstretched hand.

"1...2...3!" He counted before effortlessly pulling her up, as if she was a rag doll.

He balanced Emilia steadily when she almost lost balance, nearly falling into the unforgiving cool waters. She smiled gratefully at him, before releasing her hand from his.

Although the happiness was short lived as she began to feel a gnawing ache in her back.

Emilia winced as she stretched, feeling bones crack as she swayed side to side. That dock had done nothing good for her body.

This goes without saying, but hard wood floors were not for sleeping.

"You good?" Tony asked concern in his tone.

She waved him off "Yeah" she yawned "Just tired and sore"

"So the usual?" He quipped

She grinned "The usual"

After the last comment they started to head back to camp, Tony practically gliding through the grass with his long legs, while Emilia trekked gloomily behind him. Tony had to remind her several times to stop lagging, which she just responded with a tired glare. As she's said before, she was not a morning person.

"Are we there yet?" She asked wincing regrettably when she discovered it sounded a lot like she was whining.

She hated whining, and she couldn't believe she had done it. Her mother taught her better than that.

Thank her lucky stars when she found that Tony wasn't annoyed by her childish complaining.

Not looking back, he answered her. "Only a few minutes, we're almost there!"

"That's what you said twenty minutes ago!" Emilia pointed out.

He turned his head "Now when did I ever say that?" He asked feigning innocence.

"Twenty minutes ago!" She bit back.

He clucked his tongue "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't"

"Oh. So you were fibbing the whole time?"

"It was for your own good. For encouragement. Let's be real Em, you would've quit a long time ago if I told you we were still miles away"

Emilia didn't want to admit it, but sadly Tony was right. She would've given up.

Ironically, she loved camping, but hated hiking. There was a reason why she had avoided past Quarry Hill trips.

But luckily, true to Tony's word they arrived roughly three minutes later. And they were not prepared for the sight that greeted them.

Ali, Arthur, and the other Five were gathered around the fire, all murmuring words to one another. Tony and Emilia could clearly see the group had gotten less sleep than they had. All of them had bags under their eyes from forcing themselves to stay awake the whole night.

Tony and Emilia exchanged glances, neither knowing how to approach them. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Emilia tentatively took a step forward. Unknowingly, she snapped a sharp twig under her sandal.

Hearing the sound, six pairs of fatigued eyes met them. All varied in facial expressions. Ali was possibly the only positive reaction from the group.

She squeaked in alarm, quickly running to give Emilia a hug, which she returned happily.
Letting go of Ali, she shivered at all the stares she was being given.

Eden and Nicholas wore identical scowls, as they leered at both Emilia and Tony alike.
Normally chipper February had a impassive look on her face, her lips in a straight line.

Arthur looked beyond pissed as he glared at Tony, mouthing a 'Where were you?'. Tony bashfully blushed from his concern, looking away shyly.

But the worst of all was definitely the leader in the middle. Harsh electric blue eyes locked onto her, making her freeze. Emilia could fearfully see anger rising to the surface as he vehemently stared at her. His dark eyebrows narrowing on his chiseled face as he scrutinized her.

Emilia couldn't help but think she was on trial, ready to be proven guilty.

She shivered when she heard him say his first words, goosebumps traveling up her skin.

"Where have you been?!" He asked huskily, his voice filled with barely restrained anger. 

"Ummm lake?" She squeaked her voice unsure.

"For twelve hours?" He asked his voice becoming softer, but no less dangerous.

Emilia tried to maintain contact with him, to portray that she wasn't afraid of him.

In fact she wanted to stand up to him. After all who was he to reprimand her? He wasn't her father for God's sake! He had no right!

But Emilia was never one who could fake emotions or confrontation. Sure, she had insulted Eden and put her in her place, but she rarely ever did that. She tended to avoid people like her at all costs.

Don't get her wrong, Emilia could be brave when she wanted to be, but she could also be a total coward as well.

All Emilia knew in this moment was that Tatum Beaumont was far scarier than a typical mean girl.