Bullied, Loved, & Confused

"What do I have to do to get you to open up and relax more?" He whispered.
The question took me by surprise.
"W-why?"
"Because you're so quiet and withdrawn; hiding in your personal shell. Why?"
Not the reply I was expecting from the captain of the idiot team.
"Because..."
"'Because' what?"
I looked away from his blue eyes and saw that most of the students were giving us to their undivided attention. I looked at Chase.
"People are starting to watch," I whispered.
"Who cares?" He said. He wrapped his arm around my waist and tightly held me.

Willow is withdrawn and quiet; preferring to be left alone to her own devices. Following her therapist's advice, not that she had a choice, Willow goes on a week long trip with her senior class to 'open her up to new lifelong connections' as her therapist says. Her classmates, aka her bullies, definitely aren't the people she'd want lifelong friendships with, nonetheless spend a full week surrounded by... until she gains an unexpected advocate.