Battlefield of Changes

Outcast

After we got to the site, I realised that the place where we were setting up tents, was nowhere near the car park, or near anything. We walked for a solid 25 minutes before arriving at a clearing that Mike told us to set up camp at.

It was basically a space surrounded by trees, with a campfire spot in the middle, and we had to set our tents up around the outside of it.

Since Ryan and I have a massive tent, Mai Lee helped us put it up and unpack everything before heading off to help Mike organise a BBQ.

Ryan and I were each in our own little room inside the tent, with the Zips undone so we could see each other whilst we set up our airbeds and sleeping bags. Tyler managed to break the air pump because he's so stupid so everybody except him and the younger kids had to blow up their tents properly. Luckily, Mike had ours done for us.

I went outside and helped Mike set up some picnic blankets and campers chairs before lying down in my tent waiting for dinner to be ready. It wasn't sunny but it was fairly mild and only slightly chilly. Tonight we were having a campfire before bed and I saw Mike pack his guitar meaning we could be doing some singing which I'm really excited for. Yes ok I'm into singing but that doesn't make me any more soft got it?

"Hey" Ryan whispered as he stepped into my side of the tent.
"Hey" I said back, sitting up and letting him in.

He sat down on the air bed bedside me.

"Are you ok?"
"Yeah" I nodded. "Although it isn't even dark and we have only been here an hour so there's not much chance of me not being alright."
"Guess so."

Just the, Floss came into the tent.
"Carmen told me to give you this" she said handing me a piece of paper with my name on it, before leaving the tent.

I opened up the paper to see a note written on it.

'Meet in your tent just after dusk before the campfire so we can play some fun games.
-C'

"Fun games?" I questioned.
"Don't look at me. I think we should do it. You know, so you and Carmen can make friends?"
"Same. It will be great to get to know her, even if I don't like her."
"Tee will be there as well."
"Yeah, I like Tee"
"I don't"
"Yeah I gathered that."

"GRUBS UP!" Shouted Mike enthusiastically from outside, where the BBQ was.

We both ran out and joined the queue for the BBQ. Everybody else was already outside and by the time we had our hot dogs all the chairs were gone, so we had to sit on the floor.

"Tomorrow morning, providing the weather holds, we will be going on a scavenger  hunt before lunch then heading back here for a water fight!" Mai Lee announced.

Everybody looked happy at the water fight, but angry at the scavenger hunt and honestly, I don't blame them. Walking round looking for things in the middle of the woods all alone? Well with a team but it still isn't safe!

After another long argument Carmen cleared her throat looking at me, then Ryan, then Tee.

"We're gonna go and chill in Ryan and Marie's tent for a while whilst you guys, battle it out over here" Tee said as we all ran away into the tent. I don't think anybody even noticed.

Once we were in the big middle room where most of the bags were, Carmen suggested we play truth or dare. She went first.

"I choose truth."

"Out of all the boys in the DG, who would you rather have to kiss?" Tee asked with a grin on her face. Carmen thought for a moment before saying

"Bailey" she stated.
"Thank goodness" Ryan sighed.

"Why Bailey?" I asked.
"Because if he ever becomes a star footballer I want to be able to say that I kissed him once!"
"Fair enough."

Tee went and chose truth, she ended up telling us about a time when she wet herself at school! Then Ryan was dared to take some of Mike's clothes, which he somehow did without being caught.

Then, it was my turn.

"Truth" I chose truth because I didn't want to get into any trouble on my second day.

"What were all those texts about yesterday?"
Tee must have noticed my sad expression and so did Ryan.

"Tell me!" Carmen demanded, getting angry.

"Look I don't think..."

"It's only fair!"

"FINE!" I snapped. I went into my room and grabbed the phone which had a couple new messages on it that I didn't bother reading before showing Carmen.

"Oh." She said awkwardly.

"Let me see?" Said Tee, who then looked on the screen.

"You're being bullied?"

I snatched the phone back before saying...
"No sh*t Sherlock. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to get ready for the fire. Mikes started to light it and it's getting really dark."

I stormed off into my room and zipped it shut.
I then got changed into my pyjamas and put my shawl on over the top. When I came out, I discovered Ryan had saved me a seat on a log next to the fire. I went and sat next to him and immediately rested my head on his shoulder as he put his arm round my waist.

"The girl on your phone never even gave you a chance to explain, did she?"
I shook my head. Then Mike began to play a few chords, then started singing something I've never heard so I just relaxed and listened whilst leaning on Ryan who was gently swaying to the music.

When the song was over everybody clapped at Mike but then Ryan said something shocking.

"Let Marie have a go. She's great at singing!"

"How do you know that?" I asked looking up at him.

"I heard you in the shower this morning. Not complaining, it was a nice way to wake up." He said smiling.

"Marie do you want to?" Mike asked. Everybody began to encourage me so I took the guitar that Mike was holding out and asked what people wanted me to sing.

"Sing the one that you wrote in your diary!" Floss said innocently.

"How did you...?"

"Carmen said she saw it and it was really good."

I don't believe it. Carmen the evil witch read my diary! All my feelings and all my songs were in there.

"You told them?" I looked at Carmen. "And you read my diary?"

"Only because I saw it lying around, besides your songs are really good and I think you should share at least one of them!"

Everyone gave me pleading looks.

"Fine" I sighed before strumming the first few nots of the song I wrote when I first arrived.

"I wrote this one when I was in bed after I first arrived. You know, after the water bomb and all that"

(See video at top of page)

As I finished the song, I felt myself begin to cry. I don't want anybody to see my cry, not again because I'm not a cry baby. I quickly handed the guitar back to Mike before wiping my eyes and standing up.

"I'm going to bed"

"Marie wait!" I heard Ryan say, but I chose to ignore him.

I ran into the tent, dived into my sleeping bag and shut my eyes, shutting out the rest of the world, all the haters and the judgers. I just want to bury myself in the covers and cry.

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A/N

So Marie is a singer. I don't own this song and it isn't my work. All credit goes to Caroline Dare. She has an amazing music channel on you tube, you should definitely go and check it out!

Ly xxx