Chapter six: Scottie (continued) She chooses a seat and sits next to Norberto as I sit down beside her, I could feel the awkwardness radiating from the group at the table. Mina walked in and sat down inbetween Zac and Emory and started the conversation, "so guys, what deals are coming up?" I glance at Silas, he remains stone-faced. That's how he got his nickname stoneheart. His heart is as cold as his expression. "We have a deal with a gang across town. One of the other big guys. Paul, John and Dylan are the ones we are corresponding with." Silas replies cooly. The name Dylan catches Leila's attention so she pries a little, "who are they?" Me and Zac glance at each other. He's just realised why it caught Leila's attention. Dylan and Leila look similar. They must be related. "Just members of a gang across the river that way." Emory replies pointing with his fork out the window. Mina catches mine and Zac's glance and takes it as her cue. "I've finished and the washing up is screaming clean me, so I'm going to the kitchen." She stands up, me and Zac quickly following her example. I shut the door behind me, "what is it boys?" She asks. "When Silas said Dylan, it caught Leila's attention, she perked up slightly, as if she knew the name." I started, Zac continued for me. "We both realised how Leila seemed familiar. Dylan must be..." Rey walked into the room, bringing a few plates in and placing them down. "Carry on guys, ignore me. I've worked it out and so has Emory. But that's only because the others haven't seen Dylan. When they do they'll think Leila's a spy." Rey says so casually and we all stare at him. The last three words flash across my mind. Leila's a spy. That could be true. Could explain why she is protective of her bag. But that leaves me and Silas in the firing line as well. Silas is the 'boss' and I'm his brother. We definitely would be dead if that got revealed. "That is true. They are almost the spitting image of each other." Mina mumbled. Zac nodded "they must be siblings. There's no other explanation." We all nod in agreement.
Chapter seven: Norberto When Scottie, Zac and Mina walked out, I got suspicious, but then Leila started talking to me. She was a nice girl; I could see why Scottie took a liking to her. They seemed very close already. “You’re Norberto right?” She asks, and then she puts a mushroom in her mouth. “Yes, I’m surprised you remembered.” She looks at me confused, “why wouldn’t I remember?” I laugh, “well you had loads of names chucked at you yesterday.” She smiled and replied “I can remember everyone’s name.” I raise an eyebrow and ask curiously “really?” She nods and points out everyone as she says their name. “Obviously, I’m Leila, you’re Norberto. Scottie, Zac and mina went into the kitchen. That’s Silas, Emory, Rey, Will, Herman, Almon and Carlo.” I nod in reply. Rey finishes eating, picks up the empty bacon plate and goes into the kitchen, and we hear a small bit of their conversation. "Seemed familiar. Dylan must be..." it was Zac talking and the conversation got cut off by the door. That must be an interesting conversation. Every so often I see Emory glance at Leila as if he is trying to figure out something. It has to be something to do with Dylan, but what don’t I know? Leila studies me for a second, “you’re German aren’t you?” I nod, “how do you know?” She finishes her food and has some apple juice; “your accent and the typical blonde hair gave it away. Hitler’s image of perfection, even though he had black hair.” I laugh “that is true. I try not to think about that era of my history.” She gets up, picking her plate up “anyone would want to. See you around.” She walks into the kitchen past Silas who glares at her back. What is up with him?
Chapter 8: Leila (first half) I walk into the kitchen, "you really don't know how awkward it is out there." I wash up my plate and look up. Everybody was watching me. "What have I missed? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Rey mumbles something and walks out into the hall. "You recognised a name didn't you." Zac says softly. I shake my head "it's nothing. Don't worry about it." Scottie wraps his arms around my waist from behind, leaning his head on my shoulder. "Are you sure?" He whispers when everyone else is distracted, I reply, my voice barely a whisper, "I don't know." My stomach felt like a pit, even though I just ate. I recognised the name. I just didn't want to believe it. I pushed those thoughts aside and relax into Scottie's arms, grateful for the support. We said our goodbyes and headed back to his room. I hated breakfast today, I hope tomorrow isn't as bad. As Scottie reached for the book on his shelf, I ducked under his arm and faced him. His eyes looked surprised and then playful. I suddenly thought to myself this wasn't a good idea. He still hasn't put a shirt on and the only place I could look without feeling awkward was his eyes. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him. "Thank you for earlier." I whispered in his ear then burying my head in his neck. "What for?" He replied moving loose hair from the plait away from my face. "I recognised a name," I admit, he nods slightly, "I can't think of where I know it from." He starts stroking the back of my neck gently with his thumb. "Don't worry about it. We got to get you a couple of bits. Down the corridor we have a room with clothes in that we inherited so to speak." I take my head out of his neck. He's put his book on his desk and picks me up. I squeal from surprise and start laughing as he backs out of his door and walked down the hall. He enters a room three doors down and I look around. He wasn't kidding about the clothes. There were rails sorted into gender and sizes. He puts me on my feet and I instantly go to the rail with my size, 12. I find a suit for stealing like Scottie's, and I put it over my arm. Suddenly a basket materialises beside me. I look at it and then follow the arms that are holding it and I see Scottie standing there. "So you like that?" He asks curiously looking at the outfit on my arm raising an eyebrow. I just stick my tongue out and continue looking. I find several pairs of jeans, some ripped in places, tops, a variety from crop tops to long tops that could be worn like a dress. Also a leather jacket, several hoodies and cardiagans, dresses, skirts. The basket was only half full, and I only picked up three pairs of shoes. A black pair of soft-soled hunting shoes, red canvas high tops, and black dolly shoes. Scottie looked at my collection and looked at me, "ready?" The door opens and then shuts. Carlo walks in and I freeze as I see a gun in his jacket and a knife up his sleeve. "Yeah." I reply quietly, brushing past Scottie touching his arm with my hand and walk out the room. I just catch Carlo saying "what's up with her?" I can visualise Scottie shrugging and following me. I feel a hand on my shoulder and hear a voice I haven't heard before. "Are you okay?" I turn around to find Will looking at me. "Yeah." I reply, he's smaller than me at about 5 foot 6. So I can see Scottie approaching me where I'm stood outside his room talking to Will. As he saw me looking behind him, he turned round, nodded to Scottie and continued walking. I held open the door for Scottie and he put the basket the main bed. He walked into his wardrobe, grabbed some jeans, a t-shirt, and his pants with socks, "I'll be having a shower." I nod, looking through the basket, avoiding looking at him. He lays across the bed beside the basket, "is my chest too distracting?" He asks teasingly, then I chuck a top in his face laughing "why do you want to know?" I answer taking the top from him. "Fine then. I'll be five minutes." He tells me going into the bathroom and I hear the shower running. I get changed into a red t-shirt with ripped light blue jeans, the red converse shoes and grabbed the leather jacket. I take the opportunity of alone time to go out onto the balcony.
Chapter 8: Leila (continued) The view was nice. Scottie had the right position to look at the forest surrounding the house as well as the view of their garden; there was a concrete area and then a drop. What could that be? I put on the jacket and wrapped my arms around my middle. The birds were singing. The river was undisturbed apart from a family of ducks. The river came through my home town, and headed down to the next town. From a rough guess, I would say this mansion is half way between the two. I stand there so quietly that a bird lands on the railings. It’s a robin, with its proud red chest standing out against the dull brown. It lets me stroke the top of its head and that’s when I hear movement behind me. The bird flies away scared by the fact it could be a predator, even though it’s just Scottie. “What are you doing out here?” he asks softly yet I don’t turn round to face him. “I wanted to have a look. What’s down at the end of the concrete?” I ask and he moves behind me and holds my hands. “It’s a beach.” He replies like it’s nothing. I turn round to face him by twisting my arms as we both had our arms crossed “really?” he nods in reply. He’s wearing a light grey hoodie; I can’t see the top he is wearing, black jeans and his soft soled boots, so his obvious movement was on purpose to get my attention. He shows me the phone he’s got in his pocket. There’s a picture of me stroking the robin, just the pair of us in the main focus, with the background looking like it was placed there for effect. He was stood behind me indoors for longer than I thought. I put my head on his shoulder, “so what are we doing today?” I ask, looking away from him. He laughs gently in my ear and wraps his arms around my waist, “well, we’re sorting your room out.” I nod and see a door open a couple of rooms down. Silas walks out, looks at me and Scottie, walks back inside again shutting the door, while shaking his head. I take my head off of his shoulder “what room is it?” he points to the one just before Silas’s room. “You’re sticking me between you and your brother? I’m already separating you two.” He laughs and turns me around to face the river, then moves across slightly. Next thing I know I’m on his lap while he’s sat in a chair. “He’s just jealous that for once a girl hasn’t fallen for him. They always prefer him over me. You’re different. He just doesn’t like it.” “Why do they prefer him over you anyway?” I ask out of genuine curiosity. Scottie replies blankly “he’s an older man in charge of a gang, he’s a bad person, although he wasn’t before. So to other girls he’s a danger, and most girls like dangerous guys.” I look at Scottie and ruffles his hair, “I prefer you.” I get up from his lap and walk inside. He follows me quickly. I put the extra clothes in my bag, keeping my dark blue outfit and soft soled boots out. He notices and picks them up, “I take it you guessed we were going to do some training as well?” I laugh this time “as if you wearing your stealing shoes made it that obvious.” He picks up his own costume and leads me out the room. we head downstairs to a room near the back of the house. You would usually miss the room unless you knew the dimensions of the mansion. this room was covered with mats and several weapons in cupboards. There was also a few changing rooms so we both got changed. After I finished getting changed I stepped out into the room and looked at it in more detail. There was a punching bag hanging on the wall. The cupboards had pictures of guns, knives and swords on them so you could tell what the cupboard contents were. Scottie stepped out of his changing room. The outfit defined his muscles, so anyone who sees him in that knows they could be in trouble. Although what they don't know is Scottie wouldn't harm a fly.
Chapter nine: Scottie (first part) She looked so innocent stood there, her eyes searching the room. Her plait stayed in well considering how many times she has got changed already today. I step from the carpet onto the giant mat in the floor of the room. She joins me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What do you what to learn first? We aren't using any weapons." I tell her when she glances at the cupboards. "Can you teach me to defend myself in close combat?" She asks innocently and my chest warms a little. "I know someone who could help with that. You know Tamie don't you?" I ask her. She falls onto the mat laughing. "Tamie? Really? You aren't pulling my leg are you?" She manages to say between laughter. I stare at her blankly and shake my head, "I'm not pulling your leg. You could go and meet the twins and bring them here. They both know how to defend themselves." Leila gets up when she stops laughing "I understand Kathie, but I should warn you, Tamie could bite today, I had to drag her back to their apartment." She walks out the room to get the twins. I don't what she found so funny about Tamie. Obviously she drinks a lot but that's only to forget how her mum died. The poor thing witnessed it. I hear laughter and Tamie grumbling from outside the door and the trio walk in. "So what are we teaching Le?" Kathie asks. "What I taught you guys." Kathie nods in reply and walks onto the mat with Leila while Tamie sits under the window. Kathie got in a defensive position and started talking Leila through what to do. "So if anyone threatens you, stand like this." Leila mirrors Kathie. "Try and block these next few shots." Kathie continued and sent five different shots Leila's way. The first one went to her right arm, Leila batted her arm away like it was a fly and defended the next kick by ducking and twisting so she goes behind Kathie. In response Kathie tried to elbow Leila, but she grabbed her arm and pulled her to the floor. Leila pinned Kathie to the floor and smiled slightly thinking the fight was over. Boy was she wrong. Kathie pushed Leila off her and then as a reponse Leila rolled away from Kathie taking the defensive position after standing up. Kathie smiled this time and glanced quickly at Leila's leg, she clipped the back of it with her foot, but then Kathie was sprawled on the floor as Leila had used the off-balance to push Kathie to ground again and pinned her down with her arm. Leila laughed "I'm surprised you let yourself go off-balance." She got up and helped Kathie. "That was good. How did you learn that?" Kathie asks, Tamie replies for Leila, "she analysed the situation and how she could overcome it like she always does." Kathie swapped with her twin. "Well now it's your turn." Tamie laughed and warned Leila "I'm more grumpy this morning by the way so watch out." Leila just smiled in response and glanced at me. I nodded, she smiled and caught Tamie's hand as it flew at Leila. She turned to look at Tamie "good try." Then she twisted her arm slightly, brought her leg up and caught the back of Tamie's knee. Tamie fell face first onto the mat, Leila stepped to the side and then brought Tamie's arm behind her back. We all started laughing and Tamie grumbled "give me a chance." Leila replied "you took it and it went wrong." I helped the girls up. Tamie sat by Kathie and they both looked at me. "We've had our turn, it's your go." Kathie said. I watched Leila. What plan has she got in her head? I didn't see her slide through my legs and then she kicked my knees. I fell on the floor like Tamie but rolled onto my back before Leila got to me. I kicked out at her. She caught my leg and then she dropped it. I didn't know where she was as I kept my head still. Her breathing rung in my ears. Before I knew it, she had me pinned down with her arm across my chest. As she was lighter than me, I used her weight at my advantage.
Chapter nine Scottie (continued) I gripped her arm, but not too tight. In my head I could picture her eyes widening slightly. I pulled her so her stomach was on mine, then I pushed over my head so she was in the air momentarily and she broke the fall by rolling. I get on my knees and see her on her feet. A small fire was in her eyes. Not good. I just managed to block three rapidly fired punches, then she kicked the side of my left leg and I fall onto the mat. I raise my hands "that's fine, we don't need to do any more." Leila smiled and helped me up. Kathie and Tamie were sat laughing, but they soon stop when I glare at them "well that's us done, see you guys later." The pair walk out into the room. I look back at Leila, she's looking in the gun cabinet. I sneak up behind her as she's looking at an empty pistol by turning it in her hand. "Do you like that one?" I ask in her ear and she jumps putting the gun down quickly. She turns round to face me. Our faces are inches apart. "I was wondering if we could repeat what we done but we have empty guns as well." I nod slightly, my nose just missing hers. "Sure, we would have to put the holsters on though if you want." She laughs and looks into my eyes. Her innocent, intriguing and inert eyes watching my icy ocean eyes. I take her hand gently and lead her out the cupboard. "Get your jacket and put it on, it will help." She nods and picks up mine as well. I pick up the gun Leila was looking ay earlier. I start putting on a shoulder holster, and I picked an awkward one. While I was struggling, Leila walked over, moved my hand away with hers and then sorted out the holster properly. Her hand lingered longer than we both thought it had and she looked away blushing. I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her waist. She smiles slightly leaning her head on my chest. I tickle her and she pushes me to the floor, which was easy as she had put her leg behind my foot. Leila smiled at me and I melted. I could feel my heart oozing onto the mat. "Oi lover boy stop daydreaming." Herman said jokingly walking into the room then he chucks my hoodie at my face. I catch it and put it on when I'm getting up. Leila was laughing when I got up, I couldn't see where the gun was. I watch Herman's signal on where I should stand and he shut the curtains and dimmed the lights. I can't see Le clearly as she was in black, she could see me better as I'm wearing a grey hoodie. Herman stood beside me. "Right, picture the scene," he starts addressing me and Le, "you're walking through a shortcut, and you realise two people are following you. They would be me and S-S in this example. Are you ready?" He asks Leila and she nods. I look at Herman and he whispers to me "I'll grab her from behind, you just roll with it." Leila is facing away from us and my heart beats faster. Herman walks up behind Le while I circle round to her left side, I limp slightly, she hit me harder than I thought earlier, it's bruised. I act as best as I can. "Excuse me miss, do you know where the nearest hospital is?" I see her hold back a laugh, "why, what's wrong?" she asks. I pull out the gun from the holster, "as you might need it if you don't come willingly." Instictively she steps backwards right into Herman who grabs her shoulders. That was his mistake, I would of grabbed her arms. She elbowed him in the stomach which left him winded before she attempted to kick the gun out of my hand. I grabbed her foot and pushed Le to the floor with her leg. She stumbled to the floor and before she could sit up Herman had a gun pointed to her chest. Le lead back on the floor raising her hands above her head in submission, Herman went to grab her hands lowering the gun slightly. She took the small opportunity and punched Herman in the shoulder so the gun went flying across the room then Herman fell on the ground. Le stood up, gently placing her foot on his chest. Suddenly I was staring down of the barrel of the gun that Le had hidden. I knocked her hand aside and kicked her leg off of Herman so he could stand up. She stumbled and Herman grabbed her from behind trapping her arms. She leant back on Herman and kicked me in the stomach, I doubled in on myself and tripped over backwards from Herman's gun. I watched while on the floor, Le had grabbed Herman's gun and pointed it at me as well as pointing her own gun at Herman. "Was that good enough? I would of tied you both up and texted a member of the gang to come pick you up by I can't do that now." Le asks. Herman replies for me "you done fine, you just need to remember not to panic and the guns will be loaded when it happens properly." I cough and sit up, causing Le to run over to me and crouches in front of me. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to kick you that hard.." I put my finger on her lips to stop her talking.
Sorry if this is a long read, I'm posting the whole chapter, its quicker ~ Chapter 10: Leila I instantly stopped when he put his finger on my lips. I don't know why. He just has this power over me that I can't control. He looked into my eyes again and then recoiled in slight pain moving his finger from my lips. Scottie moved his hand to his left leg. Instinctively I placed my hand on that spot. "I bruised your leg earlier didn't I?" I ask quietly as Herman opened the curtains. He nods "it feels like it has." I help him stand up and I can't help feeling guilty as I put the three guns away. I come out the cupboard as Scottie is taking his hoodie off. Remembering the problem he had earlier, I walk over to take the holster off for him, taking it and the other gun into the cupboard. He limps up behind me, every other step louder because of his leg. I turn round and hug him, which he doesn't expect as he hesitates to put his arms around me, when he does, I feel warm again. "Sorry Scottie for hurting you." He strokes my cheek, "it's okay, it's practice, it was bound to happen." He breaks away from the hug and takes my hand. Herman has already disappeared, so I get changed again and when I emerge Scottie is stood looking out the window in his normal clothes. He looks like he is watching something in the garden, and when I join him, I see what he is looking at. Silas talking with Dannie. They looked like best friends. They look like me and Scottie. I touch the small of his back with my right arm and he wraps his left arm around my shoulder and he mutters "5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Then Herman walks out and joins in the conversation. "He always does that. He's always gets protective of the girls." I nod in reply as I know why. He turns us so I'm no longer facing the window anymore and we are walking out the room. The day was getting warm. Saying that it is July. We go upstairs and he grabs my bag. He leads me into the room beside his and it's like his own. A walk in wardrobe, the lot. Then I notice a door leading to Scottie's room. "What's down here?" I ask, walking to the door while he places my bag on my bed. Scottie joins me and opens it, revealing a small passage way with a door at the end. He walks down and opens the door. "My room. So if you need me at night, just knock on the door," He hovers in the doorway, "I'm going to get changed into something cooler. I'll be five minutes and I'll come back by the main door." I nod in reply. He smiles then kisses my nose, "see you then." I walk back to my room and put on blue denim shorts and a red crop top which shows my stomach. I take off my shoes and socks and grab my sunglasses and a towel. I look at the time. 10:00. There's still plenty of hours in the day. Just as a precaution, I grab my leather jacket, making a mental note to keep it in the shade. I hear Scottie's door open and I rush to open my door before he gets there. He smiles when he sees me and offers his arm. "Ready?" I laugh and run down the stairs carefully waiting for him at the bottom. He laughs and chases me. When he reaches me, he puts my sunglasses on top of my head, kissing my forehead after which makes my whole body tingle. He takes my hand and leads me through the house then onto the patio through the french doors. Dannie sees me and simles, so I instantly put my stuff in the shade and run into her arms. She picks me up and swings me around smiling. "How are you chick?" She asks me when she stops spinning. I reply smiling "I'm good. I haven't seen you this happy in ages!" She laughs as she puts me down, "well the sun is out and I'm around family." I look at the others. Zac is sat watching us, from his seat, over his sunglasses. He's working on an already golden tan on his slight muscular body. Herman is smiling in his white t-shirt and shorts that Kathie hates him wearing. Silas is just being miserable in his blue t-shirt, three quarter lengths and sunglasses. While Scottie, well he's stood there in a red top, his blue eyes sparkling, and in shorts. Kathie and Tamie emerge from the beach. Both of them looking like models as they rush up to me and Dannie. "I hope both of you are dry." I say pulling the twins into a group hug. They laugh and Scottie chucks Kathie my towel, she catches it and Tamie drags me down to the beach "you have to see this." All I can do stare as we near the river. The sun glistened on the water so much I had to pull my sunglasses down. The beach had white fine sand that wasn't too hot, and was soft under foot. I grabbed my towel off Kathie and led it down between the twin's towels. I took off my sunglasses, top and shorts, so I was in my bikini then joined the twins in the river. Our backs were facing the house and we heard a couple of people come into the water. I turned around to look but saw no one apart from an extra pair of sunglasses on the beach. I could hear Herman laughing while talking to Dannie while they were sat on the concrete before the beach. Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed my waist and pulled me underwater. I just had enough time to hold my breath. Then I was face to face with Scottie, and we put our heads above the water. The red top clinged to his muscles, highlighting every aspect of them. We started laughing when we saw the girls confused about a shark fin in the water. I walked over and lifted up the fin, and we were all laughing when we saw it was Zac. He swam back to the beach and left the fin with Herman. We were all swimming and chatting when we saw Norberto, Rey and Will charging towards the water carrying something between them. When they were closer, we could hear protests from the thing they were carrying. Scottie picked me up so I was sat on his shoulders, I tapped his head. He looked up at me, "what?" he asks, "they're carrying Silas" He looks at the trio, "yes they are." He replies laughing. The trio put Silas down in the shallow water and then swim quickly out to us before Silas can catch up. Scottie tenses waiting for his brother's reaction. But surprising him, Silas stands up laughing. Dannie comes into the water then jumps on Silas from behind causing him to fall into the water, but he gets up again and walks to beside Scottie. "Nice to see you smiling bro." Scottie says laughing slightly at his brother's enlightenment. Dannie smiled at me and rolled her eyes, then she squealed slightly as Silas moved her onto his shoulders. She was 5 foot 6 so she was easier for Silas to hold. "Well like Dan said earlier, it's sunny and I'm with family." Silas replied and Dannie reached for my shoulder to support herself but she couldn't reach, so laughing I gave her my arm and she got comfortable enough to let go. Herman went back to the house smiling, glad his daughters were safe and enjoying themselves. Soon I could smell the barbeque. Carlo soon comes walking down the path and stands on the boat ramp. "Food's ready." He shouts then walks back to the house. Scottie carried me on his back to the beach, handed me my towel which I dried my feet with and got off his back. I wrap the towel round me and put my sunglasses on. Before I know it Scottie picked me up then put me over his shoulder and all I could do was laugh. We reach the house and when Scottie puts me down, I see Emory at the barbeque; Mina, Herman and Carlo sat around a table talking. On a table was sandwiches, fruit, crisps, cakes, rolls, sauces and cheese. Emory then placed sausages and burgers with the rest of the food. Everyone just got the food they wanted. I help Scottie put down a couple of rugs to sit on, and we join the back of the queue. He wraps his arms around my waist from behind "any good food left?" He whispers in my ear with his breath tickling my ear. "Well if you count a few slices of cakes, no crisps, selected sandwiches and some fruit." He laughs again and grabs two plates. I hold my own plate and picked up food I wanted. Scottie tried to pick up several bits of food that were too far out of his reach so I occasionally had to put it on his plate as he was adament on keeping his arms around my waist. We eventually got to the burgers and sausages, I got myself a burger with cheese and ketchup in a roll while Scottie went for a hotdog. He took my spare hand and lead me to the blanket where Dannie, Silas, Kathie, Tamie and Zac were sitting. I sat down cross-legged, and Scottie sat behind me with his legs around me. The food was nice, the birds provided natural music and everyone was smiling. I had this horrible feeling we were being watched, not from the woods or the river, but from the mansion. I tense slightly, which Scottie realised and started massaging my shoulder. I relaxed and leaned back into him. "What's wrong?" He asked quietly in my ear, I reply in the same manner, "I have a feeling we are being watched. But it feels like from behind us, in the mansion which is impossible as no one is in there." I see Silas glance at me, so I take it he can lip read. Silas glances at the mansion and focuses on a window, then I see him shake his head and look back at the group on the rug.
Aww thanks, I appreciate the time you put in to read my story Chapter 11: Silas She knows something. She's getting suspicious. She gets tense and then relaxes at my brother's touch. I'm glad she fell for him instead of me. But I still have a need to talk to her. She feels likes like a sister I never had. Me and Scottie need to protect her. She's fragile, but she knows what she is doing as that bruise on Scottie's left thigh was because of her in training earlier, and she winded both him and Herman. Me and my brother need protection as well. If Leila had to break out, so would I, Scottie, Herman and Zac. I pity Zac. I really do. He'll have to leave his family behind. But Leila has already had to do that. Leila is an interesting girl. Her brother Dylan is in the gang across the river. I wonder if she even knows him. He's rich now. I know the Larose family are rich anyway. Leila doesn't know she's a Larose. She might have suspicions about her past but she doesn't know every detail. Maybe I should get Scottie to help her research her past. Leila will love him even more then. I snap out of my thoughts when Dannie squeezes her hand gently. "Have you finished?" She asks and I look at my plate to see it empty. "Yeah, come on." I say getting up and leading her to the bin and then down to the boat ramp. Soon Leila comes running down the garden with the others towards the beach laughing as she took Scottie's shirt. I stand up and run to Leila, glancing at how close my brother is. Leila shoves the top in my hand, "your turn." I smile at her and run towards Dannie who stands in the water ready to complete the next part of the relay. She grabs the top when I reach her and she dives into the water. Scottie goes charging after Dannie after he got stopped by Leila but only kissed her on the forehead. Dannie passes the top to Tamie, she swims for her life, Scottie's most likely to catch up with her. Zac is waiting for Tamie, when he gets the top he goes sprinting out the water to meet Kathie. Scottie curses as he fell over and face planted the water. Kathie sprints up to the house and Leila goes over to Scottie to check if he's alright. Scottie just manages to convince Leila he is alright when Kathie hands Mina the top. He jogs up to the house and everyone follows him, Leila keeping pace with him. Scottie stops by the table and looks around for the top. Mina is keeping her poker face brilliantly and sat talking with the others. Leila slipped her hand into Scottie's. "Have you ever played poker?" She asks Scottie, he nods slowly and then watches for cracking in either Mina, Emory, Carlo, Almon or Herman. He let's go of Leila's hand and walks round to stand behind Mina. ~ "I'm sure it was exhausting making those sandwiches earlier ." He says putting his hands on the back of her chair. "Yes it was Scottie why do you ask." She replies smiling slightly looking up at him. He laughs "a scarf can't magically appear when my top disappears. Especially a wet scarf." She passes him his top. "The word you were looking for is damp." He takes it and places it on the open umbrella to dry. He turns to Leila with a grin on his face. I know that grin. He's going to do something cheeky. You can always tell if you have known him long enough, and Leila hasn't. Zac sees it as well and glances at me as if to say what's he gonna do? I shrug in reply. Dannie takes my hand and rests her head on my chest. Her mousey brown hair is damp, but it doesn't bother me. Scottie picks up Leila, spins her around and before she can realise he runs towards the beach. I run down to the beach with Dannie a bit behind me. Scottie gets waist deep in water, Leila still in his arms, she looks at me and Dannie in the shallows as if to say help me. My brother is unpredictable so I don't know what he will do. He whispers something in her ear that makes her giggle. What is that boy up to? He continues whispering, she glances at me and Dannie causing her to giggle again. She nods in reply and stands up in the water. He says something else as she nods and they both disappear under the water. Dannie automatically walks out to the stop where they where and turns round to face me. She laughs when she sees me. What's going on? I walk out towards her and I hear someone join me in the water. My suspicion grows as I walk to Dannie. Then I see something fly past my head and land in the water. I look at the spot and dive into the water. There I find a bottle with a note inside. I stand by Dannie and look back at the mansion. Tamie, Kathie, Rey, Will and Norberto stand on the beach. I could of sworn someone else came in the water. I open the note from the bottle. I asked for her trust. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Dannie reads the note and laughs looking at the shore. "Think. Why would he need her to trust him." There's movement in the water behind me and I hear a duck quack. Everyone on the beach laughs. I'm getting more suspicious. Why would Scottie need Leila to trust him? Apart from the obvious protection reasons. Suddenly the world goes dark even though I don't feel light headed and I don't hit the water. I hear Leila giggle from behind me. I turn around to find Leila suspended in the air wearing Scottie's shirt. She pulls her hands back to Scottie's which are on her stomach. Zac let go of her legs and she sits on Scottie's shoulders but almost falling off causing me and Zac to put our hands out to protect her. Zac is well known for his sounds so he made the duck sound, and they managed to get Leila up so quickly I don't think she ever left Scottie's touch. We all walk back to the shore. "How did you get the bottle?" I ask Scottie. Leila stops smiling and so does Scottie "what bottle?" He asks and I show him. Scottie shook his head. "That wasn't in my plan." What is really going on?