Chapter 9

Lionel gasped in realization "so that's why you seemed to suddenly change during our battle" he said just loud enough for Freddy to hear, Freddy nodded in response to confirm what he said was true. Lionel peeked at the girls to see they were still talking before looking at Freddy "so.. what happened to her?" he asked Freddy, Freddy tensed up before taking a deep breath. Freddy swung his right arm over Lionel's left shoulder to get closer "she was kidnapped by a group.. by the time I got there they had already done some damage and one had a bat.. " Freddy informed him, Lionel pushed Freddy away "WHAT!" he shouted, Freddy immediately punched Lionel "DUDE!" Freddy shouted back, this small squabble got the attention of the girls as they watched wearily. Lionel looked at Freddy with wide eyes before realizing why Freddy punched him and his mouth formed an "O" Lionel turned to the girls with a chuckle "sorry to scare you ladies.. it's alright, we're not fighting" he reassured them before walking back over to Freddy.

Lionel put his left arm over Freddy's right shoulder "sorry I freaked out on you dude" he said, Freddy shook his head "it's alright, I'm sorry I punched you.. it was an automatic response.. my body sometimes moves on its own.. that's why I don't like surprises.." he admitted with a sigh. Lionel looked at Freddy "so.. when are you going to take that jacket and hoodie off dude? you've been wearing it for two days now!" he asked with a small chuckle, Freddy smiled, thankful for the change in topic "my body has adjusted to the temperature so I will be able to go without the jacket tomorrow" he replied. Lionel nodded "have you told Anna how you feel?" he asked, Freddy chuckled "I have been flirting with her since we met.. I told her before she got hurt that I like her" he answered, Lionel gawked at Freddy "ok.. let me get this straight, you have been flirting but when you admitted your feelings.. you said you 'like' her?" he asked, Freddy shoved Lionel's arm off him "well.. that was before.. I only just learned that I didn't just like her like a friend.. that my feelings were actually love" he admitted.

Amelia hugged Anna “looks like you made it! In the dark no less, I’m proud of you… wow, your face is red” Amelia said before she gasped “are you and Freddy a couple now?” she asked, Anna flinched “wh- what?! No!” she squeaked, Amelia chuckled at Anna’s reaction “it’s alright, everyone has their own timeframe for relationships. No pressure, you’re just so easy to tease” she said, Anna punched her arm “hey! Why do you gotta be so violent?” Amelia asked, “you deserved it!” she replied as she stuck her tongue out. “What about you and Lionel?” she asked, Amelia flinched. ‘Dang it, I shouldn't have brought it up’ Amelia thought as she chuckled “you got me. We aren’t either, at least.. Not yet” she said as a smirk formed, Anna gasped “when?” she asked, Amelia frowned “you know me too well…” she pouted, Anna laughed, a snort escaping “of course! Now tell me” she pestered, Amelia narrowed her eyes at Anna “so bossy… fine.. Tomorrow, in the canoeing activity. We’ll be alone in a canoe” Amelia informed Anna, Anna squealed. Amelia jumped at the unexpected sound and hurriedly covered Anna’s mouth as she peeked up to see the guys hugging and sighed “this is why I didn’t want to tell you.. You could’ve ruined it!” she said, glaring angrily at Anna. Anna smiled sheepishly “sorry” she said.

Amelia looked at Anna “so.. What happened? Last I heard, you walked away from Freddy” she asked, Anna flinched “umm.. I remember getting mad at Freddy for taking me to the crowded fountain to talk.. I don’t remember the conversation.. After that I woke up to a group of four that I’ve never met arguing.. Then they started beating me up.. Next thing I know.. I woke up in the nurse’s office.. I can’t remember anything else.. I got hit pretty hard” she said, she still hurt but after the pain meds, she felt better. Amelia nodded in understanding “alright but what happened after? Come on! I know something happened on your way here” she said with a wide smile, bumping Anna’s shoulder with her own to tease her.

Anna blushed “well.. We were talking about you and we rolled down the hill, he.. He was so close.. I thought he was about to kiss me but he pushed away from me and we came here” she admitted, Amelia scoffed at Anna “I thought you did kiss.. The way you were acting seemed like it but.. Why did he push you away?” she asked but before their conversation continued, they heard the boys fighting. They looked over to see Freddy punch Lionel, Lionel assured them it was ok. Amelia and Anna looked at each other and remembered the fight they got into on the very first day and sighed.

Lionel looked at Freddy “wait.. You mean.. you’ve been flirting with her this whole time and you only thought of her as a friend?” he asked. Freddy gave Lionel a confused look “where I grew up.. That’s normal.. As long as she’s unmarried..” he explained, Lionel looked at Freddy in shock. Freddy scoffed at Lionel “what? Look.. I was interested in her so I spent more time with her but I treated her no differently than the other girls that gathered around me” he told Lionel. Lionel laughed “no wonder you’re so popular.. So are you going to treat her differently now that you know you love her?” Lionel asked. Freddy stared at Lionel, contemplating something for a few seconds “NO.. in fact I’m going to distance myself from her” Freddy finally responded, Lionel looked confused “why? Don’t you want to be with her?” he asked, Freddy looked over to Anna “look Lionel.. There are things I need to discuss with her family before I can treat her differently.. Until then.. She needs to stay as one of my friends that I flirt with” he explained.