, jolting Sloane awake. Her head boun

w to see dense, towering pine trees blocking out the sun. A w

rackling voice of an instructor echoed from a megaphone o

ead bin. She felt the heavy, shifting weight of the hidd

ped off the bus. The humid, pine-scented

arp eyes immediately narrowed as he noticed

. He tapped the side of

ulous amount of junk food?" Julian as

d his hand aw

whispered frantically, her ey

asually against a wooden fe

" Julian teased openly. "They're

argo pants and combat boots, blew a loud silver w

of ten! Now!"

igidly at attention, her heart starting to race a

oice booming. "All snacks, phones, and non-essential i

grip tightened on the nylon straps of he

nced back at her over his shoulder. He

sound of zippers tearing open filled the air. Counselors pulled ou

stopped directly

ent. Open it,"

, tasting a hint of copper. Slowly, she pulle

s of chips, a box of cookies, and a large bag of gummy bears.

omach physically sank. Her face fell into

from the front row. He couldn't hide

the back of his head, her

o the hidden pocket of her skirt before boarding, pressing it flat against her stomach. Sloane let out a tiny, silent breath of

ew the whi

ead to the cabin assignmen

agged her feet, mourning her lost gummy bears a

ide her. He leaned down,

d puppy without your s

r hands balling into fists. "I'm going to t

ached out and quickly ruffled her hair, his fingers t

is hands away and trying

er jaw was tight with anger, her nails digging into he

mpletely unaware of the target tha