~Above is how I somewhat imagined Austin~

Twenty Four: Hot Waters

[AUSTIN]

It was dark, too dark. A blanket of black that was so dark it was to the point that he couldn't even see his hands if he were to hold them before his face. It considerably not helping that he was slightly tipsy and kept tripping over his own feet. Trailing behind Katy with his arms full of sticks and twigs, he was finding it had become incredibly quiet since Cole had left to get another torch. They had one torch, which Katy held before her, creating a trail of light for herself and leaving him to scramble and stumble through the darkness helplessly with no light.

"Could you slow down" he whined, shifting the bundle of sticks he held In his arms finding they were beginning to get heavy and his body felt like it wanted to collapse in on itself. They cut and scratched at his arms and protruding sticks flicked at his calves

"Could you hurry up? Your dawdling. We only need a few more so we can have a fire for the morning" Katy looked back to him, rolling her eyes before turning to continue walking, seeming to find it easier compared to himself.

"Ugh we have plenty, can we go back. My arms hurt.. I'm tired and I think I stepped in some mud back there"

"Katy?" He whined, dragging his feet behind him.

"Come on"

"Ugh fine then. quit whining, your giving me a headache" she groaned and he couldn't help but smile as she turned to make her way back to the camp. Quickly hurrying behind her trying to not face plant on the way back to their set up, the only sign of life being the soft glow radiating from the fire.

"You know you could give me hand" Austin said as he hurried to walk along side Katy, looking to her with a crooked smile as he motioned toward the pile of stick which he carried in his arms

"You seem to be doing fine all by yourself" she returned the smile, a more sarcastic look on her face while moving to hurry in front but couldn't escape as he walked faster along side her. His long legs easily able to keep stride. Rolling her eyes toward Him as he followed, he couldn't help himself as he looked to her every now and then as they walked, trying to keep his eyes down on the ground watching his feet as they stepped through the grass. Still trying to avoid any rocks or protruding roots.

As they came to the campsite, it was eerily quiet, not a single sign of life other than Jace who was asleep on the ground and curled up into his sleeping bag by the slowly dying fire. Moving forward to set the collected wood and sticks by the fire, Austin carefully threw some extra sticks to keep Jace warm since it didn't look as if he was moving anytime soon.

"Did everyone go to bed?" Austin said as he crouched by the fire, looking to Katy who stood with her arms folded over her chest as she huddled close to the flames also. Even if it weren't that cold, the air rather warm it was nice to stand by the fire, so warm and cozy.

"Must have.." she murmurs, turning her eyes away from Austin to look about the tents, pursing her lips before looking back to the embers "it's not even that late, I couldn't fall to sleep now even if I tried" she sighed and slowly moved down to sit, pulling her legs to her chest and resting her chin on her knees.

"Either.. what should we do?" Austin licked his lips slowly, moving to sit also as he looked to Katy from beyond the flames.

"Um~ " she hesitated, looking to him then into her lap, seeming to look uncomfortable "i dont know~"

Smirking as an idea came to him, he began to stand and moved around the fire that separated them "come on, I got an idea" he held out his hand, offering to help her up, seeing her as she hesitated before climbing up onto her own feet all by herself instead of taking his hand. Pulling his hand back quickly to his side, he felt warmth spread across his cheeks that didn't belong to the fire. Embarrassed he shoved his hands into his pockets and turns, grabbing a torch along the way as he began to walk hoping she'd follow

"What are we doing.." she says as she walked behind him with crossed arms, making him look back over his shoulder seeing she had chosen to actually follow. He gave a small smile seeing her dark eyes glowing against the torch light while they together continued, heading toward the wooden dock that reached into the waters of the lake.

"You'll see" he stepped onto the dock, his heels heavy as he walked out. He didn't hesitated as he began to pull at his shirt to drag over his head, chucking it to the side so effortlessly by his feet before moving onto his pants, looking up to the girl while unzipping his flask so he could wriggle out of his jeans.

"W-what are you doing? " she asked looking flustered and taken aback by what he was doing, he didn't seem embarrassed as he so carefully kicked his jeans aside and stood tall. His entire body on show for her to see, chest twining with muscle and skin tan even in the soft moonlight .

"going for a swim, what are you doing?" He smirked back to her, leaving his pants in a crumbled mess by his feet on the dock then stepping toward the edge of the dock closest to the water. His feet thudded lightly against the wood panels of the dock, a cool breeze grazing his bare chest as he came to stand on the ledge. Simply in a pair of boxer shorts, he stretched out his legs and arms in the cool night air that blew across the water, sending a spray of goosebumps across his arms. He shook out his hands, trying to prepare himself to jump

Turning back to glance in her direction, he tilted his head ever so slightly wondering if she would join or just stand and watch him. He couldn't help a smirk that etched onto his lips.

"Coming?" He continued to smirk and stretched his arms over his head dramatically, readying himself to dive in

"uh I don't.. fine" she hesitated and slowly undressed, starting on her shirt before climbing out of her shorts, carefully folding her clothes before setting them aside in a neat pile. Her hands came to hug her chest, trying to hide her breasts that were hugged by a black bra. His eyes grazed across her body, taking in the view of her small frame.. he caught himself staring and turned his eyes away. Letting out a slow breath through his nose, he jumped.

The only way to get into the lake, especially at this time of the night was to dive in and let the cold water surround him all at once, hoping the heat from his own body would be enough to keep the shivering at bay. The fresh water is cold enough to make his limbs shake at first, prickling at his bare skin as he sunk deep into the lake. The water was inky black, darker then dark. It gave him the creeps not knowing what hid in the depths and he flailed to reach the surface, his head breaking free first to suck in a large breath of delicious air.

"Come on! It's beautiful" he smiled up at the girl that stood hovering by the edge.

"Your crazy.. isn't it cold?" She hesitated, looking down beneath her with a scrunched up nose

"Just get in" he groaned and splashed some water toward her, making her squeak and glare in his direction

"Dont do that.." she hissed before letting out a long breath, squeezing her eyes shut he couldn't help but smile as he watched her leap out and come splashing into the water before him. Resurfacing quickly with flailing arms with a loud gasp of shock, making him laugh at the expression of shock on her face.

"It's freezing!" She squealed, kicking to keep herself a float as she looked to him. Her eyes were wide and nose turned a light pink from what he knew must be the cold, letting out a laugh as she looked to Austin who floated across from her. Austin couldn't wipe the smile that grew onto his face and he moved through the water closer to her.

"It's not that cold, come on." He chuckles and grabbed lightly at her hands to try and pull her forward, making her squeal and splash at him.

"Don't you dare drag me under" she growled but has the hint of a smile etched onto her face, making him smirk as he moved only closer til his arms snaked around to wrap about her waist to pull her close, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest as her skin touched his. He heard a soft gasp leave her lips, her fingers grazing his bare chest as their eyes met. She did squirm a touch in his arms, making him chuckle as he held her

"See I'm not dragging you under. Just trying to make you warmer" He said softly, feeling his heart beating in his ears and body warming even in the cool water. She looked to him for a second, dark eyes seeming to search his soul. He felt his insides knot and twist and he wanted to be dragged under water and be held there. But also felt an excitement bubbling inside of him, holding her, feeling her body against his. To feel her heart beating in time with his, which he could feel in his fingers and toes. Her breath was soft but quick, mixing with the air between them.

"I guess but~ Austin?~" she gasped and looks away as he leaned closer, making him smile he tried to catch her eyes, his own trying to not look down to her lips. She hesitated when looking back up to him, her brows furrowing into a hard line and her lips pursed

"What?" A cocky smirk curled around his lips, letting his fingers carefully graze against the skin on her stomach, making her shiver in his arms. She felt tense, as if she didn't want to be held but he couldn't, wouldn't just let her go.

"Whatever your thinking you better stop it now" she whispers as their eyes met, making him grin and give a small shrug. He didn't know why he was acting like this, but he knew that he wanted her. He wanted to hold her, kiss her. Why now had he found this urge to grab her cheeks and clash mouths. To rip her stupid little bra off her body that hid what he desired so desperately beneath. His breath was shaky as he looked to her, from an eagerness that began in his crotch and made its way into his chest and made his heart throb.. which also could be because of the cool water around them. He didn't notice himself leaning slowly forward til he felt her breath tickle his lips.

He had heard many times that the eyes were the gateway to the soul, that if you looked into someone's eyes you could see every little secret they held. But in that moment, he knew the lips were the same but instead it was the gateway for the body. And he wanted her body. Katy's lip, they looked to be pure softness, if he were to meet them they'd be full of passion and promise sweetness.

"Austin." He snapped out of his daze as he heard her, raising his eyes quickly to meet hers, her face was pink and her brows were drawn together into a knitted line "I'm cold.. I'm gonna head back to the fire if you want to join" the romantic kiss he hoped for which continued to play in his head suddenly was ripped away as she pulled herself back, using her delicate palm to lightly press into his chest so she could swim away out of his arms that held her. He gripped at the water, his fingers cold without her.

She gave a quick smile in his direction before promptly turning to swim back to a ladder that climbed up to the wharf, leaving Austin floating in the water alone. His heart was racing and he felt like he was about to burst. Was he just denied, rejected.. was he being a creep and staring? he sat watching her, eyes slightly wide not believing what had happened. She didn't look back to him, instead quickly swimming away as if trying to escape like a scattering bug.

He wanted drown himself in that moment, his face was as hot as an oven and he was surprised the water around him wasn't boiling at that point against his skin.

"O-oh okay. Coming~~" he groaned, feeling like an idiot as he came to the realisation. Bobbing down he let himself sink beneath the waters surface, pressing his hands into his face whilst immersed in the dark abyss, wanting to scream til he had no air left in his lungs. Air bubbles left past his lips and made their way to the surface with every exhale; being the only thing down in that water that was in a hurry to leave.

Stupid, he knew she must have noticed him leaning in, their lips were practically touching. He hadn't meant to try kiss her, didn't even realise he wanted to, having simply done it out of instinct. It seemed so perfect, so right. Blowing out a burst of bubbles from his nose, he let himself return to the surface to begin swimming to the dock, following Katy who had climbed out of the water already and was now collecting her dry clothes, having left a wet trail of foot prints behind her. Hoisting his dripping body up out of the lake water, he clambered onto the dock, keeping his eyes down as he moved to grab his clothes, crouching to collect his pants and shirt and leaving a puddle of water about his feet. Not knowing what to say he quickly dressed and followed back to the campsite

~~~

[TESS]

The world was so quiet it was as if it was still the night. The sun is still drowsy as it sits bellow the horizon of the water, only the slightest raises of sunlight making it through the thin walls of the tent. Tess let her eyes fall open then quickly closed, still able to feel the pull of her dreams, beckoning her back to play. It was so warm, so cozy, the heaviness was like a blanket across her body. Turning begrudgingly on to her wide, she cuddled closer into her blanket that she hugged against herself.

Keeping her eyes securely closed, she let out a soft sigh simply listening to the world that was beginning to stir to life around her. She could hear birds singing in the distance and the light rustling of leaves, nature creating a harmony of song with the rising sun. But then she heard it, a low breath so deep she knew it couldn't of come from one of the girls. It was also too close. Her body tensed not knowing who could be over her and she was hesitant when opening her eyes, letting them ever so slightly crack open to look toward the source of the sound.

She swallowed tightly as her eyes met with a sleeping face, large like a billboard with dark lashes and black locks. A face so peaceful and calm that made her heart flutter, her entire body warming with a blush as she stared.

She suddenly realised that she never left Darricks tent last night.

She gasped softly against her blanket and began to quickly move to sit up, only to stop as she realised something large was resting over her. Turning her head, her eyes widened in surprise. It was Darricks hand, so large as it rested like a large fleshy blanket across her body. She knew she should do something about it, squeeze out or push it off of her, maybe he'd never know. He probably wouldn't even wake up. But she couldn't bring herself to it, didn't dare touch him in case he were to wake. Instead deciding to lay back down and curl into herself, using her blanket as a safety mechanism which she rubbed against her cheek. She was truly in a pickle.

Looking up from her confines beneath Darricks hand, she began to wonder if he'd woken up and purposely rested a hand over her to keep her warm. He was under the sleeping bag now so he must've at some point in the night gotten up to move and she hadn't even heard him. Swallowing tightly realising how much of a deep sleeper she was, she began to blush. Had he picked her up, moved her? Had she slept through all that!

Looking back to his face, she jumped beneath his hand as she saw Darrick was awake and his eyes were sleepily cracked open and looking to her. She sunk in on herself a little, using her blanket to pull up closer to her chin. She had butterflies in her stomach and her heart began to beat harder. Should she pretend to be asleep? No it was too late for that, instead she gave a soft smile hoping she wasn't blushing too hard

"Morning~" he whispered out croakily, his eyes closing again where he lay. He takes a slow breath through his nose, his hand raising off of her body so he could roll over and stretch out his long limbs. He had bed hair, black locks in his face and a mess on his head. She could see the muscles in his neck, stretching as he did so.

"Morning~" she hummed softly back, sitting up and clutching at her blanket. She'd never been so alert in the morning before, but right then she felt sharper then a shard of glass.

"Did you sleep well?" He sighs, turning his head where he lay to look down on her. She hesitated when speaking, giving a small shrug before looking away, embarrassed having the feeling that she'd been caught. Caught staring, Caught in his bed. She shouldn't be there.

"I slept good, you?" She slept incredibly well it seemed since she hadn't woken all night

"Yeah good good.." he nods, giving a tight smile before running his fingers through his hair trying to flatten it down while falling quiet. He looked at the ceiling of the tent, his eyes looking away from her now as they fell into silence. She shifted a little awkwardly, looking away from him also and seeing Austin was in the tent now also and was passed out in his sleeping bag on his stomach, dark brown hair looking a little wet as it sat in his eyes and bare back exposed. She must have slept through him returning also, she must've really knocked out last night. She couldn't even remember laying down to go to sleep.

"Do you.. um wanna get breakfast?" He asked softly and she turned her eyes back toward Darrick seeing he was sitting up now and looking to her. She gave a small smile and nodded, making him smile in return and get up, kicking the sleeping bag off his legs to climb to his feet. He didn't have shoes on now, simply black socks and the outfit he wore the night before. Leaning down he lightly rested his hand before her, allowing Tess to easily climb on with her blanket and take a seat. His hand was incredibly warm and she wanted to just curl up and go back to sleep, use a finger as a pillow and maybe another to hug.

Climbing to his feet, Darrick remained quiet as he moved out of the tent, exiting out into the cool of the outside world. She was surprised to see Jace was sitting, awake wrapped in his sleeping bag with a small fire glowing in front of him which he stared into. He looked like a dead corpse, drained of all life.

"Morning" Darrick spoke first as he made his way over, top toeing across the grass with his socks on. Jace didn't move instead continuing to stare into the flames unable to look away.

"Mm.." he grumbled, his hair a birds nest upon his head and face with eyes dark with bags. He looked a little white in the cheeks and his eyes blood shot, she could tell immediately the signs of a hangover.

She couldn't help letting out a soft laugh as Darrick came to sit beside him, letting her off his hand to climb onto the ground. Jace turned his eyes then to look to her, a small smile coming to his face but quickly fell back down into a frown, clutching at his stomach.

"How you feeling?" She asked and she heard Darrick five a small chuckle over her, making her heart flutter as she looked to see him smiling down at her. She felt her knees shake and she wanted to climb back over to him and curl into his warmth, she was beginning to miss his hand over her.

Jace visibly frowned harder and he let out a groan, "like complete utter shit" he grumbled and rested his head on his knees making out a long breath from his nose, "I'm never drinking again.." Tess couldn't help but softly laugh, feeling bad for Jace but wasn't surprised with the amount of alcohol he had the night before.

"I'll make you something to eat and you'll feel better" Darrick chuckles also and but climbed back up to go over to the coolers to grab some eggs and bacon that they had packed, moving back to the fire with a pan. Jace groaned but nodded his head, lifting his eyes toward Darrick and scrunching his nose as if struggling to see Darrick through the growing light of the day.

Darrick didn't mess around, beginning to make breakfast for the three of them, making her smile as she sat quietly and listened to Jace groan and moan about how sick he felt. She couldn't take her eyes off Darrick as he cooked, so effortlessly finding pleasure in watching him so carefully crack the eggs, how he placed the bacon into the pan so delicately. She smiled to herself, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she thought about the night before.

A/N: hope you enjoyed the small update! Hope your liking the story! I kinda didn't like this chapter but uh well.

It's hard to keep motivated sometimes to keep writing. Especially since my Chapters use to get up-to 5k views and now only 700. But I'll hopefully update soon tho

Comment what you'd like to see happen next!

Love to hear your feedback ~