Chapter 7: Chapter Six

"Oh, Ellie! Don't make fun of her, it's not her fault she's never been camping before." My friend Kayley hissed through her teeth in a warning tone.

I shake my head and fake a small smile. "It's ok."

"You actually being serious? You haven't been in your entire life?" Ellie says with a humoured look. This one true fact about me seems to really amuse her. I really can't understand what's so terrible about it.

"Well, we were actually thinking about inviting you to The 1975's concert, but turns out you're busy." Kayley said suggestively, as though she was still secretly offering. She gave me a wink as if I should consider it.

"Wish I could." I sigh.

"I'm actually relieved." Ellie snickered, covering her hand over her mouth. Kayley glared at her and nudged her softly, as a sign for her to pack it in.

"What?"

"Stop!" Kayley hissed and looked back over to me with a calm, cooling expression. "That's a real shame, ya know. I wanted you to come along. 1975 is going to be so awesome!"

"When is it?" I ask. Curiosity hit me hard, and I couldn't of wished I wasn't going camping anymore than what I already did. Plus, I had no intention in wanted to be around my brother as paranoia always lingered between us.

"Saturday." Kayley smiled as she began rummaging through her bag, searching for her contact book. Saturday. Damn... It was now Tuesday, and I am expected to go camping with Mason from Friday to Monday. I'm going to miss out on everything my mates are doing while my Brother terrorizes me with tents and fires, and possibly ghost stories.

"Don't worry, Alana. I'm sure you'll have a much better time with your brother anyway." Ellie smirked.

"I can assure you I won't." I glare up at her, shrugging my bag over my shoulders in stubbornness. Ellie gave me a lop sided smile, titling her head to the side with amusement. "What you gonna do then? Tell your Brother you're refusing to go?" Her tone was antagonizing.

Kayley perked up head up then, "I hardly think that's a wise idea. You'll cause a row with your Mum and Dad, won't you?"

I nod, grimly. Oh, why? Why camping? Really?

"What's camping like? Maybe if I find out more about it, I may feel better." I shrug.

Ellie pulled out a bottle of Pepsi and gulped some down her fat throat. I never really liked her, she just always tagged along with Kayley like a annoying little ginney pig. "It depends on the weather mostly," Kayley begins. "If it's during warm weather then it'll be ok except for the night scares with the animals wandering about. You may not get much sleep, depending on how scared you are. Depends where you put your tent to be honest." Ellie sat down on a bench beside were we stood.

Kayley continued, "If it's cold, then you'll wanna pack loads and LOADS of blankets. You're gonna need them!"

I think for a moment, "What's your opinion on actual camping though?"

"Well I went with my Sister's and my Mum. Because it was all of us together like a group, it was quite fun. But, I guess if you're with your Brother, it may be a different case...." She pauses, "I mean, Mason strikes me as a little odd sometimes. He normally goes camping with his mates, so I can't imagine him sitting in a tent with his younger sister."

"He's never wanted much to do with me, especially when it comes to camping." I mutter, my eyes wandering off into the distance.

"Why now?" I hear Ellie ask.

"I wish I knew."

"Mason!" My Mother calls after my brother, "Have you any idea how much it costs for me to keep that car on the road!?"

"Mum, chill out. The police won't mind." He grins, leaning back on his chair. I roll my eyes and try to focus back on my text book. Half of my notes were roughly written but not much of it I could remember, because Mason was hovering around me like a bad smell.

"What do you mean, 'the police won't mind'? They're the police you numpty! What the hell do you think you're getting yourself into young man!?" My Mum's voice is raising with each second that floats by, and I am finding it harder to focus on my revision.

"Mum, I simply don't care. I don't even give a fuck to be honest." Mason chuckles and I feel his eyes draw towards me.

"Well, don't blame me when you get a fine! The day you lose that car, is the day you then pay for a whole knew one!" Mason begins to mimic Mum behind her back and I can't help but giggle.

"Don't you dare think for one moment that your Father is going to be paying it off, because he won't!!"

"Alright, Mum! I get the dealio!" Mason holds his arms out in surrender.

I bite my lip, trying to not laugh at the entire situation. The entire image was a complete joke. If my Mum had caught me laughing, she'd probably refuse to ever talk to me for the rest of the week. That's how annoyed se was. And usually when my Mum's annoyed with one person, she takes it out on everyone else around her. As a result, I try and keep a low profile whenever she is in a bad mood.

"Oi, Alana. Thought about the camping?" Mason whispers, as he twirls his folk in his plate of noodles.

I shrug, pretending to focus on my notes. However, I don't succeed because straight away a large hand snatches them away from my line of sight.

"Mason!" I hiss, annoyed with him. Now I know how Mum must be feeling right now.

"I'm talking to you. At least look at people, when they are talking to you." He raises an eyebrow as though I was a naughty child being told off.

"And since when did you learn about manners. You don't have any yourself."

"I know more about manners and politeness then what you'll ever know, little Sis." He grins and winks at me with cheekiness. Instead of a reaction I just roll my eyes and lean my chin onto my palm.

"You're gonna love camping with me. Were gonna have fun, I can tell." He says in a low and soft voice.

I narrow my eyes at him, but mostly out of curiosity. "And how exactly can you tell?"

"Oh, I know you're eager to go. Inside, you can't wait."

I scoff, "Yeah, of course i am. Of course." Sarcasm instantly takes over my way of speech and I am sounding like a spoilt brat once again.

However, Mason doesn't seem to mind my sarcasm. In fact, he doesn't take notice. He just looked at me and smiles. It was a light hearted smile, one of the most softest smiles I'd ever seen him give anyone. The way he looked at me actually reminded me of how I saw him look at his ex when he was taking her out on a date one Thursday evening.

"Alana, have you heard from your Father!?" My Mother calls out from in the kitchen.

"Na. Not a word!" I cal back and turn back towards my brother who is now flicking through my revision notes.

"You're very nosey. You know that?" I say, reaching out for my notes and he surprisingly let's me take them. No fight, just let's me.

"You hate me, don't you?" He whispers.

"N-no." I stutter. I don't hate him....do I?

"Yes, you do. You always have." He frowns, looking down at his now clenched fists on the dining table.

I sigh, "I don't hate you, Mason."

"I never forgave myself for the way I have treated you, how I let you get hurt all because i never looked after you or kept a close eye on you." He says with solom words, and for once his mood seems quite threatening. He's like a statue.

"Mason, I was nine years old." I remind him.

"Its no excuse. I should have known better."

I blink in disbelief, "Even so...why are you saying all this now, you haven't spoken about it for years!"

"I just thought I need to apologize, as I never did say I was sorry and how bad it made me feel." He says, rubbing the nape of his neck in what looked like embarrassment.

I purse my lips, gathering my notes from the table and turning to leave. "I'm not going to sit here and have a conversation about something that should have been out lived and spoke about a long time ago. I wont!"

"Alana, please. I just wanted-"

"No!" I cut him off, "Why don't you do yourself a favour and get out of self pity city. Give me a break!"

I turn and head upstairs, leaving my Mum's voice trail behind as she follows me. "Alana!? Alana sweetheart...what's wrong!?"