Jason watched, astonished, as Bevis limped into the forest. Where was she going? They had already collected wood; perhaps she needed a moment to cool down; his eyes moved down the beach to where Chelsea stood rooted to the spot staring at her friend as she disappeared into the forest.

"Huh, I'm not the only one who is surprised," he murmured, "time to take control of this campsite."

Moving toward the crumpled man, Jason crouched beside him, "How many times have you been told you're insufferable, Brad? The number of complaints against you is huge," Jason said, shaking his head, "now this .. with a customer ..." Jason sighed, "I cannot allow it any longer. You're fired, Brad."

"You can't do this without me," Brad hissed as he tried to stand, "you need me."

"You see, that is where you are wrong," Jason said, waving over two of Brad's crew, "you think I need you, but I don't. You'll pack up, and an airlift will be arranged for you tonight."

"You'll be sorry," Brad spat, "I'll make you and that ..." he paused as Jason raised a warning finger, "you'll both pay."

"Please help him back to your camp," Jason asked the two men, "he doesn't need to unpack ... he will be leaving tonight. Oh," he drew the attention of the other men, "I'll chat to you later about options to finish your river experience. You're more than welcome if you'd like to join us for dinner."

The men nodded as they helped Brad back to their camp, and Jason pulled his satellite phone from its waterproof compartment and made a call.

"Chelsea, you okay?" Jason asked as he moved toward the others, who slowly returned to their tasks.

Chelsea nodded, "I've.... never seen Bev react like that ... not ever. She is always so polite, kind, aware of the hurt her words could inflict ..." she remained still shaking her head, "... this week either was more frightening for her than even I knew or she finally lost her temper."

"Hasn't she ever lost her temper?" Jason asked.

"No, not once in all the time I've known her," Chelsea sighed, "I'm..."

"Astonished? Stunned? Surprised?" Jason asked, trying to supply as many descriptive words as he could.

"All of them," Chelsea murmured, "I'd better go find her. Why do you think she went back into the forest?"

"To cool off," Jason said, "I'm only guessing ... she is your best friend."

"She is, but not even I know the answer to that one," Chelsea said, moving toward the forest, "let's hope you're right."

Bevis moved through the forest, moving deeper into the browns and greens, away from Brad and his toxic attitude and hurtful words. Her leg ached, she needed to sleep desperately, and she was beginning to get hungry. Finding a log, Bevis thankfully sank onto the damp surface. Everything she had been trying to hide bubbled to the surface, clouding her eyes with tears falling silently down her cheeks.

"Who am I fooling?" she sniffed, wishing she had brought her gear bag with her, "how do I carry on now?"

Looking around, Bevis could see no one, couldn't smell the campfire or hear the river. It was a perfect time to just let herself ... express her emotions. Feeling overwhelmed, worried, and totally out of her depth, Bevis let her feelings out. She had never been a verbal crier, more a suffer-in-silence crier. It had served well sometimes, and now was no exception. Letting the tears fall unheeded, she didn't have to worry about anyone finding her or asking questions or, heaven forbid ... seeing her weak enough to howl her eyes out.

She would sit here momentarily, get her mind and emotions together, think a little while ... maybe feel more herself and then head back.

Chelsea moved through the forest as far as she dared, calling Bevis' name occasionally; she couldn't find Bevis anywhere, "Where are you?"

Looking around, Chelsea tried to find anything that would tell her in which direction Bevis had moved but couldn't find anything around her in the forest screaming which direction her friend had gone. Worry gnawed at her; the best she could do was get Jason's help. Heading back toward the camp, Chelsea found Brad was nowhere to be seen, and the more experienced crew had joined them around the fire. Everyone was chatting and eating ... everyone but herself and Bevis. Looking in her own and Bevis' tent, she found nothing but unopened gear bags, her worry hiking a little further toward the panic side of the scale. Chelsea inhaled, shook her head and refused to give into the clawing fear. Striding down the shore to the river, she looked for any place that Bevis might hide to lick her emotional wounds or have a good cry that she thought no one knew she indulged in. Nothing. Looking out at the river, Chelsea began to breathe heavily. Rising panic had her looking around anywhere Bevis could have gone. Desperation clawed at her inside.

"Hey, are you okay?" the tall man they had watched making a fire asked as he appeared from behind a large rock lining the shore.

"Ah ... your definition of that question and mine differ on so many levels," Chelsea said, closing her eyes and trying to calm down. Bevis had to be somewhere; for all she knew, she was on her way back to camp or half dead in a ditch. Whimpering, Chelsea turned in a circle, hoping and praying that Bevis would suddenly appear. In the vast open sandy space where they pitched their tents and pulled their boats out of the water, Chelsea took in the massive blazing fire in the middle, where both crews gathered around it. The forest arced in a wide semi-circle at the back of the clearing. On her right-hand side, she saw large rocks running along the shore, sheltering the beach behind it. To her left, she found a massive washed-up log still in the shallow water that lapped gently against the sand.

"I'm not sure what your definition of my question is, but everything you're doing is in line with mine," he said, "so ...." he raised his eyebrows questioningly, "Can I help with anything?"

"I'm sure you are very nice," Chelsea said, "but I don't even know you, and besides, why would you want to help me?"

"We're in the middle of nowhere and have no one else to depend on but each other," he said, "my name is Travis, and you are ..."

Chelsea turned to him, distracted, "What?"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"What's your name?" Travis asked.

"Oh," Chelsea started walking back toward the fire, "Chelsea."

"Nice to meet you," Travis said, watching her with concern as he followed her toward the tents, "who are you looking for?"

"My friend," she said, "she went into the forest, and I couldn't find her; I thought perhaps ... Bev returned to camp ..." she inhaled, "she isn't here."

"What's going on, Travis?" Jason asked, looking between the two.

"Ahhh ... I'm not sure, but I think someone is missing," Travis said, watching Chelsea look into all the tents.

"Oh no," Jason whispered, looking around the campsite, "did she look near the river?"

"That's where I found her," Travis said, "she looked ... frantic."

"Chelsea," Jason called, waving her toward them, "you're looking for Bevis."

"I've looked everywhere," Chelsea said, worry dripping from her words, "she must have gone further into the forest than usual."

"She just needs to retrace her steps," Travis said, "why are you so frantic?"

"Don't answer that, Chelsea. You know the levels of survival training, Travis?" Jason asked.

Travis nodded, "What about it?"

"These two don't even figure on the scale," Jason murmured, "if she is lost in the forest ... it's serious."

"Lost and upset," Travis said, frowning, "isn't she injured as well?"

Jason nodded, turning back to Chelsea, "I want you to calm down," grasping her shoulders, "we'll find her ... okay. Now come back to the fire and try and eat something."

Chelsea stared at Jason momentarily before nodding, "I'll try."

"Good," Jason said, gently putting his arm around her shoulder and walking her to the fire, "here ... sit next to Mandy."

"Thank you, Jason," Chelsea whispered, accepting a cup of hot coffee from Mandy.

"We have someone missing," Jason addressed the experienced group, "don't ask me her level of survival training; the fact she is still breathing and relatively in one piece is a miracle on its own. I need to know who does have rescue and recovery experience."

Four of the eight raised their hands, "Is four enough?"

"I'm hoping so," Jason said, "Charlie and Greg, please make sure everyone has what they need tonight, and no one is to leave the campsite. You must go in pairs if you need to use the facilities."

"Understood," Charlie said, glancing at the others, "Greg and I have this."

"Good," Jason said, looking at the four preparing to leave the fire, "grab your gear, guys, and let's get her back here."

Chelsea watched them move away in different directions, assembling at the point where Bevis had gone into the forest.

"I hope they find her," she whispered, "I can't take losing her because of that idiot."

"Chelsea," Mandy whispered, rubbing her forearm, "if anyone can find them, it's Jason, and from what I've heard from those guys ... they know what they're talking about. It seems this kind of thing is their job ... they're making this trip as relaxation."

Chelsea asked, "Why would someone do something like this to relax?"

"Yeah, I'm not sure either, but they seemed to be having a good time," she smiled, "it's going to be okay."

Nodding, Chelsea accepted a plate of food from Greg, "Thanks, Greg."

"No problem," he whispered, smiling at Mandy, "I should be thanking Bevis and yourself. You brought my Mandy back to me."

Chelsea smiled at the pair, "You decided to be yourself, hey, Mandy."

Nodding, she smiled, "Best advise I've ever followed."

"Oh heavens," Tiffany sighed, "look at everyone codling the poor defenceless woman and her ... do we say ... friend?"

"That is really low, Tif," Mandy said, "you're too old to continue being the college bitch ..." Mandy shook her head, "you need to grow up."

Tiffany stared at Mandy incredulously, "You're one to talk."

"Yeah, unfortunately, I was stupid to follow yours and Jo's lead all these years," Mandy said, "there comes a time when enough is enough."

"Whose to say it's enough?" Jo smirked, "This is what we are."

"Then I'm not hanging around to end up like you will in the next few years," Mandy said, standing and leaving.

"What will we be in the next few years?" Tiffany asked, raising her eyebrows questioningly.

"Bitter and alone," Mandy said, "I'm choosing to be myself and no one else from now on. The choice is yours," looking at Chelsea, she smiled, "If there is anything you need, Chels ... let me know."

"Thanks, Mandy," Chelsea whispered, sipping at her coffee.

Chelsea smiled when Greg followed Mandy, pulling her to his side and hugging her; one couple had learnt something new this week.

"Can you believe her nerve?" Jo whispered, "criticising us after all we did for her."

"What did you do for her?" Charlie asked.

"We made her popular," Tiffany said.

"We got her, Greg," Jo added.

"No," Tiffany's husband Micheal spoke up; the usually quiet, brooding, tall, muscular and super handsome man looked up from the fire, "she got Greg all on her own ... by being herself, not a vapid version of herself."

Tiffany inhaled sharply, "Then why did you marry me?"

"If I told you I would get a classic popular girl brush-off," Michael said, "I wanted this week to be a fresh start for us ..." he shook his head, "Mandy's right ... neither of you wants to grow personally or mature," standing he sighed, "I don't know if I can do this anymore."

Michael headed toward the forest, "Where are you going?" Tiffany called, pushing to her feet, real fear racing along her words.

"To help with the search," he said, "Bevis requires help, not like you who want to flirt with any man that comes your way."

Michael turned and headed toward the men who were about to leave. Chelsea turned toward Tiffany, surprising the pale face and astonished expression.

"You didn't know how he felt, did you?" Chelsea asked.

"I had no idea," Tiffany whispered, "he never said."

"How many ways must he say he wants you to grow up apart from actually saying the words," Charlie said, "he did say the words to you, and you scoffed at him."

Tiffany opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Chelsea wondered if she was frozen. Eventually, she said, "I thought he was fooling around."

"Really?" Charlie shook his head, "Marriage counselling, those books he got about the next step from college, which I'm guessing you never read."

Tiffany stared at him, and Chelsea wondered if anyone could get paler than she already was; Tiffany turned to look in the direction Michael had gone, but he was no longer there.

"Chelsea, you need help with your tasks," Charlie said, ignoring an indignant Jo, "let me give you a hand ... are you up to it?"

Chelsea nodded, "Don't you have tasks to complete yourself?"

"There isn't a point in doing them tonight," Charlie said, motioning Chelsea to follow him, "and I'm not leaving you here to be torn apart by these two."

Chelsea hesitated, looking between Charlie and Jo and then to Tiffany, "Ah ... if you're sure."

"I am," Charlie said, walking away without looking at the other two women. Instead, he waved for Chelsea to follow him, "... get your folder, and we'll finish your tasks."

Frowning a little, Chelsea followed Charlie toward her tent. Ducking inside, she retrieved her folder opening it as she stood; she expected to be punched by one of the women standing at the campfire, but they were talking.

"Here's the list," Chelsea said, "I haven't gotten to a lot of the stuff ..." she sighed, "I hope they find Bevis."

"Listening to the team that went into the forest chat tonight," Charlie smiled, "they'll find her."

Nodding, Chelsea inhaled, "Where do you want to start?"

"At the top," Charlie said, looking at the list.

Chelsea nodded, "Thank you, Charlie. I needed a distraction."