a. evans
I had managed to avoid Sage and his friends for the large majority of the school day, only having had one encounter near the end of the day where he shot me a nasty glare followed by a smirk at the bruises littered across my skin.
Nobody paid much mind to the damage of my skin because it had become a normalized sight. Everybody knew I was a prime target for bullies.
I was now attending my last class of the day and then I would be heading to the gym for an announcement about the Big Brothers and Big Sisters annual trip. To put it simply, I was dreading it.
I have no idea how I am going to be able to get away from the orphanage for an overnight trip. I could easily forge a signature for Miss Harrison but it would be near impossible for her to not notice my absence for a night. I was her 'favourite' after all.
The bell rang and I begrudgingly got up from my seat and packed my bag, heading straight to the gym so as to not anger Xanthe. I inwardly giggled at the thought of his face red with anger and steam coming out of his ears.
I managed to actually reach the gym without being pummelled this time. Score. My hand reached the handle and pulled the heavy door open, only to discover the senior boys basketball practice. All their heads whipped over at the sound of the old screechy door opening and I immediately flushed red.
"Um. Your fly is down!" I pointed at one of the boys and then made a beeline for the exit. When I exited the gym I heaved a sigh and then mentally scolded myself. His fly is down? He was wearing sweatpants!
I will never forgive myself for that interaction.
"I guess it's in gym 2..."
𒊹︎ꕥ꧁꧂ꕥ𒊹︎
When I finally found the correct gym, I had quickly spotted Xanthe due to his staggering height and made my way over to him.
"Hi!" I smiled at him. His head did not move from its downward position while he stared at his phone, but his eyes darted over to me. He glanced over me and finally lifted his head and grunted.
Ooh. Grumpy today.
"This place is hard to find!" I exclaimed, not caring that he would likely completely ignore every word that comes out of my mouth.
Like I assumed, I was given no answer, but his eyebrow quirked and I watched as a look of annoyance and confusion washed over him.
I took this as a sign that he wanted me to continue.
"Well I wasn't aware that it wasn't being held in the usual gym. I walked in and the entirety of the senior boys basketball team was staring right at me!" I explained while blushing.
I almost did a double take when I noticed that he looked slightly amused but I didn't dare say anything about it so as to not ruin the moment.
"You're a fucking idiot." He said simply and bluntly.
I blinked.
And I didn't want to ruin the moment.
"Nobody told me there was a change in venue!" I shot back at him, also providing him with my meanest glare.
"You're 10. You should have enough problem solving skills to know to ask if you aren't 100% sure, Sunshine." He said, clearly unimpressed with me.
"First of all, I'm 13," I started, but was rudely interrupted.
"That's even worse." He shook his head in disbelief.
I glared at him for interrupting me, and for his unnecessary comment.
"Second of all, Sunshine?" I asked, confused at the sudden use of the nickname. Out of all people Xanthe was the one I least expected to give me a nickname.
"You're nice, you radiate positivity, and your favourite colour is yellow. What else would I call you?" He said smoothly. He was so nonchalant it made me jealous. I want to be cool too!
"Most people call me Ainsley." I said, smiling innocently at him. He rolled his eyes.
"But, if you're going to give me a nickname, it's only fair that I give you one too!" I smirked, kicking my feet excitedly as I sat in the chair next to him.
He scoffed and shook his head.
"No."
I ignored him obviously.
"How about Princess?" I teased happily.
He shot me a harsh glare.
"Or Sweetie Pie!"
His teeth started to grind and his fists clenched.
"Oh I know! Grumpy! That's it. That's your name!" I decided. It was perfect. I've never seen this man without a pout on his face.
He turned to me.
"Call me that and I will throw you off the top of this building." He said through clenched teeth. I couldn't help but giggle at his threat. Before he could retort a high frequency sound surrounded the room causing everyone to wince.
At the front of the room was our sheepish principal holding a microphone.
"Sorry about that..." Said Mr. Erikson, seemingly amused by his nearly bursting everybody's eardrums.
When nobody laughed along with him he quickly moved on.
"Anyways, as well all know, the annual trip is to take place next week. The bus will leave the school on Thursday morning and we will set up camp at the grounds for the night. We'll return promptly by the end of the school day on Friday," he starts.
"At our last meeting we assigned pairings for sleeping arrangements. If you haven't already become acquainted with your roommate of sorts, I would highly recommend introducing yourselves to them. You will be in close quarters for the night so it would do you well to at least know their names." He continued.
I was trying to wrack my brain for a time when I was informed of my tent buddy but I came up blank. Then I remembered. I didn't even make it to the last meeting.
Beside me I hear Xanthe grunt and when I looked at him, he, for once, wasn't making the noise because of me. He appeared to be shooting daggers at Mr. Erikson and he had his arms crossed over his chest.
He saw me looking at him and gestured at me to turn my attention back to the speaker. I sighed and did as he wished. As long as he wasn't mad at me, I would do anything he wanted.
"That's all for today. You may feel free to stick around for snacks and beverages, but I have no further information to share. Have a good night!"
As soon as he finished talking I turned to Xanthe.
"Maybe we are partners!" I said hopefully. He gave me an incredulous look and shook his head.
"Why not?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Because I'm 18 and a man, and you're 10 and a girl." He says like it's obvious. I scoffed at him.
"For the last time, I'm 13!" I say in frustration. Why does everybody think I'm a kid? I'm a teenage girl!
"The point still stands. They're not going to allow for co-ed sleeping arrangements." He says, running a tattooed hand through his hair.
I realized he was right and then sighed. I didn't feel like sharing a tent with some random girl. I already had a hard enough time introducing myself to Xanthe.
"Alright let's go." Says Xanthe. I turn to look at him confused and he sighs.
"We have to find out our sleeping arrangements." He says, completely uninterested. I looked at him as if he'd grown 2 heads.
I was almost 100% sure he was going to quit the program after hearing about the trip.
"Are you just going to stand there and catch flies or are you going to follow me?" He asks, looking at me like I'm a complete and utter idiot. I didn't blame him.
I blinked twice and snapped myself out of my trance and turned to him while we walked.
"You mean you're going?" I ask him, just trying to be sure that I wasn't being ditched. I wouldn't be surprised.
"Yes." He says simply, glaring daggers into my battered soul.
"Ok!" I chirp happily, not wanting to press him on it in case he realizes what he's agreed to and backs out.
I spotted the podium where our principal was standing and without thinking, grabbed Xanthe's hand and started to drag him over.
I felt him become tense in my grip but I just trudged over to the table and when we reached it, I smiled happily at Mr. Erikson.
"Hi!" I said, completely forgetting what the purpose of this conversation was. I stared at him for a second and then clued in.
"Hi Ainsley." He said back, smiling softly at me.
"Xanthe and I missed the last meeting so we don't know our sleeping arrangements for the trip." I explained, hinting towards the information I need provided.
He was about to respond when he looked down and noticed mine and Xanthe's interlocked fingers and then I watched as a smirk appeared on his face. Xanthe followed Mr. Erikson's eyes as they locked in on our hands and quickly pulled his hand out of my grip, even going as far as rubbing his own hand on his pants.
Ouch.
My hands are better than his anyways!
He glared at me for a minute and then turned his focus to the gym floor beneath us.
Good. Think about your actions!
"Ah yes. I noticed your absence. I have all the information here as well as a permission slip that will need to be signed by a parent or guardian and turned in by no later than Friday." He said pointedly, aiming his words at Xanthe.
I couldn't help but giggle at Xanthe being scolded but when his mop of dark hair sprung up I was pretty quick to stop with one look from him.
"It seems that the students you will be staying with over the trip have already left todays meeting but there will be plenty of time to talk with them on the bud to the campgrounds. Have a good day!" He says to us, focusing his last sentence at me. I smiled back at him and then turned to Xanthe.
"I think it's all settled. I gotta get home now, bye!"
He rolled his eyes at me and pointed at a chair. I look at him quizzically and he motioned his finger down, informing me he wanted me to sit down.
I did what he wanted and watched as he pulled his phone out and dialled a number. It rang twice before the person on the other line picked up and I zoned out for their short conversation.
Suddenly I was snapped out of my thoughts when my forehead was flicked. I shot my hand up to rub away the pain and then turned to the culprit.
Xanthe stood there with a very faint smirk on his face and said simply.
"Let's go, Lachlan is here."
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Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I think we can officially say that I've earned the award for "most hiatuses ever." I'm not done with the book by a long shot, just busy!
Thanks for reading!