My blood ran cold as I read the message. I could feel everyone staring at me, laughing at me. I imagined people judging me and whispering horrid things.
'Alex, what's happened?' Sophie asked for the second time but now turning all around to face me.
'Erm.... Sorry.... I ehhh, just remembered I didn't turn my alarm on for the house.' I smiled vaguely and returned back to the text. Who could of sent this? Why would they want to ruin me like this?
I can't tell Noah, it would ruin everything. Everything we had been trying to make work for the past couple months would of been a compete wast of time. I love him too much to ruin this, I can't tell him.
2 hours later...
Noah's P.O.V
I sat up from my seat as the coach came to a stop.
'Right guys, we have finally arrived at the site. Now if I ask that you check under your seat for any rubbish and if you find any bring it with you. We will start by getting all the people from downstairs off first then work our way up to you guys so in the meantime get yourselves ready.' I grabbed my coat off my seat then began walking. I brushed past Alex and even then I received shivers from her. The shivers I got when I first laid eyes on her. I remember that day like it was yesterday. She came into lesson late after seeing Tom in hospital. She was wearing a red checkered shirt, and white crop top and blue high waisted jeans with rips at the knee. Her long hair flowed past her shoulders, right down her back. She was gorgeous. And still is.
'Mr. Rivers?' Called out Mrs. Andrews. I shook my head and looked forward. She was laughing to herself.
'I had been calling you for at least 2 minutes.' She laughed.
'I'm so sorry, I was in a world of my own.' I laughed along with her.
'We are ready to start getting the top deck off now so shall we start with the front or the back?'
'Let's start with the front.' I smiled. Only because Alex was nearer the back and I wanted to talk to her.
'Okay, right can we begin with the front please so Kyle if you make your way down then everyone follow.' Mrs. Andrews turned back to me and smiled very weirdly. Was she coming onto me? Ew.
I turned back around and began walking to my seat to get my belongings. I saw Alex looking very worried, she was looking at her phone. I walked past her and nudged her on purpose. I picked up my coat then turned back around. Alex had put her phone away but she was now tapping her leg as if she needed to do something or needed to be somewhere else. I was really worried now.
'Alex, can I talk to you please about.....' I had to think of an excuse to make it seem natural for a teacher to he talking to a student like this.
'Can I see you about your medical information please?' She looked me dead in the eye.
'Soph, I'll see you in a few minutes.' She whispered before picking up her bags and walking up to me.
'What's going on with you?' I asked moving a piece of hair from her face.
She hesitated, a lot. Then took a deep breath.
'I just.... I just miss Tom. I haven't been away from home since he got diagnosed. And now he's gone I don't know what I'm going to do with myself.' She burst out crying, her hands covered her red, flushed face.
'Oh babe.' I whispered, wanting to console her but not wanting anyone to hear.
I cuddled her right into my arms. I hated seeing her like this, bringing her here was supposed to make it a little bit better well at least for 3 days and I think it's just made it worse.
'If you want to go back, I'll make an excuse for you?'
'No, I need to start somewhere so I may as well try and get better sooner than later.' She sniffled them pulled away.
'I better go down now.' She stood up on her tip toes and kissed my cheek softly. It felt like nothing? Not when she usually kisses me. It was heartless, it had no passion in it what so ever.
Alex's P.O.V
I hated having to treat Noah like this but the more I opened up to him I wouldn't be able to stop myself from telling him what's really on my mind.
I stepped off the coach and the man was waiting angrily with my suitcase.
'Thankyou.' I smiled but he just grunted and slammed the side door shut.
'What were you still doing up there?' Asked Mrs. Andrews.
'Sorry miss but No... I mean Mr. Rivers was missing some details off my allergy sheet so he was just asking me.' Crap! I nearly called him Noah in front of a teacher!
'Oh right okay then, come along. Everyone is in the hall now.' She put her hand on the small of my back and walked me into the hotel.
Everyone was sat on the floor in groups talking. I walked away from Mrs. Andrews and found Sophie who was sat with Jason, Kyle and Maria.
'Oh hey A, what did sir want?' Asked Maria who also calls me 'A'
'I missed out a few details on my medical sheet so he was just checking.' I lied.
'Hey Alex.' Smiled Kyle. Kyle had been a close friend of mind ever since he found out about my brother. He had been there for me, he even drove me to the hospital a few times.
'Hey Kyle, what did i miss?' I smiled sitting next to him.
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his side which is totally normal. We never go a day without hugging. I wrapped one arm around his stomach and hugged him back. As I opened my eyes to let go Noah had walked into the hall and was staring at me angrily. I quickly let get of Kyle and placed my hands in my lap.
'Right year 12, you were fantastic on the coach ride here so we want to thank you for that. And now just before we read out your rooms I'm going to go over the rules.' Mrs. Andrews took out a clipboard from a bag near her feet. I watched as her eyes wandered over to Noah. She gave him a smile but it wasn't like a normal teacher to teacher smile. There was something hidden in it.
'Right where was I.... Oh yes! Right no boys in girls room after 6:00pm and vice versa, no taking food into the hotel rooms because it attracts mice. Breakfast will be served at 9:30 so we expect you to be up at at least 8:00am. Lunch is served at 12:00 then dinner at 5:00-7:00pm. Lights out at 10:00 and you will get free time after lunch for an hour then we will do activities then another free time just after dinner. 'We will give you your activity timetable after dinner time tonight.'
The room broke into a sudden chat.
I watched as Noah walked to the front and spoke to Mrs. Andrews. They were laughing their heads off, at some point she ever had her hand on his shoulder while they were laughing. Noah turned his head and looked at me. There was no compassion in his smile. There was nothing. Actually there wasn't even a smile. I turned back around and held my eyes tight, trying not to let the tears roll down. If i didn't get that text me and Noah would still be okay, he wouldn't be trying to make me jealous and I wouldn't be keeping my distance from him. He doesn't even know about the text and he's already making me jealous.
'Right I'm going to read out the sleeping arrangements...' Mrs. Andrews continued to read out the rooms and the people who are in them. It finally came to me.
'Right Sophie hill and Alex Williams in room 18 on the first floor.' We nodded then got our suitcases from the back of the hall and made our way to the ground floor.
'I'm so happy we are sharing a room, it's going to be so fun!' Sophie squealed.
'I know....' I drifted off into a deep thought. Mainly about the text but a slight feeling in me was thinking that might be the least of my worries right now. Noah and I are drifting apart and there's nothing I can do?
'Alex...?'
'Oh sorry, what did you say?' I shook my head and returned back to reality.
'I said we are here.' She laughed before unlocking the door with our card key. We walked in and the in the room were two single beds pushed up against either sides of the room walls. One wardrobe, a dressing table and a t.v.
'Wow not too bad considering the school's broke.' I laughed.
Sophie ran up to the bed nearest the window 'Bagsie this bed!' She shouted before jumping on top of it.
I just laughed and walked over to the left over bed. I slung my bag onto the pillow and just sat thinking. Thinking of all the negative sides of life because why not? No happiness has come out of coming on this trip. It's all too risky.
'Alex, what's wrong with you? You've been so down ever since we got here?' Sophie slowly sat up onto her bed and crossed her legs beneath her.
'I don't think I was ready to come here yet, not with everything that's gone on.' I buried my head in my hands.
'Alex I'm so sorry, but just think doing all the activities will get your mind off things for a little bit. I'm not going to sit here and tell you things will get better because that would be complete bullshit but because I am your best friend we will get through it, as a team. Okay?' She walked over and sat on my bed. Her arm slung around my shoulders and she side hugged me.
'Thank you so much Sophie. I'm so glad I've got you to help me through this.' I turned to my side and hugged her back.
'Right, I have huge news that I think will make you day, well hopefully make your weekend so much better!' She moved away and stood up.
'Kyle has a huge crush on you!' She jumped up and down with her hands clapping.
'Shit.' I whispered. Yes Kyle was very attractive, so sweet and just the perfect boyfriend I didn't want anyone else besides Noah.
'I think he's going to ask you out sometime this weekend, he really likes you A. You can't mess this up!'
Maybe this can be payback to Noah for trying to make me jealous!
'I'll think about it.' I sniggered to Sophie.
There was a knock on the door.
'Can you get it A, I need the toilet?' Sophie wandered off into the bathroom. I walked to the door and opened it.
'Can you go to the hall please, both of you.' Noah quickly said then began to walk off. He acted as if I was just his student and he was just my teacher. Yes of course that is it but there is so much more.
'Noah!' I whispered loudly. He stood still in his place not facing me. He soon turned around slowly.
'What is going on with you?' My tone changed quite angrily.
'Oh don't play stupid, I know you like Kyle Anderson!' His voice raised but went back to whispering when he realised he was too loud.
I couldn't help but laugh sarcastically.
'You can talk considering you were flirting with Miss. Andrews!'
Noah narrowed his eyebrows and ruffled his nose in confusion.
'Alex listen to us, what's really going on?' Noah leant one arm up against the door frame. Just as I was about to open my mouth I heard the toilet flush.
'You better go.' I whispered.
The bathroom door burst open and Sophie stood looking confused.
'Hi Sophie, I was just telling Alex you need to report to the hall so you can get your activity timetable.' Noah smiled at Sophie then looked at me. I couldn't tell if it was a smile or a sarcastic look but whatever it was I didn't appreciate it. He left and carried up the corridor to his room which was next to ours.
'Right lets go then A.' Sophie pushed me out the door.
Noah's P.O.V
I sat on the edge of my bed with my head in my hands. I don't know what's happening between Alex and I but its not normal. We have just suddenly began bursting out at eachother and not trusting eachother with other people. It's so unlike us. I know she's having a hard time being away from home and not having Tom around anymore but I can tell there's something else bothering her.
I looked down at my watch and it read 2:45. 'Shit!' I called out. I'm 15 minutes late to the meeting. I garbled my card key then ran out the door and to the main hall.
Miss. Andrews was talking at the front of the hall. I searched the room for Alex but I couldn't spot her.
'Okay so you've all be separated into groups of 7, this is based on your athletic abilities. So group one is the more advanced then it goes to group 4. So group one is Diana, Michael, Sara, Mandy, James, Daniel and Michelle. Group two is Marcus, Lucy, Alex, Max, Kyle, Olivia and Lauren...' The groups continued to be read out but I stopped listening after hearing that Alex and Kyle were in the same group.
My eyes went on a hunt for Alex, they were darting from each end of the room to another. After 4 minutes of checking every little group, Alex was nowhere in sight. My heart started pounding. I walked quickly out of the hall trying not to draw attention to myself. As soon as I was outside I sprinted across path and into the hotel room building. I ran as fast as I could to the end of the hall, what if she's ran away. What if she's hurt somewhere and I can't find her? I reached the door and began banging my fists as hard as I could.
'Alex open up!' I shouted. I carried on hitting my fists against the oak door. I heard her little footsteps against the creaky floorboards underneath the carpet. I backed away from the door and waited. The door began to slowly open, and then there she was. Bloodshot eyes, tears rolling down her face and her phone strapped to her hand.
'Oh my god!' I threw myself at Alex and wrapped her in my chest. Her arms wrapped around me tightly as if she never wanted to let go. She cried. But not a little weep, a serious wail of a cry. I walked her in the room without letting go and kicked the door closed with the back of my foot.
'Alex what's going on?' I whispered into her soft hair. After a few snuffles and attempts to stop crying she answered.
'Someone knows about us.