"We're here, students!" Miss Kamilah announces from the front of the coach.
I turn to Sterling, who still appears sound asleep, with his head pointed towards me. Crap. I don't want to be in charge of awakening a slumbering tiger. Though, I have to admit, when he's asleep he does look somewhat... peaceful, innocent almost, without that intimidating demeanor or devious look in his eye.
"H-Hey," I say nervously.
He doesn't move a muscle.
"Hey," I repeat, louder this time. Still he stays in the same position, eyes glued shut. I breath out in aggravation. Students have started streaming out of the coach, and he's still here, sleeping soundly without a single care in the world.
I reach over and tap him lightly on the shoulder repeatedly, speaking loudly, "We're here."
I notice his eye spasm slightly, but they remain closed. What's wrong with this guy? Is he that deep a sleeper? I'm starting to get annoyed, and most of the students have already gotten off the coach by now.
I lean in closer to him, observing his facial expression. He seems like he's awake, eyes twitching under his eyelids, but they're not opening, and he's not getting up. I hit him harder on the shoulder.
"Sterling!"
His right eye pops open automatically, watching me. In an instant he closes the gap between us, so that our faces are only a few inches apart.
My eyes widen and my heartbeat quickens. He looks down at me past his long eyelashes and cocks his head to the side. I swallow apprehensively, cheeks turning warm. He's way too close for comfort. Again.
"I'm awake," he speaks smoothly, and grins smugly, having ruffled up my feathers. He's managed to make me uneasy at least three times today, and it's not even ten 0'clock.
"Is it that hard to get my name past your lips?" His words make my cheek flush even hotter.
I pull away quickly. My reaction just makes him snigger.
"Come on, ally. We're the only ones left on the bus. If we don't go soon, we'll miss out on some of the wholesome camping fun!"
With that, he stands up and makes his way out of the coach. I sit for a few more seconds collecting myself, then exit the vehicle.
Being alone with him seems awfully dangerous. This boy isn't very well-informed on the concept of personal space, and every time we're in a one-on-one situation, he likes to remind me of the fact. He makes me feel so... uncomfortable, and nervous. It can't be good for my health to have my heart rate constantly racing all the time. Everything seems like a game to him, and I'm like his little plaything. He may not care about what anyone else in this entire school thinks of him, but I do. I actually need to survive the next two years in this damn prison and he's not helping in making things any easier for me.
I swear to myself that from here on out I'll do everything in my power to make sure I don't get myself into anymore one-on-one situations with that guy.
But at the same time a tiny voice in my head wants me to find out more about him, and some of those secrets he harbors. I immediately extinguish that voice and walk into the crowd of students collecting their luggages by the side of the vehicle.
Most of the uncollected luggages have been organized into neat rows, waiting for their owner to pick them up. I eye the rows up and down, but don't spot my bag.
I walk to the other side of the crowd to check, and notice it half unzipped, and thrown to the side, so that some of my things have fallen out and are strew across the dirt.
I scoff in disbelief. Yet, at the same time, I expected something like this to happen, just not so early in the morning before I've gotten any coffee in my system, and my blonde best friend hasn't even arrived.
I rush forward and kneel down, dusting my things off and stuffing them back into the duffle bag while pushing down the embarrassment and anger rising in my cheeks.
I look up, and see some students around staring at me on the ground, none bothering to take a step to help, most just staring with amused smiles plastered on their faces or laughing with derision.
I see Sterling, as well, but he doesn't offer any help either. At the moment, those cold eyes of his are fixed in a straight glare at that noisy herd of students led by that guy with peroxide blonde hair. Is he planning for a round two? Well this time, I don't want to be a spectator. He can do whatever he wants, I just don't want to get involved in his business... or hobby, I could call it.
I quickly pack up my things and stand up, swinging my duffle bag over my shoulder.
An overenthusiastic lady wearing a white polo shirt comes over with a tablet in her manicured hands.
"Welcome students! You're currently standing in Camp Amphitrite, the best and most deluxe campgrounds in the region. I'll be your head coordinator, and on behalf of all of us from the Amphitrite team, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all the Trinity students here!"
Ugh, she's way too enthusiastic; it nauseates me so early in the morning. Well, it's not that early anymore but my brain doesn't start fully functioning properly until noon.
They divide us into teams of eight — four girls and four guys from across the three classes — whom we will stick to for the whole three days.
Once they finish announcing the girls, I feel extremely relieved that Kera Rosamund (who had truly arrived via helicopter) is in another group far away from mine. I'm in Group 1, and she's in Group 7. Thank god. Imagine what a nightmare it would've been if—
"Now for the boys, in Group 1, first up we have Sterling Crawford."
Ugh, crap. Does this school really just want to make me suffer the maximum amount possible? Maybe that's how I'm paying my school fees — in weekly installments of embarrassment and suffering. How else would you explain why my luck in groups, partners and even seating buddies are always so damn convenient?
He sees my pained grimace, which he responds with a smirk, and slides up right beside me, shoulders nearly touching.
"What is it? Not happy to see me again, ally?"
I take a slight step to the side to create a breath of space between us.
"Why do you look so pleased with yourself? Did you set this up or something?" I ask while eyeing him sideways skeptically.
He chuckles, a low rumble that comes from his chest.
"I would've, but the school already conveniently does it for me."
I give him a disconcerted look, which just makes him smile wider.
"The school loves to arrange things by last name," he finally clarifies, "Family name is oh-so-important to them, much more than our given names. Given names give us our identity, while last name gives our family credentials, which, of course, matter much more to people than our actual character."
He smiles tightly, but his eyes and words tell another story.
I'm too panicked right now to be in awe of what he just said.
"So 'Crawford' is the first on the list? There isn't anyone with a last name starting with 'A' or 'B'?"
I think my franticness is too apparent, because he replies with a teasing look,
"Yes, unfortunately for you."
And a great misfortune it is. That means that, for the rest of the year, if they were to organize any more groups or pairings...
I look up at him, a forlorn expression painting my features.
I can think of someone whose last name starts with a 'B'. Blackwood. Alexander Blackwood. He's someone I want to be in a group with, but he's not here right now, and even if he was, I think he'd rather chop off his left ear than be in a group with me for three days.
I shift my gaze down to my feet.
"I make you uncomfortable, don't I?"
I look back up in surprise at his candid remark. He flashes me a devious smile.
"Good."
This boy is really something else. Should I be touched or insulted that he's chosen me as his source of entertainment? At the present I'm choosing the latter. He seems to really derive joy from causing me grief. If that's the case, he should go find another plaything. I hate being played with, and I have quite the temper. When I get angry, sometimes there's no telling what I'll do. He'd better not get on my bad side. I won't let him get away with trifling with my emotions; I'm not swayed easily.
Though I can't help but wonder: Why is my heart beating so fast right now?