The Gifters

Chapter 9~ Horseplay

I wake up to a dull light shining through an annoying crack in the curtains. I sit up and glance around the room. There still six peaceful bodies, snoring away in dreamland. With that, I drape a sarong over my shoulders and quietly make my way to the door of the dorm. I sneak outside and curl up in the plastic chair from yesterday.

I watch as the sun rises, and paints a blanket of purples, pinks, oranges and blues across the blank canvas of the heavens above. I'm not sure what time it is, nor do I really care, but I sit outside watching the sky for what seems like a lifetime, in this little plastic chair.

Without warning, I hear the door slide open behind me, and out slips Ruben, blinking in the sunlight, eyes still droopy from slumber.

"Good morning," I say to the sleepy boy.

"Mmph...what? Oh, morning, I guess," he replies, stretching and yawning.

He takes a seat on the ground beside me, looking out over the balcony.

"Beautiful, this sunrise is," he points out truthfully.

He's a bland sort of talker, the way he speaks, but he's the kind where you hang on to every word he has to say, because he's the type who doesn't have much to say.

Although he is quite silent, and strong, he has got a strong aura about him, like something just draws you to him, like a bee to a flower. I'm not sure what it is, it could be his eyes, it could be the way his hair frames his face. Or it could be something else. I could be overanalysing this, but it's a possibility, isn't it?

I don't bother asking.

That would make me a little strange in his eyes, wouldn't it? 'Yeah hey, you're a gifter, aren't you? I felt that connection.'

The thought makes me break the silence with a little snicker.

"What are you laughing about?" he asks suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing, just something funny, I guess."

Yeah no shit sherlock.

I can feel the musty awkwardness start closing in on us and leap up, making a loud clutter.

"I- uh, I'm gonna start heading back in now. The others might be awake, y'know?" I swing on my feet and clap awkwardly before turning and heading back inside.

"They won't be awake," comes a bland, monotone reply.

I turn on my heel and look back at him. He hasn't broken his glance with the land below.

I think he senses my mix of surprise and confusion, as he explains shortly after with,"I was the only early riser until you got here. Don't expect them up until the hours of 8-10 am."

"But don't we have tutoring toda-," I go to say before he cuts me off.

"No, we have only have tutoring on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. They're having a Saturday morning sleep in."

There's nothing more to be said, so I walk back inside and shut the heavy glass door, stealing a glimpse at him before I walk across the cold floorboards and sit on the bed. Figuring no one would be awake for a while, I take off my silky boxers and slide between the soft, cotton sheets. I hear Kohen stir in his sleep, hoping he would wake up already, just so I would have at least someone to talk to, but to no avail does he do more than roll over.

I'm starting to get quite hungry, but I'm still not sure how the whole "food" thing works around here. So I turn over, facing the bland, white wall and attempt to fall back to sleep, but to no avail. I lie there in the silence and turn over, looking at the ceiling.

I think to myself about everything that's happened and everything that's going to happen. I have no idea what position I'm in, I only know that I'm not sure what I want. I turn and face the wall again, feeling very sleepy all of a sudden. Before I even realise what's happening, I'm sobbing softly to myself, until darkness consumes me, and I sink back into a deep slumber.

~

I wake up and scan the room, noticing that Ruben, Kaila, Robert and Carlos are missing. It's only then that I notice Kohen standing over me, staring at me with his big green eyes, watching me.

He smiles a wide smile and says through tears of laughter,"Sooo... what is this about a jumping castle?"

It takes a moment for me to remember my dream, having been about a mass jumping castle.

"Ahh! What the hell, man!" I say, squirming and trying to get up.

I grab at my pillow and halfheartedly throw it at him. He runs away giggling like a giddy little girl. I jump out of bed and chase him around the room.

"Hey, guys! Far out! Calm your shit down! I'm reading here!" comes an annoyed statement from Maya's part of the room.

He then turns back, staring at me for a couple of seconds and laughs harder at me, falling to his knees. I somehow forgot that I had taken my pants before I went to sleep and am standing in my daggy knickers and sweatshirt. I shriek in embarrassment and run back to my bed, burying myself deep down into the covers.

"Guys! I swear to god! Shut the f-udge up!" Maya yells again.

An angry teacher walking past yells into our room.

"I better not have heard what I think I heard!"

"You didn't miss!"

I look around at the clock. It's 11 am. I didn't think I slept that long.

"Where are the others?" I say, confused.

"Carlos probably is at the library, Robert and Kaila went to check the bus times and Ruben is meeting up with a few friends," Says Maya without looking up.

"Bus? For what?" I think out loud to myself.

"There's a beach about an hour north of here," Kohen explains. He has that tone of voice like should've known that but Kohen being Kohen, always manages to make things seem like that.

"You gonna come with us?" He asks, "It's only gonna be me, Maya, Kaila and Robert coming."

"Maya, Kaila, Robert and I," Maya corrects him.

"Anyway, before I was ever so rudely interrupted by the Maya Bird, me, Kaila, Robby and Maya are going to the beach. You coming?"

Maya yells at him, "That's a double negative, Koh-hai, resulting in the injury of one of your body parts, in a surprise ambush. In other words, watch your back!"

"I'll come, I guess, if it's not too much trouble," I say.

"Well get your crap together, Rob and Tweedledumber are coming back now," Kohen says, as Kaila and Robert burst through the door.

~

That was one of the longest chapters ive ever written guys! I hope you like it!
I'm also adding a picture of the general scene to the start of the chapter. All pictures I get are made by yours truly on
rinmaru.com
~MaximusFangirl99