White Crest

4

Adelaide looked around at the six other students seated with her in the principals office. She felt Nathan's eyes boring holes in her back and she fixed her gaze on a dog calendar on the wall.

"We've picked the students we've felt have been doing excellent work for the past few months at White Crest should be rewarded. You've been picked to go on a camping trip for a week and a half as an early spring break." The principal sat at his desk and handed out papers to each student. "These are your packing lists, you will be leaving for your trip at the end of the day. You have been exempt from classes for today so I suggest you make the most use of your time. All of you have your licenses so someone can drive to the campsite using the sports van."

Aria, Jennifer and Adelaide returned to their dorm and started packing.

"That was the last thing I expected." Adelaide said grabbing a duffel bag and a suitcase. "Of course Nathan is going. Mr. Perfect has to win at everything."

"He likes you. It's obvious." Aria threw Adelaide a t-shirt and zipped up her bag. "I've got my eye on Logan though. The things I could lick off of those abs." Aria sighed for dramatic effect and laughed at the other girls reactions. Logan was the star receiver and was a total flirt even though he'd never gone out with anyone.

"What!? You guys are crazy. They're football idiots. He doesn't like me and I'm the last person in the world who would like him." Adelaide sat on her bed.

"Yeah, we know you don't like him, but he's head over heels for you." Jennifer laughed. "Chase is a total hottie. If he asked me out I would die." Chase was the like the last of the three musketeers. He was similar to Nathan but his hair was dark brown and he liked to wear it longer than Nathan's.

"Come on! They're just guys! Even if we do have to spend a week and a half with them." Adelaide rolled her eyes and dragged her suit case out the door. Nathan packed suit cases in the back of the van. Logan were already seated in the back and Chase had called shotgun. Jennifer came up behind Adelaide and handed her the list.

"I'm already packed why do I need the list?" Adelaide scanned over the list and glanced at the bottom. She flipped the list over and saw the last item circled. Right. Toothpaste.

"Don't let them leave without me." She ran to back to the dorm and grabbed her toothbrush and a sweater and ran back to the van. To her dismay the only available seat was in the back with Logan and Nathan. She squeezed in the back between the two guys and looked for the seat belt.

"Where's the seat belt?" Adelaide looked at Nathan and Logan.

 "There are no seat belts back here." Logan laughed and squished her into Nathan's side. Aria turned around in the front seat and faced the two boys.

"Hey, you better be nice to Laidy if your spending the next week and half with her. The camping spot is a while from here so we'll stop for supper on the way. It should be dark when we get there."

Logan apologetically looked at Adelaide, sensing her discomfort of being pressed up against Nathan. Adelaide took out her iPad and flicked through her tons of albums but didn't find anything she wanted to listen too. She handed the iPad to Logan and grabbed her novel from her brown leather shoulder bag. Nathan was intently staring out the window and refused to make eye contact with her. He checked his phone display every five minutes as if he was expecting a very important text. Logan watched an episode of Criminal Minds while outside the van the sky quickly darkened. Aria turned into a diner and everyone got out and ordered.

"Chase why do you need three burgers?" Aria laughed and picked up a tray of drinks.

"Because I'm a man. An athlete's got to bulk up somehow." Chase grinned and patted his stomach, which under his shirt was rock solid muscle. Adelaide looked at Nathan and realized his usual talkative self hadn't said anything the entire drive. She walked over beside Nathan and elbowed him softly.

"Hey." Adelaide climbed into the back of the van and opened her bag of food and grabbed her fries.

"I still can't believe what that ass did to you. Public break ups are always the worst. I've had that happen too many times to count." Nathan scowled and unwrapped his burger.

"I'll get over it." She didn't have the heart to tell him it was all a joke.

"Aren't girls supposed to be heartbroken about this kinda stuff?" Nathan looked at her.

"I never have to see him again so I'll be fine." Adelaide almost burst out laughing. 

"If you're sure." Nathan shrugged and returned to devouring his burger.

"It kinda sounds like your jealous." Adelaide poked fun at him. He just turned pink and avoided her gaze. Adelaide inwardly groaned. 'Don't flirt with him!' She felt really bad about lying to Nathan but in some ways he kind of deserved it.

Half an hour later she felt something drop on her shoulder and she realized it was Nathan. He snored lightly in his sleep and his hair was sticking up. Adelaide laughed and looked at Logan. As far as she could tell they were in the middle of a forest and the van bounced around all over the place. Aria put the van in reverse and they stopped in a clearing with a stream running through it.

"Alright guys were here. It looks like its about to rain so lets set up camp soon. Aria and I are on for breakfast duties in the morning. Logan and Nathan. Stop being lazy and set up the tarp." Chase threw a rolled up tarp to Logan. Adelaide got out of the car and Nathan fell onto the seat, still asleep. She tried to poke him awake but he groaned and swatted away her hand tiredly and rolled over so he was facing the seat.

She tried to put up a tent with Logan and struggled to dig out the sleeping bags from the back of the van. She was glad she had found a good sleeping bag because it looked like she would need it. The freezing cold air was misty and and water droplets hung in the air. Just as she got under the tarp it started pouring rain. Adelaide had only brought one sweater and Nathan's striped hoodie. She put up her hood and shivered next to Jennifer. A groggy Nathan came up beside her and sat down.

"Sleep well?" She rubbed her hands together.

"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. She shivered and huddled closer to Jennifer, opposed to Nathan.

"Here. You'll need it more that I do." He took off his waterproof jacket and handed it to her. He rubbed his eyes and headed off in the direction of the boys tent. Jennifer elbowed her and giggled. His jacket was still warm from his body heat.

"See!? The fake boyfriend trick didn't scare him away! He likes you more already." Jennifer dove into the tent and wrapped herself in her sleeping bag.

"Shut up Jen. It's not funny." Adelaide rolled her eyes and swatted her friend on the shoulder.

"They can hear us you know." Aria whispered, switching off her flash light.

"Good night Aria, Jennifer and Nathan if you can hear me." She rolled over and snuggled into her sleeping bag.

"Night Laidy." She could barely hear against the wind but she swore she heard it.