The School

Chapter 8

Elian directs all of us outside and looks at everyone, running his eyes over a list of the people in our camp, to make sure there isn't anyone lagging behind trying to ditch the assignment. 

When his eyes find mine, I look away, not caring to stare. But instead of just passing over me like everyone else, I can feel his eyes lingering over my face. 

I look up and glare at him, reciprocating the rude attitude he showed me earlier, he narrows his eyes and moves on to the next person. 

As the other camps start walking, Elian also gets us to move. And We have to walk to where the campsite is, because apparently, even in the middle of the forest, we can't just pitch up a tent right where we stand. I think to myself, kicking a stone.

Warren comes up from somewhere behind me and takes my hand.

"Are you excited for this?" I ask him skeptically.

He rolls his eyes and laughs slightly, "This whole thing is a joke and you know it. We've done more just by camping in Creeks View."

I nudge him softly with my shoulder, "You never know, and I think it's supposed to be more than just camping."

We stop walking and he leans in slightly, "More than just camping?" Warren wiggles his eyebrows at me.

Now fully laughing, I push him away from me, "You dirty boy!"

I continue to laugh as I jog to catch up with the rest of our camp, and to run away from Warren.

He grabs me around the waist, causing me to squeal. We both fall to the ground when I trip over a root.

Warren lands on top of me, caging me between his strong legs and holding his weight from crushing me with his muscular arms on either side of my head. 

My laughter fades as I see the look in his eyes.

His pupils are blown wide, and the blue is replaced with a heated black. Other people around us have slowed their pace to watch everything unfold. 

"Warren, get off, you're causing a scene." I whisper.

His eyes shoot to my lips and it's like he can't hear anything I'm saying. I try to push him off of myself but he doesn't budge. 

He licks his pink lips and his breathing is uneven and hot as it fans over my face.

My eyes widen and fear hits me like a bucket of ice water when his canines elongate and he tilts my head to get a better angle on my neck. 

Just then, Warren is ripped off of me and the spectators that stopped to watch all gasp in shock. 

I scramble to my feet to see Elian push Warren back again. Both boys are growling viciously at each other. Then Elian punches Warren in this face and I grab his arm before he can send his fist into Warren for a second time. 

"Stop it!" I scream.

Elian looks down at me, his eyes also dark, and he growls, "Don't let this animal touch you like that!"

"He's not an animal!" I argue.

"If he can't control himself, he's an animal" Elian says darkly, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Whatever, he didn't mean it." I say.

Elian scoffs and breaks out of my grip on his arm, turns around and continues walking the path we were on before everything. 

Without saying anything, the crowd of watchers disperses and also keeps walking. 

I look at Warren and see him holding his face.

"Warren! Are you okay?" I say as I reach for him.

I move his hand and see that above his left cheek bone is a nasty gash. I rip off a piece of the waistline of my shirt and hold it against his cheek.

"Thanks, Rory...ugh" He groans when I press harder.

"I can't believe you did that!" I say, letting go of the cloth and pushing his shoulder.

I start walking again and I don't look back when I hear his footsteps following.

"I know, and I'm sorry, it's no excuse but this animal, inside me, it was so crazy and overpowering." He says, coming up next to me.

I just glance at him without saying anything.

"I'm sorry" Warren says softly this time, taking my hand.

"It's okay" I tell him, sighing. 

We walk the rest of the way to where our camp is in silence. We get there and people are already setting up the limited gear we were allowed to bring with us. 

I walk away from Warren to start setting up my tent and he goes to do the same. 

I take out my tent from my pack and start sticking the tent poles through it. Within ten minutes, my tent is up and secured with stakes and my sleeping bag rolled out.

I step out of the tent and make my way over to Warren who's standing next to the fire, the other people in our camp are trying to make. 

Warren whispers in my ear, "When was the first time we made a fire, 9 years old?"

I laugh, "Don't be mean, it's hard"

He laughs at this.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I turn around. I come face to face with Elian's hard chest. He looks down at me with a glint in his stupidly gorgeous, green eyes, "Go get wood for the fire"

I lift my eyebrows in question at his statement.

Elian leans forward slightly, "I didn't stutter"

I set my lips into a hard line and walk off from the clearing our campsite is in and head for the tree line.

"Not you, Bates!" Elian uses Warren's last name, calling, "Go get water" Warren, who was close on my heels, stops walking.

I turn my head and see Elian already staring at me, and when Warren doesn't move, Elian shifts his focus to him and lets out a low growl.

Warren responds with his own growl and Elian takes a step towards us.

I smack Warren on the back of his head, "Go get the water Warren!" 

He huffs but doesn't say anything and heads in the direction of a stream, we saw coming into camp.

Jeez, dramatic much?

I look back at Elian and he holds my gaze for a second longer before going to help some others with their tents. 

Looking into the sky, I see the sun nearly getting ready to set. Let's just get this stupid wood. 

Heading deeper into the forest, I pick up a bunch of smaller, dry sticks and then I try to carry a couple of larger logs. I bend and try to reach for another but everything tumbles out of my arms and into some mud.

Oh my God, "It's like he planned this" I mutter.

Walking back to camp in the dark with all of my muddy wood was awful. And by the time I was able to set the wood down for the campfire, I was covered in mud, and I even found a leaf or two to pick out of my hair. 

I look up and meet Elian's eyes across from the fire. Seeing him cast in the soft glow of the flames, the chiseled planes of his face outlined in shadows, almost makes me forget how much of a jerk he is. Then, he steals a glimpse of my muddy clothes and I see his eyes shine even brighter with laughter, and I know he's mocking me.