L' appel du vide

Chapter 2

I didn't remember falling asleep. Yet I woke up when my dad firmly pointed out, that we were almost at our destination. Confused and with a headache I tried to pull myself together. I packed up the stuff I had scattered all over the backseat and pulled the headphones out of my now hot and red ears. I only really woke up when I felt the whole car becoming shaky because my dad now drove on a country road,that wasn't as even as the highway.
When I looked out the window I saw fields of wheat and tall trees that looked older than my grandma. It surely looked like an area a summercamp would be located. As my dad drove toward the dark bunch of firs and oaks, the unease from before grew more and more. I shook my head to , as silly as it sounds, get rid of the dark thought that something horrible was going to happen. That's when I noticed I had a big sweat stain right on the chest area of my shirt. I pulled out a new shirt from my backpack and changed. I really couldn't embarrass myself like that on my first day, even if it was summer and it's totally normal for people to sweat.
As my dads car came to a shaky halt, I took a deep breath, collected my thoughts and stepped out. Cracking my back felt heavenly, as I had been crumpled into my car seat for hours on end. I inhaled the fresh air, scented with honey and the smell of newly trimmed grass. I looked around. The light that was falling through the trees made the slight fog visible. When I walked back over to the trunk of the vehicle to get my stuff, the pebbles unter my shoes made cracking and popping noises.
I hadn't brought a lot. Some weather appropriate clothes, bedsheets, snacks,some paper and pensand the iPod my mom gave me. I wasn't allowed to bring my phone, since the kids and teenagers here are supposed to get away from those kind of things here. I turned around when my dad remarked: „Alright bud. I'll bring you inside and then we need to say goodbye alright?"
„Whatever you say, dad."
I started to wonder what he meant by inside but those questions were quickly answered when we walked past a wall off thick trees and stepped onto a rather large camping ground. There was a big main building, that was probably the service center, another big building that looked like a lobby from afar and several tiny buildings that were probably were I would be staying.
Me and my dad walked up to the service center and stepped inside. Everything was made out of wood, or at least looked like it. I overheard dad talking with a young woman behind the counter. I didn't listen though, I just sort of zoned out. I only came back to reality when my dad grabbed my shoulder. „We need to say bye now, son. So.... Goodbye for now."  he mumbled. We hugged each other for a second. „Yeah. Bye dad, I'm gonna miss you..." I answered,trying to be more kind towards him. He gave me a slight smile in response and turned back around to the lady, said goodbye and left. Said lady walked over to me from behind the counter. „ So... you must be Alexander right? Alexander Astor?" she questioned while looking at a metal clipboard with a list of names,including mine,attached. „Yes that's me. Nice to meet you." I answered, trying not to sound stiff like cardboard. „Nice to meet you too hun. You will be in room 10 annndddd..." she slipped a key over the counter „ here's the key. I think your roommates already there." „ okay thank you- wait what?"   Why did no one tell me about this? I have a roommate? I wasn't really the type to share a place I would like to feel comfortable in. I also was really messy, so I would probably be a burden for the other person. „Yeah he's lovely. Don't worry, you can move rooms if you want." I was flabbergasted. I had a roommate??? Whatever. I'll just work it out....