epiphany | damian x anya

06 | down in detail

ＤＡＭＩＡＮ

"Consider this your lucky day." Our biology teacher, Ms. Bentley, crossed her arm. "I don't usually take students on a field trip when it's just the second week."

"I've always been interested in flora!" I heard Becky exclaimed from the back of the line. "My aunt uses it to make perfume!"

"It's not just for perfume." Ms. Bentley replied. "Today, we are introducing the world of science. You will be studying plants and animals."

"Miss!" Aled Bishop lifted his hand. "Do we get to catch them?"

A few classmates giggled.

"Catch animals?" The teacher frowned. "Surely you know that's against the law."

I rolled my eyes. Let's get this over with.

She passed down a sheet of paper with a handful of words. "Here is your task. Gather as much information as you can. In the end, the group with the most can get a chance to receive a Star at the end of term."

A chance to receive a star? That was enough to convince me.

"Do we get to pick our own groups?" Lina Dillon asked.

"No, I will pick them for you."

Of course...

Ms. Bentley started to name out the groups..."Lina and Tyrell, Jamie and Ava-Rose, Leon and Aled, Anya and Xavier, Chris and Emile, Ewen and Kyra, Becky and Damian..."

With who? Becky?

Good grief, why does it have to be her? Of all people?

I looked at the black-haired girl, her silly pigtails. But beside her was Anya, her pink hair as bright as ever under the dark oak tree. Her eyes resembled the leaves...

Wait no. Yeah, they're idiots here.

Besides, I have a better chance of winning.

Anyways, it was better than teaming up with the shortie. Even Blackbell was better than her.

Who was she teams with again? What was his name again? That blonde boy? Kind of feel bad for him.

"Hello? Damian?" Becky waved a hand in front of my eyes. "We need to get started!"

I scoffed. "I was, I'm just thinking of a strategy."

"Yeah sure, Mr. Perfect." She rolled her eyes. "Just so you know, our dads are business partners. So it's better not to squabble with me too much, or else we're both getting in trouble."

I sighed. This is exactly why I like working alone or just with my friends.

We sat down in the corner of the giant tree, Becky had purposefully made sure we were close to Anya's group, whoever her partner was, I think his name was Xavier Watson, but I wasn't too sure since he was one of the few who didn't try to become friends with me. His face looked like a dinosaur.

Draw a picture.

"Maybe we should study plants first, then animals? That might be faster." Xavier questioned.

"Yep!" Anya agreed, standing up to follow him down the path.

"Maybe we should do the same?" Becky pointed her pen towards them.

"Nope, let's do fauna first." I declared.

"Uhh, sure."

As we ventured away from the group, the chatter and laughter of our classmates grew distant. The serenity of the forest crept over me, a stark contrast to the bustling corridors of Eden Academy. But I was here to win, not to enjoy nature.