"What Are You Waiting For?" || ORIGINAL STORY.

Chapter Forty-Three.

Tanya's POV.

By the late afternoon, the bus had finally arrived at the summer camp site, and the students piled out, eager to stretch their legs and get a first look at the place we would be staying for the next few weeks.

As we exited the bus and stepped onto the camp grounds, a cool summer breeze blew through, carrying the scent of pine and fresh air.

The camp was situated on the edge of a densely wooded area, with cabins among the trees.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the ground, painting the camp in a warm, golden glow.

I took a deep breath, feeling the mix of excitement and trepidation that comes with starting something new.

Around me, students chattered and laughed, the air filled with the anticipation of the days ahead.

The teachers were herding us towards a large open-air pavilion near the cabins, where a makeshift stage stood.

A few teachers had gathered, preparing to speak to the student body.

We all gathered around the pavilion, a sea of students of various ages.

I glanced around, noticing a few familiar faces from our school, as well as the new students from the other school.

One of the teachers stepped up to the podium, clearing their throat.

"Attention, students," They began, their voice carrying over the chatter. "Welcome to summer camp! I know you all must be tired from the long journey, but before we get settled into our cabins, there are a few things we need to go over."

They went over the rules and regulations for the camp, including curfew times, campfires, and other activities.

I listened with half an ear, my mind wandering a bit.

One rule in particular caught my attention, though, something about 'mixed gender cabin rooms'.

I immediately felt a pang of anxiety in my stomach.

I looked around discreetly, noticing that I wasn't the only one who seemed a bit worried about this rule.

Some of the girls were looking a bit uncomfortable, while the boys seemed a bit too excited.

The teacher seemed to notice the uneasy expression on some of the students' faces, and quickly added,

"Don't worry, everyone," They reassured, "We will do our best to pair you with people of the same gender as much as possible. However, as we all know, accommodation can't always be perfect."

I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding, feeling a bit relieved.

At least they were trying to minimise the chances of any uncomfortable situations.

After the teacher finished explaining the rules, they dismissed us.

"Alright, everyone." The teacher said, "We'll begin assigning cabins and roommates now. Please stand by in a neat line while we call out your names."

The crowd of us started to form a line, some looking excited, some looking weary, while some looked a bit disgruntled.

But one thing was for sure, we were all eager to find our cabin and roommates.

The teachers started calling out names, announcing the cabin and roommate assignments.

Some of the pairings were predictable, others were surprising.

A few friendships were solidified, and a few eyebrows were raised.

I glanced around, trying to guess who my roommate might be.