Maze

0

March 2006, 11:19 AM.

"Alright class, we're finally here! Bring all of your belongings with you, and stay close!" Ms. Flinders shouted as she stood up.

Once our bus came to a stop, my classmates' voices racked up the air as they shot up from their seats, stretching their arms and legs. Aly stuffed her leftover snacks into her backpack as she turned towards Samantha for a chat, who sat on the other side of the aisle. Meanwhile, I quietly zipped my bag, packed with some stuff Mommy had prepared for me.

"Remember to always be with your group or at least Aly, okay?" Her advice rang inside my head while she had dropped me at school. "And don't forget to have fun!"

With a silent breath, I peeked out of the window, watching the boys already jumping out of the doors, as grins spread across their faces. One of them then tripped on his foot and bumped into one of his friends, followed by a series of muffled laughter. Yeah, I shouldn't be worrying... and just have fun. It's not like we're going to study, anyway.

"Come on Rena, everyone's leaving!" exclaimed Aly, snapping me out of my thoughts. She snatched my wrist before I could say anything, forcing me to be on my feet, dragging me as we hopped out of the bus. Sunlight instantly hit my skin and warmed me up, but luckily I brought my straw hat, protecting my head.

"Did you all remember your assigned teams?" Ms. Flinders asked. Her eyes carefully scanned through my classmates as their screams of joy and impatience pierced my ears.

"Yes!" They all chanted... except for me.

"Y... yes!" I squeaked out at the last second, pulling my hat down into my face. Some of the boys chuckled at my response, but Aly crossed her arms and glared at them.

"Awesome, now go and form the groups!" As soon as Ms. Flinders commanded, people started scurrying all over the place to find their teammates. Meanwhile, Aly and I stood still and watched the uproar, while Samantha disappeared with her other friends.

"Thank goodness we're one group," Aly mumbled under her breath, clenching her hand around mine. "I don't want either of us to get separated!"

"I'm fine being alone..." I blurted out and peered at the ground. Lies.

"We're in the same group with that one smarty-pants," I snapped up and glanced at Aly, who had ignored — or that my voice was too weak to be heard anyway — my previous comment. She was too busy searching for someone, most likely for the 'smarty-pants' she mentioned.

"Oh, there he is!" Aly cried out, and once again, she chose to yank me along.

"H-hey, I can walk by myself!" I complained, but she did not take notice and came way too close to a neighboring group of girls. I was immediately sandwiched between them, with some of the girls casting dirty looks as my best friend knocked them off without realizing it. With shaky laughs, I quickly muttered out an apology. Gee Aly... at least be careful—

And not even seconds later, she abruptly stopped in her tracks, causing me to collide against her back. I gasped as my nose shot out in pain.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry!" She shrieked as she quickly whirled around, facing the unlucky me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, it's all good...!" I dismissed her with my hand. Ow, that hurt...

"Well, well, well... What do we get here? Alyssa being stupid? That's new!" Someone interrupted, snickering right behind me. It wasn't Aly, because her voice was definitely not that low; it sounded like it came from a boy. However, the way he appeared out of nowhere made me jolt.