A Trip Worth Dying For?

Chapter 7 -Raymond-

I stopped at the door and looked back finding Samuel was coming so I stopped and waited for him but Jamie stopped too. “Wouldn’t you want to be my guest?” Said Jamie quickly before Samuel Arrives with a charming smile as if nothing just happened! “No I don’t think she would!” Said Samuel with a wink. He was wearing a white shirt and casual Jeans. I gave Jamie the ‘Of course not’ look and me and Samuel went in leaving him with a dropped jaw! Kate and Tyler were already sitting there. Kate was wearing a gorgeous navy maxi dress, her light brown hair was made up in a braided bun having only her fringe down and had light makeup giving her wide eyes. Tyler looked also amazing he had a black tux on with a white shirt just like Samuels and a thin black bowtie around his neck. Every table had 4 chairs and there were so many tables! We went to sit beside Kate and Tyler but a waiter came telling us that he has names of where everyone should be placed and gave us our table numbers “Samuel Deriola is on table 303 and Emma McPelo is on table 417”.

Ahh not just that we aren’t on the same table but everyone is on another side of the room!

I went to my table and found a young lady sitting there. I said hello and sat down. Her hello back came out as “Hellowe” so I guessed she was English or Australian. The place became full with people but still no one was on the other two seats of the table. I was staring at people when something came to my mind! Why would Samuel say that to Jamie when we came in, while I hadn’t told Samuel anything about what happened, why did he have some kind of hatred towards him too?… I really couldn’t blame him because it just evolves when it comes to this Jamie guy but still the thought freaked me out… could this be some kind of act?!

My thoughts were interrupted by a good looking young man sat on the seat in front of me. His name was Alec and he was French. He was a bit ‘with the fairies’ as he had light blonde hair and very light grey eyes. We had a nice chat with him, but after 2 minutes Jamie, yes this bastard came and took the last chair on the table and started talking. I just moved my chair out ignoring the conversation and who apparently was Jacques Lefevre began talking. All the people from table 400 to 450 were the participants from all the countries and there was Jamie sitting with us. I didn’t know he participated in such a competition!

“Ok a big applaud for the judging group here in front of us, 1) Sean Thrisler 2) Bella Riders and 3) Josh Louis. The method is going to be as following: everyone was pictured wearing their own outfit they have won for and all the pictures will be showed now with the Judging group declaring who has won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in every theme in the end. And everyone else will also get their medal of course. Let’s bring it on!” He said

I almost fainted hearing they’ll show the pictures …being told I won for the pajama theme made it worse!

The slideshow began and for every person there were 4 pictures, and they were so clear you could see every small pimple and even every hair sticking out . They began with the participants from New Zealand Then Australia and 3rd was us. My pictures were quite good but made me look like a 10 year old. Jamie started laughing really hard but everyone clapping was what stopped me from hitting him. After us came England and Jamie was there. He won for African theme and was wearing a Tarzan kind of outfit. I had never seen anything funnier, I laughed so hard and so did most of the other people including Jacques and Jamie forced a laugh himself.

The moment has come where the winner will be announced. Seeing the outfits I knew I had a very great chance of winning. We’re all waiting for the judges to finish discussing some stuff to hear the announcement. I was sweating when they finally gave Jacques the envelope with the final winners and stood to give people their prizes.

Jacques began to read “3rd place in Pajama theme is…………………Waseem Abdul” Everyone clapped. He was a 17 year old Moroccan participant from Belgium but he really had talent. I was happy for him and he seemed full of joy too! He went and took a big glass trophy on the shape of a cup, diploma and a €1000 euro cheque. “2nd place is …………………. Emma McPelo” I went up quickly to take my prize but unfortunately tripped on my way with a microphone wire but got up quickly again hoping no one noticed. I took my prize which was also a glass trophy but had a really sharp end, a diploma and got a €2000 euro cheque. “I hope you’re alright, did it hurt?” Sean said  in the microphone so loud referring to when I tripped.Everyone laughed. I blushed but didn’t care as I was so happy I had tears in my eyes. The winner of the 1st place was a girl from Croatia.

He went on to the Prom theme and there were 4 winners. Two of which got the second place.

Finally the African theme where 2 of the winners were really African and 1 was Alec the French guy from my table won. He came up and hugged us all! His eyes were shining with joy and cheer. You could clearly see it was probably the first time he wins something… just like me!

The contest was done and we all went out. Kate, Tyler and Samuel waited outside for me and congratulated me. We were going to a restaurant together but Kate said she wants to go do something first. So I thought I could go and take a walk outside as the weather was admirable and it was 11 P.M already. I left them, put my stuff in our room and went out to walk. This time I went a bit further on down the street but I was totally wrong. I shouldn’t have! Raymond was there. I think he was drunk. “Hey there Emzz… please get in the car!”

“No thanks I think I have to go now” I said with a faint smile

“Haha, I wasn’t asking you. It was an order!” He said not seeming serious. “Now please get in the car, I really want to have a chat with you” He continued.

“And I really need to go; can we postpone it till tomorrow?” I said again. It felt like I was begging him!

“No, I think it should be today” He said putting me into his red car.

I could feel my sight fading and coming back! I knew I would faint any minute now! The car began moving and Raymond didn’t say a word for the first 3 minutes. I didn’t say anything either being scared I would cry if I began!

“Well look. I won’t harm you… why are you so scared” he said smiling. The question was too stupid to be answered so I left him hanging. “I came here to talk to you about Jamie; I knew you would go out for a walk so I waited for you! You see Jamie lost his sister last May and all he is trying to do is to find someone to talk to and be close to and I think he’s just trying harder than he should. I’ll try to talk to him if you don’t like it but please don’t go too harsh on him! I really don’t know why he chose you because I wouldn’t do that if I were him but he just did thinking he found his perfect match” He said laughing very hard… I didn’t know if I should take that as a compliment or as someone making fun of me! Maybe what Raymond said was right but what if he’s just lying!

“Oh and how did his sister die?” I asked trying to assure myself that will arrive to the hotel safely today!

“Well it was a real tragedy… She was killed when she let a hitchhiker get in with her and he killed her, threw her body and stole the car! … I had never seen Jamie more depressed!” He said with a chuckle in his throat.

“Oh I’m very sorry to hear this” I said with a lot of emotion in my voice. We have been moving around in the car for 10 minutes already and I really wanted to go back. “Can we go back now?” I said to Raymond.

“Of course we could” he said with a grin and we did. He thanked me and I went walked back. Kate, Tyler, Samuel, Sean and Jamie were waiting for me on the hotel door to go to the restaurant. I didn’t know Sean and Jamie were coming but I thought I might as well tell Raymond to come along too and he did.

It was an amazing night… if not the best in my life…