Friends & Paradise

Chapter 1 - Annoying Classes (Natasha's POV)

"...And now students, if you turn to page number ninety-three, you'll notice that the poem's rhythm is set to assimilate the waves of the ocean. You know, like when the tide is up and then it goes down. The peaceful rythm it portays..."

I tried to pay attention to Ms. Standford talk, but seriously she's been going on and on about how the poem is like the rhythm of the sea. Speaking of which, that sounded so good right now, I wanted to be under the bright sun, surrounded by sand and sea, and finally relaxing. Nothing like I could ever get anything like that here in Seattle. It was like we were stuck in the gloom every day. It's depressing. Sometimes, it even seems like the days drag on so much that I'd--

"... right, Miss Evers?" Ms. Standford said, basically making my thinking bubble with the beach inside, disappear completely.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Standford?" I asked.

"You didn't hear my question?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't."

She gave me the stink eye. "Mr. Pablo, please enlighten Ms. Evers with the answer."

"The answer is pretty simple, the author is describing what he saw on a walk on the beach." Pablo said.

"Yes, very good. You should learn a little more from him, Ms. Evers." She said, with a hint of annoyance in her voice. I remained quiet. "Now, people you need to pay attention in class. The finals are coming soon, just because we will have two weeks off after today, doesn't mean that you can just go ahead and be lazy!"

Suddenly, there was a beep coming from the classroom's clock.

"Excuse me, Ms. Standford?" The secretary's voice said.

Ms. Standford rolled her eyes. "Yes?"

"Can you please send Natasha Evers downstairs to the office, with her backpack?"

Huh? I'm leaving? Why? I had no idea what was going on, but still I began packing my stuff.

"Yes, she's on her way." Said Ms. Standford as I was getting up from my seat.

I walked out of the classroom a little worried, but still made it downstairs.

In the office, I saw my two best friends, Amelia and Danielle. Why were they here?

"Hey, you guys, why are you here?" I asked.

"I don't know, they called me in the middle of History class while I was finishing an essay." Danielle said. "I have no idea what's going on, though."

"Me neither," Amelia said. "I was just sitting kind of bored in Spanish when they called me."

"You three were called here because your parents asked me to pick you three up." A voice said. We three turned around and there was my 24-year-old cousin, Amber.

Amber was my cousin from my mom's side. She was a very beautiful young woman, she's had her misses in love, but she's one of the coolest people I know. To me, she is kind of like an older sister. "They have a surprise for you guys, and I suggest we hurry up if you wanna see it."

"What is it?" I asked.

"You'll see."

Amber drove us to my house, where two unknown cars were parked in front of, and a small white minibus was parked. We got out of the car, and carried our school bags with us. When we went inside my house, there was my mom, and Amelia and Danielle's parents standing in front of the door.

My mom greeted each of us, and then motioned for us to go sit in the livingroom's couch. The three of us took a seat on the couch.

"So, how was school today?" My mom asked.

"It was good, pretty boring, but fine. But, why did we get pulled out of class, right after lunch?" I asked.

"Well, we have a surprise for you three," my mom started. "Because you three have been good students, us parents decided that it was fair to give you a two-week trip to the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas."

Amelia, Danielle and me went wide-eyed, and couldn't get words out of our mouths. My mom continued,

"We've asked Amber here, to be the chaperon of your trip. You guys will stay at a three-bedroom suite, have full access to each location in the hotel, and will be treated like royalty. I want you three to promise each of us that you will not do anything reckless, inappropriate, or something that leaves a bad reputation of us at that place. Understood?"

We nodded.

"Good, now ladies, please get to packing because your plane leaves in six hours and you have to leave for the airport in two. Hurry up!"

My friends went home to start packing, and I rushed to get up to my room and start to pack. As I was in my closet, I basically started throwing things inside that I thought would look good at the beach, I also put in some outfits to go clubbing because they have a club for teens, called CRUSH, and just to look pretty at night; also throwing inside the essentials like bathing suits and pajamas, undies and stuff. Then, I went to my bathroom and began putting all my toiletries in a small make-up bag, and then put my make-up inside of another small bag, obviously after using it. And then brushed my hair and threw it inside my luggage.

When I thought I was done packing, I felt like I was missing something... and then I realized, I hadn't packed my iPhone charger just yet. So I ran to the plug-in in my room, and threw it inside. Then, I put some perfume on myself, before throwing it inside my bag. Then, I tried closing my bag and successfully did it. Then, there was a knock on my door.

I opened my door, and saw my mom there. "Hey, mom." I said.

"Honey, your friends are here, are you ready to leave?" She asked.

"Yeah. But, are you coming to like, drop me off at the airport, right?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss my baby leaving on a trip for two weeks where I won't be seeing her!" She said, and I noticed her eyes started to wet at the same time her voice became a little weak. Then, she grabbed me and hugged me the tightest before. I hugged her back too, I wouldn't be seeing her for two weeks. I would really miss her. Then, my mom pulled back. "Okay, let's go to the airport." She said, and then grabbed my luggage and took it downstairs with the help of the minibus's driver.

Before leaving my room, I looked back once more before leaving. I'd really miss my bed, my computer, my house, my everything. But, I'd spend two weeks having the best time of my life. I was really excited for it. So, without looking back anymore, I turned around and left my bedroom to go to the airport to start this incredible adventure.