Natural Chemistry

Chapter 4: Tents

The day of the trip had arrived soon as I found my shoulders supporting a heavy rucksack. Dad had driven me to school since we'd be taking the bus to a forest miles away.

The excitement had toned down when I had gotten a call from Ella and was informed that she wouldn't be able to make it because her parents-due to even thinking of having a chance- extended her grounding rules.
I had contemplated on going too, but it was too late to pull back now.

Something about this trip was starting to feel eerily wrong.

"Mels! Over here!" I recognised the voice of my friend over the others as she squeaked in sheer happiness.

"Hi!" I sent a small wave towards the group.

"You are late." Jake narrowed his eyes at me accusingly.

"A queen is never late, everyone else is simply early." I quoted my favourite line from the princess diaries as Jake rolled his eyes at me.

"Let's go." Jordan beckoned for us to board the bus. Everyone knew the last seats were always where we sat, so no one dared to set foot there. We never as such declared our territory but it was understood.

As I handed my luggage to the helper and proceed to the back of the bus I was met with a smug looking Brandon.

"You aren't welcome here anymore." Ryder stated coming to stand before me as I looked away.
"How long are you going to let them shield you from me, Melissa?" Brandon looked over Ryder's shoulder, taunting me.

Feeling his words hit a nerve, I snapped my head towards him.
I gently removed Ryder out of the way, as he looked at me with cautious eyes.

"Brandon, please do understand. I do not have time for your immature blabbering. Grow a pair and learn your place. I was not the one to turn your friends against you, that was all you, babe." I chuckled bitterly. "Now move." I dismissed him in the most inhumane manner and there was a certain sadistic pleasure in seeing his face burn with humiliation.

He didn't say another word but glared as he pushed to the front of the bus.

"Melissa, are you okay?" Jake asked.

"Let's not ruin the mood, okay? It's about time this trip changed directions."

As I said that, my eyes caught some movement to my right, the Western High bad boy had taken a seat. He chose the one most secluded from the others- don't ask me how that is possible- and just stared outside the stagnant bus. His phone and headphones were in his hand but he made no effort to put them on. His face looked rather tired.

"Wow, look who found something to do on the entire ride." Chelsea said, quite loudly making me glare at her.
I was thankful that a certain icy-eyed boy didn't hear that comment. Unfortunately, someone worse had.

At some points during the bus ride I felt I had transported myself to a vehicle full of children from elementary as they sung songs ranging from rap to 'twinkle twinkle'.
Many came forward to crack jokes and a few sat in the corner with their respective boyfriend's or girlfriends.

All through the ride, even though I tried stopping myself, my eyes shifted to see what Vince was doing and every time his eyes were either glazing at the trees outside or closed.

After a long rocking- quite literally- journey we had finally reached our first camp site and everyone was ecstatic to have a chance to walk on stable ground.

The principal came into the bus and said, "Students, as much as we'd love to see you guys have fun here, we have an ulterior motive as mentioned before. The trip is meant to make us more knowledgeable about our mother earth and you all will have to submit a report in a month of the work you do here."
He clapped his hands together to shut the annoyed whispers as he continued.