Love and All It Does

10

This year's student council president had proposed the idea of camping after our preliminaries, saying that we all needed a break from all the studying we made. We don't exactly know what to expect for this is the first time this project will be implemented.

When we reach the campsite, our expressions of awe were indeniable. We scramble for our bags and began to file out of the bus when it had pulled up. Quite a lot of time was wasted by the administrative trying to reiterate the regulations that we all know won't be complied with anyway. After which, the tour management had some rules of their own as well.

What made us buzz was when the head of the tour management began announcing our itineraries, as well as the places we'll be visiting, and the team building activities. I must admit that this is going to be fun and interesting.

We snaked through a lot of rock-filled pathways under huge and overwhelming forests to get to our campsite. Along the way, we are able to stop by a couple of tourist spots which were distinctively captivating in their own way.

When we get there, we were immediately asked to set up our tents. It took us almost an hour to completely put it up, probably less without kidding around. The sun had dipped below the mountains, the sky a pitch black. We had trouble gathering logs for it was darker than it should be. It's only fifteen to six and yet it feels like nine in the evening already.

We circle around our own bonfires. Some had decided to break away and form their own group. It kind of surprised me that the faculty had let it slip, when they were very insistent that we stick together.

I excused myself to pee. It was scary and funny to have to walk towards the middle of the forest and squat down behind a bush. I was worrying about someone seeing me and also getting lost on my way back.

It took me a couple of minutes to get back to a familiar pavement where I passed by Harry's camping place. I kept my head down as I walk briskly, but a someone had squeaked my name. I look up to find out it was—Ashley?

When I looked beside her, I saw Molly and then Lorriane sitting next to Louis. The entire football team was there and as expected, Stacy and her friends were there too.

I swallowed, my body turning rigid. Why are they sitting there? I was only gone for awhile and then they switched up places?

Everyone has their eyes on me, looking expectantly. It's not like I can turn them down and pretend I have other friends to be with. But then again I say to myself that I couldn't join them, not when I would be around the one person I shouldn't be with.

Stacy had an irked expression, probably silently asking the others why they had to waste time inviting a stranger to the group. Lorraine waves and pats on the space beside her. I tried to ignore my heart thumping so loud like I had ran a marathon. I glanced at Harry who was staring at me.

"Girl, if I were you I'd rather not be taking up too much of our precious time." Stacy rolls her eyes before letting out a sarcastic laugh. Her friends do so too.

I swallowed. I feel like shrinking. The looks they were giving me practically told me I wouldn't belong to their kind of group, so I shake my head politely and forced a smile. "I have to, uh, do something." I mumble and walked away. I then hear Stacy huff and say, "Shame, she's just boring." Then they laugh.

I kind of expected my friends to chase after me, though. However, when I looked back at the group, Molly was even the one initiating a kind of chant.