Stranger

ch29

Life's curveballs are really something.

I have had a serious thought and plan in my head when the gym teacher gave us the news that by the end of the week we were going on a day long school trip. 

Despite all the seriousness and the mission I needed to complete by the end of this week, one that included my uncle, I wasn't that excited about the trip as I usually would have been. 

I planned to have Roger invited on Saturday and get this thing over with, so this trip happening on Friday was throwing me off a bit. Focus and strategy were the things that needed to be in my brain and that would  prove to be hard when I was supposed to have fun. 

The fun gets sucked out even more when we have no idea where we're going. The only advice we got is to get dressed comfortably and take money with us, in case we would want to buy something, but not food. The school had arranged a lunch at a restaurant near wherever they were taking us. 

So, pushing all the Roger and Nora thoughts to the back of my mind, I decide to focus on the task at hand. Have fun and try my best to not ruin my own mood. Besides, this was the first activity trip I was going on with Devon together and that was also getting me worked up. 

My feelings and emotions are still all over the place so I have no freaking clue how this trip is going to play out for me, how much of a disaster it was going to be precisely. I am still having trouble with my inner thoughts, in case you were still wondering. Crushes were a pain in the butt.

"Listen up, kids."-coach raises his voice and gathers our attention as we stand in front of the bus on which steps he is standing.

We are only two senior classes, so they didn't need more than one bus to take us to the location, which means only two teachers are with us. Ours and the other class'. 

"I will be calling you by name and make sure you listen and respond because I am not repeating myself twice. And if someone is missing, call them and tell them we aren't going to be waiting on no one. We have a long ride, so there isn't time to lose."-he says with finality as my nerves start working. 

Devon wasn't here yet and I was getting impatient. Also, him not answering my calls was really getting on my nerves as well as worrying me. I have probably left a dozen voice messages and I have debated for half an hour if I should run back home and check on him. 

"Evie Onslow." I snap my head forwards as my hand shoots upwards.

"Here!"-I say with my voice high, making sure the coach hears me. He simply nods as he writes on the list in his hand. 

I go back to craning my neck as I look around, trying to see if Devon finally came. His name is last and it's getting closer to being called. Tapping his name on my phone, I call him again, but still no answer.

"Devon Sorin?"-coach asks as he raises his head and casts a glance at the crowd. Raising on my tiptoes, I give my hand a wave so I can get his attention.

"Coach..."

"Here!" His booming voice from the back has me silenced just as I speak the first words. 

Coach nods his head before checking his name and folds the list before putting it in his pocket. 

"Alright. Looks like we're all here."-he says with a pleased expression. "Now you can get on the bus."-he says and raises his hand before we make a move. "But, behave yourselves. It doesn't matter which seat you get or who you sit with."-he raises an eyebrow as a chuckle breaks around the crowd. 

With a shake of his head, he gets down from the steps and makes room for the students to get in. 

A shuffle of feet is heard around me as they hurry to get in and take the best seats, but I stay back. I finally have a clear vision on Devon as he walks towards me, wearing a dark shirt and his hair falling messily around his face and I make sure to sport the most annoying look as I cross my arms. He reaches me and raises an eyebrow at my stance.