Hidden In Front Of You

Chapter 5

Yeet yoot, new chapter! Sorry it's so short. As always, please enjoy and review!

"Oop, found 'em," Michael said, pointing at Christine and Kaitlyn waving wildly at us in front of the villa. I pulled into an empty parking space and turned off the ignition as Michael unbuckled and got out to meet the girls.

The event organizers had arranged for the competitors to stay in a vacation resort. It was fairly close to the local high school, where the competition would take place. Each team got their own room in the same condo, and we were free to explore the island on our days off. Since Bobby technically wasn't part of the competition, or a minor, he had to stay in a hotel just north of where we were.

I left the car and went around to the trunk to get my suitcase. Kaitlyn broke away from the small group and followed. "Hey, how was the drive?"

"Pretty okay," I said, lifting my suitcase out. "We actually met some competition at the rest stop in Williamsburg."

"Yeah, the couple and the kid. Michael told us." Kaitlyn grinned. "I kinda want to meet this Rayla girl. She sounds spunky."

I chuckled. "She's definitely got a competitive streak, from what we saw."

"Hey!" Michael popped round the side of the car, startling me and almost making me drop my luggage. "Christine has our room key, if you wanna head up. I'll grab my stuff and meet you there."

"Yeah, sure." I glanced at Kaitlyn. "You coming?"

"I think I'll stay and keep Michael company. But a quick word of advice: don't sit on the chairs on the balcony." She shuddered. "Pollen."

I gave a thumbs up, then hefted my luggage and started walking. Christine waited for me on the sidewalk. "Hi." She smiled.

"Hey." Christine turned and started walking with me, heading for the elevator. "So, which floor are we on?"

"The third. We have a pretty nice view over the pool, actually." Christine reached the elevator ahead of me and punched the up button.

"Gotcha." The doors slid open and we stepped inside, the wheels of my suitcase clacking over the threshold. It occurred to me that this was the first time I had been alone with Christine since we broke up.

Shit.

I snuck a peek at Christine as she pressed the button for the third floor. She didn't seem to be in any discomfort, even smiling a little. She was at ease, completely sure of what she was doing and who she was. Unlike me, with my screaming head and quickly beating heart.

"Have you figured it out yet?" It took me a second to register that, despite being the only other person around, Christine was talking to me.

"Figured wh—oh." I shook my head. "No, no I haven't."

"Really?"

"Nope." I squinted at her. "You seem surprised."

"Kind of, yeah." The doors opened with a bing and we left the elevator. "I mean, everyone's pretty much already guessed it at this point, I thought it would've been obvious after a day or two. We're going right." She led me down the corridor, the breeze blowing her hair to the side, like a black veil.

"Wait, so everyone knows?"

"Yeah, Rich, Jake, Brooke, Kaitlyn—probably Bobby at this point..."

"Does Michael know?"

Christine paused. "Um. I think he knows who has a crush on you, but I don't think he knows you like them back." She stopped in front of door 3490. "Here's your room."