the last of our lives

Chapter 2: The Groups

The trip goes quickly once I'm just looking outside and listening to music. The bus finally starts to reach the outer edge of Manhattan. We're staying in a hotel in Midtown during most of the week and visiting places and doing fun things for most of the day.

I elbow Moriah right as we're starting to pull into Times Square. I know for a fact this is exactly the type of thing that Moriah would love to see. She groans. "No I'm sleeping..."

"Moriah wake up we're in Times Square." I say urgently.

She opens her eyes and looks out the window in awe. It is pretty awesome, I have to say, even though we're stuck in traffic, Times Square is so cool with all of the large billboards and skyscrapers. Everyone seems to have somewhere to go or something to do and it seems to need to happen now. Right at this minute.

Everyone points out the window at New York City in awe of how cool Times Square looks.

Emilio looks unimpressed. "My mom lives here. It's really cool the first few times but after a while you get used to it."

Moriah looks shocked. "What?! But it's Times Square. This is where the New Years Eve ball drops every year! Don't you think that's cool?"

I agree with Moriah. I have no idea how any of this could get old.

When we finally pull up at the hotel everyone crams to get off the bus and to get their luggage as if the bus will suddenly drive off with it.

Quinn and Moriah begin to argue as we're stepping off the bus which adds to the chaos of everyone getting off.

I get jostled around a bit, a little like me and Moriah were when we first got on the bus. We step off of the stairs onto the sidewalk in front of the hotel. Mrs. Turner is yelling at everyone to go in certain directions and stand certain places. "Okay everyone! Make a line to get your luggage and then come to me to find out which rooms your in. Then you can go up to your room, but no going anywhere else in the hotel okay? If we catch you, there will be consequences."

I silently prayed that I would get a room with Moriah or Quinn. Obviously I couldn't room with Emilio since the boys were at a separate area of the hotel, but hopefully one of my friends would be with me. We had filled out these little sheets of a few people we would want to room with. Mrs. Turner had said it was most likely that we'd get someone on our list. I sure hoped she was right.

I grabbed my suitcase out of the under compartment and rolled it over to Mrs. Turner who was already a little crowded. I waited until some people left and then got her attention.

"Oh! Oakleigh. Let me check the list... Last name Barett right?"

I nodded.

"Okay you're going to be on floor C in room 103 with... Moriah Elesham!" She smiles. "I hope you guys have fun. I know you're friends!"

"We are. Thanks!" I smile and run over to Moriah.

"We got a room together!" I yell excitedly.

"Wait actually?" Moriah says her eyes widening. "I thought for sure I'd have to be with Kaelyn or something!"

"Me too!" I said.

Moriah squeals. "Ahhh! Let's go unpack."

We walk into the lobby, chatting excitedly the whole time. "We have to find out where Quinn and Emilio got put."

Moriah nods. "Of course. I wonder where Quinn will be staying..."

I shrug. "Probably in either I guess. We'll have to ask them I guess."