Between Two

Chapter 26

"Excuse me, Mrs. Wesley, I was wondering something about the senior trip." Mrs. Wesley adjusted her glasses, looking up at me

"Do you need a permission slip?" I shook my head, nervously fidgeting with the sleeves of my hoodie.

"Uh... no, I was just wondering something about the rooming situation." She nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"So, um, I got paired with... two boys." Her eyes widened a bit and she looked at her computer, moving the mouse before clicking on something.

"What's your name?" I gave her my name and she quickly typed it into the computer then proceeded to scroll down a bit.

"Okay, you're paired with Jonah Morrison and Christopher Vargas... um..." She pursed her lips, typing quickly then grimaced a bit when she scrolled down.

I nervously gnawed on my bottom lip, glancing back to where Tara giggled, completely oblivious as she played with a Newtons Cradle.

"So, can it be changed?" I asked impatiently, wishing I could see the screen.

"Uh... I'll be right back, dear." She stood up, then swiftly walked away while I sighed.

Tara walked up to me, smiling brightly, "So, are we roomies?" I only frowned, shrugging a bit as Mrs. Wesley talked with the principal.

She pointed towards me, an unsettling gaze in her eyes which didn't settle my nerves. Mrs. Wesley and the principal both walked over to me while Tara started tapping her foot.

"Mrs. Wesley says there's a problem with the room you'll be sharing." I nodded at Mr. Ruiz, weariness settling into me.

He looked at her computer, furrowing his eyebrows before he sat down in the chair, using the mouse to scroll. Tara nervously glanced at me then at Mr. Ruiz while he got a stressed look on his face making the wrinkles on his forehead prominent. I held in a groan when he pulled out a walkie-talkie, asking someone to bring Jenice Martínez to the office.

He rubbed at his jaw, Mrs. Wesley pacing back and forth. "Did your parents sign the permission slip?" When I didn't answer, Tara nudged me in the back.

"Yeah, I turned it in a few days ago." He nodded, typing something in.

"Hm... do you know these two boys?" I swiftly nodded, my cheeks turning a faint pink as he narrowed his eyes at the screen.

He let out an exasperated breath, shaking his head, "What is taking that girl so long?" He muttered it, grabbing the phone on the desk and punched something in.

"Jenice Martínez, please come to the office immediately." Tara smiled evilly as it sounded on the intercom causing me to roll my eyes.

He put the phone down, looking back at the computer. Mr. Ruiz motioned Mrs. Wesley over towards him and pointed towards the screen. "Do you think we'd be able to do that?" Tara and I closely listened in when she squinted her eyes at the screen.

"The rooms are already all booked from other schools, that's why we were left one room short." Mr. Ruiz clenched his jaw, scrolling again.

"I was thinking we could switch her or something, but the ratio is uneven to boys and girls. She'd just get stuck with another boy." He muttered it as I held in my sigh, still holding onto hope that they could find a solution.

An irritated look crossed his features as Jenice was walked in by one of the security guards on campus, a snobby prance to the way she walked. She paused, her smile disappearing when she saw me and Tara then Mr. Ruiz. She slowly walked up to us, crossing her arms.