Waves, Sunsets, & Coffee

Chapter 12.2

     "Okay, I'll start. My name's Emmett. I'm taking up sports science and I play football." The buff guy from earlier says as our two groups sat in a circle, around the campfire that Erik made earlier.
     The girls talked to me saying that ever since the other group got here, Nicole couldn't take her eyes off of Ares and looked at me with hatred in her eyes. Madds' words, not mine.
     I shrugged it off, saying that it didn't matter.
     "I'm Nicole and fashion is my lifestyle, as you can see." Ares' ex said in a seductive voice, gesturing to her outfit which consisted of super short denim shorts and a tight black crop top. I think someone's gotta tell her that we're on a camping trip, and not in a bar. Madds beside me nudges her elbow to me. Yep Madds, I know.
     "Hey. I'm Joyce and I play soccer and I take the same courses as Emmett." A girl in a pixie cut says, the same girl who Keith likes.
     "Matthew. Youngest professor at a University." A guy who I know to be the group's instructor says. He's probably in his late twenties or early thirties. He's also the guy that caught my girl Madds' attention when their group came in.
     "Enzo. Psych student." Enzo says as our group introduces ourselves one by one.
     "I'm Alec. The pro gamer who carries this whole group." Alec says and he received a smack or two from Enzo and Emma.
     "Hi! I'm Emma and I'm currently taking econ. This group's future lawyer as these idiots can somehow manage to get themselves in jail one day."
     "Hey!" Alec argues.
     "What? You know I'm right." Emma says.
     "Yeah yeah whatever." Alec finally gives up, realizing he won't win against Emma.
     "Anyways, I'm Keith. I'm taking up Aviation."
     "Maddelyne. Call me Madds. The group's accountant."
     "How ironic that the group's accountant is the same person who spends the most on useless things..." Enzo says, teasing Madds, but I gotta agree on him on this one.
     "My name's Alex. I'm a med student. I'm taking nursing in Australia." I say and I hear Nicole scoffs and roll her eyes but I ignore her.
     "Call me Ares. I graduated University after taking up civil engineering" Ares says and my eyes went wide.
     What? Damn I didn't know I was dating an engineer holy shit.
     I looked at him, surprised at what he just said and shrugged it off.
     "Your turn dude." After a short pause, Ares shrugs Liam since it was his turn to introduce himself.
     "Ah right. Liam. I got business."
     "And I'm Erik. I got architecture and graduated the same year as Ares." Erik is Ares' best friend since childhood and he told me stories about their friendship.
     "God damn I'm hungry. Who wants burgers?" Emmett asked and Enzo replied.
     "Ah burgers, my man! Come on let's start the fire!" Seems like the two will get along just fine.
     "So you guys want to eat or nah?" Enzo, the ever so loudest part of the group invites everyone to eat when Erik stops him.
     "Burgers? Really?" He says.
     "What? It's a classic!" Enzo argues and we all watch in amusement.
     "Nah come on. There's a lake nearby and we've brought fishing rods." Erik gestures to the bag that Ares and the other group's instructor's were holding.
     "Burgers are easier!" Enzo complains.
     "Yeah man, come on we already set it up!" The other buff dude from the other group mentions who seems to be having a great conversation going on with Enzo.
     "No, come on guys, we do this old school."
     After some convincing, all of us finally agreed to catch our own food as Erik led us down to the lake which was as breathtaking as the view from the cliffs.
      The water may be green due to the underwater life, but the fresh breeze and the towering trees and mountains on the other side makes up for it.
     There was a small house near the dock where Erik and Matthew were currently talking to an old man to borrow some of his boats.
     "All the time I've spent in this country, all I've seen were buildings, cemented roads, and fancy cars full of busy people. Now that I've been to these places, it's like a whole new world waiting to be discovered."
     I always wanted to just pack my things and travel, but I never got the chance to do so because of school.
     Now that I've seen more of Canada, I'm thinking to take a year break before going to a medical school and just go for an adventure.
     "I'm starting to fall in love with this place... and the people in it." I say, looking at Ares who stays by my side as the others are fooling around.
     "I'm glad you like it here. If only you could stay here you know. I know it sounds selfish, but I want you here Alex. With me, but I said it before, your dreams comes first." He turns me, so now I'm facing him as we stare into each other's eyes.
     "I'm sorry that I have to go back to Australia..." I start.
     "Why are you apologizing? Don't be. It's your life Alex, and no matter how much I want to stay by your side everyday, I can't hold you back to the things you want to do. But do know this.
     I love you Alex and I will never leave you. No matter what alright?" I start to tear up at what he says, finally finding it in me to believe what he's saying.
     For the first time in years, I find myself trusting another person.
     My walls broke down on their own for Ares, letting him in.
     He pulls me in a hug as I let slow, happy tears fall.
     "Hey lovebirds! Do you want food or no?" Our little moment was interrupted as we heard Erik teasing us and we chuckled at the untimely interruption.
     "Come on. I don't like when Erik gets grumpy." He whispers at me and we walk to a small boat by the dock as the others are already on their own and with their fishing rods out.
     "Whoever gets the most fish wins five dollars!" Enzo shouted at us and I rolled my eyes to start another bet.
     "I'm in."
     "Oh you're on!" The others showed their competitive side and if it's a competition, This girl's not about to pass down a challenge.
     "We're in!" I shout back at them as Ares and I smirk.
     "Hey no fair! I'm stuck with this idiot who doesn't know a thing about survival one-oh-one!" Emma complains as she shares a boat with her boyfriend, Alec who struggles to get the bait on the hook.
     "This idiot is your boyfriend ehem!" Alec argues back and Emma only scoffs, foreseeing their defeat.
     "So, are we going to catch fish or will you keep staring at me?" I told Ares who chuckles and shakes his head as I prepare the fishing rod, ready to throw the line on the water when he stops me.
     "Not here. I know where most of the fishes thrive in this lake, and so does Erik." He squints his eyes to the boat where Erik was.
     I look out to see who our competitors are.
     Emma and Alec would be a sure loss knowing those two. I mean, Emma has a big chance of winning this but with Alec on her boat, they're going to sink.
     Madds and Keith were together and I know how those girls work, so they also had a pretty good chance of winning.
     Then on the other boat was Emmett and Enzo who clicked together. They were tough all right, but they were all just fooling around and bound to fail so they're not a problem.
     Then we have Joyce and Nicole. I don't know much about them and their fishing or survival skills so we have to keep an eye on them.
     But the biggest competition on this water is the boat where Erik, Matthew, and Liam were. Liam was smart enough to hitch a ride with the two instructors who knew this place all too well.
     "You're suddenly quiet. What's up?" Ares noticed my blank and silent expression as I scan our competitors.
     "Just calculating who has the best chance of winning this." I tell him and he laughs.
     "Are you really competitive?"
     "Yes duh! Especially that money is involved, so you better take us to the part where there's fish." I tell him and he chuckles at my competitiveness as he rows the boat to the far end of the lake, close to the forest.
     "Alright then, you can throw your line now." Ares says and believe me when I say it's a struggle to fish with a broken arm.
     I tried to steady the rod between my functioning arms as I tried to throw the line but to my dismay, it only landed on the boat.
     "Oh come on!" I groan in frustration as Ares only laughs at my demise.
     "Are you planning on helping me or shall I kick you out of the boat?" I threatened him.