Quandary

Trapped With An Adversary

"Hey Don!" Cheered Hailey as she walked over to me.

I turned around, throwing on a delighted face.

"Hey Hailey."

"The rooms are so big! Did you guys luck out?"

"Yeah, our room is pretty good."

"That's great!"

"Yup, how's your group?"

"I'm getting to know the two other girls pretty well, we're all getting along."

I laughed quietly.

"That's expected of you."

She bumped me in the shoulder playfully.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well you're a joy to be around, of course you'd make friends with your group."

I watched Hailey blush in the warm air of the room.

"You're too sweet Don."

"Really? I don't know, I like to think I'm a little bit like James Dean." I said sarcastically.

Hailey chuckled at my joke.

"Try John Cusack!"

"What? No way! I'm a rebel in the making."

"You wish!"

We laughed together in the buzzing of the hotel lobby.

"Alright everyone, make your way to the buses." Announced a teacher.

"I'll see you later Don."

"You too."

It was the morning of the next day and everyone was preparing for our first expedition. The buses would be taking us to an original town of colonial Williamsburg. It was about an hour's drive there. As I turned to exit the building, Barry snuck up behind me.

"Dude, seriously?"

I shuddered at his presence. I had managed to avoid him last night after our awkward discussion.

"What?" I rasped back.

"Calm down." He said.

I rolled my eyes and jogged ahead to the buses. He ran after me, catching up to my side.

"I saw what you were doing there."

I turned to him, annoyed.

"Oh yeah? What was I doing then?"

"You were flirting with her!"

I shook my head in reaction.

"You can't be serious!"

"Come on Don, I'm your best friend and I know what you're like. You don't realize it, but your actions and emotions are easy to read."

"I've said this before and I'll say it again. Mind your own business."

I then trotted away from him and sat down on our bus. I shut my eyes and tried to dismiss all the terrible thoughts rushing into my head.

"So this is what it's come to." Spoke the fake Hailey.

I nearly jumped at the sight of her in the seat next to mine.

"Your crush on this girl is even ruining your friendships."

I felt this pulsating pain in my chest. My head throbbed harder and harder.

"Just shut up and go disappear again," I uttered under my breath.