AUBREY

eight

"Thank you, students, for agreeing to come to this excursion; think of this trip as not only an academic necessity to complete fieldwork, but also a time to reflect. I think it is only fair that our promising Head Girl reads out our aim on this trip, alongside our leader of this trip - Joselyn," the head of the school beams, positivity dripping off each word shamelessly.

I suck my teeth at the mention of my title, Head Girl, walking proudly to the front of the large group of us. A few months ago, we heard notice of a school trip to complete fieldwork for our subjects as we were nearing the end of the semester. A small, remote area of three or four cabins, placed five paces apart; masses of woods surrounding us, and the nearest signal bar being a fifty minute walk. Back then, I was obviously out of my mind for signing consent, because walking to the front alone spikes my stomach in nerve with each step.
This is all for the Valedictorian title, I mumble to myself, ignoring the pangs of unsettlement.

Opening my mouth to speak, Joselyn bounces in front of me, clasping her hands together. "Hello, hello, hello! Reflecting is a very big deal for us at these parts of these woods: chakras and soul cleansing is necessary to being here - you might think that being here is for 'education', but you're actually here to find yourselve-"

"No," I interject coolly, "our sole purpose is for any outstanding fieldwork, so we can finish the year without having to stay behind. This chakra, voodoo stuff isn't important."

Silence falls around us as any chattering stops, the attention being stuck on us. I don't believe any formality should've been used, and I make it clear with the slight glower on my face.

Joselyn blinks at me, astounded, for a few seconds before breaking into a wide grin. She nears towards me, rubbing my arm enthustiastically, "Looks like someone needs her soul cleansed right away, ice queen."

Her little pet name sets off the roaring fireworks in my head, and it takes any willpower left to grit my teeth in silence. Throughout my life, only Cain had associated ice with me, and that was infuriating as it was - I definitely do want some perky bimbo to do the same, either. "Listen, you know nothi-"

Not letting me finish, she grabs my hand, waving it about madly, humming some odd tune. Mouth agape, anger floods through me in a rage, poking at every corner. If I was mad before, then I am furious now. I squirm against her hold, my heels providing an unstable ground as my legs wobble in any direction. "Let. Me. Go."

Something flashes in her eye, seeming too similar to mischief, as she holds on tighter, swinging wider.

Almost spitting out the words, I glare at her angrily, "I said-"

I don't even get to finish my sentence for the second time today, as a tall, lean figure blocks my view of her. "Let her go, Jos, just let the pretty girl go." His words act as a hypnosis, each word slowing her down, weakening her grip until she completely lets go. Once her grip falls, she falls into another song, capturing the wandering attention of my peers, as the tall figure turns around: around my age, a boy with tan, sun kissed skin smiles down at me, the thick, waves of his brown hair slightly dancing in the breeze. "You're welcome." Dark green embers smile in sync with his lips, his eyes a million shades darker than the surrounding forest, lightens as he says that to me, rendering me speechless for a millisecond.

"Could you not have gotten that creep off me before she harassed me?" I ask, huffing at the far sight of her.

"I'm sorry, but it won't happen again as long as I'm around." Doubt caresses my mind at his words, his words that are trying to entice me into a similar hypnosis.

"I'm sorry, but there is no plan for you to be around much longer."

His smile falters for a tenth of a second before returning to its orignal perfection. "Did I miss something or...?"