Even though I was still hurt about Leah, the night was comforting from the cold icy weather.
"Kids, it's time to wake up!" said Mr.
"Uugh..5 more minutes.." mumbled Jace.
I got up and stretched my arms. I didn't know who this stranger was, so I patted Jace to wake up.
"Hmm..?"
"Um Jace, we gotta get up. Someone came to get us."
"Mmm..who..?" still half asleep, Jace just snuggles the blanket.
Aaron slowly backed up to the door, ran towards us and leapt on the couch.
"Yahhhh!" he yelled as he landed.
"Aughhhh! .....Ugggh...Arron....stop. Get. Offfff."
"C'mon sleepyhead. It's breakfast time!"
"Auuugh get offfff I saidd."
"Get. Up. Firsttttttt."
"Okay just get offf, you're so heavy..!"
Jace sits up and continues to mumble.
"There, happy? I'm up."
"So Julia, what grade are you in?"
"I'm a first year in middle school"
"I see, I see. I'm a senior at Aurora's and I'm part of the student council. Hmm.. Have I met you before?"
"Well, I also go to Aurora so maybe..?"
"I see, I see," Arron schemingly smiled," We gotta go get breakfast, so get ready. Here, I got you guys some change of clothes and stuff you need to get ready."
"Wow, thanks you didn't have to."
"Nah, don't thank me. Your brothers and sister were worried about you. They asked around where you were. So I told them and they gave me some change of clothes for you. You should check on them, when you get back."
"Thanks..I'll do that."
I didn't think they'd notice with all the fun events happening last night... Maybe they saw what happened. There was a huge crowd watching us so maybe.
"Alright! I'm all ready!"
"Haha, you were so tired earlier, but now you're up and ready," I laughed.
"We just slept late. I'm more of a morning person anyway."
"Surreeee..." Arron sarcastically said with a smile.
Jace glared and punched him in the arm.
"Ow ahaha okay okay, now let's go eat."
Saive joined in with a loud bark.
"Right, you want breakfast too, Saive?" Arron patted Saive as everyone left out the front door.
I felt a sudden stinging sensation. I winced and touched my knee.
"Are you okay?" Jace asks.
"My knee, I didn't notice yesterday, but it really hurts. I must've scraped it when I fell."
"Here, let me look at it," Jace grabs the first aid kit from the movie shelf and places disinfectant on my knee with a damp cotton, some painkilling cream, and patched my knee with a gauz.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"Hey! What's taking you guys so long, stop flirting and let's gooo!" Arron calls out.
"Calm downnn! I was just helping Julia because she scraped her knee!" Jace says slightly irritated and walks to the door.
"Come on, let's go. Want some help?" he asks after sliding his shoes on.
"No, I'm okay."
It was really sunny out, but the snow was up to my waist. The pathway was, well...
"Did you.. shuffle through the snow back to the church..?" asked Jace, trying to hold his laughter in.
"Yup, that's how important you guys are! No need to thank me, I just paved the way for us," says Arron, trying to show off his biceps.
"How..?" Jace asked curiously.
"Like THIS! HUYAH!" Arron jumps into the icy blanket, flurrying snow onto us.
"I just asked how, not a demonstration..."Jace pats off the snow annoyed.
"Pshh, party pooper. Julia, your welcome to join," Arron raises his arm to come over. The snow was too high to see his whole body; it was like a coffin of snow.
"Haha no thanks, I'm really hungry. Maybe we can play in the snow afterwards."
"Your loss," Arron pops up, shrugs and rolls into the white blanket of snow.
"So Jace?"
"Hm?"
"I was wondering, if your brother is the student council president of Aurora, then why don't you go to school here?"
"For youth internships. Arron wanted to stay in Aurora with our Dad, but I wanted to get into programs abroad and build up knowledge and skills for my career."
"Wow, you're still so young and you've already gone miles ahead for your dreams."
"It's just education, I'm coming back...probably sometime in 3 years?"
"What?! That's so long, why is that?"
"The program I'm in, needs me to study abroad atleast 5 years to graduate."
"Then that means you've been in the program since fifth grade?!"
"Yup, it's actually not too long ago. I'm barely getting into the detailed stuff this year."
"What's your dream career?"
"Creating beautiful things, things that will hold memories and bring people happiness. I'm going to be a jewel designer."
"Well, bravo Mr. Genius, hope to see you in 3 years."
"I should be back, hopefully haha. So.. How's your knee?"
"It stings less, but it still hurts."
"How come you didn't tell me yesterday?"
"I honestly didn't notice it because we were having so much fun watching movies."
"I'm sorry I didn't notice it either..You're dress covered your knee, so I didn't know."
Arron popped up from the snow and joined us on the trail.
"Brrr... that was a bad idea. I'm so coldddd now. And drenched...." sniffled Arron.
"I predict that you're gonna catch a cold Arron. So, don't get too close to me."
"No I won'tttt. I- I'm-- AhoookCHA! Augh..I'm not fine," sniffled Arron.
We were getting closer to the dining hall. The building was shaped like a half powdered donut whole and you could just smell the sweet aroma of maple syrup.
The chefs were still cooking and the crowd of students gradually filled the seats.
"Eren over here!" yelled out Matthew.
"Hey Mat, been awhile hasn't it?" says Arron.
"Whoa! What happened to you? You look like a frozen caveman," Rita laughed in amazement.
"Rude, atleast say that I look like an abominal snowman," laughed Arron.
"Ah, right, a melted snowman. You should go get changed into drier clothes THEN join us for breakfast. I wouldn't want to catch what you're about to get," replied Rita.
"Well, Julia and I are gonna get some grub, be right back guys."
Rita and Matthew wave as we leave to the dining stations.
"Buffet style, just the way I like it," said Jace.
"Ah! Juliaaaa!"
The triplets run up to hug me.
"Oof! You guys, you're sufficating me," I struggle to say. They're pretty strong despite their littleness.
"Juliaaa... where'd you go.." Julian says tearing up.
"Yeah! I heard you got to go to a cool place. Not fair, you should've taken us with you," pouts Layla.
"You guys, that Arron guy already told us what happened. They couldn't come to the dorms because of the blizzard last night. Don't get mad at them for trying to be safe from the weather," Helius lectured them, "But it would have been nice if you told us where you were going before you left Julia," Helius looked at me with worried eyes.
"I'm sorry..I didn't bring my phone with me last night. I promise I'll tell you guys next time."
I squished them a big hug and we laughed at the struggle to not topple over.
"Alright let's get some pancakes," lighted up Julius.
I placed scrambled eggs, three slices of bacon, and drizzled two fluffy pancakes in blueberry maple syrup. Helius helped Layla and Julian in getting food and drinks.
Most of the time he acts like the big brother. I'm proud of how much he's grown.
The triplets join our group at a polished chocolatey wooden table.
Layla tugged at my sleeve.
"Um, who are they?" she asked.
"They're Jace's friends, some of them are my group members too. The tall one is Max, sitting next to him is Daniel, that's Matthew, Arron, Jace's big brother, and Rita, and Shaun." I pointed them out.
"Hi, I'm Layla, it's very nice to meet you all."
"I'm Helius and this is my brother Julian."
"Aw, so cute. Julia I can't believe you have such adorable siblings. Can I take them home with me?" Rita's eyes sparkle.
"Rita, you're being weird, just eat," laughs Matthew.
"That's right, if you don't hurry you guys, the next mission is going to start," everyone looks at Arron.
"The reason I say this is because the next mission is going to be a full on competition between all groups and it's going to start soon."
"WHATTT?!" we yell out in confusion.
"I thought we were going to have a free day today?" I ask.
"Yeah, but that's why it's a surprise. I mean I guess groups don't have to enter but if your group wins, you'll get a super awesome prize,"
Arron replied.
Shaun gets off his chair, looks around the table and takes something, hiding it behind his back and walks up to Layla.
"Um, hi, I'm Shaun, I like dinosaurs. Do you?"
"Yeah, dinosaurs are cool."
"Wanna be friends?"
"Sure."
"Then here, have this cookie."
"Thank you."
"What about us?" asks Julian.
"Will you be my friends too?"
"Yeah," says Julian and Helius.
"Here, a cookie for you and for you. Thanks for being my friends," says Shaun.
"Aww, how cuteee!" says Rita.
There was a clunk sound from the speakers in the dinning hall.
"Students, in about an hour we will initiate the competition between groups. Yes, I am aware today is a free day, but there will still be events held to enjoy. So competitors, if you want a super amazing prize, then finish your breakfast and get ready for the event." says Principal Serena.
"Matthew, we are totally joining the competition," Rita said with firey eyes.
"Uh, no thanks,"Matthew shaked his head.
"Matthew," Rita puts her hand on his left shoulder.
"Rita, no I'm too tired from yester-"
"Matthewww, remember my goldfish?"Rita said.
"You haven't asked the crew if they want to join."
Rita's smile widened.
"Well that goes my day of napping..."mumbled Matthew," Sorry guys but if you want to or can, um, come join us for the competition. Oh! And after the competition we should go explore that cave."
"Cave?" asks Daniel.
"Yeah there's this really cool cave nearby that we found yesterday. We were thinking of exploring it today," said Jace.
"Hmm, sounds like a plan," said Daniel.
"Alright, we'll see who wins first and gets to the cave first. Your group or ours," said Max.
"Woah, we're really doing this?" asked Matthew in surprise.
"Of courseeee Matthew, right Julia? Shaun?"
"Um, yeah?" I replied.
"Yeah!!" said Shaun.
"Jace?" asked Rita.
"Sure! But, just so you know Julia hurt her knee yesterday, so go easy on her," said Jace.
"What! You hurt your knee?" Layla asked with concern.
"Let me see your owwie!" panicked Julian.
"Guys, calm down, Julia is okay. She can still walk even though she hurt her knee," said Helius, but his face still showed he was worried.
"It's just scraped a bit, I'll be okay. Just watch us win this competition, you'll see," I reassured them.
"Okay, but just to be sure, try not to make it worse, and let us know if it does get worse." sayid Rita.
"I will" I replied.
Clunk!
"Drrrrrrum rolll! Alright students! Get in your groups soon! We're about to start the compeition! So, hurry and group up. When you're ready, sign your name for your group and wait near the stage outside," a female announcer said while rolling her R's.