Amelia could not tear her eyes off the man in front of her. He was within her reach but she dared not go to him.
'Why did he come here?' She thought.
She came to the camp because her friend convinced her to do something she was not used to doing. Who knew she would meet him again. Maybe lady luck was still on her side after all.
She kept on looking at him and was disappointed he did not spare her a glance. He only looked ahead with his usual cold gaze. He appeared to be so unapproachable.
"Everyone is leaving, we should go too" Megan nudged her friend who seemed lost. She realized that the man her friend was watching was not even standing at the spot any more.
"You go ahead, I am not seeing the campfire. It is too cold tonight" Amelia said and picked her purse. She stepped out of the thatched dinning hall without waiting for her friend.
'Suit yourself' Megan thought before walking way.
Amelia knew how much Eris despised cold weather. He was quick to falling sick if he stays too much in cold. This made her conclude that he would not go to see the campfire. She goes ahead to look for him.
It was students event after all and he is only a guest of honor, why would he participate in any of their activities. She thought.
By the time Rhea, Claire and Carter got to the area where the camp fire was lit, the students already sat down on the grass. Plastic cups filled with gin was passed round. Rhea rejected the cup as she did no want to have alcohol.
A guy played a common song 'Stand By Me' by Ben E. King on his guitar making the place livelier. A group of girls sang along the guitar before every other person joined in the song.
Oh yeah! Oh my darlin' stand by me!
No matter who you are, no matter where you go in life,
You gon' need somebody, to stand by you.
No matter how much money you got,
You gon' need somebody to stand by you.
The breeze blew past them sending chills through their body but most of them were already dressed in warm clothes.
Rhea looked down at her open hands and shook her head. She forgot to wear cardigan. She turned to look to Claire and realized she was also singing with the others.
She stood up and walked away to go back to their tent and wear something warmer. She walked for a while before she stopped. She noticed she had been walking in circles.
She had lost her way again. She looked around not knowing which side to turn to and there was no one around she could ask for help.
"You are lost" a familiar voice said. It sound more like a statement and not a question. Rhea turned to the direction of the voice and her eyes met with Eris'. Not again she thought.
She was about to turn away when he suddenly pulled closer her to him. They were only a inch apart. She shivered.
"It is cold, very cold tonight. You did are not dressed properly" He said in a small voice tat anyone could mistake for care.
Rhea opened her mouth to speak but closed it as soon as something warm fell on her shoulders. Eris had removed his jacket and threw it over her.
He buttoned it for her to make sure she was warm. Even her hands were no seen as the jacket was a little bigger than her.
"It will not be good if you caught a cold" He said brushing off the strands of hair on her face. He put them back behind her ear. His fingers were warm against her skin.
"Go back now, you will see someone to lead you back to your tent" He uttered.
Rhea only nodded, she could not possibly form words at the moment. She turned around and walked away. Her cheeks were bright red and hot. She was enveloped in an unknown warmth.
Just steps away from where Eris and Rhea were, Amelia stood watching with anger in her eyes. She could not identify the girl who was with Eris. He was blocking her so well with his broad back.
When he pulled his jacket and wore it on the girl, Amelia boiled in anger, she clenched her fist till her nails dug into her palm. A storm brewed in her stomach.
Eris was someone who could not stand cold even in its slightest but here he was offering his jacket to a damn girl. He have never been so kind to her since they were together. She really wanted to scratch the girl's face.
Just as the girl turned to leave, Amelia who could not take it any longer was about to go to her and beat her to pulp but someone stopped her on her track.
"What do you think you are going to do?" Taylor questioned blocking her line of sight.
After dinner, he and Eris had returned to their accommodation. It did not take long before Eris told him he would like to see the campfire since he never had the opportunity to ever see one.
But Taylor knew better than believe his lies. He refused to let him go outside most especially because of the cold. His boss had low tolerance to cold after all.
He went to bathroom to clean up and before he returned, his friend was gone. Taylor immediately picked a thick coat and went after his dumb boss.
He had not walked too far when he noticed a familiar figure watching something in front with anger. He stepped closer and saw that it was Amelia. He did not need to be told before he guessed she must have been watching Eris.
His guess was right, just few steps away, Eris stood in front of a particular lady. Although he blocked any view of her completely, Taylor could still tell who it was.
'Such a fool for love' Taylor thought when he saw Eris pull his jacket for Rhea. His foolish boss was being careless about his health.
Taylor was quick to react when he saw Amelia trying to make a move towards the departing girl. He quickly stood in front of her distracting and blocking her line of sight. She would cause a lot of trouble if she finds out about the poor girl yet.
"Who the hell are you!" Amelia snapped. She was angry, the girl she wanted to see had already left.
"It is so hurtful you did not remember this beautiful man before you" Taylor joked.
Amelia who could now see his face clearly scoffed. "Isn't it that despicable assistant of Eris, I wonder why he still kept you this far"
"Whoa, isn't this that shamelessly leg opener, I wonder why my boss never kept you for long" Taylor gasped as he mocked.
"You...you—" She fumed. That insult hit her hard. No one would believe her if she said that guy she was seen with was a once time thing and a mistake. She never meant to cheat on him. But would he listen?.
Seeing that she would no be able to meet Eris that night, she walked away. She needed a plan, a very good one, she thought.
"Ain't you a fool, you just pulled your jacket just like that for a girl. Do you want to die!" Taylor yelled at his friend like a nagging mother.
"I knew you would come with another one" Eris uttered nonchalantly as he took the coat from Taylor and wore it.
"What do you take me for? I am you best fri—"
"A secretary I pay every month" Eris voice and started walking away.
"You— you, you big bad bully! I am your friend!" Taylor yelled after him. Seeing that Eris was leaving him behind, he walked quickly to catch up with his pace.
"Why Eris, do you not really see me as your friend, we have known each other for years, I stayed with you through the thick and thins. I remember when we were still little boys and I had to watch over you from bad bullies. Did you forget all that? I have always been there and it really hurt if you see me as someone you are paying to stay by you side. it is not—"
"You are my best friend, not just any friend. Stop acting like a clingy girlfriend seeking for attention" Eris said.
Taylor who had stopped walking after hearing what his friend voiced ran to catch up with him.
"Do you really really mean that? Huh" He tugged at Eris arm as they walked inside their apartment.
"Stop being childish, get us something to eat and prepare a hot bath for me" Eris instructed.
"What! You just called me your best friend not errand boy" Taylor fumed.
"Look around you, do you see any other person in this room that could work for me apart from you?"
"Eris!" Taylor snapped.
"If you do not want your pay check anymore, drop your resignation letter and remain just my friend but as far as you still work for me, do you duties. I do not want anything cold for tonight. A pot of hot mushroom soup will do my body good" Eris gave strings of instructions as he did on the only sofa in the room.
Taylor could only glare at him. He still did as he was told. He would do anything for his best friend after all.