I was just trying to ignore Reece and wished if he could get on any other school buses. But my life has a cruel sense of humour. He got on the same bus and sat in front of my seat. I knowingly got more involved with those silly talks going in my group, which didn't hold any meaning.
Reece: Trying to ignore me eh?
Me: Uh-huh, what? Oh!! Reece!!! Hello.
Reece: Huh, you should join the theatre. By the way, hey.
Me: Are you going with us?
Reece: No, no don't worry. I was just wasting my time here.
Me: Hahaha nice joke. Yeah...hmmm.... yeah.
Reece: hmmm
This was followed by an awkward silence which was finally broke by Carsten.
Carsten: Hey!!! Who's here (His smile fading away) Reece...
Reece: What a pleasure to meet you again?
Carsten: Right. Right. So how is it going?
Reece: Good...hmm not that good actually, since you have taken all my happiness.
Carsten: Sorry, what?
Reece: Don't act so silly. You exactly know what I meant. I said my life has gone worse than hell since you have taken my girlfriend.
Carsten: Excuse me, mister. She was mine already.
Reece: But you left her and I was there for her. So I deserve her.
Carsten: But she loves me.
Reece: Actually she is disillusioned. She has accepted that she loves you but in reality, she loves me.
Carsten: You are in a great misconception, my brother.
Reece: No I am not and I cannot see my girl with a dumb boy like you.
Carsten: Okay. Okay. Whatever. Things won't work as you wish. There's no problem in dreaming. Carry on.
Reece: Some people have the guts to change the dream into reality.
Carsten: Challenging me, eh?
Reece: Sure. If you have the balls, then face me. I will make her mine one day.
Carsten: Huh, everybody wanna steal my girl, everybody wanna take her heart away. Couple billion in a whole wide world. Find another one 'cause she belongs to me. ( I laughed the way he sang. Honestly, he ruined the song.)
Reece: Nothing would happen if you only keep singing One Direction songs. Have some originality my dear and your voice sucks.
Carsten: oh so you want originality. Wait. Hold on. I had written a poem about her.
I was amazed. I didn't expect Carsten to come up with a poem that he wrote about me?!
Reece: Sure. I would like to have a read.
Carsten: Okay. (He took a small paper out of his rough book and handed it to Reece). Here, take it.
Reece: Okay, so I will read it aloud. Let others listen.
Carsten: Yeah, fine.
Reece:
"Years back...
the heart was going through serious love's lack.
Shinchan was my only affection,
meeting girls was a dangerous caution.
All this shit ended as I saw you,
for my brain didn't get anything to wonder except you.
I liked myself better when I was with you.
And all these actions reasoned that I had fallen for you.
You felt like my "GUARDIAN ANGEL"
protecting me from odd of every angle.
You were the dessert to my feast,
Dairy Milk happened to be on the top of my list.
Even the dictionary wasn't true,
It wrote beauty instead of you.
Just a meagre touch of you was all I wanted,
It was enough to make my soul feel enchanted.
Addiction like you is a blessing,
Just a hint of your smell makes my heart sing.
Ultimately you became my need,
your name followed by my name was my only greed."
Nice try. But this is immature.
Carsten: I don't care. But this is what I felt for her.
Reece: I can sing songs for her...
me: Enough guys!!!! Please stop it now. You two have been fighting for 15 minutes. Now stop it.
Reece: Asteria.. you will regret this.
me: If I will, then I will be aware that it was my decision. If anything bad happens then I won't blame anyone of you.
Reece: Alright...( and he went a few seats farther)
Me: Babe, thank you so much for this amazing poem. ( I whispered to Patrick)
Carsten: Did you like it?
Me: Yeah of course. How could not I? ( I blushed)
Everything then was perfect. Our camping spot was a hilly region and it was really cold. I put on my blazer and we were exploring beautiful scenes of nature. The ways the trees postured felt like they were sketched. In short, the scenery was faultless. We were really tired by the time we were summoned for lunch. Our camping site had a guest house nearby where all the arrangements were made for our meals.
It was just like our school canteen but much more hygienic. I was sitting beside Carsten and all seven of us were talking when suddenly a ball hit the back of my neck. It really hurt. Before I could realize it, I saw people in the dining hall were cheering and shooting with the cameras. Then I saw Carsten punching and kicking someone. It was Strahd. He was the one who had thrown the ball and that's why he was beating the shit out of him. Strahd had developed a bloody nose and would have fainted if Seb, Jason, and some teachers would not have stopped Carsten.
Carsten and Strahd were sent for an hour of counselling. I know fighting is bad but at that time, it felt right. It was the right way to respond to a wayward boy. I was glad Carsten had kicked him out of his friend circle.
For the rest of the night, neither did I see Strahd nor Reece. The camp was really amazing, especially that one night. We played different games, danced, sang, jumped, teased, and fell even more for each other.
We were notified in the camp itself about the farewell for our grade, as a lot of children would leave the school after 10th grade to study in different schools according to the respective streams they choose. I felt kind of sad. Even if the farewell was after a month but the feeling of getting separated from my friends and especially Carsten was disheartening...