As I walked to my class, I noticed that the school was not as noisy and it made the atmosphere feel different. The usual hustle and bustle of voices that echoed through the hallways seemed subdued, creating an unusual calmness. It was as if a gentle hush had settled over the school, and I couldn't help but notice the change. Though it felt strange, I reassured myself that it was just one of those days, and everything would soon return to normal.
As I entered the classroom and settled into my seat, waiting for the teacher to arrive, an unexpected visitor walked through the door. It was Mr. Thompson, the principal of the school. His presence instantly caught my attention. I wondered why he would come to our classroom instead of making an announcement through the intercom like usual.
Mr. Thompson's warm smile and friendly demeanor put me at ease as he began to speak. He shared the exciting news that our school was going on a field trip, a camping adventure to be exact. My heart skipped a beat at the mention of camping. Camping wasn't exactly my cup of tea. The thought of being away from the comforts of home and dealing with bugs and sleeping in a tent made me feel a bit bothered. But what bothered me even more was the realization that Chloe and her friends are going to be there.
I am worried that her presence during the camping trip might make things challenging for me. Would she try to undermine my experiences or create unnecessary drama? The thought weighed on my mind, casting a shadow over the excitement I initially felt.
However, amidst my concerns, there was one glimmer of comfort. Ethan would also be there. But Chloe's is not going to like the idea of me and Ethan talking to each other but having him there might make me feel better.
As Mr. Thompson continued his announcement, he handed each of us a letter to give to our parents, informing them about the camping trip. Holding that letter in my hands, my worries and doubts lingered, but I knew deep down that I couldn't let fear overshadow the potential for growth and new experiences.
With a determined sigh, I made a silent promise to myself. I would face the camping trip head-on, regardless of the challenges that awaited me. Perhaps it would even be an opportunity for me and Ethan to get closer. What am I even thinking. why would I want that to happen. I don't want to go there to do that. And that's not even going to be possible because Ethan's body guard is going to be present.
Camping might not be my first choice, and the presence of Chloe might make things more complicated, but I was determined to make the most of this experience.
After Mr. Thompson left the class, a few minutes later, the teacher walked in, and we began our class. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch, and I made my way to the lunchroom. I grabbed a small portion of food and started looking for an available table. Scanning the lunchroom, I tried to spot John, but he seemed to be nowhere in sight. Finally, I found an empty table and took a seat.
Shortly after, Ethan and his friends entered the lunchroom and settled at a nearby table. Since my back was turned to them, I couldn't see them directly. A little while later, Chloe and her two friends walked in and sat at the table where Ethan and his friends were seated. The lunchroom wasn't crowded today, so it was relatively quiet.
As I sat at my table in the lunchroom, I overheard Ethan and his friends engaged in a lively discussion about the upcoming camping trip. Their voices carried across the room, drawing my attention.
"This camping trip is going to be awesome," exclaimed Jason, one of Ethan's friends. "Yeah, man! I heard we'll get to hike and do other stuff. It's going to be epic!" Ethan chimed in, grabbing food from his plate.
Chloe, displaying a face of disgust, retorted, "What's so fun about it? There are going to be bugs everywhere, not to mention all the mosquitoes that will be there."
Alex, another one of Ethan's friends, replied, "Chloe, if you don't want to go, you can stay back."
Chloe sent him a glare, but he brushed it off as usual. "I'm going to the restroom, girls," she signaled for her friends, or rather, "minions," to follow her.
What Alex said was right. Chloe shouldn't go on the camping trip if she's going to complain about bugs all day. If she's not there, I'll have some peace of mind and won't have to worry about her being around all the time. As I ate my food, I noticed Chloe and her friends leaving the lunchroom with a little frown on her face. Look at her, spoiled brat, I thought to myself as I watched her leave. I finished my food and returned my tray. I decided to head to the field to enjoy the cool breeze before lunch break was over. As I left, Ethan and his friends continued their conversation.
"How's your relationship with Emma going?" Alex asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"It's going well. We're just friends for now," Ethan replied.
"Do you mean friends as in friends, friends, or friends with benefits?" Jason joked, earning a light tap on the head from Alex to stop his nonsense.
Ethan brushed off the joke, knowing Jason's tendency to jest about everything. He glanced in the direction where Emma had been seated, but she wasn't there anymore. When did she slip out of the lunchroom without him noticing?
"Well, you gotta up your game before she's taken by another 'friend'," Alex advised, taking the last sip from his cola can. "Why don't you take advantage of this camping trip and talk to her? Just play it cool while you're at it."
"That's a great idea, Jason. Who knew you could come up with something like that?" Alex laughed.
"Are you trying to imply that I don't have a brain?" Jason retorted, his face slightly frowning at Alex's joke.
"I didn't say you didn't have one," Alex clarified.
"That's what you meant," Jason muttered, glancing at Alex.
"Would you two quit arguing? I'm trying to think of something here," Ethan interjected, returning to his thoughts.
"What are you thinking about?" Alex inquired.
"He's thinking about how he would tell Emma that he likes her," Jason answered, his mind imagining how Ethan would look while confessing.
"Well, if that's how you put it, I'll try to find some way or another to tell her," Ethan said.
"Good luck with that," Alex wished.
"Where's Damien? I haven't seen him since second period," Jason mentioned.
"He might be at the library or in the field," Ethan suggested, taking a sip from his cola drink.
I settled into the cool spot under the tree, grateful for the respite from the midday sun. Opening the new book I had taken from my bookshelf at home, I immersed myself in its pages. The words transported me to a different world, captivating my attention.
As I read, my eyes wandered across the field, and there, in the distance, I spotted Damion playing with his ball. He seemed to be enjoying himself, but something caught my attention. I didn't recall seeing him come in with his friends to the lunchroom earlier.
In that moment, Damion looked up, meeting my gaze. It felt as if he knew I had been watching him. He waved at me, pausing his ball game. I couldn't help but smile and wave back. Minutes later, he made his way over to where I was sitting, a smile still present on his face.
"Hey, Emma! Mind if I join you?" Damion asked, his voice friendly.
I closed my book, returning his smile. "Sure, Damion," I replied.
He settled down beside me, and we started talking. The conversation flowed effortlessly as we discovered shared interests and exchanged stories. Damion's enthusiasm for life was contagious, and his genuine curiosity about the world around him made our interaction engaging and enjoyable.
Minutes later, Ethan, Jason, and Alex walked over to where Damion and I were sitting. "Where have you been, man? We were looking for you everywhere," Jason said.
"Hi, Emma. Nice to see you again," Alex greeted, his hands in his pockets.
"Hello, Alex. It's nice to see you again too," I replied, looking up at them. Ethan stood there, his eyes fixed on my face as I met his gaze.
As we stared at each other, the bell signaling the end of the lunch period interrupted us. "Emma, it was nice talking to you. See you another time," Damion said as he stood up and extended his hand to help me up.
Ethan, Jason, and Alex had already moved to the other side of the field by the time the bell rang. With a smile, I replied, "Okay, bye," and walked out of the field, heading to my next class.
"When did Damion start talking to Emma?" Jason asked.
"How should we know?" Alex replied.
"Well, they sure had a good talk from the looks of it," Jason remarked.
Ethan's gaze remained fixed on me as I entered the school. "So, what's up, guys?" Damion said as he approached them.
"Let's head to class, or do you want to stay here?" Damion asked.
"Let's go," Ethan said, and they all left the field together.