Chapter 78
“What’s funny is he’s counting on me to make magic happen.” Maya hissed.
“I don’t need magic,”
“And a coward. His brilliant plan was to ask me, your best friend, to… you know… put in a good word. See you might be interested. Maybe get my help to set you guys up.”
“Tell him I’m not interested.”
“I know, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I told him it was a lame and I can’t. Moreover, he’s not as inno as he looks.”
Just then, the bell rings, echoing down the hallway.
“Come on,” Maya says, hooking her arm through mine. “We have Biology. You can think about Myles late
“I’m not thinking about him,” I mutter, flicking her forehead. “Focus on not failing Bio.”
“Rude.” She presses her palm to her forehead. “I deserved that, but still rude.”
We slip into the classroom together, taking our usual seats. Students trickle in noisily, some laughing, some gossiping. The teacher is nowhere in sight yet, so the noise continues.
I pull out my notebook but my brain is an absolute mess at the thought of Myles.
Like? Seriously?
Myles has a crush on me?
He’s… fine, but still-
No.
Not my type. Not even close.
I rest my chin on my hand, letting out a sigh.
“Take a deep breath girl,” Maya whispers.
“I’m trying.” I whisper back.
She grins. “You’ll survive. Maybe.”
Before I can reply, Mrs. Hopkins walks into the class clutching some papers and her tablet as everyone scrambles to sit up straight.
“Cood morning, class.”
A scattered chorus of “Good morning, Mrs. Hopkins” follows.
She adjusts her glasses. “Before we begin today’s lesson, the administration has an announcement for all sophomores.”
The room instantly perks up as the students start murmuring.
Announcements usually mean only two things:
A test.
Or something exciting.
Maya leans toward me. “Please be something exciting. Please. Please.”
Mrs. Hopkins continues. “As part of the annual Outdoor Discovery Program… the sophomore class will be going on a three–day excursion.”
The room explodes with
“What?!”
“No way!”
“Yes!”
“Where? Where?!”
“Bro, excuse me, three whole days?!”
Maya grabs my hands. “Aria. ARIA. THIS IS GOING TO BE DAMN INTERESTING.
“Relax,” I laugh.
“I’m trying to!”
Mrs. Hopkins claps twice, silencing everyone. “We will be visiting Silverwood Nature Reserve. It includes a mountain hike, lakefront cabins, supervised activities, and opportunities for environmental studies.”
“Cabins??” A boy up front groans. “Is there WiFi?”
“Unfortunately, No” Mrs. Hopkins says.
“Whyy??” We all groaned.
Maya whispers, “I’m going to perish. Tell my parents I loved them.”
“Don’t be dramatic. You’ll survive three days without the internet.” I whisper back,
She gasps. That was very cruel.”
66 vouche
Mrs. Hopkins continues, “You will be placed into activity groups and supervised by teachers and volunteer adult chaperones. Permission slips will be handed out today. Buses leave at 8 AM next Friday.”
More groans than excited chatters fills the room as Mrs Hopkins starts the lesson.
Maya nudges me. “I hope we are bunking together. They better not put me in with some psycho.”
I snorted, rolling my eyes.
*****
“Hurry up,” Maya grabs my wrist as soon as the lunch bell rings.
“Hold on.” I groaned.
“I’m hungry,” She whinnied.
I roll my eyes, before I could argue back, someone called my name behind us
“ARIA!”
“Oh God, not now.” Maya groaned as we turned back to see Myles.
He stops in front of us, panting slightly.
“Hey,” he said to me, smiling nervously.
“Hey…” I say slowly.
Maya shifts back, giving us a little space.
“I uh… I was… wondering…” Miles scratches the back of his neck. “If you… wanted to study together sometime? For Biology? You’re good at it and I kinda struggle and-”
“Miles,” Maya cuts in sharply from behind me. “Don’t.”
He looks confused. “What? I’m just-”
“No,” she repeats. “Don’t.”
I glare at her. “Maya, chill.”
“No,” she says again, but this time to me. “Do you like him?.”
“What’s going on?” Miles whispers, looking at her, “I thought you already….
“Miles… she did.” I sighed. “You’re cool, but-”
“She’s not interested, Maya finishes for me.
MAYA!”
She raises both eyebrows. What: 111 Saving
you don’t like him like that.”
I groan into my palms.
Miles turns pale. “O–oh. I just… I wasn’t… I mean—”
“It’s fine,” I say gently. “Really. No hard feelings.”
C
“Yeah. Cool.” He nods, running his left hand through his hair. “Yeah. Okay. See you in class.”
“Yeah” I nod.
The second he was gone, I smacked Maya’s arm. “Why would you say it like that?!”
“Because he’s a coward!” she throws her hands up. “Instead of talking to you like a normal human, he tried use me as a messenger pigeon!.”
“He liked me, that’s why he is shy,” I say softly.
“I don’t trust him.,” she huffed. “And he’s not innocent either.”
I squint at her. “What did he do?”
“Nothing big,” she shrugged. “Let’s go, I’m hungry.”
“Sup Tinkerbell!” Asher greets as I enter the cafeteria.
I roll my eyes, smiling. “Sup Asher. Sup guys.”
I sit next to him, with Maya sitting beside me. Nolan glances up briefly… meeting my eyes then back to his fries.
“What do you want to eat?” Maya asks, leaning closer to me once she had signaled a waiter.
“I’m good with fries and chicken, and mango juice, thanks” I smiled.
“You’re welcome.‘ She faced the waiter telling her our order and giving her our cafeteria card.
“Sooo, I heard the sophomore class is going on some kind of forest adventure.” Asher said, crunching his fries. I picked a fry as my order has not arrived,
“Yeah, for three days,” Maya smiled “Silverwood Reserve.”
“Sounds fun.” Asher shrugs.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
