3. Roommates

"Hey! Are you all sleeping?"

Mr Alberty, the Art teacher from Merganzel public school and the one among the two teachers in charge of our camp asks through the microphone, making everyone stir in their seats.

"C'mon, wake up all of you. We'll be at Hondbill National Park in five minutes. Hey there! Wake the one sleeping beside you."

There was nobody beside me. Adonis was still in the back with the dudes.

"Guys, before we reach there, I'd like to give you a few quick instructions although I'm sure you've been instructed enough from your schools," Mr Alberty clears his throat when everyone finally stirs awake.

"Like in the brochure, we are staying tonight at the Blue Hills Hotel fifteen minutes away from the southern entrance of the park. To reach there, we'll have to walk a little and climb a few steps from where our bus is going to stop. So, every one be together. Don't get lost."

"Once we reach there, rooms will be alloted to all of you. We are 38 in total, 15 boys, 21 girls and the two of us," Mr Alberty says referring to himself and Miss Huxley, the lady teacher in charge from Angelwood High.

"We have got two single rooms for us teachers and eighteen double rooms for you students."

That means I'm going to share a room with a girl. Oh my gosh!

"After we place our luggage in our rooms, we will meet at the outdoor restaurant behind the hotel to have dinner," Mr Alberty continues. "And there will be a small meeting after that. You know, just to get to know each other and to tell you guys about tomorrow's plan. After that, we'll directly go to bed because we are starting hiking at 6:30 Am tomorrow."

The students all nod to Mr Alberty, smiling excitedly. Everyone starts chatting enthusiastically once he places the mike down and sits back in his seat. And I already started regretting about coming to this camp.

Finally, the bus comes to a halt and I look out of the windows to see a rock wall on my side. Anything else was invisible in the darkness.

"We have reached, people! Grab your bags and get down. We are about to start the camp!" Mr Alberty announces cheerfully through the mike.

Everyone instantly jumps up from their seats and starts grabbing their bags from the overhead racks. I sit in my seat waiting for the girls behind me to get their bags first.

Once they walk away hauling their backpacks over their shoulders, I slowly get up and reach my hands for my bag.

I try to pull it down but it doesn't budge. It seemed to be stuck there in the rack. I again try to drag it down, but it is of no use.

"Let me help."

I turn to see Adonis standing beside me.

"Uh..thanks..I think the belt is stuck on the edge."

"Let me see," he moves closer to me and tries to pull the bag down. "Yeah, it's stuck there," he says looking down at me before grabbing his own bag and placing it on the empty seat across the aisle. Andrea and the other girl had already got down. And there were only a few more people to exit the bus.

"Why isn't this coming?" He groans whilst jerking my bag out of the compartment.

"Quick..they are all leaving," I say.

He moves back and gives my bag a swift pull. To my great misfortune, it comes tumbling down heavily onto my back before rolling down to the floor. I lose my balance from the sudden strike and fall forward, wincing, soon hitting something hard which prevents me from ending up on the floor.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry. Are you alright?" Adonis asks with concern. It's then I realize what I collided with was nothing but his chest. I step back in horror and again lose my balance, falling back onto the seat.

"They all have gone. What to do? Can you walk?" he asks as I bite down on my lips trying not to wince from the pain on my back.

"Y..yeah..let's go," I say and try to grab my bag from the floor. But he already picks it up.

"I'll carry it," he says whilst hauling his own bag onto his shoulder.

"No, it's okay. I'm alright," I try to protest but he already started walking down the aisle with my bag slinging on his arm.

"Wait! It's heavy.." I say and quickly follow him.

"Careful, don't fall again," he says turning his face to me as he hops down the steps.

I nod and hop down behind him, trying to snatch my backpack from him once we are outside. But he doesn't let me get it.

"I hurt your back, so let me do this for you," he says and starts walking fast, carrying both of our heavy bags with some difficulty.

I wonder why this Adonis is behaving so sweetly towards me. Right now, Andrea isn't watching.

"Is that our team?" He asks pointing forward.

"I guess so," I nod. They were now climbing a series of steps that seemed to be endless. We both increase our pace to catch up with them.

Adonis was looking a bit tired, climbing the huge steps with both of our bags. He looked like he was finally wishing I'd snatch my bag back from him. But I don't. Since he was so ready to help, let him help.

At last, we reach up the stairs. But we are no longer able to spot our team.

"Shit! Where did they go?" He groans.

"Call your friend. You got her number, haven't you?" I ask him.

"She blocked me."

"Wow..why?" I ask.

"I don't know," he says looking around. "Oh! Look there, I think it's them!" He squeals and already starts running. I quickly follow him behind.

It's after some time that we realised, the people we were following were not our team. Adonis lets out a groan and places my bag down on the ground.

"Do you have Mr Alberty's or Miss Huxley's number?" I ask him.

"No.." he shakes his head.

"Me too. Now what to do?" I ask him.

"Let's wait here. They'll probably call us when they find us missing," he says, crossing his hands across his chest.

"We are gonna get a bad scolding," I leave a sigh.

He looks at me and chuckles, causing me to frown at him.

"I thought you'd start worrying. But you seem cool."

"I'm not at all cool," I mumble. If they find me missing, they are going to call into Elena's phone, not mine.

"Oh, why? Are you worried about getting lost with a handsome guy like me? Don't worry, I'm not a bad one."

I don't say anything but just roll my eyes.

He lets out another chuckle. "You don't speak much, do you?"

Ignoring him, I bend down and pick up my bag, hauling it on my shoulder. "I think, instead of simply standing here, we better walk around and see if we can find the hotel."

"Oh, yeah, c'mon then.." he nods and start walking towards two men who were standing a little away from us.

"Excuse me, do you guys know the way to the Blue Hills Lodge," he asks them, causing them to look up at us with a frown.

"We actually got lost. Our team already went there," he explains.

"It's in that direction. Just go straight," one of them points forward. We thank them and quickly start walking again.

"Are you excited for this camp?" Adonis asks me after we walk in silence for some time.

"Yeah.." I hum.

"Are you in any sports? Badminton or basketball?"

"No.."

"Oh..but you kinda look sporty."

"Hmm.."

"Do you want me to carry your bag?"

"No.."

He lets out a sigh. "You know what? You are just like her."

"Who? Andrea?" I ask

"Uh..yeah...but how do you know?" He asks surprised. I just shake my head.

"What else do you know? You already figured out I got a crush on her?" He asks as I don't say anything. "You know, I've been trying to hit on her for a month. And I came to this camp just to spend time with her."

"So you cheated in the painting competition to get selected?"

"No, I didn't cheat! I can actually draw!" he instantly squeals.

"Okay. I believe you," I nod. "Have you ever told her you like her?"

"Yeah, like 5 times already."

"That's sad."

"It is! I just can't figure out how she can reject someone like me so mercilessly."

I don't say anything. He seems to be so full of himself. He thinks he is something great. But yeah, it's actually kinda true.

"Why don't you say anything? Will you also reject me if I ask you out?"

My eyes widen in surprise while I feel my heart suddenly beating hard against my chest.

"I mean, suppose if I ask you out, will you say no?"

"Yes!"

"Why?" He frowns at me as if deeply offended.

"I hate people who talk a lot."

His frown only deepens. "Do I talk a lot?" I don't respond.

He doesn't say anything after that. And I kind of feel sad. But this is better. If he keeps talking, I'll also have to talk and it's difficult to imitate a female voice for long.

"You know what.." then he says, "It's not like I talk a lot, It's just you don't talk."

Great! Here I thought he'd finally stop talking.

"By the way, have you ever dated anyone?"

"No," I mumble, cursing him inwardly.

"It's no surprise," he chuckles.

Oh really? Then why were you looking so surprised earlier when I told you I don't have a boyfriend?

"You are kind of cute. But you only utter 'yes' and 'no.' You are no fun!"

Wow! Did he just call me cute?

Seriously, this dude is something else! I officially declare at this moment that I'm not a fan of him anymore. Wait! To begin with, when was I ever his fan?

"Oh look there! We've reached!" He points his finger forward. I look up to see the words 'Blue Hills' sparkling in blue lights in the distance.

Right then his phone rings in his pocket. He quickly fishes it out. "It's probably Mr Alberty," he says looking at the screen before answering the call.

It was in fact, Mr Alberty. Cause, Adonis instantly starts apologizing before saying that I'm with him and we have almost reached in front of the Hotel.

"They are waiting for us at the entrance. Come fast," he says once he places the phone in his pocket

We increase our pace and soon we are in front of the lodge. We spot Mr Alberty and Miss Huxley standing there with annoyed looks on their faces. They only recognise us when we reach closer.

And once they recognise us, they both immediately start scolding us, without letting us explain our reason. It almost seemed like an endless rap and we just stood there listening to them for straight five minutes before finally apologising and promising we would be careful next time.

"What to do now Mr Alberty?" Miss Huxley asks turning to the male teacher. "They will have to share a room."

"Oh! All the rooms are filled?"

"Yeah. Just our single rooms and a double room left now. We should have booked one more room."

"Oh! We didn't calculate the number of rooms for boys and girls separately," Mr Alberty mumbles. "So, now either they have to share the double room or we both share the.."

 "No!" Miss Huxley abruptly cuts him off. "You guys are okay sharing a room, right?"

I nod my head causing Adonis to look at me surprised. I just keep a straight face. Sharing a room with him is better than sharing a room with a girl.

"We don't actually know each other," He then says.

"So?" Mr Alberty asks.

"Uhm..I know another girl from my.."

"You can get to know each other now," Miss Huxley cuts him off. "Anyway she doesn't have any problem. So you both share a room tonight. It's on the fifth floor. Here's the key," she says and hands me the key. "Go place your bags in the room and come back here within five minutes."

"Why would you agree to share a room with me?" Adonis asks me as we are in front of the lift.

"Why wouldn't I? And there was only one room left. Oh, wait! Were you planning to share a room with your crush? I thought you told me she rejected you multiple times. So, what made you think she'd agree to share a room with you?"

"Wow! Now you are talking!"

The lift opens and I step in.

"You sure, it's not because you actually want to share a room with me?" He asks stepping in behind me with a stupid smirk on his face. God, why is he so cocky?

"Who'd want to share a room with you?" I mumble.

He just chuckles in reply and crosses his hands across his chest, staring at my side profile. I feel a bit nervous and I pray for the elevator to quickly reach the fifth floor.

Finally, the elevator door opens on the fifth floor and I step out, letting out an inaudible sigh. But c'mon we are going to share a room tonight. Now I think it's going to be equally bad as sharing a room with a girl.

Our room no was 42 and we found it within a minute. I jam the key into the hole and twist it open. It was a medium-sized cheap room and there were two beds put against two walls. Except for the beds, there were two bedside tables, two chairs put against the window and a few cupboards, opposite to which was a door that opened to the attached bathroom.

I shrug my backpack off my shoulder and place it on a chair before going to the bathroom to inspect it.

The bathroom was tidy. There was a mirror and I checked myself, making sure my hair was still in position. Thankfully I looked normal. Anyway, I adjust my padded bras a little before stepping out, only to see my backpack missing. Instead of my bag, Adonis was now sitting on the chair, scrolling through his phone.

"Where's my Bag?" I ask.

"I placed it inside the cupboard," he says, getting onto his feet and walking out of the room, still his eyes on his phone.

"Wait!" I say and rush behind him, quickly closing the doors and locking it with the key.