The watch tower had a bell inside, almost like Quasimodo the hunchback of Notre Dame because no one has seen old man Herbert yet. I hope when we do we aren't squirming for help.
A strong chilly wind passes and I instinctively wrap my hands around my bare arms. The green leprechaun shirt I'm on isn't helping one bit, should've totally brought a sweater along.
The bell for dinner rang a while ago so now everyone's heading to the cafeteria. I haven't seen Callie or Hernandez yet and I'm starting to realize that we may not actually be together all the time.
A wind so strong, it causes me to stay put and consider walking back to the cabin just to get a sweater, passes me.
Unfortunately, the crowd doesn't stop moving so I get pushed by someone. I stagger back, luckily steading myself quickly before tripping over a rock.
"Watch it fatso", the boy in a blue jacket says and I wish I were him, all covered up.
A hand from behind reaches for his shoulder and grabs it. "You've got a problem?", Noah's voice flies into my ear, loud and clear.
The boy wears a calmer look disregarding his arrogant demeanor of earlier as Noah holds his shoulder tightly, "Uh no", he stutters shaking his head. I can't see Noah's face since he's standing behind me but I'm sure his face mustn't be pleasant with the way the boy looks frightened.
"Beat it", he growls, letting go of his shoulder and the boy scurries off.
In the midst of the crowd, we were like a big boulder placed on a lake with all the water flowing pass us. I'm just a pebble so the water drowns me but with a boulder the water gives way.
Noah looks down just as I look up. "Hey pretty", he smiles and I smile.
He kisses my forehead then takes off his hoodie. It takes not just me but everyone passing by, by surprise. His abs look extremely hard. The whole six packs are hardened by the cold and he doesn't seem the least bit bothered by it.
"Noah I-",
"You can tell me how hot I look later", he says, pulling his hoodie over my head. I roll my eyes. Why is he so full of himself?. Well if I looked like a snack all the time, I'd tots feel myself every damn second.
The stares and cold intensifies and I feel for Noah and I. For Noah cause the cold is getting too much to handle, for me cause I might die from the stares.
Noah pulls my arms into both sleeves and I look like a lost dog he found at his front step on a Christmas morning as I look up at him.
"I know you have a photographic memory so if anyone pushes you, you tell me when I get back",
"I'm not five Noah", I say, trying to pull up the sleeves of his hoodie on me. He watches me with a smirk.
"Sure you aren't", he says then ruffles my hair. "Go on princess, I'll be back", he says then turns around, leaving me in the stream of students, walking back to the cabin.
Callie catches me before I drown in the crowd again as she holds my arm and we start walking.
"Okay, Noah looked like Jacob from twilight but even more handsome", she says and I couldn't disagree. The night sky was glowing on him.
"Oh my God..", she trails, looking at me with wide eyes.
"What?", I ask with the corner of my eyes, glancing at the cafeteria that was now coming in view.
"He literally took off his hoodie for you!", she exclaims in both disbelief and shock.
"He did, didn't he..", I stretch with loss of words as we stop in front of the cafeteria.
"Omg that is so cute", Callie squeals.
"More like disgusting",
We turn to see Loren and Priscilla, crossed arms with Amber not too far behind.
"Oh my God, he actually gave his hoodie to her. Not to mention he was shirtless afterwards", Priscilla says, smiling like she was watching a soap opera where the male lead was finally making a move.
Loren gives her a side eye but she barely notices, "That is so love core. Are you guys related or something?",
Loren snorts, "Of course, I forgot.. you're like a sister to him..", she says then gives me a venomous once over before meeting my eyes again.
"Thank goodness", Priscilla says with relief, looking down at her phone. Loren's attention moves over to her.
"What?", she asks, irritatedly.
"Asher got food", Priscilla says and the irritation's replaced with relief.
"I was so scared of eating whatever trash they're serving here",
"He's with the guys in their cabin", she further informs and that makes Loren turn to me again.
With another once over flying my way, she retreats with Priscilla and Amber. I let out a sigh.
Sometimes I never know what to say but other times, which are rare times and usually never happen unless I'm fed up and there's an anti-Loren chant by my ear.
But these are the times I don't say anything.. I guess I'm not fed up yet and maybe Noah was right, they'll never know how I feel if I don't speak out.
"Um.. let's go?", Callie interrupts my thoughts bringing me back to reality. I nod and we walk into the camp cafeteria.
It's not too big of a hall but it's big enough to accommodate all of us. Hernandez is the fastest amongst three of us so when I spot him at a table not too far from the door waving at us, I'm not surprised.
Callie takes the lead on sighting him, walking ahead of me. She reaches the table first and happily takes the seat next to Hernandez.
I sit opposite both of them, noticing a tray of food in front of him.
"You got food already?", I ask. I thought they just opened the cafeteria. Or was I just too slow to get here?. Yeah, I'm thinking it's the latter.
"Uh yeah..", he trails, turning to Callie. She blushes at the instant stare. Well I guess I don't have to wonder how he didn't know about her feelings towards him.
"Do you want my tray?", he asks and she looks surprised.
"Um what about you?",
"I'll go get another", he says so she nods and he offers her his tray, sliding it to the left where she sat. Callie looks over her tray of Mashed potatoes and beans with bacon and berries at the side.
Not bad for camp.
"C'mon let's go get ours", Hernandez says to me and the smile on Callie's face slowly dies as realization washes over her. That the only reason he offered her his food was just so he could leave with me.
He isn't making this easy for me.
"Uh.. sure", I say, trying to avoid Callie's gaze as I move out of my seat.
"Be right back Calls", he says to Callie as we walk to the food counter.
"You're not making this easy",
"And you think you are", he says and I scrunch up my brows in confusion.
"What do I have to do with this?", I ask as we enter the not so long line.
"Everything.. you're driving me crazy", he says from behind and I'm glad the person at the front of the line leaves so it gives me room to move forward and away from his breath fanning my neck.
"I don't think I have the power to do that", I say, praying someone should cut into the line so we can be separated.
"Oh you do and I bet Noah knows too", he says and I almost choke on air. What the hell is he doing? Is he trying to make me pass out.
The place suddenly goes hot with the cold I once felt disappearing and the chilly wind still. The hairs at the back of my neck stand and I get heart palpitations.
His name can cause that much effect but I don't think it's just his name right now.. it's almost like I can.. I can feel him.
The lights of the cafeteria goes off rendering darkness in the whole hall and blindness to all eyes. There's chatter everywhere as murmurings arise.
The voice of a camp counselor tries to calm everyone down. Explaining that it was a power outage.
I'm about to turn to Hernandez when a hand grabs mine and pulls me away from the line.
His scent silences me, that I don't care to panic. I don't let out a word until we're out of the cafeteria. The surrounding looks different which means we took the back door.
The only thing here is trees.. green leafy trees and a sign that says out of bounds.
"I don't think we should be here", I say then look up at him.
"That's the point", he smiles and I have worry etched in my demeanor. "C'mon princess", he urges, pulling me into the dark woods with him.
We run through the thick trees, through the darkness, illuminated by just the stars. The moon was barely out and a dark nimbus was forming in the sky.
"Don't you think it's going to rain?", I ask with a pant, a bit worried since he's wearing just a t-shirt.
"And if it does?", he asks, finally slowing down with his chest heaving up and down. "Eyes are up here princess", he smirks and I look away as I try to catch my breath.
He comes closer so I turn to him, "I asked a question princess..", he trails, running a hand through my ginger hair that looked somewhat brown now.
"And what if it does?", he asks again, his voice low as he slowly puts his hands on my waist. He lowers his head to mine and I can't help but let a low gasp escape my lips at our close proximity.
"We.. shouldn't.. be here", I say, my voice barely a whisper.
"That's the point".
AUTHOR'S NOTE
If you're thinking what I'm thinking then you're on the right track ð.
Guyyss I'm back in school so updates might be slower than usual but have faith in með¤ I'll keep updating for you all. Love you â¤ï¸ oh and please don't forget to vote on this chapter and share your thoughts in the comments.