❝𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛,
𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑.❞

The next morning, Augustus asked if he could borrow my phone again and I refused, rather haughtily if I was being truthful to my guilty conscience. In my defence, I had a really bad morning.

It was so bad that I could probably list a twenty or so. Not twenty but maybe five. Anyways, my morning started with my mom frantically calling me to tell that my twin brother fractured his middle finger. Don't ask me how but the thing was my mom called me at three in the morning to sob her worries to me, who was sleeping peacefully and it was Everetts turn to scowl at me. Of course, I tried to keep my anger in check, but it might be possible that I snapped at her again.
It wasn't long before I apologised to her but she just flipped me off and I suddenly remembered my brother again.

Apparently, my brother was showing someone the finger when a ball suddenly hit his hand.

With that in my mind, I barely managed to sleep, so I had a terrible headache. My headaches are so severe that it causes dizziness and so I slipped in the common bathroom. Luckily for me, no one was around at 5'o clock in the morning to get a cold shower. I hit my forehead to the blue tiles of the bathroom floor and now had redness and swelling at the right side of my head.

We were right now standing in pairs in the middle of the open. My partner is Augustus who is staring at me probably contemplating whether or not to ask about the swelling. He looks like he is in deep thought, his eyebrows knitted together with probable confusion as he stared at me without blinking looking at me like I just grown another head. I didn't bother asking him what was wrong but instead just stared back at him. He seemed to have snapped out of his trance and started making awkward noises.

He was wearing a blue shirt and it was highlighting his pale skin, he turned away and smiled a bit before looking back up at me expectantly.
"So...?" he asked.
I stared right back at him trying to make it obvious that I'm not going to tell him anything until and unless he asks.

Our little awkward moment was paused as our team instructor slowly led over to the dining hall where the other groups have already situated. There were five long wooden tables arranged side-by-side.

There were five other groups, the Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas and Omegas. We were named after random Greek alphabet. Each team had about 10 pairs each. They made sure that none of the participants were partnerless.

"Settle over here Team Delta. We have a few announcements to make before the breakfast," commanded the same guy I had received my entry pass from. He was the managing director I suppose.

He was dressed in a pair of khaki pants with a blue checkered shirt tucked under a brown leather coat. A pair of old sunglasses that looks quite similar to my grandfather's was hanging from his coat pocket.

Honestly, Can these people hurry up? I'm hungry and moody right now which is a bad combination that can make me confident and I go all macho over people who don't deserve it. I honestly don't think people should be terrorised by a short-little- sweet looking brunette like me. Or now at least.

The tables looked dark and damp as if someone had just wiped them. There were names and heart shapes and 'team Delta rocks' scratched over the tables.

We sat down and I instantly looked around to spot my roommate. She was in Team Alpha. Their instructor had a big 'A' on the back of his shirt. Her hair was dyed to bright green colour which was so cool and not to mention easy to spot.

Stop fan-girl-ing over hair now, Zoe. If anyone could actually hear your thoughts they would die from cringing at your silliness.

Wait. Why do I say 'you' when I'm talking to myself. Aren't I talking to myself? Let's add this to my 'list of things to ponder on in the shower'

A hand clutched my shoulder and I was ready to snap back at whoever that was and teach a thing or two about personal space when an intrigued voice said, "Hey, you are Zoe Lunette right? We were in the same class until high school. Summerville High?"

I whipped around to face the girl who said that. I was ecstatic to find someone who knows me.

My eyes widened in realisation and my previous bitterness and moodiness was replaced by momentary happiness.

"Hey, wait! Let me guess, you are Sam, right? Samantha Solar?", I said bewildered. Her face was familiar and I recognised her as one of my friends, Colton's ex-girlfriend.

Her long, bushy brown hair was resting on her shoulders in frizzy curls framing her small face with big brown eyes. Her gummy smile looked welcoming and I could see why Colton was attracted to her.

Colton Hill is my school, Summerville High's Power Forward in the basketball team and Sam was from our 'rival' school, Winterville High and they had to break up because they were being pressurized from both sides of the schools.

Her face lit up when I recognised and it was evident that my face mirrored hers. I was happy to find someone I know.

"Yeah you might probably know me as Colton Hill's rival school-evil girlfriend but anyways I hope whatever my relationship is with him and our schools' rivalry wouldn't interfere with ours", she insisted with hope lacing through her words.

"Yeah, yeah totally. I truly understand and I'm fine with it honestly. I may know you as his ex but I'm looking forward if we could change that. I mean it would be great if I had a friend from my own team."

Before she could reply the managing director spoke to us with a loud and demanding voice, "At the end of the camp, which is in two weeks from today, there is going to be a final competition between the five teams. The team that wins will enter the hall of fame of Coral Coast Museum as a 50th Year of establishment with the help of annual camp funds."

A lot of gasps occurred through the room and he continued, "The venturing that you have done through the caves was just the tip of the iceberg of what the adventure lies ahead but it had been done to strengthen the team unity and improve the team spirit."

The room was silent as if it had just stormed. It was peaceful but at the same time one that could make you anxious.

"Breakfast may be resumed," he said coolly turning around and walking out through a door.

As soon as he stepped out people around us erupted into loud chatters about the final competition. The teams have started arguing about who's best and honestly, it looked pretty lame.

Augustus, Sam and I went to get our food holding grey plates in a small queue to the buffet.

Slumping down in our seats, I started stuffing my face when a guy sat in front of me with his knees touching mine. I shot him a glare but he just ignored and spiked up a conversation with Sam.

"And what's your name?" he asked. I just ignored him and tried to act as if I didn't notice but Sam nudged me, indicating that the question was directed to me.

The guy before me was dressed in a black shirt and a denim jacket with a lot of cockiness and overconfidence that seemed to be rolling off, off him.

He cocker his head towards Augustus in a mocking way and said, "Is she deaf or dumb?"

I again decided to ignore but a part of me wanted to wipe off that victorious smirk off his face.

Breathe Zoe breathe, this shit doesn't deserve your attention. Besides you are just in a bad mood and don't do anything you'll regret. Don't. He is just at the wrong place, wrong time.

I tried to consolidate the point to calm myself before he said looking right at me, "Or both".

And that was when all hell broke loose.

I hope you guys liked this chapter.
I know it was kind of a filler chapter
as most would say
but it was required
to understand the time lapse
that I probably might
write in the next chapter.

Is Zoe relatable? What are your thoughts?

Thank you for reading.