~ Next week, Erudites High ~

"Hurry up, or you'll be late!", the male camp coach blew the whistle and all the campers including Patra, Stella and Kendrick alongside his friends an some Brazilian twin girls and a guy who looked like he was from the Napoleon era, ran out carrying their duffel bags and other things in their trunks. Patra had her hair in the usual fashion hidden in a purple tennis cap, purple top and black jeans and had her fake glasses on as well. Stella had the same outfit on, just a lighter pink colour on the top and cap.

A large coach was waiting for their arrival and they got in dropping their trunks in the casement. Patra got in, looking for where to sit. She spotted an empty spot. Alas, it was beside Kendrick. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath hitched. She gulped. Slowly, she made her way to sit beside him.

"Sorry, seat's already been taken", he said, practically growled it before she could say anything. Patra sighed and looked around again for where to sit. Finally she had to make do the Napoleon looking guy who was snorting when he talked and spoke French. FRICKING FRENCH!

Their first stop for the field trip was Colorado springs. Stella stood outside handing them their tickets and lunch allowance. When Kendrick got off, Stella stood a little longer while giving him his ticket.

"Steer clear of my friend. You hurt her, you'll have me to contend with, got that?". Kendrick scoffed.

"Don't sweat it. She isn't my type so you can be rest assured she is safe".

"Yeah, right. Like I can trust whatever filth that comes from that sultry lips of yours". He drew back and hissed as his eyes widened in shock.

"We'll see", he finally said and literally snatched his ticket from her hand.

"Listen up, guys", Ms Diaz called them up. They gathered round her and paid rapt attention to what she had to say. They were in front of a hotel.

"Welcome to Hôtel de Luxe. I'm sure everyone is set for an amazing field trip. And that u you all have received your tickets and lunch allowances. So this will be your roommates arrangement for this field trip. You are all ten in number, five girls and boys. Stella, you're are with Damien", Mr Spencer read out and the duo looked at each other with sultry looks in their eyes.

That meant a lot of full blown make out sessions for those two, Patra muttered to herself and rolled her eyes with a disgusted look on her face.

"Rhonda, you're paired with Seth. Michael with Gabriella, Adrian with Maurice", Ms Diaz said. "Kendrick...". Patra's heart sank.

Lord, please let it not be me. Please let there be an extra student. Lord, please, make a miracle...

"You are up with Cleopatra", Mr Spencer said. Kendrick's jaw dropped.

"What?!", they half said, half shouted it unison. They looked at each other, then back at the coaches. "What?!". The Brazilian girls giggled.

"There must be a mix up somewhere... Stel, why didn't you tell me?", she glared at her friend.

"I did tell you so don't you chop off my head, okay", Stella retorted with a mischievous glint in her eyes and Patra sighed.

"There is no mix up anywhere", Mr Spencer replied, a stern look on his face. "Now quit whining and get settled in your various hotel rooms. We meet up here when you all are done freshening up". They all went their separate ways and Kendrick and Patra got into the elevator. He pressed the 17th button and was fiddling with a card that had '217' written on it. The awkward silence between them was finally broken by Patra.

"You lied".

"What the hell are you talking about?", he replied.

"No one occupied that seat. You lied to get away from me. Tell me, why are you avoiding me, huh? I have been trying to apologize for that night but__"

"But nothing, I'm not avoiding you and I told you it was fine. Don't sweat it, alright? And yes, I didn't want you to sit with me", he replied, gritting his teeth.

The elevator bell dinged and they stepped out. Patra closed her eyes as they got to the door of their room and Kendrick was fumbling to get the door to open. Patra made the sign of the crucifix and opened her eyes. She was stunned by the beauty of the room. Just like an exclusive suite. It had a small, plush yet habitable living room with a LED 31" television, two rooms with a bathroom to share. It also had a mini dining room and___.

"Christ! Shit!", she exclaimed and bit her tongue sharply as she noted her first use of a cuss word, looking away. Though lost in the beach of the room, she knew temptation when she saw one. There he was, in one of the rooms he had already gotten comfortable in, and in only his jeans. ONLY HIS JEANS! The v line showing slightly and showing off those abs that was always hidden in his shirt, he looked drop dead gorgeous and she was fighting hard not to drool over him. Well, that wasn't hard anymore as he spoke, drawing her out of her trance.

"You could take a picture, you know. It lasts longer", he smirked and she scoffed. "Just admit that my body is drool worthy".

She rolled her eyes. "You wish!", she scoffed and grabbed her duffel bag, turning and heading to the spare room.

She had rushed into the bathroom to shower before Kendrick and was washing lather off herself when she realized something. Alas, her clothes were in her room.

She checked for Kendrick's presence and did not find him. Sighing, she grabbed a towel and wrapped herself. She walked out and walked to her room. As she got to the door, she nearly fainted when she heard him.

"I've been waiting for you to finish taking a bath. Are you done now?"

Her hands went to her lips as a gasp left it. He smirked then his eyes grew wide at her. She looked at what he was shocked at and her eyes grew wide as well.

Her towel was no longer on her.

💗💗💟💗💗

By the time they both reached the lobby once more, all other groups were already gathered. She felt someone's gaze on her and cautiously turned to see Kendrick's eyes on her. She turned away immediately, blood racing to her cheeks.

"First stop is the beach. We have everything planned. Drinks, food, music, you name it!", Stella said. "But you must stay with your group member at all times. There are five teams as we all know. Teams Fates, Hera, Hercules, Poseidon and Cupid are the teams in order of how you were paired this morning. Stick together all of you. Miss Diaz is on duty. So you have to be up and doing. Ready?", she asked and a few others nodded in unison.

"Let's go".

"This is the third time you are stepping on my toes".

Silence. Just like the moving bus.

"Can't you be anymore organized?", she asked again, scoffing this time. More silence. She sighed and continued her reading.

Kendrick smiled to himself. He was having fun teasing her and making her frustrated. He stole a look at her profile and fell in love with her beauty. Her eye lashes, as she blinked behind her glasses made his walls to crumble and he had an urge to tell her all was alright. But he had to keep up with it. Her eyes blue as sapphire and her oh-so pink, kissable lips that drew him to her from the very first day he saw her. He smiled once more and picked up a magazine.

"Now that we're all present", Miss Diaz said when they had gotten to the beach. "
Let's get settled. You will see ten seats, five pairs,okay? Team Fates, head the groups. I'll make preparations for light meals. Participate in games and most of all, communicate with your group and with other groups".

They all nodded and Miss Diaz gave them the permission to get settled. Patra followed Kendrick to the seats he had seen for them. They sank into their seats and Patra excused herself ( more like left without a word) to go and change. She got out from the changing room, clad in a tight fitting purple halter neck top and jean bum shorts that Stella forced her to buy and wear at the beach. She stopped by the drinks stop and bought an ice cream. Kendrick's jaw almost dropped off his face as he stared at her approaching their seats. He managed to check himself when she was near. She sat down, lapping quietly at her ice cream.

"This is weird", Kendrick said.

Silence.

Lapping sound from Patra's tongue on her dessert.

More silence.

"This is awkward. I can't stand being around done without making a conversation", he said again and she looked up.

"C'mmom, I'm tryna make a conversation here", he said and ran a hand through his hair in utter frustration and she smiled. His mind  drifted to the moment at the hotel and remembering her shocked expression made him want to smile.

"What do you want me to do about it?"

"Why do you have to be so difficult?", he raised his voice a little higher than normal.

"Can you listen to yourself for a second? I'm the one who apologized but Mr High and Mighty was acting proud and pompous. It's not my fault you're being so difficult".

"What", he scoffed. "You knew your friend was a maniac and you let him come after me. You should have seen his face that night, like a love sick puppy". She drew back, her eyes wide with shock. She stood up.

"Ilk be with some other groups", she grabbed her drink and walked away. At that point, Kendrick felt bad for saying those harsh words to her. He would go after her and apologize. He stood up to look for her.

"Where's your partner?", Gabriella asked when she approached Stella's team.

"Um... Uh___", she stuttered.

"Right behind you", he said and chuckled. She eyed him and faked a smile at them.

"Sorry for the way I spoke about that night", he apologized and she was about to speak but was distracted by some volleyball players who invited her to join them. So she excused herself. By the time she returned, Kendrick was gone.

"Uh, Kendrick said I should inform you that he's needed at home. He had to fly home 'cause of some urgent issues. And he promised to come back to you as soon as possible", Adrian said, smirking mischievously and Patra rolled her eyes.

"I always knew there was something spooky about him. No offence Adrian, I know he is your best friend", Maurice said and Patra rolled her eyes once more. Excusing herself, she went to get some snacks to refresh herself. By evening, they packed up and returned to the lodge.

💗💗💟💗💗

"Why can't you seem to get it? I. Am. Not. Getting. Married!", he spat back at his father. He knew it. From the moment the plane touched down at Buenos Juarez International Airport, when he saw his parents alongside a beautiful damsel he quickly guessed to be Alexandra, he knew. His mother sighed, Alexandra looked out the window, the guards outside straightened up, looking tersely, all of them listening to the conversation going on.

"Too bad", said his father.

"Too bad what? That what's gonna happen? When will you guys ever learn the bitter truth? Let me settle down first the think of marriage".

"Too bad, okay!", his father bellowed, finally frustrated and enraged. Everyone in the room flinched. "You are getting married to Alexandra. That's it! Period!", he stormed off to his upper quarters. Kendrick picked up his keys.

"Where are you going to?", Alexandra's sweet voice got into his ears and he paused.

"None of your business!". His mother stood up.

"Where do you think you're going to?".

"Back to camp, where I can be a normal person.", he said and left for his car. Although hr didn't care, he thought he heard his mom telling Alexandra that she was gonna talk to him. As he drove to the airport, he contemplated whether or not to lodge at a hotel for the night and get to the airport early the next morning. Finally deciding to stay at a hotel for the night and changing course, he turned back.

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Hi beauties,

That's it, another update. I hope you like it. As my way of apologizing for such a late update, I wrote a chapter of 2118 words. It's my longest yet.

Thank you for your support for Imperfect Devotion. Don't forget to hit that shiny vote button 🌟🌟🌟⭐⭐⭐. And don't also forget to follow me. I love y'all....😘😍😍😍😘😘. I think from now on I will update earlier.

Till then,

Ciao....

XOXO

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