40

We arrived at the school’s park around 9:40 a. m as I and Beatrice blamed each other for not waking early.
I got two missed calls from Leticia and could see the black coaster bus ahead of us.
“Wow! This is amazing! Too bad we business department don’t have opportunities like this… it sucks,” Beatrice said with a tinge of annoyance lacing her voice.
“Well, it’s the worst,” I snickered as Beatrice finally parked the car while I could see my mates staring at us already even before getting down.
“C’mon get down, you’re keeping them waiting,” Beatrice jeered at me while I rubbed my palms furiously.
I suddenly began to get cold and lost interest in going for the excursion, they should have just left already.
“I feel awkward,” I said nervously biting my bottom lips as I gazed slowly at Beatrice who was trying to hide the hilarity making upon her face.
“You’ll be fine!” She assured as she grasped my hands into hers, squeezing them lightly.
“I hope so, it just feels weird when you’re not by my side,” I admitted.
“Stop acting like a baby,” Beatrice chuckled lightly as her grey eyes stared intimately into mine.
“You’ll be fine,” She smiled reassuringly while I breathed deeply staring out of the windows.
I unlocked the door and got out as Beatrice did the same too.
“Camilla, what’s up?” I heard someone say behind me.
I turned back to see who it was and it was no other than Leticia.
Her red curly hair hung freely on her shoulders as she wore blue ripped jeans and a big black round neck top with black sneakers.
“I’m fine you?” I asked as Beatrice brought my small box out of her boot for me.
“Good, guess you guys were waiting for me?” I asked as my gaze darted to the huge bus ahead of us.
“Yeah, well, some just came in not quite long now,” She smiled and I nodded.
“Hey, red hair!” Beatrice chirped behind us getting Leticia’s attention.
“Hey, grey eyes,” Leticia replied making both of them drown into a fit of laughter making me amused as I wondered what was so funny in that.
“Here, douchebag, now thank me for being the best friend ever on earth,” Beatrice smirked before giving me a winsome smile while I chuckled lightly almost rolling my eyes at her.
“Thank you so much for being there for me, for being my one and only true best friend, I love you so much,” I smiled genuinely.
“Awwwn!” We heard Leticia awed as Beatrice grinned like a monk at me.
“Hmmm! That was so sweet of you, come here for a hug,” She smiled warmly with open arms as I embraced her to myself drawing her body closer to mine.
“Take good care of yourself,” She said patting and rubbing my back in circles, while I murmured into her neck inhaling her baby scent.
“I will,” I replied.
“Good!” She whispered as I noticed her dipping something into my pocket.
“Beatrice!” We heard a deep voice as we break loose of ourselves to meet Ben.
He quite had the aura of a bad boy this morning.
The black Polo top he wore showed the biceps of his perfect muscles with stonewash jeans and black sneakers with a single pierced earring, making me wonder if Lucas had a pierced ear too.
“Uhm! Hi,” Beatrice said nervously as her face flushed lightly with pink while I gave her a smirk moving closer to Leticia who was smiling at the two of them.
“They would make a great couple,” Leticia whispered in my ears while I chuckled at the thought of it. Well, Beatrice is capable of handling a guy like him, so it won’t be that difficult for her.
“Let’s get going,” I said picking my box as I glanced towards and saw them kissing.
“Gross!” I muttered disgustedly as I and Leticia headed towards the bus.
We got in and the pairs of eyes from everyone cast my way almost made me feel like disappearing into thin air.
I scrutinized the bus, looking for that one person that gives me goosebumps.
Lucas…
And there he was at the middle seat at the right side next to the window as Jenny sat next to him, as she gazed menacingly at me.
Lucas fixed his gaze on me and I had to comport myself from staring into those green eyes. I’ve made my decision to stay farther away from him on this occasion.
I found out I’ve been giving too much to him, I shouldn’t let him have his way so easily, I can’t just let him manipulate me into whatever he wants like there wasn’t something we call hate between us these years back or giving him the chance that I’m letting things slip off too easily.
I need to stand up and stop being a weakling every time I’m around him and learn to fight back at times.
“What an idiot! Coming so late,” Jenny muttered loud for me to hear.
See someone accusing another of coming late, when she comes late to a class during normal school hours.
I and Leticia ignored her and went to the back seat, it would be a waste of time answering a nuisance like her.
I sat comfortably next to the window as I placed my box beside me, while Leticia sat next to me and brought out her earpiece and connected it to her tab, offering an earpiece to me which I collected happily.
My stomach grumbled then I realized I haven’t eaten, Ben got in not quite long and sat on the left side next to Jenny with MG.
I saw Mr. Kent turn round the bus before he got in.
“I hope everyone is present?” He asked loudly.
“Yes,” Some student replied him glancing around making sure no one was left behind.
“In that case, let’s get going,” He smiled and the students echoed after him as he went to the front seat.
“Is the driver there?” I asked Leticia.
“Yes, he is,” She answered before clicking on the Netflix app.
Great! Another movie star like Beatrice.
I unzipped my handbag and brought out the foil paper mum wrapped my food in.
“Eat with me,” I offered Leticia unwrapping the foil paper.
“No, don’t worry, I’ve eaten this morning and besides I got some junks here with me,” She smiled.
“That’s nice,” I smiled eating my toast bread as I plugged the earpiece she gave me and started watching the movie with her.
“What’s the title of this one?” I asked and noticed that the bus has started moving, while the students shouted and chatted among themselves.
“Legacies,” She replied.
“Wow, so you love supernaturals? What season are you?” I asked trying to move closer to her.
“Season 3, have you watched it before?” She asked.
“That’s great, I’m about to start with season 3 too,” I chirped feeling a bit excited.
Beatrice has made me know every movie because she must make sure I watch them by sending it to my iPhone, so it won’t be boring if she’s talking about the movie and I won’t be able to retort back.
The loud and excessive talks from my classmates make it unbearable for us to hear what was said in the movie but it wasn’t that bad since there were subtitles.
*
*
*
3 hours later,
I could feel the cool chilly breeze fan through my skin as the bus drove on.
We were at the beach already, well the almighty Pacific ocean, I could hear the rumbling sounds of the surf as we packed in front of a large exquisite building.
“Wow!” Leticia gasped peering through the window as she leaned on me.
“This is a luxury hotel,” She said making me want to look at it also.
I could hear the loud mutters and bickerings from my mates as they wondered which hotel it was.
The bus finally stopped as a team of workers walked over to or bus.
Mr. Kent got down from the bus and talked with uniform staff as they nodded and smiled towards us.
He turned back and Damien had already opened the door as the girls muttered excitedly within themselves.
“Okay kids, pack your bags, we’ll be lodging at Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, come out in an orderly way,” He said and got down from the bus as everyone started highlighting from the bus with their pieces of luggage.
“Vallar–”
“That sounds like Spanish to me,” Leticia laughed and I smiled as I grabbed my bag followed behind Leticia.
The step of the bus to the ground level was a bit high for me as I tried to cautiously place my bag on the seat closer to the door and get down but unfortunately, I tripped and a loud yelped escaped my mouth as I closed my eyes expecting to hit the ground or something but nothing happened.
A familiar cologne hit through my nostrils, I knew that smell too well as my eyes opened immediately to see who caught hold of me, and behold those striking pair of green eyes were staring intensely at me as my heart skipped a beat.
“Careful!” He said more like an order as I balanced myself on the ground.
“Thank you!” I muttered lowly jerking away from him nervously as he furrowed his perfectly shaped brows at me while I grabbed my bag from the seat.
“Baby! Let’s go and leave this attention seeker alone,” I heard Jenny hissed behind me as she eyed me from head to toe dragging Lucas away.
‘I wasn’t seeking for his attention you little bitch!’ I screamed in my mind but the words refused to drop from my mouth.
“That was Close!” Leticia chuckled beside me as I sighed walking to where the other students gathered.
“Okay, it’s time to go into the building, I hope you all have packed your stuff with you,” Mr. Kent said loudly for everyone here to hear as we all responded with a yes.
I glanced at my right and found Lucas staring at me with words I can’t describe before Jenny noticed and dragged him to the front again.
“Wow! It’s cool out here,” Leticia said and I nodded.
“We’re going in,” I said as I noticed the students in the front moving already.
Everyone was ushered into the building as I gasped in awe staring at the magnitude building and serene environment.
“Good afternoon students,” We heard a feminine voice say as I stared at the young lady dressed in a black fitted skirt which was above her knee a little with a blue shirt. Her black hair was neatly parked into a ponytail and matching black stilettos heels that made her look more of a businesswoman.
I guess she should be the receptionist.
“Welcome to Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta one of the gorgeous beachfront properties ideally situated the mountains and the Pacific ocean in America, We have all-inclusive luxury accommodations in-room double hydra spa tubs, fine dining, 24- hour room service, Live entertainment, and many more–”
“Wow! That’s awesome,” Leticia said behind me.
“I must tell my parents to let us visit this place during vacation,” Lizzie said to no one in particular besides us.
“This stylish property boasts six restaurants offering tantalizing specialty cuisines, five bars and lounges with top-shelf drinks, two large door swimming pools, children’s pool, beach volleyball court, Body rock fitness center–”
“Nice!” I muttered staring around as I watched the lady talk more about the features of the hotel valiantly and delightfully.
After speaking with us which almost seemed like an eternity, we were asked to pick ourselves in twos so we could be in the same room.
Leticia grasped my hand and I nodded smiling at her.
“I was about to pick you too,” I chuckled lightly as my gaze went to Jenny who was clinging with Lucas and seemed to beg him for something.
Does she want to stay in the same room with him?
I saw Lucas shrugged his arm off from her and walked over to Ben as Jenny felt disappointed.
She glanced towards my way and I was quick to look away.
“Okay, kids!” Mr. Kent said drawing our attention.
“We’re not kids for Christ’s sake,” Leticia groaned while I tried to muffle my laughter.
“Yeah, calling an 18-year-old a kid,” I chuckled clutching the straps of my bag tightly.
“I’m clocking 19 by December,” Leticia said rolling her eyes.
“You all will go to your room and settle for the day, Tomorrow we will begin our activities,” Mr. Kent said and we all agreed as the workers led us to our rooms.
“Room 179,” I read the numbers on the door as Leticia turned the knob and opened it.
“Woah!” We both awed as we entered the room and dropped our bags on the floor.
A flat-screen TV was placed on the wall, with an Air conditioner, I don’t know for the rest but our room was an ocean view, I could see beautiful ocean waves and people walking on the side of the beach sand.
“Wow! Everything is lit in here,” Leticia said as she jumped on the bed.
“It’s a luxury hotel,” I said.
“Damn! These beds are softer than mine,” Leticia said I walked over to the bed and sat on it.
They were so soft as I pressed my palms on them.
Leticia finally got down from the bed after getting tired of jumping, I didn’t know she could be way more childish than Beatrice as she switched on the Television.
We watched the TV show for some minutes before Leticia said she wanted to shower.
I suddenly remembered that Beatrice dipped her hands in my left pocket and I checked to see what she kept there.
I gasped seeing a thousand dollars with a note saying, ‘use this to buy something and take good care of yourself, make sure to enjoy this moment and be happy for me, bestie.’
“I love you,” I muttered reading the note more than 3 times.
“Wow! That bathroom is awesome there’s a whirlpool bathtub, walk-in shower,” Leticia said with a hairdryer in her hands as she dried her hair, with her towel still around her body.
“With a hairdryer?” I asked raising a brow at her.
“Yeah!” She said checking out the dryer again before showing me.
“That’s cool!” I smiled as I stood up and walked out of the room that leads to the balcony as I let the cool breeze tease my skin.
I brought out my phone and had one person in mind to call.
Beatrice…