37. Halloween Camping Trip

**Denis**

Tommy raised his hand to stop Manuel from talking any further. "I know, it was stupid and it's my fault. The biggest problem is when you treat me and Cameron like the worst of criminals. We made a mistake, Manuel, but no one but you were hurt. So, can we just go back to normal?"

Manuel huffed and folded his arms. "I wouldn't call that an apology but whatever. I can see where you're coming from."

A sigh escaped Tommy's lips and he rested his head against the wall, knowing he couldn't win with Manuel. He'll just take what he can get.

"One thing's obvious," Tommy said. He motioned to her room door. "Us being assholes isn't working. And neither is taking turns guarding her before and after school."

"Well." Manuel shrugged. "What else can we do? I've checked every scroll and ancient stone, even the ones my elders said I was forbidden to go near. They mentioned the prophecy in brief detail."

"Maybe they're not what you need."

Manuel and Tommy turned their heads to Denis, waiting for him to elaborate.

"As much as we don't want to admit it," Denis continued. "Our past leaders were selfish, so selfish that they would never have shared possible life-changing information with other species."

"Are you calling my elders selfish? I'll have you know that we've been keeping this planet on track for millenniums! When we came here, humans didn't know the back of their foot from their heads-"

"Your elders sent my pack a bunch of vipers that like were blood."

"Only because you wouldn't stop keeping our fairy creatures as pets."

"Manny, I know we just made up but please shut up and let Denis talk. Go ahead, Denis."

Denis went on. "It's unlikely that they'd keep anything that could help anyone else on record in case that info gets stolen. But there is another species that's more neutral. And they keep everything in books."

________

**Rosé**

After getting changed, I removed the scrunchie in my hair and let it fall over my shoulders.

I walked out of the bathroom. The room was empty, except for me. Mom probably wasn't done getting drinks.

The bag with my things sat on the hospital bed. I finished the job for Mom and placed my dirty clothes on the side of the bed.

While thinking about the trip, I realized I couldn't go there alone. Most of my enemies will be there, and I didn't have a single ally.

My phone pinged. I picked it off the bed. What was it, another *get well* mention from someone I've never talked to?

It wasn't. Thankfully it was a message from Keona. And her brother.

*Denis told me what happened. Are you OK?* Keona texted.

*Hey, how are you holding up?* Kendrick's message read.

I smiled. Maybe I did have some allies after all in the form of friends. Now, who should I choose to bring with me?

________

I used to think the person who set the time for us to meet up underestimated how much teenagers liked their sleep. Seeing as there was a crowd of people outside the bus, maybe I was wrong.

I observed each and every person from behind a wall with my duffle bag laying right next to me. Some of the senior boys were helping to load the school's camping tents as well as some boxes into the back of a long van.

"Rosé?"

"Yes?"

"Why are we hiding from your schoolmates?" Keona asked.

I looked at Keona then lowered my gaze. "Actually, I don't have a good relationship with the other kids here."

"Why not? I mean, it's not like you're a bully, right?"

She placed her hands on her hips while I used one of mine to rub the back of my neck. Gosh, this was so embarrassing.

"Not a bully no, but I don't have a lot of friends. Yet, I'm pretty sure everyone knows by now that a fell off a damn building. I just don't want any attention, especially not from anyone here."

"Oh, I get it." Keona nodded in understanding and leaned against the wall. "Denis will be here any second, we'll have some company at least."

Denis deserves a special place in hell. "That sounds fun!" I smiled.

Despite my explanation, Keona accepted it and didn't pry further. I'd have to take her out to eat something later.

A car stopped outside the school grounds. An adult man walked with a teenage girl to the bus, sparkly lavender suitcase dragging behind him. She hugged him and took the suitcase. He said something to her before leaving, probably to go to his office job.

I clenched the collar of my graphic T-shirt. seeing him dropping her off made me remember my dad. I know there's nothing I could do. He's already in rehab, again, and what happens next is up to him now.

Or maybe I can help him.

I made sure Keona wasn't looking. She wasn't. Keona was rocking her shoulders to a tune playing on her earbuds.

I pressed the tips of my fingers together then separated them. In the midst of my fingers, a yellow ball of energy started to form. Small at first, but it started to get bigger.

With this, I might have a chance to bring the guy I knew back.

A hand gripped my shoulder. In my fright, I quickly let the ball disintegrate before anyone could see it.

"Hey there~" It was Cameron. He stared at me with that shit-eating grin of his. "I missed you, Rosy, but surely not as much as you missed me." He winked. As I rolled my eyes, he chuckled. "Seriously, how are you? I heard Margo shoved you off the building like a sack of dirty clothes."

"You have a way with words." I glanced sideways at Keona. "My shoulder still hurts by the way, so could you kindly remove your hand."

Keona looked him up and down. I couldn't blame her. She probably still thought I was romantically involved with Denis, and here this guy was, flirting it up and acting overly friendly with the girlfriend of her future Alpha.

Cameron shrugged and let me go. "Come on now, is that how you treat a friend?"

I brushed off the spot he touched. As much as I wanted to be closer to him, I wasn't at that point yet where I would allow him to lay a hand on me. Out of everyone else, he was the most sneaky. "Where are your real friends?"

"You mean Tommy and the others?" He tilted his head. "No clue. They're coming though. Denis has this bad idea he wants to try out. I have to say, despite all the shit that happened yesterday, there's something about you that feels... different. Brighter even. Like your whole body is infused with holy water."

I sighed. "Is this when you ask me how it felt when I fell from heaven?" I said.

Once again, Cameron shrugged. "I have more class than that. I would have offered to beat up the person who let you fall."

Cameron looked to the left. He gave me one last smile before heading to the bus.

"Well well well." Keona shook her head. "He's something. So is he single or..?"

The look I gave her was enough to make her sweat. "Um, never mind."

I sighed. "Believe me, you don't want to be associated with him. Cameron wouldn't know how to treat a woman properly if 'good manners' bit him in the ass. I think we should go, they're starting to allow kids inside."

Keona and I walked side by side. She started humming to whatever song was playing on her earbuds now. I smiled as I watched her. I lowered my head and watched how my feet moved in my sandals. "Thanks, by the way for coming with me. I'm sorry for asking you to come here when you could have been doing something else with your weekend."

"Oh please!" She waved me off. "I haven't been on a school trip since kindergarten, so you're not disrupting my weekend at all. Besides, seeing how uncomfortable you are with your schoolmates I understand why you called me here."

The corners of my lips crawled up my cheeks. She bumped me with her hip, making me giggle.

We put the bags with our luggage in the luggage compartment and joined the end of the line.

The female teacher didn't look up from her clipboard when it was our turn. "Name?"

I spoke up. "Rosé Myers from class six."

She looked up and realization dawned on her face. "Rosé! I didn't expect to see you here."

I recognized her too. She was my gym teacher. "I didn't want to miss it," I told her honestly.

The glum look on her face turned into a joyous one. "Great! Maybe this trip can help get your mind off things. How are you, by the way?"

Wearing an off-shoulder long-sleeved blouse and long forest green leggings was the best choice. Others looking on from the outside would think I'm covering the bruises I obtained from the fall. In reality, I was hiding the bruises that weren't there.

"Could be better honestly." I shrugged and pretended to wince. Her brows furrowed with concern. "But like you said, maybe this would be a good distraction for me. I wouldn't want to miss out, since this is my last year."

She nodded and started writing something on her clipboard. "I'll let the chaperones know that you won't be able to take part in the physical activities."

I smiled. "Thank you, Miss-"

"Please, call me Veronica." Veronica's eyes shifted from me to Keona. "I don't think I recognize you. Are you from a different grade?"

I stepped aside so that Miss Veronica could have a clearer view of her. "No, she's my cousin."

"Hi!" Keona waved.

"I heard Margo was banned from coming on the trip," I continued. "So I thought Keona could take her place. She's homeschooled and doesn't get a chance to hang around kids our age often. My mother is worried about me and she thought having Keona come with me would be best."

I could see she was contemplating it. I almost figured she would demand to have her parents' numbers and call them. However, she just smiled at us.

"Go ahead and take a seat. We're missing a few more students so we're waiting on them and then we'll leave."

Keona and I thanked Miss Veronica and hurried into the bus. We found an empty seat close to the back. Keona allowed me to take the window seat, which I thanked her for.

Then I made the mistake of looking up. And locked eyes with Denis.