Chapter 40 Camp Out (6)
As Ziegler caught the handle of his zip, he and Tasha heard their names being called out.
"We need to get back," Ziegler said to her. "We don't want to be discovered making babies," he added and they both laughed at that.
As their laughs came to a halt, Ziegler grabbed her hand affectionately. He did find her adorable and he wanted to make her just his. But she was making it hard for both of them.
"We can always do it another time." He relayed.
"But we have just one last day together," she whined.
"Then let's make the best of it. You won't regret it," he assured her.
They returned to the camp holding hands, making a mockery of James who had his eyes on them. Nellie was furious at her friend for always neglecting her for her new boyfriend.
"Is there something you are not telling me, Tasha?" Nellie propped her hands to her waist while they were washing dishes after lunch.
"What's with that face, Nellie? Come on, put your hands down," Tasha whispered.
"You barely even have the slightest time for me. You sneak out with Ziegler then return to exchange laughs with him while staring at James. What's all that about?"
Tasha had her brows furrowed. Was it proper to shed the light on Nellie? Wasn't Nellie going to misinterpret all these once they were revealed? Nellie would probably oppose her relationship with Ziegler.
"Nothing is going on." Tasha shrugged, trying to avoid her best friend's eyes.
"Don't tell me, you're fucking Ziegler now," Nellie shot in, eying her friend.
She wouldn't believe it if Tasha admitted to fucking Ziegler. But making twists and lies about it was bad. She was her best friend.
Tasha threw sods on her friend's face. "Be quiet, Nellie. We aren't alone, Mr. Bradford might hear you," Tasha surveyed the room.
Mr. Bradford was in the structured kitchen, overseeing their tasks. There were presently three girls and one guy washing the dishes; Tess, Aurora, Nellie, and Gerald.
"Is it true?" Nellie insisted on having an answer.
"Maybe," Tasha smiled at that forgetting herself.
"So, there's indeed something going on between you two," Nellie gasped. "So, he did ask you out and you accepted. And now you're merely fucking him? Tell me, Tasha, are you aware that things could return to how they previously were before all of this?"
Tasha slapped her friend's hand. "We're not in love with each other. It's just some game....," she froze, her eyes bouncing back to her friend. She was revealing too much.
"Oh, so it is a game," Nellie's eyes lit up, and she laughed at herself. "It makes sense now, you and Ziegler are trying to piss James off? This is hilarious, and I didn't know." Nellie bit her lower lip while facing her friend.
"I'm sorry, Nellie, you weren't supposed to know until it was done."
"Oh, I thought we were friends." Nellie pulled off her hand gloves and started walking out of the backyard kitchen.
"Hey, Nellie! Where you off to?" Aurora called after her.
"I'm sorry. Nature calls and I feel I might fill an ocean!"
Mr. Bradford laughed at that. "You had better pity the poor ocean."
But Nellie never came back and Tasha was downcasted for breaking her friend's heart.
Dusk settled and a game of "Night Wolf" began. One student was to find two partners, summing the groups to be four in number. Each group is a pack of wolves. They were to find the outcast night wolf, fight it off, and retrieve a special treasure from the supposed animal. Afterward, the fortunate pack who had retrieved the treasure would return to the camp to be awarded. The compensation for such games was unknown, so the students had their hopes high for the game to begin.
Nellie still wouldn't talk to her best friend. She went on to Tess and Aurora making up their team. Tasha felt sad about that, she realized she had to give her friend some space. She had hurt Nellie's trust in her.
Ziegler came over to Tasha, grabbing her hand. "Is your friend now friends with your rival?" Ziegler put in.
Tasha shrugged. "She discovered our fake relationship."
Ziegler was silent for a second. "So, why is she angry?"
Tasha clammed her eyes shut briefly. "I've been lying to her, Ziegler. I shouldn't have. She's my best friend."
"She'll come around, I promise you," Ziegler assured her by squeezing her hand. "So, who's our third person?"
"I am," James announced as four pairs of eyes turned to him.
Tasha's heart started to beat while Ziegler fought off his hatred for James. Ziegler didn't like the idea of James being in their group. But as he spun around, all the students had already been grouped.
"Shouldn't you be with your Lena?" Ziegler teased James.
"She's already here with us," James side grinned as his eyes fell on Tasha.
Tasha's mouth ran dry. James was finally confessing his feelings to her through a game. She tried to calm her unnerving heart as James eyed her.
"No way, she's mine. I'm the Alpha of this pack, and if you choose to take my Lena from me, I'll have you out," Ziegler bared his teeth at James.
Tasha's stomach tightened. Why does it feel like this was more than a game to the two young men seeking her heart?
"Okay, listen up, folks. If you feel you have lost your way, you can always make a U-turn. The paths and ways have been marked. You will have to cross a river, and a waterfall and finally get to the hill. There will you meet the outcast. If you're interested in knowing who the outcast wolf is: just pursue and conquer. You must retrieve the treasure with your pack, if not you won't be awarded. And when you return in twenty minutes, you must have the conqueror's flag taken from the hill." Mr. Bradfo
rd's voice echoed.
"ARE WE READY!!" Mr. Bradford yelled out.
"Yes, sir!" They all replied.
"Let the game begin!"