Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Angelina's POV
Jake Morrison said, "Alright everyone, let me show you to your cabins."
I stayed toward the back of the group, keeping quiet. I've never liked drawing attention to myself in crowds. Staying low-key has always been my comfort zone.
The boys' and girls' cabins weren't in the same building, but they were close—one right after the other, practically back-to-back.
"Okay, head to your assigned cabins and get settled. Make your beds, unpack your stuff. You've got thirty minutes, then meet back here at this exact spot. You'll find two sets of camp uniforms on your bunks—change into one before you come back."
After Jake finished cabin assignments, students grabbed their duffel bags and scattered toward their rooms.
There were 20 freshman girls on this outdoor education trip, four to a cabin, so we needed five rooms total.
Mia and I weren't assigned to the same cabin, which was a little disappointing, but whatever. We split up once we reached the cabin area, each heading to our respective rooms.
The moment I walked into my cabin, I spotted someone who immediately killed my mood—Seren Calloway.
She shot me a weird look when she saw me come in, then turned back to chatting with another girl like I didn't exist.
I ignored her right back. Why waste energy on someone like that? I picked an empty top bunk at random and climbed up.
I prefer top bunks. They're quieter, harder for people to bother you.
Making my bed and changing into the camp uniform took me less than three minutes. Quick and efficient—years of habit.
For the remaining twenty-seven minutes, I lay on my bunk with my eyes closed, catching up on rest. Sleep whenever you can. That's always been one of my survival rules.
The thirty-minute deadline came fast.
I showed up at the meeting spot right on time. Jake was already waiting. He watched as students trickled in, then checked his watch.
"Three minutes late."
Nobody said anything. The mood shifted, tension creeping in.
Jake's voice got louder. "From now on, you'll have less and less time. Tomorrow morning? Ten minutes to wake up, get dressed, brush your teeth, clean up your area, and get your butts out here. Ten minutes. Not a second more. Can you handle that?"
I knew what this was about. Outdoor ed programs run on military-style discipline. We weren't here for a vacation. This wasn't some fun field trip.
When Jake finished, silence. Not a single person answered.
He raised his voice even more. "I said, CAN YOU HANDLE THAT?"
This time, everyone responded in unison: "YES!"
I answered too, though I felt nothing. Ten minutes? That's easy.
Jake spent the next chunk of time organizing us into formation and laying down the rules we had to follow.
Like—before entering the dining hall, we had to shout our cabin chant. During meals, we couldn't touch our food until the head counselor gave the command to eat.
The afternoon was filled with basic drills: attention, at ease, simple formations.
At night, they screened some patriotic documentary.
By the end of the day, most students looked exhausted. I was fine. This level of training was nothing compared to what I was used to. By the time we got free time, it was already 9 PM.
At Camp Redwood, the only free period was 9:00 to 9:30 PM. That's when students could hit up the camp store for snacks.
I'd just walked back from the store with Mia when I noticed a crowd gathered outside the girls' cabins. Boys and girls, all clustered together.
A familiar voice cut through the noise: "Who cut up my sleeping bag? Who did this? This is so messed up!"
I pushed closer and saw who was making the scene—Seren Calloway.
Instantly on alert. This situation reeked of setup.
Seren stood there clutching a sleeping bag that had been sliced into ribbons, crying like her dog just died. Talk about overdramatic.
"What's going on here?"
Her crying drew Jake's attention. He walked over, his expression stern.
"Someone—someone ruined my sleeping bag, I—" Seren sobbed, barely getting the words out.
Then a girl from my cabin came running out, holding up a pair of scissors. "Found them! I found these scissors under Aria's mattress! It had to be her! Aria cut up Seren's sleeping bag!"
I narrowed my eyes. So that's how it is. A setup from the start.
Seren acted shocked, pointing at me. "It was her! She cut my sleeping bag! I only brought one—what am I supposed to sleep with tonight?"
Getting framed the moment I walked back—I almost laughed. Obviously, Seren and that girl had planned this together. And their acting? Terrible.
I let out a cold laugh.
"Aria's been with me this whole time! How could she randomly go cut up your sleeping bag?"
Before I could even speak, Mia jumped in, loudly defending me.
"You two are friends, of course you'd cover for her! And Aria, don't think I don't know—you've had it out for Seren for a while now! Jake, you need to do something about this!"
The girl holding the scissors started crying too, tears streaming down her face. To anyone watching, it probably looked convincing.
My expression went ice-cold. They really thought they could frame me with this amateur bullshit?
The crowd kept growing. Even guys from the boys' cabins came over to watch. Everyone loves drama.
"Did you do this?" Jake finally spoke, looking at me seriously.
"If I said no, would you even believe me?"
I laughed—cold, sharp. I knew my eyes carried a dangerous edge, but I didn't care. Being falsely accused like this? My patience was gone.
Even Jake seemed rattled by the look in my eyes. I could tell.
But given the situation, he clearly believed Seren more.
"Cutting up someone's sleeping bag? Tomorrow you'll stand at attention for an extra hour as punishment. Now apologize. Right now."
Jake avoided my gaze as he spoke.
I just stood there, cold smile still on my face. No apology. No words. Why the hell would I apologize for something I didn't do?
Jake looked surprised. Maybe he hadn't realized during the day that I had this much backbone.
But he acted quickly. Jake reached out, clearly intending to grab my arm and force me to apologize in front of everyone.
I saw Seren's triumphant smile. She thought she'd won?
Just as everyone expected Jake to easily grab me, my body reacted on pure instinct.
I sidestepped in a blur. Muscle memory took over before I even thought about it.
My hand shot out and locked around Jake's wrist before he could react.
Then, using the explosive power in my arm, I lifted this 200-pound man clean off the ground and into the air.
I executed a textbook 360-degree shoulder throw, slamming Jake hard onto the dirt.
Dead silence.
Then, in front of everyone, I spoke to Jake in a voice like ice:
"Don't touch me. I don't like being touched. And I'm only saying this once—I didn't cut her sleeping bag."