"All senior year students report to the gym immediately." The voice of our principal boomed through the speakers.

"Wonder who's in trouble now." Chelsea thought out, giggling.

"Yeah, remember last time when Eugene had flooded the bathroom!" Ella added as I bobbed my head recollecting the memory.

It was during the beginning of senior year and we had been asked to come to the gym due to some major catastrophe. It was later revealed that Eugene, the shy boy, had left the taps open which lead to the whole floor getting flooded and forming a scene from Harry Potter.

Coming back to the present we made our way to the gym where there was collective whispering amongst the students, some part ways as my gang entered.

Like in the movies, we are 'the' group to be in. All guys want to date us, want to be our friends and all girls want to date the hot popular guys with sparkling teeth.

"You all must be wondering why you have been summoned here." The voice of the principal echoed through the huge hall even though there were quite a lot of people covering the gym. You could here a couple of yes's running through the crowd.

"Don't worry no one's in trouble-" The ones wanting the drama groaned at how this was a waste of their precious time. Not bothering to shut them the principal continued.

"There is a good news, actually."

"Why? Are you retiring?" Gasps sounded around the room as a voice from the crowd spoke in a monotonous tone. It wasn't hard to guess who the deep voice belonged to, it was the famous bad boy of Western High, Vince D. Montero. No one knew what the 'D' stood for and no one dared to ask the dark haired boy. Though there were several rumours claiming it to be Devil. One guy even swore to have seen him sign as the devil.

"I reckon you mind your words, Mr. Montero." The defeat in the principal's voice brought a smirk on the bad boy's face but he didn't speak further.

"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. The council has decided that the students of the senior year, that is you people, need an outing." Cheers could be heard and whispers between excited friends already making plans.

"We will be taking you to a nature's camp for a few days. Environmental degradation has increased in the past years and it is requested that you all learn how to save the only thing keeping us alive- along with having fun on this trip. Further details are on the permission slip and pamphlet please pick it up on your way out. It needs to be submitted by Saturday. Which means you all have three days to convince your parents. Dismissed. " The principal descended the make shift stage as the students scattered around.

"Oh my gosh, it will be so amazing. " Chelsea squeaked.
"I know! I'll get the forms, you guys stay here." Jordan said making his way to the stalls set up distributing the pamphlets.

"It's our first trip in ages!" I exclaimed happily.
"Er, Mels, er, Brandon is coming our way." As Ella's words left her mouth I froze. A hand roughly grabbed my shoulder pulling me around.

"Stop these pitiful jokes, Melissa." An angry Brandon breathed out.
"I'm sorry?" Yes, I had to be extremely rude at times but that is what is needed to be done. High school lived by the saying, survival of the fittest. And I've learnt long back that without pushing your way through, you'll never reach anywhere.

"You should be. Going after my car was a dumb thing to do." He commented carelessly fueling my anger.

"That was dumb? Honey, I'll tell you what's dumb. A guy leaving a beautiful, popular, kindhearted girl for some cheap whore but I guess that was a bonus for me." I smirked at his flabbergasted look. I was never the one to boast but when required I stood up for myself.

"You'll pay for doing this, Melissa." He left after he threatened me. I just spoke my head at his unreasonable threats.

"Hey, forget him, Mels. We have your back all the time." Jake spoke giving me a side hug.
"Thank you, guys. But please, Jake. No more games." I muttered gratefully returning the hug. And looking pointedly at Jake as he shrugged.

"Don't thank us, babe." Ella smiled at me.

"Okay, enough mushy. Lets take a look at this amazing trip we have ahead of us." Jordan was always the one who got uncomfortable when anything sentimental happened and was also the first to break off into a joke or change of subject.

"Yeah, lets see."

Jordan handed me my form as I went through the details.

"Five days and four nights? Wow!" Ella exclaimed excitedly.
"We get to go hiking and capture the flag!" I added skimming through the points.

"Bonfires." Jordan smirked, "Bonfires lead to ghost stories which lead to girls getting scared, score."

I rolled my eyes at his statement as the boys high fives each other, once a player always a player. Do they even think about anything else?

"We get to set up our own tents! So cool." Jake cheered.

"Tents mean insects and disgusting creatures crawling on us, Jake. It's disturbing to say the least. On top of that living in a forest means no guarantee of survival, wild animals all around. " The group groaned at Chelsea's pessimistic comment.

"It won't be like that. I think the school is well aware of the consequences of their actions, so they must have taken precautions. Besides, roasted marshmallows!" I said trying to uplift the gloomy environment.

"All we have to do is get our parents to fill the form and sign. Easy." Jordan added quietly.

"Oh god, my parents would never agree. After the car fiasco, they are pretty angry." Ella whined.

"Should I talk to them for you, Ella? Maybe I could convince them?" I suggested, laying a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

"Oh no, they'll get even more angry if I were to bring in a friend. You know my parents, count me out guys." Ella sighed softly. I was getting more worked up, I preferred Ella over Chelsea, don't get me wrong she's good too but I just don't mix with her nature well. Ella is more understanding. Chelsea was too much for me, her idea of fun differed from mine by a mile. When I am with Chelsea, the things I promised to not do seem to surface more easily.

Spending five days with Chelsea is a disaster she'll find herself a boy toy and ditch me, leaving me with three teenage boys. Horrible combination.

"Give it a try at least, if it doesn't work out then alright. No harm in trying." Ryder said shrugging.
"Yeah, I guess I'll try. No promises though." Ella muttered.

"We have to return to our classes soon, come on, Mels. You got Physics with me." Ryder said pulling me along with him as they quickly waved goodbye to everyone.

"Do you need any help with Brandon?" Ryder asked as we walked to our class together.

"No, I'll handle him myself. It's long due." I replied holding my head high.

"Okay, if you need me I'm here." He smiled at me. Ryder is actually never the heart to heart kind of a guy but he always stood up for his friends no matter what.

I loved that about him, about all of us. We never let anyone in our group get showed down by some outsider or in my case an ex-insider.

I just can't wait for this trip to clear my mind, get some fresh air.

******

So, wassup? Hope you all liked it :)

Also, environmental degradation is an actual pressurising problem. I would request you all to pay attention to the crime occurring around you. We have to defend mother nature from the harmful evils caused by us, humans.

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Rojesta💜