The next day at school, in homeroom, our teacher makes an announcement.

"Students, there will be a camping trip the school is organizing during the next week. We're taking you to a forest on the outskirts of the town, and, from what I've heard, there's this place there from which you can see the night-sky very clearly.

"Of course, all Astronomy students have to go compulsorily, and Photography students as well. You may talk to Ms. Sarah or Mr. Craig, your respective teachers, about your assignment details. And for the rest of the students, they'll accompany these groups for 2 days and a night, camping inside the forest.

"We'll be doing activities like bird-watching, stargazing, wildlife photography and  we'll camp, so that promises a lot of fun! So all those except for Photography and Astronomy students, who'd like to join me, Ms. Sarah and Mr. Craig on this trip, please give your names to me by the end of the day.

"Thank you for being so patient, and now you all may go to your classes." Ms. Bella finishes her short speech, cheerfully. She is very sweet and one of my favorite teachers, but when she wants to, she can be real strict and commanding as well!

People start chatting and discussing about the trip all around the classroom, as the class breaks up into pairs and groups heading out for their classes. I'm about to reach the crowded door when someone grabs my hand from behind and pulls. I turn around, shocked. But my lips instantly turn up into a smile as I see it's Ned. He smiles, then nods to indicate he wants to say something to me.

We walk over to the teacher's desk, waiting for the students to file out of the classroom. When everyone is gone, he turns to me and says seriously, "Ashlee, are you angry at me or something?"

Taken aback, I reply, "Of course not, and what makes you think I am?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking... " He trails off and fixes his gaze on the tiled floor.

"Ned, you're the only friend I have, why should I be cross at you? Tell me  if there's anything bothering you." I say, squeezing his hand to reassure him.

"No, I'm fine." He replies and smiles, but I know him enough by now to tell that it's fake. He quickly moves his gaze away from me, giving me yet another hint that he's lying.

"Okay then...." I look searchingly at his eyes, trying to extract some information of what's bothering him."Our first class today is Astronomy. Which reminds me, what do you think about this trip?"

We start moving toward our class, chatting all the way about the trip, as his mood lightens bit by bit and he participates more enthusiastically in our conversation.

                                                                          ***

"Binoculars?"

"Check."

"Flashlights?"

"Check."

"Ropes?"

"Check."

"Camping equipment and tents?"

"Check."

"Toothpaste and toothbrush?"

"Of course...check."

"Warm clothes for the night?"

"Check."

"Bubblegum?"

"Check. Wait, what?" Ned looks up from his list of things and looks puzzled.

I laugh. "Silly, I was just testing your concentration! And guess what?"

"I failed." He says sadly, looking as innocent as a baby.

"Exactly!" I grin.

"By the way, what about your camera?" He suddenly asks.

I widen my eyes. "Oh, right! I absolutely forgot that. Thanks a million, Ned, otherwise Mr. Craig would've killed me then and there."

"You're welcome. As always." He smiles his goofy smile. Oh, how I love it when he does that!  Umm, no— I— what am I thinking??

The debate inside my head starts...

The wicked, dominating side: Hey, don't tell me you don't like him, Ashlee! Come on, admit it.

The shy, modest and much-too-thoughtful side: No!! We've not even been together for two weeks, how can you even think of it!

The evil side: Oh, leave it. Even spending one day with someone is quite enough to know everything about him and then form an opinion of him. And look at you two, practically always together— be it in school or at home! Plus, you don't exactly hate him, do you?

The shy side: No, he's very nice, just stop it—I mean—no, that's thinking too much. It's nothing like that. We're just good friends.

The wicked side: Yes, and he's your first-ever friend in life. Also the first boy with whom you ever interacted, and now talk so freely with. Who are you trying to fool, huh? Just think how you like it when he grins or smiles seeing you and laughs with you at stupid little things.

The shy side: Okay...that's true to some extent but—

The wicked side: Well, don't you realize that you like him so much, and that he's fallen for you too?

Before the shy side can reply, my thoughts are interrupted as Ms. Sarah, our Astronomy teacher, shouts at the children gathered near the school buses, to start boarding the bus.

"Where do you wanna sit?"

"Umm, I'll be okay anywhere. You decide."

"Then let's go!" He grins widely, takes my hand and runs toward the bus. I must say I'm left quite surprised by his sudden reactions, sometimes.

Ms. Bella is standing at the door to the bus, checking her list to confirm if all students who gave their names are aboard. We're among the first few ones to board, and when we climb aboard Ned drags me all the way to the backseat of the bus. We get seated after stacking our bags up on the rack running down the sides of the bus's ceiling.

I look out of the window on my right, and notice it's such a beautiful morning. The sun is shining down brightly, birds are chirping all around, the trees are filled with scented flowers, and a branch covered with some of them is hanging very close to my window. I reach out with my hand to touch the feathery soft petals, and to smell the heavenly scent, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath of Nature.

"You like my choice?" Ned asks softly.

"Absolutely." I reply, turning to smile at him.

Two girls come to occupy the rest of the backseat just then, and both of them smile at me. I smile back.

This is a new feeling for me, to see everything and everyone so happy around you, and forgetting everything and everyone for a moment just to enjoy it by your own self. To breathe in the fresh air, feeling completely free and contented.

The bus starts moving forward, and my eyes focus on the scenes whizzing past us, outside the window, till the time we reach the camping place— the forest. Only, me and Ned hadn't realized before, that it was the  one.

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I hope you liked this chapter, I completed it in almost two days for my lovely readers, to compromise for the earlier late update, and to surprise you all in return for the gift you gave me—this story reached rank 7 recently, and has already about 500 reads!! One. Big. THANK YOU!!! To everyone who made this possible, whether you know it or not. ;)

Yet again I request all readers to PLEASE comment at least once.

Also, it's Diwali here in India today(30/10/16)—of course all Indian readers know that. So Happy Diwali to everyone!! :)

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