"Everyone gather around!" The high-pitched voice of Mrs. Keith disturbed my selfie session with the girls, followed by a shrill whistle, indicating everyone to gather around the big tree.

I rolled my eyes as all the kids enthusiastically gathered as instructed while I just sulked. Last night is nothing but a blur to me, with headaches as a clue that I was probably way drunk.

The last thing I remember was playing some stupid games, drinking tequila, and smoking some weirdly nice things with Aaron, Alison, and some other people. It was kinda fun with them, but I don't think I wanna hang out with them again. They were cool and stuff but I just didn't feel comfortable...Especially around that guy with face piercings and tattoos, Jake. He seemed to be very into me, even after I told him I'm in a relationship.

"I can't wait to get home and have my nails done." groaned Holly picking her nails which looked horrible due to all the mud and dirt in them.

"Same, I need a spa day too." Eleanor chimed in, indicating her brunette hair which was all frizzy and rough, while I just kept walking with them.

"My mom already booked us a full grooming day. Just me and her, isn't she the best?" Holly smiled while Eleanor agreed to say something about her parents planning a huge family dinner after she goes home.

I let out a deep breath and unlocked the phone in my hand, hoping one of my parents texted me about something and maybe I missed it.

Still nothing.

Being an only child, Is it too much to ask?

It's been two days since I'm a hundred miles away from home and they didn't even contact me once. No text, no calls, nothing.

I huffed in annoyance and sick of waiting, I opened the phone log and dialed my mother's number waiting for her to pick, the ring kept ringing until I heard the soft comforting voice of my mother, immediately bringing a smile to my face.

"Hi, darling..."

"Hey mom, how-"

"Dear, can I please call you back? I'm in a meeting right now." she interrupted me before I could say anything, the small smile disappeared from my face within seconds and I just nodded.

"Sure, bye." I sighed and declined the call annoyedly, keeping my phone back in my handbag.

I looked around to see Holly and Eleanor still occupied in their conversation, they went ahead of me and were already with the rest of the group and didn't even notice I was not walking beside them anymore.

Nobody fucking cares.

"Hey babe," I heard a voice laced with a British accent behind me, the voice I was yearning to hear since morning. I turned around and a wide smile involuntarily covered my face.

He returned my smile and curled his hand around my waist, giving me tinkling sensations before talking me into a small hug.

A hug I didn't realize I needed so bad.

"How did you sleep last night?" he asked in my ears while I clutched my hand around his neck, and snuggled deep into his chest.

"Okayish, I wanna go home..." I mumbled quietly into his chest as he softly chuckled, making his chest vibrate, which brought a smile to my face too.

"Everyone, enough with the chit chats. Today's activity is a treasure hunt!" Mr. Harrison announced excitedly, earning applauds from the teachers.

We turned our attention to the instructor. Zander was just standing behind me, with his torso touching my back while his arms were still wrapped around my waist.

"I'm gonna tell all the rules real quick. First of all, everyone will be divided into a group of eight. Each group initially will be provided a unique clue which will lead to the next 3 clues. Only the last, fourth clue which will be common, will lead to the final winning destination." Mr. Harrison ranted making literally zero sense to me.

Zander's presence so close to me made it so hard to concentrate on what that instructor was blabbering about, the way his hands were constantly in touch with my body made weird electric waves run through my body and I loved the feeling of it.

The feeling of staying so close to him, the feeling of being able to hear his heartbeat and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, the feeling of being able to smell his strong cologne, the feeling of him towering me and whispering everything near my ear.

The feeling of being happy for once...

"So, the objective is to figure all the clues and reach the final destination before other teams. Mr. Fred will be standing there to hand you a flag, indicating your team won." I concentrated back on the instructor.

"Now, after we allot the teams, you'll receive your first clues. Now starting with team one..." he trailed reading out the names from the cardboard in his hand.

"You don't wanna play?" he raised his eyebrows looking down at me while I just shrugged when suddenly a better idea struck me.

I bit my lips softly and tiptoed to reach his ears when I whispered, "Can we can sneak and go to the tent?"

The minute I spoke those words, I could see his expression change drastically. He closed his eyes for a second and let out a deep breath like he was struggling to get something out.

"Mellisa... I need to talk to you about something," he said in such a low voice It took me a second to register what he said, and the realization hit me like a truck. I stood silent looking at him, my brown orbs trying to reach his. He didn't make contact, confirming everything is very real.

"Zander and Mellisa, you're with us-" Finn's presence broke the silence. He looked between us and immediately knew something was up before he asked, "Are you guys okay?"

"You guys carry on, we'll join you in a bit," he said and Finn nodded, leaving us alone.

Zander looked at me and eyed me to follow him. My heart was beating faster and faster with every passing second, waiting for the worse. We walked a bit into the woods, away from the teachers. By this time everyone was dispersed and occupied in the game.

"Mel..." He started to say but I raised my palm to stop him. I could feel my knees getting weak and my mouth getting dry, unable to compose words.

"I know you're breaking up with me." I stammered, rushing the words out of my mouth as my eyes started to fill.

I knew this was going to happen.

The day I feared, stood right in front of my eyes and now I can't even escape it.

I knew it all along, everything was too good to be true for me.

I knew I was never good enough for him.

I knew it... But now, that it's happening. It feels so real, so quick and it hurts like hell.

"Mellisa, I j-ust can't make you suffer more. I can't-" he stammered, his voice breaking with every word. "I love you, I do... You were there for me when I wasn't even there for myself. We were just kids. Hell, we are still kids."

Breathing felt like a huge effort as I tried my best not to cry, not to give in so easily, but it was too much to tolerate...

"I'm sorry, I just can't continue to lead you on when I'm suffering with myself... I can't see you hurt or cry, I know we're in deep shit now but I have to mel-"

"That's bullshit Zander, can't you just tell me on my face that it's all because of her?" I cried out, streams of tears rolling down my eyes. "I see how you look at her..."

"Mel, It's not about it-" he clarified with his eyes widened, taken aback from what I know about him and Briana. "I-I never deserved your love..."

I just scoffed at how easily he can end everything saying he doesn't deserve it and cover the fact it's all for that stupid dumb girl. The girl who can't love him as I do.

"I'm not going away from your life Mel, I'll be always here for you, whenever you'll need me."

"Of course, Zander." I scoffed, wiping the dried tears off my face with the back of my palm, he opened his mouth to say something but I stopped him as a terrifying thought struck my head.

"You were with her last night too, weren't you?" I shouted as I searched his eyes for the answer, hoping he won't confirm the thoughts in my head.

His eyes shot up again as he battled to find words to lie to me. Just by that thought of them, my whimpers turned into growls. I could feel my blood boiling and my chest getting heavy with all of the agonies. His eyes spoke thousand unspoken words, confirming everything.

"I was, but it's not-"

"You never deserved my love Zan. You're just... unlovable!" I wailed, unwanted tears took shelter in my eyes. "Everyone who loves you ends up suffering themselves, just look at your sister!"

The minute those words left my mouth I immediately regretted it, as my hands flew to my lips, trying to unspeak them. His face became emotionless as his breathing slowed, he looked at the ground for a brief second before giving me a half-smile.

"Exactly..." he whimpered, pressing his lips in a straight line. He let out a shaky breath, lowered his head, and walked away from me.

Leaving me alone in silence with my heartbeat as the only sound reaching my ear. Everything was slowly sinking in, my chest felt heavier than ever. I was feeling all types of emotions at once and it was too much to handle.

My phone in the handbag buzzed as I took it to see a call from Eleanor, "Where are you, Melissa? We've been trying your phone for almost an hour."

"I-was busy with something," I said, composing myself as I took a step forward towards the campsite.

"Whatever, now come at the back of our tents, we're having fun like yesterday. Jake, Alison, and everyone are here too!"

Before listening to anything else I walked back to the camp, all I need now is a distraction. From everything.
I sneaked to the back of the camp, trying not to be seen by any teachers.

I walked past the camps and heard some feeble conversations, indicating to me everyone is there. I strolled a little closer to see Holly, Eleanor, Alison with the face tattooed guys; Jake and Aaron, all sitting in a circle.

Their eyes fell on me and suddenly all the chatterings stopped, making me superconscious, I peered down at myself and realized I looked horrible. My peach-colored knee-length dress was smeared with dirt, mud, and tears stains. I didn't take a look at my face but I'm aware it was worse because of the mascara and eyeliner spilling.

"God, did you fall into some pit or what?" Holly joked pushing her red hair behind her shoulders while all the people chuckled.

I shook my head and looked at the ground, "Zander broke up with me..."

"Oh, that jerk!"

"That sucks,"

"Come here Mellisa," Eleanor said, her voice laced with sympathy as she indicated me to sit next to her.

Sympathy, the thing I hate the most.

I took a seat and everyone continued their conversation about something which I was too lost to catch up to. Holly nudged me and handed me a glass filled with some alcohol with a smile.

It was two in the afternoon and they're drinking. It wasn't a bad idea though. Especially for me, because this is what I need right now. I took the cup from her hand and gulped the toxins in a single go, the burning sensation traveling down my throat gave me an immediate sense of relaxation.

My phone rang and I immediately picked it up, hoping it's Zander I hurriedly blurted, "Hello, Zan?"

But, it was not him.

It was a wrong number, which made me realize how desperate I was being. Eleanor saw my misery and snatched the phone from my hand and kept it in her pocket.

I observed a small piece of paper roll being passed to Holly from Aaron, first I mistakenly thought it was a cigarette until the smell of it surrounded me, making my eyes go wide and my mouth open.

"Is that-"

"A Joint. Cocaine." Jake answered my question, "The best one you'll ever have," he said with a proud smirk.

My breathing quickened as I looked between Holly and Eleanor with a disappointed look. I couldn't wrap my head around them getting into such a destructive thing.

"Come on, don't give me that look. Here, take a drag," Holly said with a smile, handing me the thing.

"The fuck Holly, I'm not doing-"

"Mellisa, don't be such a wuss." she rolled her eyes while the other people laughed, whispering something about me ."Try it, I swear you'll love it. Especially after what happened with Zander."

The moment she said his name, I felt a sharp sting in my chest. Without thinking twice, I grabbed anf put the poorly folded roll between my lips. I inhaled the thick smoke and tried my best not to cough, as it took me more than a minute to register what was going inside my system.

A foreign feeling engulfed me, a lot different from alcohol or cigarettes. I felt free, relaxed and calmed than ever. It seemed like everything around me muzzled down. With my brain, my limbs, everything slowly shutting down as it took control of my body...

It was passed around in the circle and It came to me and I took another drag.

Another and another. The cycle continued until all of that was flooded into our systems.

Until I was too fucked up. I felt like floating as everything was surreal, revolving around me. Out of nowhere, I felt a hand on my bare thighs, I looked up to see Zander, smiling as he stood in front of me. I stood up in front of him and furrowed my eyebrows as I noticed many tattoos and piercings on his face, the ones I've never seen before.

"You're so sexy, fuck..." he breathed in my ears as his hands slowly reached my hips, under my dress. His hands were rough and cold, not like usual. It's not like I complain, I love that he wants me back.

"When did you get those tattoos?"

"I've had them since forever, love." he chuckled as he abruptly pulled my body closer to his.

"I'm sorry about what I said earlier about your sister... I didn't mean it." I whispered. He shook his head as he forgave me, caressing my cheek with his thumb. Our face was barely an inch close as I could smell the cocaine on him too.

"Shhh, just let me have you Mellisa..." he murmured as in asking for permission to kiss me, without saying a word I put my lips on his, granting it to him.

There was something different about this kiss but I couldn't understand what.

His hands wandered everywhere on my body while my hands were tucked in his hair. Letting out a small moan he picked my body while I wrapped my legs around his waist, not breaking the kiss due to the movements. I could hear hootings from Holly and Eleanor as one of them recorded our moment.

Of course, they're happy I'm back with Zander.

Heya people looks like I'm back! And this time I'll complete this book with an update every weekend.
If you wanna recap what was going on you can read the previous chapters briefly or just pm me and I'll narrate you in short, sorry for the trouble tho.

Let me clarify something:

No, consuming drugs or alcohol is not a solution to cope up with any type of emotions. No, it is not joyful or cool in any way, no matter the circumstances.
The character Mellisa did it but you'll see the outcome of it in later chapters, I don't intend to show it's a good way to handle feelings.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Until the next one. :)