"Tom quick get a picture"
"Xavier no-"
"Yes!! This is a precious part of her first hangover memory we must save it."
"Shhh!! Dude she's asleep." Tom whacked Xavier's head.
"okay, quickly then" he whispered.
My mind felt fuzzy and rang with an unbearable pain. My eyes snapped open at the sound of a photo being taken.
I shielded my eyes from the light, squinting at a very smug Xavier and a disapproving Tom shaking his head.
"Clara! Your awake-" Xavier threw his phone behind his back in an attempt to act casual. Not today.
"Why are you shouting?" I held my head in my hands. "And also did you just take a photo-"
Suddenly the door swung open and Grayson and Jameson walked in, tray in Graysons hand and drinks in Jamesons.
"Emergency hangover kit has arrived," Grayson proudly announced. Jameson rolled his eyes and put the drinks on the nightstand holding eye contact with me that made my stomach flip. His smile. His eyes. I think I have forgotten how to breath.
"Hangover kit...oh." I groaned and threw the blanket back over my head.
"Yupp." Xavier smugly grins at me.
"How bad was I? Actually, don't tell me-"
Xavier pulled the blanket back from my face, shoving a smoothie in my hand.
"It wasn't you that was the problem." Jamesons eyes snapped my mine, and intense anger in them, not directed at me, but at that guy from the party.
We all fell silent. Xavier yet again broke the since.
"Oh no. Guys we gotta run. Head teacher call is in five minutes. Clara let's go!!"
"NOW?!"
"YES NOW." He started dragging me out of bed.
"I'm not ready!!"
Xavier quickly glances at me.
"Yes you are. Keep Jamie's hoodie on and just change the pj shorts."
My eyes almost fell out of their sockets as I looked down to find myself in an oversized black hoodie. I was praying that my face wouldn't turn pink.
I looked to Jameson, who was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, and a slight smirk on his face. I gave him a questioning look to which he just shrugged and one by one they all walked out.
I checked my phone. 3 minutes now. Great.
***
We ran to the assembly hall and snuck in quietly in the back and found a row of seats a few rows from the back. As usual, I took way too long to get ready and so there was only about 10 minutes left of his speech.
We were lucky though because we got to skip the boring parts.
We all sat in a long row: Xavier, Tom, Gray, Jameson and Me.
I searched the room for Savannah, and she caught my eyes and mouthed: are you okay?
I nodded and put my thumbs up. I then sent her a quick message to explain what happened and that I'll fill her in on the details later.
I started to zone out as I heard the headteacher drone on about grades and keeping up the good work.
Suddenly I flinched as I felt someone kick my chair from behind me. I turned, and the pit in my stomach immediately dropped as I saw the one and only Peter.
I shot him a glare, folded my arms and turned back around, slumping slightly in my chair. Jameson gave me a quick glance and I just gave a small smile as a response.
Another tap but this time on my shoulder.
"What do you want?" I snapped and turned to glare at Peter.
"Your number." He smirked. Is this guy out of his mind?
I ignored him and turned back around. Jameson clearly heard the whole thing.
"I have it under control." I'm not sure if I was reassuring him or myself.
"I know you do. But just say the word and I'll beat the guy up."
I smiled at him, his ocean green eyes soft yet serious. I'm interrupted with another tap on my shoulder. This time Jameson responded. He casually put his arm to rest on the back of my chair and turned to Peter.
"Take a hint." He snapped. I had to hold back a smile, not because it was funny but because of how protective he was being. Not a toxic protectiveness of course, but because it's just nice to finally feel like someone has my back.
Peters eyes turned into dark threatening pits. Clearly he didn't like Jamesons response at all.
"What's so funny Rose?" Peter snapped. My smile dropped instantly and I turned to face him AGAIN before Jameson answered.
"Shut up Peter. I gave my answer, now leave me alone." Angry heat rushed to my cheeks and I turned around before he could see and make more comments.
I could feel Jameson looking at me but I didn't make eye contact.
"Thanks." Okay now I'm embarrassed. First last night and now this...
Jameson laughed, and shocked, I finally locked eyes with him. Why is it so hard to look away?
"What's so funny?" I pout slightly confused.
He just shook his head smiling. We both turned our attention back to the headteacher but all I could think about was his arm still resting on my chair, but suddenly I wanted to hear what the headteacher had to say when I heard the words 'school trip.'
"...all slips have to be in by the end of the week. You will need to be in a group no bigger than 6. And again, like I said this is a camping trip, so please pack practical things, we will provide tents and first aide kits, but that is all. Now, more information will be posted on the main notice wall near reception, so please read through it all and like I said, all slips need to be in by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience, you may start to lead out."
Oo a camping trip! I love camping, I used to go with my cousins all the time when I was younger...I miss those days.
Everyone starts to file out of the hall, and we all quickly make an exit too, my mind buzzing with this news.
The boys say they want to go and then it is decided, we'll be a group, and maybe Savannah will join too so I'm not alone in a tent, because duh, being alone camping in the dark is scary. Also, maybe she will start to feel more comfortable with the boys.
I can't wait.
***
As we're heading back to the 'hideout', I pull Jameson aside whilst the rest of them go upstairs. I didn't get a chance to thank him for helping me yesterday.
"Is everything okay?" Jamesons eyebrows furrow slightly confused. I force myself to make eye contact and immediately I know I can't look away once his ocean green eyes lock onto mine. They look concerned.
"Oh...um..." I fiddle with the strings of the hoodie I'm wearing. HIS HOODIE. Okay brain shut up now we're trying to stay serious.
"I just wanted to thank you for yesterday..." I gesture my hands to the side in a failed attempt to refer to the party. "Im not sure what would have happened if you wasn't there..." I gulp and look down at the floor, feeling embarrassed.
Im embarrassed because I don't want him to think I'm weak or some little puppy that needs looking after. And I'm annoyed with myself because I froze when Peter came near me and I didn't know what to do.
"Hey," Jameson tilts his head hoping to catch my eyes again, and I reluctantly do. He gives me a soft smile, his rosey lips so beautiful and his tanned skin like no other.
"You don't need to thank me Clara, I'm just glad you're okay. That's all that matters," my eyes widen slightly with shock at his response. I was waiting for a "it's okay! I'm the hero!" type or response because form what everyone says that's the type of guy he is.
Now, as I'm looking at his soft smile and caring eyes, I realise that everyone has it all wrong.
I feel Jamesons soft hand brush against mine, intertwining our hands as he gently tugs me forward, making the pit in my stomach drop. I think I forgot how to function for a second.
"Come on, Xavier will drag us up here himself if we don't go up in the next ten seconds." I laugh at his response knowing Xavier would do that.
"I reckon he's already halfway down those steps." I move quickly so now I'm in-front of Jameson pulling him along instead. I turn back and see his eyes turn a glittering shade darker, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he brushes past me.
"Wanna bet?"
I don't even get to reply before he's making his way up the steps, and I follow suit.
ââ-âââ-
Hi guys
Sorry this is so short! I needed to update and I'm trying my best to update regularly now!!
Don't be a silent reader, I would love to hear feedback
I cannot thank you enough for having over 2k reads this is a dream come true. I'm so grateful
Camping trip next :)