"Ms. Hazel? Ms. Hazel!" I glanced up and faced my fifth period teacher, who was standing right in front of me. Her hands rested on her hips. She was a short, Caucasian woman with gray hair and a Texan accent.
"Yes Mrs. Miller?" I asked, still in a daze. "Can you continue where I left off on page one thirty-five?" She pointed to the literature book that laid closed in front of me. After Myra helped me find my place, I read the sentence out loud and picked someone else to read after me.
"Hey, are you okay?" Myra asked when the teacher turned her back. Jason who sat to my right, leaned towards Myra and replied for me.
"Leave her alone Mai, can't you see she's busy thinking about Crrooy?" He teased.
"I am not!" I protested, turning red.
"What are you even doing in this class Jason? I thought they paired us by age. Aren't you ancient?" I snapped back, causing Myra to giggle.
"I flunked a grade." He muttered as he turned back to the board. Even though I denied it, I had indeed been thinking about Croy and the conversation we had about his past a few weeks ago. Although, things between us were a lot smoother now, I still found myself thinking about it daily. He had been through hell and I made him re-live it because of my curiosity. I swallowed thickly as I stared at the textbook in front of me.
"I'm a terrible friend." I sighed. Myra shook her head.
"Why do you say that? Did something happen?" She asked before glancing back at Mrs. Miller.
"Croy told me about his past." I began softly.
"Hazel that's great! It means he really trusts you!" Myra enthused with a smile. I shook my head.
"I just wish I could help him somehow; I feel useless." I admitted sadly. "I also feel like he's been avoiding me." I muttered as I played with my mechanical pencil.
"Yeah, he did the same when we found out about his past. Don't worry, he'll come around!" She assured. "I think he just wants to give you space so you can process everything! Right Jason?" She asked him for affirmation.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to see each other after class and then you can confess your undying love for each other, muah - muah - muah!" Jason taunted with kissy faces. I rolled my eyes.
"It's not like that, we're just friends!" I huffed and turned away as I tried to hide the flush in my cheeks. This caused him to laugh harder.
"Come on Jase, leave her alone." Myra stepped in to defend me. Jason rolled his eyes but left me alone after that. Later that day, when the passing bell rang, I got up and gathered my stuff. Half-way down the hall we met up with Allison, who joined Myra excitedly. Jason and I trailed quietly behind them.
"I wonder why they're whispering so much?" I asked Jason. He shrugged.
"So, girl, what are you gonna wear next Friday?" Allison asked, curiosity in her voice. I paused for a few seconds.
"Um my uniform..." Allison and Myra turned to each other, appalled.
"What?! You're wearing your uniform to the dance?!" Myra looked at me in disbelief.
"There's a dance next Friday?" I asked as Myra pulled me to the side of the hall and stood me next to the lockers. Allison told Jason to go on ahead. He shrugged again and kept walking without asking questions. After he was gone, Allison made her way back to us.
"How can you not know about the dance?" Myra asked. "They've been announcing it for the past two weeks! There are flyers on the walls!" Myra scolded as she pointed to the posters. I glanced at the wall across from us and saw it. That was when I realized I'd seen them, just hadn't read them.
"DON'T FORGET TO CELEBRATE THE COMING OF WINTER THIS FRIDAY THE 21ST WITH OUR FIRST EVER, HALLOWEEN DANCE! THE DANCE WILL BE HELD IN THE AUDITORIUM NEXT TO THE CAFETERIA, THE THEME IS MASQUERADE!"
I stared at the flyer for a few seconds. "I guess I should've paid more attention?" I muttered sheepishly as Myra shook me.
"I heard this past year, the camp received a huge donation from a private company, putting us overbudget. So, in order not to attract too much attention, the warden decided to host a 'stress relieving' event for the cadets. We all know she's only doing it, so they won't cut her funding, but who cares!" She exclaimed with a smile. "So? What kind of costume do you want to wear?" Myra asked eagerly. "I've already started working on mine. Ms. Saunders gave me some white fabric she had laying around, so I'll be using it as part of my costume!" I glanced down at my dirty boots and sighed.
"I guess I'm not going" I said as I shifted the bag on my shoulder.
"What, why!?" Myra's dejected whine made everyone turn their heads towards us.
"I don't have anything to wear and on top of that, I don't know how to dance." I admitted softly.
"You have to go Hazel; you have to!" She insisted as she took both my hands in hers.
"Yeah girl, it'll be fun!" Allison encouraged.
"Let's go see if Ms. Saunders has any leftover fabrics or costumes and I'll help you make something!" She urged as she pushed me towards the exit.
"Hey girls, what's up?" A familiar voice made my heart skip. Croy stood just outside the exit with Jason, his back against the wall.
"Hey Croy!" Allison greeted enthusiastically. My heart cringed when she threw her arms around his neck and planted a firm kiss on his cheek. Croy's face turned red.
"Allison! Cut it out!" He scolded before prying her from his neck.
"I've told you I don't like being touched!" He hissed.
"You're so mean!" Allison pouted before making her way back to us.
'He's never had a problem with me touching him...' my brain pointed out. "Shush!" I hissed out-loud, causing everyone to stare. My face turned beet red.
"You're so weird." Croy chuckled.
"Yeah, heh." I agreed before laughing along with him.
"So where are you guys going?" He asked a few seconds later.
"Myra and Ally are gonna help me find a costume for the dance on Friday. You wanna come?" I asked without thinking. He shook his head.
"No, I've already got my costume since Jason's forcing me to go." He said before shooting an annoyed glance at his friend.
"Damn straight! A dance is the perfect place to meet girls!" He enthused before holding up his hand for a high five. Everybody left him hanging.
"We're gonna see if the art teacher has anything, we can use..." I trailed off as I shifted my bag.
"Cool, so I guess I'll see you around?" Croy asked before picking up his bag. A dorky smile spread across my face.
"Definitely." I replied before he walked away with Jason. We continued walking as well.
"What the hell was that?" Allison asked, her eyes narrowing.
"What was what?" I asked confused.
"You were flirting with him!" She accused.
"I was not!" I retorted.
"You totally were, Mai, tell her!" Allison whined. Myra looked back and forth between us.
"Can't we all just get along?" She sighed.
"But she's flirting with my man!" Allison complained. Myra shook her head.
"Croy isn't yours Allison. He's a person, with thoughts and feelings of his own. He's also been incredibly clear with you and told you that he isn't interested, I don't know why you continue pestering him. Let him talk and laugh with whoever he wants!" Myra scolded as we approached the art room.
"Hello Ladies!" Ms. Saunders greeted from the back of the room. A huge line, curled through her classroom, out the door and around the building.
"What's up with this line?" Myra muttered as we peeked inside the classroom.
"Everybody is getting supplies from Ms. Saunders for their costumes!" One of the girls in line informed us as she stepped inside. After glancing at each other, we all decided to wait. It took nearly two hours for us to reach her classroom.
"I'm sorry girls, I'm all out of my drama class costumes." She apologized when we reached the front. Allison's face fell.
"Are you sure there's nothing else?" Myra asked hopefully. Ms. Saunders shook her head.
"Oh well, we tried girls..." Myra muttered dejectedly before slouching and turning back towards the campus. A sympathetic smile crossed the teacher's face when she saw their sullen reaction.
"Wait, I may have a few more costumes..." she trailed off before lifting a rug near her desk and revealing a trap door.