Chapter 3: Wait, WHAT?!

Saturday morning is the day of the announcement of the cruise winners, and I just remembered like two seconds ago.

Quickly getting up from bed, I brushed my teeth in record time and shook Elena in a feeble attempt to wake her up,

"Elena wake up!" I whisper-yelled, making her stir a little. When I called her name once again, she finally gave in. Groaning, she blinked a couple of times to chase away any trace of drowsiness when she took in my frantic look.

"What? What is i-?" Her voice came out raspier than sandpaper, and I didn't even give her a chance to complete her sentence when dragged her out of bed and forced her heavy body into the toilet,

"The fricking announcement is in five minutes, so you better hurry up before I kick your sorry ass young lady!" I told her before slamming the door shut, and leaving her on her own before hastily turning on my mobile to the right radio station.

Pacing around my room quietly, I waited for four agonizingly slow minutes until she finally got out of the bathroom just when the broadcaster was getting started,

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am Marrisa Heller and this is my friend Wilson Morris," The host started, her overwhelmingly bubbly tone reaching us in loud, painful waves in an exaggerated attempt to keep the audience entertained. Thankfully, the other man who I suppose is -Wilson Morris- took the lead after probably realizing how awful her voice sounded.

"Hello everyone, it's good to be back with yet another chance for a lifetime experience this year. And knowing it's the twenty fourth of September, we're glad to announce the two very lucky winners of the bizarre trip to a first class cruise for twelve consecutive days across the Pacific, all inclusive! We'll be back after a very short break so stay tuned..." Their voices slowly faded away as a random song played as a filler.

I looked back at Elena who had her body draped across my messy bed, dark circles embedded under her brown eyes. Her exhausted form from last night's heavy cleaning process seduced me into forcing attentiveness into her body, just the way she forced me into sweeping the floorboards last night. But just when I was about to reach for a pillow as a weapon to suffocate her, my eyes turned to the direction of my door and to my family who had already joined us, hoping one of us will be lucky enough to win this year.

Sighing in frustration at my failed plan to get back at my best friend, I tried to make sense of any chatter that filled my room but I couldn't. Not when my stomach is pooled with a bunch of wild animals along with my clammy palms. I wouldn't be surprised if I felt beads of cool sweat running down the side of my forehead, thicker than molasses.

Searching my room for any distractions, my eyes drank in the way my entire room is immensely lightened with the sun's morning glory, rays of sunlight pooling around my room in every corner. Dust particles visible from the blinding light, twirling and dancing like ballerinas.

Averting my eyes to my large window, I almost squinted when my eyes took in the pale blue sky.

The way sky is clear of any traces of clouds, leaving enough space for the sun to glare down at us with its burning heat. I gawked at the light blue expanse that loomed over us, making me wonder where it actually begins to where it ends.

My hands were already clammy when the song gradually came to an end and I had to wipe them on the soft fabric of my shorts before crossing my fingers and pushing my luck.

Secretly taking several deep breaths to calm my nerves, I counted to ten just as Marrisa's voice echoed throughout the pin-drop silence that stretched throughout the entire room as no one dared to exhale.

"We're finally back after randomly picking the winners of this year, and the first and may I add very lucky winner is.." she trailed off, leaving enough room to create suspense and I was just about to make out the heavy thumps of my heartbeats, as my heart threatened to break through my rib-cage when her loud voice blared through the speakerphone,

"Layla Frazier!"

What? What? What?

When I finally registered the shock written on everyone's faces, and my sisters' loud squeals along with Ellie's, I couldn't help but gasp at the absurdity of the situation.

I didn't know if it was possible for my heart rate to speed up even more, but I was proved wrong when my heart hammered even more loudly against my chest, making it hard to draw in each breath.

Ellie was quick to notice my lack of oxygen as she started fanning my face with her palms before trying and obviously failing to suppress her toe-curling squeal as she took me into one of her literally bone-crushing hugs.

My mom was already tearing up as my father spun Madeline around my room in tight circles while she giggled loudly.

You know this very dramatic moment in movies where the entire family is happy and blah blah blah, well that's our condition, maybe not that dramatic though.

Right after my not-so-fast recovery from the galvanizing hot news, I listened intently as the broadcaster announced the other winner,

"Annnd the second very lucky winner is..." Wilson dragged out the 'n' into different syllables before blurting out the other name loudly,

"Leonardo Cameron!"

Oh shit.

Holy mothertrucker!

What the actual FUCK!

At this very moment, I didn't care that my phone was connected to the broadcast so I could thank the announcer and I guess Leonardo's phone was too, but the words flew out of my mouth without my mind fully registering it,

"Wait, WHAT?!" I shrieked at the same time Leonardo growled, "What the fuck?"

I guess it was safe to say that the announcer was a bit shocked to our reaction when she retaliated to our previous outburst,

"Um, congratulations Mrs Frazier and Mr Cameron. I hope you have fun on the twelve day vacation. Please contact David McCarthy on the number that will be sent to your devices for further information-" her voice came to an abrupt halt when I angrily turned off my phone.

And there goes my excitement downhill.

Gritting my teeth, I turned back to the sight of a cringing Elena and a very shocked family.

Mom was the first to cut through the silence as she looked at me with confusion written clear on her face,

"Do you know that boy, Leonardo Cameron, is it?"

Dragging my short nails from my hairline to my chin and leaving behind a fiery trail of red, I nodded my head in affirmation, "Yeah, he's in a couple of my classes." I replied.

Out of the thousands of people who deliberately sign in to win a worthwhile vacation, it had to be him. Of course it would. It couldn't have been Tyler Jones, that gloomy punk in our year group, with more tattoos than actual skin. Or even that Meadow The Weirdo girl in our grade, her name is Meadow Turner I think, who waits for the guys to exit the boys' locker room so she could sniff the masculine odor which is actually weird if you think about it but I wouldn't have minded! I wouldn't have minded any of those, but it had to be Leonardo fricking Cameron.

I swear fate hates me.

My mom gasped dramatically before exhaling in what looked like relief,

"Thank god! This way I wouldn't get so worried about you dear." She smiled at me as she braided Madeline's dirty blonde hair into a thick braid, using the elastic band around her wrist to tie it.

"Are you kidding me?!" I exclaimed, flailing my arms everywhere as I tried to prove my point.

"I don't even like him mom! He irritates me to no end at school, let alone for twelve entire days!" Elena flinched at my harsh tone, irritation dominant in my tone at my so called luck.

"Well that would be better than going on a cruise with a stranger." Mom bit back with her arms crossed.

Yeah definitely, its not that Leonardo isn't one of the school's rather famous players or the fact that he treats girls like his play toys, easily manipulating them into his bed before throwing them away like used condoms. Not to mention the fact that he managed to get into detention on his first day of school after doing god knows what.

Other than that he's totally safe to be around, I thought sarcastically.

A minute of pure silence stretched between us as I tried to reason with her and failing miserably.

When they soon realized my deflated form, dad briefly kissed my temple, muttering some soothing words to me before exiting my room with my sisters in his arms.

After meeting my mom's soft gaze, I quickly lowered my eyes to my unmatched pair of socks, guilt clouding my thoughts at my unintentional outburst.

"You'll get through it dear," She pulled me into one of her warm hugs, making me breathe in her expensive flowery perfume. Quickly realizing that I so und like Meadow The Weirdo, I stiffened.

Patting my back, my mom smiled at me once again before following my dad's lead down the stairs and this time, I smiled back.

When everybody was finally out of earshot, I slumped down the mattress, the feeling of ripping my hair out still gnawing on my insides. almost immediately, I felt the opposite side of my bed dip when Elena sighed as she too laid beside me sideways.

"Look L, I'm not going to tell to look on the bright side and all this shit but OMG ? At least we have a legitimate excuse to take you shopping!" She reasoned, clapping her hands excitedly at the mention of shopping before she drank in my hard glare which quickly shut her up.

Looks like luck is totally on my side.

~~~~~

Later on that day, at around seven p.m. , I received a text from that guy David McCarthy telling me to meet him in half an hour at a coffee shop near downtown.

Taking a look at the clock hung over the wall in our living room, it read 6:42.

Deciding that I have a few more minutes before I should get going, I decided to go through my phone. Though it is so saddening that I already know that my phone is dry, I quickly scroll through my Instagram feed until I get bored. Glancing up to the clock once again, my eyes literally bulge out of their sockets the way a yo-yo bounces too fast before it returns back to its initial position. I had already wasted five minutes going aimlessly through my phone which instantly made me sprint off to the stairs.

Taking two step at a time, I managed trip only a couple of times, silently cursing my clumsy self. I grabbed my keys, pocketed my phone before rushing to the front door but not before shouting,

"Mom, Dad I'll go grab some coffee at Abby's!" I didn't wait for their answers as I exited through the door and swiftly slid into my car.

I heard the engine roar to life and I felt really grateful that it took me almost fifteen minutes to arrive to the coffee shop, though I gained a few car honks at my shitty driving skills

After locking my car, I trudged towards the shop, opened the swinging glass doors only to be greeted with the addictive smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries.

Whoa.

I scanned the heavily packed shop, searching for any signs that could help me find David. I mean he didn't even tell me anything about how he looks or heck, how old is he.

My eyes navigated through different tables, automatically excluding the most unlikely men who would match the way I imagined him to be. I don't even know how I picture him to be like but I think he might look relatively different. I know that sounded incredibly stupid but even his phone number is remarkably special and that says something, doesn't it?

An old man with a bald spot, shinier than a mirror with eyeglasses which seemed on the verge of falling apart, nope. A redhead boy, who didn't seem like a day older than sixteen, nope. After excluding three other humans from the opposite species who didn't seem to own a remarkably special phone number, my eyes settled on a mid aged man with a noticeable grey strand of hair, waving at me from a small table at the far corner of the shop.

Smiling politely at him, I maneuvered my way through the tables before noticing a familiar mop a light brown hair that I could blindly pick out from a million and one others. Leonardo had his back to me, clearly unaware of my presence as he talked animatedly with his hands, trying to prove a point.

Oh man, and here I hoped I'd meet David alone.

Clearing my throat to announce my arrival, I tucked a loos strand of my waist length hair behind my ear,

"Good evening Mrs Frazier. Take a seat, please." He motioned his head to the seat next to Leonardo's and I fought the urge to roll me eyes before reluctantly sliding into the modern armchair.

"As y'all know, the vacation is twelve days and eleven nights on a first class cruise. One bedroom with a king sized bed, a first class reservation for two at the main restaurant and you have the right to attend all the activities you'd like. Of course any kind of vandalism is totally unacceptable and if it happens that either of you is caught participating in any sort of inappropriate activities you will be instantly reported and you'll most likely need your parents or guardian to bail you out. But I assure you though, other than that you'll be totally safe. Just stay out of trouble kiddos. " He listed off smoothly like he did that a million times before and ended his short speech with a proud smile.

Cutting in, I questioned,

"Umm, can I have my bedroom at the upper deck? I would totally appreciate it if you did that."

I told him what I've heard is the best, hoping he'd do me a favor.

"I'm sorry Mrs Frazier but you'll be sharing you bedroom with Mr Cameron." he replied calmly, intertwining his fingers together so that he made a tight bridge with his calloused fingers.

And just like that, my hope was completely and utterly shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Of course not!" We bursted out simultaneously, making me roll my eyes, a gesture which he chose to ignore.

I think David got a little bit irritated with our childish bicker when he replied hotly,

"Those are the conditions provided and there's absolutely nothing I can change. Either of you may cancel if you'd like." He huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"No way in hell."

"I think you should." We muttered in unison, again.

David sighed before handing us each a form to sign followed by a brochure and two shiny golden tickets with our names written on them in bold format.

"The trip will officially take place next Monday and I'll call you to confirm the meeting point. Again make sure to stay out of trouble, and try to enjoy each others company, you're stuck together after all." And right after drowning the rest of his black coffee in one long gulp, he muttered a quick 'good night' before exited the shop with Leonardo quickly following behind.

Well, it's true. I guess I'm stuck with an idiot for twelve days and eleven nights.

Wouldn't be so bad, would it?

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