CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Elena, Sister Gemma asked me to call you."

"Okay," Elena replied, putting on her regular flip flops.

"She's along the corridor."

Elena nodded in reply, opening the door to leave. She had gotten in yesterday careful not to collide with any of the sisters. Her roommates were still up when she got in. They had all noticed the smile on her face and asked what happened. Even though she said nothing, she went to bed, her hands clutching her necklace, a half smile plastered on her face.

Luke didn't wait for her, which was unusual.

And now that Sister Gemma had called for her so early in the morning, it was even more unusual.

"Good morning, Sister Gemma."

"Elena, good morning," she replied. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Do you have any plans for today?" She asked, smiling.

"No," she replied, without thinking.

"Then start packing your bags," Sister Gemma smiled. "You're going on the class trip. Your sponsor paid all the fees."

Elena felt a rush of excitement pass through her. She hadn't really admitted it, but she really wanted to go on the class trip.

"OMG!" She exclaimed, excitedly. "Thank you soooo much!"

"I didn't pay it," Sister Gemma laughed. "Thank your sponsor. She apologized for paying late."

Elena felt her heart soften. "Can I meet him or her? Just once?"

"Your sponsor prefers to remain unknown," she replied, ending the conversation. "I'll see you around then."

"Okay. Well I'm always grateful," Elena replied, a little disappointed. Ever since she was little, she had always wanted to meet her sponsor, but apparently her sponsor wanted to remain hidden.

Her little disappointment was quickly washed away, replaced with the thought of going on the class trip. She freshened up quickly, heading to the dining to have breakfast. She hurriedly ate breakfast, Luke wandering in my mind. She hadn't seen him since yesterday and she had loads to tell him.

She headed towards towards the boys dormitory, hoping she'd find one of Luke's friends she was familiar with. Instead, she found Luke himself.

She quietly tiptoed behind him, hoping to give him a little scare. He was walking slowly along the pathway to the boys dormitory probably heading to his room.

"Freeze!" She yelled, jumping at him from behind.

"Ayy, Elena," he laughed, holding her legs so she could stay on his back.

"I don't remember when last you carried me on your back," she said, her hands tightening around his neck.

"You weigh close to an elephant," he said. "I love my back."

"Too bad," she laughed. "Cause I'm not getting down any time soon."

Luke smiled, walking slowly. "When did you get in yesterday?"

"Around 7," she replied honestly. "You didn't wait for me."

"I did wait," he defended. "Ah, I got in briefly around 7. You probably got in when I left briefly. I waited so long all the way till 9 and was so worried until I saw Lily and she told me you had gotten in already."

True.

"True," Elena smiled, burying her head in his neck. "I'm sorry."

"You should be," he replied, immediately noticing her necklace. "Hey, you bought this?"

Elena hopped down, taking off her necklace. "Daniel got it for me."

"Oh."

"Yeah, that's not all!" She said, grabbing his hands. "I got a B in maths!"

"Yeah right."

"Luke I'm serious!"

"For real?" He said on noticing her expression. "That's insane! Your eyebrows are safe."

"All thanks to Daniel."

"So he got you the necklace,eh?" He asked, handing over the necklace back to her as he watched her put it back on. "Just like that?"

Elena narrated everything- from school to getting the necklace.

"So you'll be leaving?" He said, looking away. "For a week?"

"Nope," she said, trying to meet his eyes. "Just 5 days. I'll be back on Saturday."

"Just. Don't get all excited and forget to tell me bye," he said draping his arms over her shoulders. "Okay?"

"Of course," she replied. "Luke, why are you so keen on me telling you goodbye every time before going somewhere?"

Luke shifted uncomfortably.

"Luke you know almost everything about me," Elena said, hurt visible in her voice. "And it's like I don't know anything about you."

Luke hesitated. "My parents left me without saying goodbye. I was still so young. I just felt if they had said goodbye before leaving, I might have felt better."

True.

"I'm so sorry," Elena said, taking his hands in hers. "You must miss them. When did they pass away?"

"Pass away? They aren't dead. Or maybe they are. I don't know, I don't care," he said, his face loosing emotions. "They left me and i- Elena, I really don't want to talk about this."

Elena nodded slowly, enveloping him into a hug. She had a million questions she wanted to ask him. How did he get to Amigo? What happened with his parents?

"Whenever you're ready."

He hugged her back, sniffling her hair. "Don't you make me soft."

--

Elena flung her purse around her neck, pulling her bag. She bent down to tie her shoe laces, hoping she wouldn't step on them again. She was wearing a blue jean with a regular black off-shoulder shirt making her necklace obvious. She stuffed the pack of gum Luke had given her into her jean pocket so she'd remember it.

She had really lived up to her nickname(Amigo princess) that morning. Her roommates had bid her goodbye, goofing about how it'll be in Ireland. The sisters weren't left out either.

Luke had only given her a pack of gum and a huge hug. He said the gum helped him relieve the nauseous feeling of the plane taking off. She had wanted to ask him when he travelled, but kept silent instead.

Daniel: Where are you?

She brought out her phone on hearing the notification tone. She read the text, smiling, as she texted him back. She made sure to text him the night before that she was going incase he decided to keep to his promise.

Elena: Just leaving Amigo. About to take the bus.

Daniel: Wait right there. I'll be there

Elena: Oh...Kayyy

In less than 5 minutes, Daniel pulled over right beside her.

"I'm just in time, right?"

"You sure are. Morning," she smiled as she got in, her bag right beside her. "Were you close by?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Me and Jordan just came to a mart around to get last minute snacks."

"Oh," she said. "And where's Jordan?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "He can find his way back to school."

Elena couldn't help a small smile flash on her lips. "So will we all go to airport from school?"

"Nope. The plane's at school already," he said surprising Elena. "Melanie's dad owns an airport sooo. You know Melanie, in our class, right?"

That was how. Who didn't know Melanie?

Popular, pretty, Melanie Richards. June had once told her that she liked Daniel but she preferred not to think about it.

"Yeah, I know her."

Daniel smirked, noticing Elena's face. "Apparently, you've heard the rumor too."

"Eh? What rumor? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Daniel laughed. "You're so cute."