CHAPTER EIGHT

They were finally done placing the pong balls where they should be and had applied glitter on their dazzling artwork.

Lance starred at what they had achieved, they really made great partners.

"Let's get this to Mrs. Higgins now, I really need to get to my dorm room soon" Maya told him.

"Why the rush? We still have enough time"

She didn't say anything again. She knew what she was doing and what she was avoiding.

"Maya" he called out. She managed to stare and hold a gaze with his eyes. For once Maya noticed the touch of emerald in those eyes, it was too pretty to look away.

"Are you still thinking about what happened yesterday?"

She paused and looked away. "Yesterday----- what happened, oh--- no, no--- absolutely not" she stuttered nervously.

"You're sure?"

"Yes"

"Well I hope you aren't too uncomfortable with me then" he told her bluntly, peering into her eyes.

"Why do you say that?"

"You seem to flinch at every unintentional touch"

Oops ~ he noticed that!

"I'm--- I'm not used to every body's touch" she stuttered nervously again.

"It's okay. It's fine"

"So we can go now?"

"Yes sure"

°

Maya let out a loud sigh as she gently closed the door behind her, glad that nothing happened between them today again.

"You're finally back!"

"Yes I am" Maya turned and flinched, she thought it was Vinna.

"Allison? What are you doing here?", she half yelled.

"No need to yell young lady" Allison forced a fake smile and sat on the only sofa in the room.

"What do you want Allison?"

Allison heaved and crossed her leg against the other. "I wonder how you got this much guts"

"That doesn't reply the reason why you're here"

"I was about leaving though" she got up and gave Maya a dead glare. "I just came to tell you one thing, stay clear away from Lance if you want to live"

"Lance?"

"Yeah the Lance Lee you know"

"I don't understand....I have nothing to do with him"

"Oh really? Then what were you doing with him last night by the sea side?" She smirked.

"How....how did you know that?" Maya starred at her, wondering if she has been stalking her lately.

"See? You can't even deny it. Listen to me, Lance is for Savannah and you know it. And you don't want Sav getting all mad at you for some dude. You definitely won't like what would happen" she paused and stared at her.

Maya who was already gritting with disdain. Well at least she didn't talk about the kiss, meaning she didn't know about that.

"And I heard he's your partner, sheesh are you that desperate? I understand he's quite adorable but can't you see the handwriting?"

Maya touched a trembling hand on her jean. "What are you driving at?"

"That he isn't your type. You aren't as classy as we are and would never fit in"

Annoyance welled in her as she watched Allison scowl. She was always talking about her not fitting in.

"Save the nonsense!"

"At least you got the message. Let's pretend I was never here" she scoffed, eyed the small room, and towered out, not shutting the door after.

Tears knotted in Maya's throat. She realized what Allison said seemed to be the truth, she wasn't any of their type neither is she as classy as them and would never fit in.

She swallowed hard, closed her eyes, sighed and took enough time to think and breathe.

•°•

Slowly, carefully, Vinna pushed open the door and walked in, humming the Summer camp's chant.

"Vinna you're here" Maya smiled wryly, sitting up on her bed.

"Yass I am" she tossed her jacket on the sofa beside her. "Oww I've held it for too long. I have to go"

Maya watched Vinna practically race to the bathroom. She let out a light shudder and plopped on her bed again.

Within five minutes, Vinna stepped out of the bathroom, fell on her own bed and breathed out a tired sigh.

°•°

Maya woke up to the sound of falling rain, she blinked rapidly, trying to gain full consciousness.

Wait that wasn't rain! Ah some of her stupid hallucinations. I mean it was summer.

She sighed as she looked at the bright sky through the window. She heard the soft snores of Vinna still sleeping, as the beam of sun rays penetrated through the curtains.

.

Maya looked down at her leg and slipped her feets into her slip-ons. She quietly stood to walk to the bathroom, then suddenly stopped on her track when she heard a mutter of her name behind.

"Maya!" She turned and starred at Vinna who was rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Oh Vinna, you're awake. I was just about going to the bathroom"

Vinna lets out a loud sneeze and sniffed.

"Are you okay?" Maya asked and slowly walked to Vinna's bed.

"No. This headache is pounding and making me feel like my head would come off soon." she grunted.

Maya felt her forehead with her palm "Sweet geez. Vinna you're burning, like very hot!"

"I would text Blake and let him know I'm skipping game time. I'm so weak to get up" Vinna muttered almost under her breath.

"We have to get you to the bathroom, clean up, get dressed, and then we head to the Camp clinic"

"The clinic? No! That place is filled with horrible stench of drugs!"

"Uhm.... Sorry but I'm not the sick one here. Come on get up" Slowly and gently, she pulled Vinna off the bed and placed her feet on the cold floor.

"I'd prepare your bath water. Just wait here" Maya stated once she succeeded in pulling Vinna off her bed and to the small sofa.

*

After preparing Vinna's bath water, Maya assisted her in getting to the bathroom. And then helped her to pick out a comfy dress while she took her bath.

They had finished doing their business and were on their way to the clinic.

"Do I really have to go to the clinic? It's just fever not a virus" Vinna whined just as Maya shut the door behind.

"Don't be a baby Vinna, you're only going for a check up, I'm sure you're not getting injected or something. So stop the worry" she didn't budge.

•

The nurse dragged the curtains open, leaving the rays of morning sunlight shimmering on Lance's face, the stench of drugs engulfed his nose again causing him to shiver. He hated clinics as much as he hated hospitals.

A light knock came through from the door and both the young nurse and Lance glanced at the door

"It's open!"

The nurse voiced out.

Carefully opening the door, Vinna walked in clutching her body to herself and Maya following behind.

"Good morning" Maya muttered not noticing Lance, who was at the other end of the room.

Vinna was right, the room did smell of drugs.

"Beautiful morning my dear" the young nurse smiled.

She was quite pretty and young for her job, with her kinky afro hair fitting perfectly with her melanin.

"Oh dear are you okay?" Her attention drawn to Vinna who was shivering already.

"She said she woke up with a pounding headache and fever"

"Oh I see. Go over to the bed, I'll attend to you now"

"I guess I should take my leave now. I'll be back with her breakfast" Maya beamed and she locked gaze with Lance at once.

"Alright dear"

She glanced at his palm, wrapped tightly with bandage.

'What happened to him?' She thought, with a little concern.

Lance glanced at the door as soon as Maya left and then at Vinna before he sighed.

Just as she closed the door, she saw Phoenix walking towards her, with a small smile written across his face.

"Hi Maya, Good morning"

"Hey! Phoenix" An innocent smile plastered on her face.

"I saw you come out of the clinic, are you okay?"

"Of course I am. I just escorted Vinna down here, she developed fever" she said

"Oh your friend right?"

Her small sized friend "Yes"

"So where are you headed to?"

"The dinning hall..."

Yes! They had a dinning hall, a hall where all the students are served either breakfast, lunch or dinner. More like the cafeteria or a meal room "...to get Vinna's breakfast and mine"

"Let's go then. That was where I was heading to." he replied plainly.

Both of them, side by side to each other walked past the other students who were either chattering or walking along with them.

"I heard Lance is your partner" he stated

"Oh yes, he is. My game partner" the small smile not leaving her pretty face.

"Why Lance of all people? I mean you heard what Sav did to other girls who were advancing towards him"

"Well he approached me to be his friend first and then game partner. I couldn't possibly turn him down, besides I'm not advancing towards him in anyway."

"Ohh"

What? Does he have a problem with that? ~ was what raced through her mind.

They were almost getting to the dining hall, she was careful not to stumble over her own feet.

He exhaled a short soft breath, once they had gotten to the dinning hall.

"Why don't we have a talk for a while. I mean before we hand Vinna her food" he suggested.

"Uhm....sure"

They walked to an empty seat and placed their trays on the table. Maya looked across the room, some students were just coming in while others were already munching their meals. Each table composed of four seats, each two directly opposite each other. She always ate with Vinna, but today here she was having breakfast with the popular Phoenix Walter.

She could see the other girls glaring at them.

Beneath her silky green fabric, her shoulders straightened. They had started eating when he noticed her pause with a brief smile on her face.

"What?"

"Huh?"

"Why the sudden smile?"

Her smile widened, remembering how arrogant he was to her when they first had a conversation. A weird conversation!

"You sure don't remember me" she sipped her milk.

He paused too, pretending to be clueless.

"Remember you? Do I know you anywhere else?"

"You guys really don't notice anybody. So you don't remember the girl whom you falsely accused of gawking at you?"

"Alot of girls have gawked at me and are still gawking. So I don't remember" he replied bluntly

"Wait really? You know what nevermind" she continued chewing her ham.

He watched her carefully; her long loose hair dropping on her thighs, her bangs loosed freely too.

'Such a beaut!'

"I was only kidding, I remember clearly. I seriously can't believe I'd be having a normal conversation with you now" he chuckled lightly.

She glared at him and heaved, smiling.

"Yeah whatever. But you were so rude. Did you change overtime or what?"

He laughed hysterically "That's just me, I'm only this nice to people I like" The words escaped

Maya almost choked on her own meal, she nervously tucked her soft hair behind her ears. Her stomach nearly plunging to her foot, how it felt awkward.

She cleared her throat "Well I guess the same applies for Lance too"

"Yeah maybe, and point of correction, I didn't falsely accuse you. You were gawking at me for real, you can't deny it now" he added beaming.

"Seriously? You're at this again?"

He laughed again and watched her pick on her food, scoffing.

None of them said anything for a while till they were done with their meals.

"I think I should get this to Vinna now"

The red paper bag stacked with food with help from the dinning servers. The paper bag stood out of her green dress.

Again he escorted her to the clinic.

"I see you and Vinna have being friends for a while now"

"Well sort of"

They talked for few more minutes before they finally got to the clinic. Phoenix held out the door and allowed her in before he walked in too.

At the end of the room was Vinna on the bed, with a blanket over her shoulders. And the other end was Lance still in the same position Maya remembered him to be.