K O A

One of the maids locks her eyes on me as she wipes down the marble countertop. "Your father is in his office." She whispers, "Get out while you still can."

I exchange a thankful nod, grabbing an apple out of the bowl, hurrying over to the front doors. I hear his slick shoes tap against the black marble floor behind me. "Not so fast Koa."

He places both his hands on my shoulders, my back stiffens at his touch, he pushes his thumbs into my neck, massaging my back. "I'm going to be late." I murmur.

A chuckle escapes his lips, making goosebumps form on my skin. "You'll get there on time, even if they have to wait, I am paying for the trip after all."

My mom pokes her head around the corner, her dark  hazel eyes holding back tears. "Henry, maybe let Koa get there on time." She suggests, taking small steps towards my father.

My tongue dries up as my father moves his hand, my heart hardens like a stone in my chest, my body feels numb, like I'm unable to move. He grasps the apple from my hand, biting into it. "Don't be stupid Nina. There's no problem with the other kids waiting." His thumb grazes my cheek, running it over my bottom lip.

"Henry!" Knox shouts from behind my mom. His arms crossed and his blue eyes stone cold.

Knox wraps his hand around my fathers wrist, prying his hands off of me. "If you want to live another day, then don't touch my brother!" He seethes, giving him a threatening glare.

Henry gulps, taking a step back. Knox shoves me out the front door, slamming it behind him. He drags me toward his car, gripping his hands to the ends of his dusky hair. His face falls once he sees the tears ooze down my cheeks. He wraps his arms around me, pushing my head into his shoulder. "It's okay bub, I've gotch you."

-

O P A L

Iris giggles, playfully hitting Briars arm in the seat in front of me. I glance out the bus window, still no sign of Koa and the buses leave in five minutes. I lay my head against the glass window, chipping my freshly painted yellow nails. I pull three bags of sunflower seeds from my bag on the ground by my feet. I lean on the seat in front of me, reaching over and handing Briar and Iris both a bag. "I made trail mix!"

"Oo my favorite!" Iris chirps, pulling out the pieces of dried yogurt and scarfing it down. "This gal really knows how to make the best food."

"You'll have to cook for me sometime." Briar winks.

I grin, "I can teach you. Everything I know my dad taught me, he's the chef in the family."

"Mmm can't wait Opal!"

I glance out the window, seeing Knox pull Koa into a bear hug, telling him a few things before Koa hops onto the bus. I stand up and wave him over, "Sit next to me, Koa." I pat the open spot beside me.

He works his way over and sits down beside me, making me bounce up. "Hi!" I smile up at him.

His blue eyes are somewhat red, almost like he had been crying. "Hey." He mumbles out softly, combing his fingers through his hair.

"Are you okay?"

He turns his head away from me, popping his earbuds into his ears. He snatches my bag of homemade trail mix, unzipping the bag and grabbing a handful. I grin and watch him eat.

His eyes wander over to look at me. "Can I help you?"

"No," I wave my hand in front of me, "it's nothing."

"Okay.."

I push my lips together, forming a straight line, glancing up at Koa. "Opal I know you have something to say, so just say it."

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to be around, but, if you ever want to talk or need a friend, I'm always here. I miss being friends with you Koa."

He brushes off my comment, as if I didn't say anything. "You look nice."

"You're not the first one to tell me that today."

"It must be nice getting all those compliments."

He shrugs his broad shoulders, "So I've been told."

Almost an hour of me talking about random stuff and Koa rolling his eyes now and again, a gust of cold wind hits me from the open window beside me. I stand up and try to close the window, failing to do so, the slide buttons won't budge.

Koa sees me struggling, he stands up, pushing his body against mine in order to close the window. "Thanks Koa."

He gives me a slight nod before tapping away at his phone. I reach down to pull something from my bag, the bus hits a bump, making me hit my temple against the metal wall. "Ouch.." I murmur out.

"Oof, that looked like it hurt."

"It did."

He hands me his cold water bottle, "It'll help."

"Thanks." I place the bottle against my temple, "So how's your side doing?"

"Its good."

"Does it feel better?"

He nods.

"Well good, I'm glad."

A few quiet moments pass, I pull a sliced orange out of a lunch box in my bag, holding it up against my lips. "Let's turn that frown of yours upside down."

He gestures to my orange, a soft almost inaudible chuckle spills through his lips. "Your orange is frowning."

I grin and bite into the slice, "Not anymore my friend."

His cheeks plumpen as a grin appears on his face.

"I'm glad we're hanging out again, Koa."

He bites his lip and turns his head the other way. "Uh-huh."

-

Mr.Griffen eyes Koa, he walks up to us and gives us a polite smile, "Hello. Here are your bunking buddies and schedules for the next two days. Ten is bedtime, you are not allowed to leave your rooms unless stated. I'm looking at you Koa."

A playful grin tugs on his lips, "Aye, don't go around pointing fingers."

Mr.Griffen lets out a soft chuckle, adjusting his glasses in the process. "Please be up and ready at eight, that is when we meet in the lobby, right here." He gestures towards the spot we're standing in. "That's when we eat breakfast and at eight thirty we will be getting onto the buses, then we'll go from there. Here are your room keys, please go get settled in and then come back down by six, so we can eat dinner."

Iris and I turn to each other, looping our arms. "Let's go get settled in!" She chirps. "See you in a bit boys." She glances at them and adds a flirtatious wink.

Iris and I walk into our gorgeously gigantic room, "Wow." I breathe out. "I don't think I've ever stepped foot into a hotel this expensive and beautiful."

"Me neither."

I place my bag at the end of my bed before wandering over to the balcony, "Whoa, Iris, you've got to get a look at this view!"

She hurries over and her jaw drops, "The lake looks amazing from here."

"Can't wait to go swim in it."

"With some yummy looking boys."

I giggle and playfully nudge her arm, "Boy crazy, aren't we?"

"Just a tad."

A knock echos throughout the hotel room, I stumble over to the door and see Briar through the peephole. "Hey Briar, Come on in." I grab his arm and he slips through the door. "Do you have the same view as us?"

"No I have a garden view, but dang, look at the lake."

"I know!" Iris chimes in, jumping onto her bed and snuggling into her king size blanket. "Gosh this bed is cozy. Maybe you should join me Briar." She wiggles her eyebrows and smiles seductively.

He runs the back of his neck and gulps, "I Uh, um...yeah." He mumbles out.

I giggle as his face fades red. "Your adorable when your awkward."

His face turns almost candy apple red, his head snaps to look at the balcony, "Would you look at that view!" He smiles awkwardly.

"Yeah!", it's stunning isn't it." I lay my hands along the wood railing. "It makes me want to live here."

"Oh this is bloody brilliant!" He grabs a strawberry off the table, "I didn't see these in my room, mind if I have one?"

"Go for it." He bites into the chocolate covered strawberry, placing the stem in the disposal bin.

"So," I lean my back against the railing and grab a delicious looking strawberry, "Who's your bunking buddy?"

"Koa." He sighs.

"Oh goodness."

"My thoughts exactly."

"Last week I was giving him his earbuds that he left behind and he punched me in the face."

"Again!?"

He bobs his head up and down, "Yup."

I gently rub his bicep, "I'm sorry- goodness your arm is very muscular."

A snoozing Iris whistles from inside the room, "You go girl."

"Oh I'm sorry." I turn around, trying to hide my face from the embarrassment, "I wasn't trying to feel your muscles, I was going for a comforting manner."

He snickers, placing his hand on my shoulder, "Opal, your fine. Nothing to get shamefaced about."

A loud bang on the door startles us, "I'll be right back." Koa, I pull open the door and smile, "Hey Koa! What brings you by?"

He shrugs, "My roommate's a prick."

I look over to Briar who looks somewhat annoyed. "Knob head." He mutters.

"What did you call me?"

"I didn't say anything."

Koa lifts a brow, taking a step closer to Briar, "You sure? Because I could have sworn I heard something come out of that mouth of yours."

He shakes his head, "Well your mistaken."

"Huh, okay, I'll let this one go."