18.
I quickly averted my eyes and opened the water tap, washing my hands and face. Why was he here?! This is just great...
“What a surprise,” Gabriel said with an obvious annoyance in his tone. “I guess,” I responded quietly, wanting to get the hell out of his proximity. “And what are you doing here at this time of the day? Crying your eyes out too, I see,” he noted with a smirk, making my blood boil and face turn red of embarrassment.
“Mind your own business,” I shot back, taking quick steps towards the door. I didn't want to be here, I wanted to be as far away from his as possible. I knew he was only going to be a problem for me. Turns out I was right.
“Let me guess, it has to do with Jack?” I grabbed the door handle and opened the door forcefully. “Why were you in our room anyways, huh? Well, it's not like that matters, but...” I walked through the door in quick steps “... Stay away from Jack.” The door closed behind me. My heart still beat fast, refusing to calm down. I tried to catch my breath that seemed to be lost during this encounter and walked back to my room.
This little trip didn't make me feel better – worse even. I silently laid back into my bed and sighed. I was pretty sure Gabriel knew what I was feeling. That made the whole situation just so much worse! Would he do something like blackmailing me? Would he say something so someone? To Jack? My head was a bigger mess than before.
A minute later Jack's room door opened and closed. And how I wished it was Jack.
I didn't get much sleep that night.
-
“Morning sleepyhead, wake up! We're late already,” Peter called with a slight annoyance. I grunted and covered my ears with my blanket. “Go awaaaaay, just 5 more minutes,” I responded, clearly not happy to stand up that soon. I just wanted to take my time, eat breakfast in peace and- “it's 8:58am man, we have to meet up at 9, remember?” I heard Julian say.
I bolted up immediately, eyes widen. “8:58AM?!” I shrieked. “8:59am now, bud,” Peter reminded me as he looked at his phone. I quickly put on my clothes while yelling at my roommates, “why didn't you wake me up earlier?!”
Both of my friends sighed in unison. “We tried to, ok? Like, 5 times in the course of one and a half hour,” Julian explained, packing his backpack. I started to do the same in a hurry, thinking of the most important things I would need. Which reminded me - “where are we going today, anyway?” I asked them as they were ready to leave.
They looked at me with raised eyebrows. “Don't you know anything?” I just shrugged with a weak smile. “Well, first we're visiting Westminster Abby and then we have free time at Camden market,” said Julian. “Ok, so I'm gonna need money,” I took 100 pounds from my initially 250 amount and put on my shoes.
“9:05am,” said Julian as he and Peter went out of the door. “Coming!” I called behind them as I checked if I had everything. I let out a frustrated sigh as I thought of not eating breakfast today. My stomach growled on cue after I closed my room door. Wow, thanks.
I hurried down the stairs of the hotel, knowing the teachers were waiting for me. But I was calmed by the thought that not everyone was already there. We usually set off at 9:20am or later, so I wasn't that worried.
As I arrived at the meeting spot before the hotel, I was proven right. Only 13, without me, of the 22 students in total were present.
9:12am.
I settled on some stairs next to my friends who were chatting about something I didn't pay attention to. I scanned the crowed for a certain someone, but without success. It looked like Jack was late as well.
My eyes still wandered over the scenery, taking in the colors, the scents or what other students were doing, chatting, laughing, waiting. I watched the exit of the hotel, being suddenly overcome with a longing, feeling detached and alone.
I quickly shook those feelings away, turning around to join my friends. I wondered if this was going to be a difficult day yet again.
And hearing Jacks voice behind me didn't help me answer that question at all.
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