Chapter 15: Chapter 15

She turned, her eyelids stirring as they adjusted to the light flooding in through the tent. Peeping one eye open, she looked around. Her first instinct was to check the time. Taking her phone, she turned it on. The time read 7:16 am. Ugh. It already looked very bright and she for sure needed some more sleep. Attempting to go back to dreamland one more time, she turned her face towards the other side at the same moment a fierce whistle was blown. She groaned, pulling a pillow over her head.

"Everyone! Get freshened. We need to get started quickly. First and foremost, we need to exercise for 15 minutes. Yesterday, I let it go, but not today. I'm reducing the time to 15, but just because it's camp. Today you will be separated into groups and your schedules given to you, so get ready!” The loud voice Mr Cameron boomed through the silence.

Immediately, she heard shuffles and groans from all around. Best to get this over with. One thing they knew about him, was that he sure didn't like repeating himself.

Well away from the campsite, she crouched and brushed her teeth. From far away she could hear the faint commands Mr Cameron was bombarding to the students. She washed her face using a small bucket. As she turned to leave, she heard a crunching sound. Light footsteps. She froze, looking around. She stared through the forest. But saw nothing but lush trees and wavy leaves in the sunlight. Probably nothing. Just her imagination. She was still a bit sleepy. Yes. That must be it. She shrugged, and jogged her way back in the direction of the camp.

In a hurry, she put on some plain leisure outfits -- a cream shirt with fluffy hands and a trouser and ran out to the field overlooking the tents. Not the best exercise outfit, but it would do. Fitness was never her forte. The field had been cleared of all the spare items used during the setup, making it bare. The campers stood in lines giving one foot space between each other. Jameela found a space at the end of the line with Nina. She was doing a little warm up before they began. She looked at Jameela. "I'm so excited! Today, we are going to have an eating competition. I'm gonna win, just you watch."

Jameela looked at her, confused. She had known Nina all her life, and she was not a fast eater. At all. She walked slowly, talked slowly, ate slowest. "Um, well, I hope you win. But to be honest, I don’t see the point of this whole eating competition."

She pouted, "don't look at me like that. I'm serious. And I think it’s a nice game. At least to shake the damp mood."

“Damp mood?”

“Yeah. Since we arrived, it has been quiet, you know. No action, no…”

“Whoa. What action do you want here? We have been having games. Talking, eating. That’s what camp is all about.” She replied sceptically.

“I don’t know. Just too quiet for me. Just games and games. Ugh. Boring.”

Jameela looked unconvinced. She was enjoying this as much as she could. She didn’t see the reason why camping would be boring. Games made everything fun and interesting. She thought of saying something but kept shut as Mr Cameron walked up to them. “Okay. Let’s begin,” he bellowed. They all began the sets as they were used to. After what felt like an hour, they were dismissed. Each went to freshen up in the showers in the main house. They took turns, to save time while some ran to the stream and washed themselves. Then they all lined up to the main room for breakfast. Jameela immediately poured herself some coffee. Nothing beats coffee to keep a mind alert.

"Mrs Sana, I went to the main gate and didn't see Sir Robert. The bus isn't there too." Drew asked, as soon as Mrs Sana rushed in with a salad on a bowl. As always, she was smiling.

"Oh my dear. It's Cameron. He just decided, out of the blue, to bring two exercise equipment." She snapped her fingers, then continued, "he says that we need to keep fit. I think he has forgotten that this is camping. You all need to take a break. And besides, what about the swimming, football, tennis and the other games. Aren't they exercise too?"

"Yes. They are. Even better than using equipment." Drew answered.

"See? He just won't understand. Anyways, that why Sir Rob isn't here. He went early, to the next town, in order to come back early and not drive in the dark." She explained, then turned back towards the kitchen before she jerked to a stop, and turned. Clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention she said, "students, regarding the signal issue, please just remember it's camp. We have discussed this before. You don't need to engage yourselves in calling, texting, blah blah. I know you want to use your phones and call home, but just be patient. Towards the end of the week, we will guide you to the signal area ok?"

Peyton interrupted her, carefully removing bits of salad cream from her salad. "Signal area? So there's a signal area?"

"Yes dear. I heard it's on the cliff. But, for now, just be patient ok?"

"Yes Mrs." They replied.

"Good. I will be inside in case you need me. Have fun. See you later." She winked.

~~~~~

After breakfast, they all lined up as Mr Cameron made an announcement. “Everyone. You will be divided into groups of five. Since you all are twenty eight here, some group will have five individuals. The guides will roll around with numbers shuffled in a bowl. Each of you will take only one number. Depending on your number, you will be teamed together and assigned with a guide. For the rest of camp, three days a week, you will meet up with your guide and undergo various activities. Is that clear?”

The guides passed around with the numbers as the students each took a number. Jameela couldn’t help but smirk as she caught Adriana’s look after taking a number. Ha! Maybe she wasn’t happy with the arrangement.

Jameela looked at her number. 5. She wondered who her guide was. Before long, she got her answer. Graham was her guide. She felt a stifle in her chest. She never liked that guy from the beginning. She couldn’t put her hand on what, but something just wasn’t right with him. She had wished she was going with Alessio. Or even Mrs. Sana. They were the best. So easy going and friendly. Even the new lady Joanne would be great as a guide. She was friendly and always willing to help around. Her eyes caught Alessio’s who was standing under a shade with his selected campers. They smiled at each other from a second before she walked to the swing area. Graham was sitting on a swing as his campers stood all around him. They were five. – Ade, Ryan, Katie, Dmitry and Jameela.

“So guys, I’m your guide as you already know. Um, we will be taking this step by step. Okay? Gradually. Since we have a whole lot of time. There’s no need to rush everything. Um, today we will start with a trek. Just a normal trek to the woods. Get to know each other, have fun, and take pictures. Just casual.”

Katie raised a hand. Graham nodded at her. “What if there’s a storm? What will we do then?”

“Yes, in case of a rain, we find shelter around, there’s bound to be somewhere to hide.”

Jameela arched her eyebrows. Hide?

He continued, “if it’s a storm, of course we will be already prepared. With the spare rolled up tents in the main house. Each of you will take one in their backpacks, along with food, snacks, water for hydration and anything else you feel is important to you. That’s the routine every time we’re having an activity outside of camp. Understood? Some days, we might be gone for two to three days, trekking and exploring the mountains around.”

“Huh?” Murmurs from all around the campers, as they looked at him bewildered. Graham offered no further explanations. Instead, he clapped his hands and looked at his watch.

“Yep. So go back inside and get your things. Meet me at the gate in five. Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Jameela walked slowly to the main house, feeling exasperated. Her first stop was the store, a medium room that was adjacent to the kitchen. Random foodstuffs were kept there, in addition to a bunch of spare items. She took a spare rolled up tent and then went to the room where her bags were in search of a backpack. This was not what she expected nor how she had planned her day. She was supposed to go with Alessio to explore the wild forest, and he had promised to surprise her. She felt an instant resentment towards Mr. Cameron. He had brought this whole nonsense idea. Just when they were adjusting to enjoying time from activities that reminded them of school. Taking her spare backpack, she shoved in her tiny purse which contained her phone, wallets, and spare cash. Event though she wasn’t sure how it would be of use here in the wilderness, but well, you never know. Best to be safe than sorry.

She folded her grey denim jacket in the backpack, not sure if the sunny weather would take a drastic turn. Ha. If it happened to storm, at least they would hide. She rolled her eyes. Whatever was wrong with Graham, she didn’t know. He didn’t strike her as the type to be a guide. Though she didn’t know his full story, she had heard from Dan who heard it from Adriana who heard it from someone that Graham was a computer whiz working at a very good company in the city. Then what was a computer genius who was obviously paid well doing here at camp? What could he be looking for?

Next, she raided the fridge, shoving in her favourite snacks and the foods Mrs Sana had line up for everyone in takeaways, with bottled of water and drinks. She was wearing a light ash shirt with long comfortable trousers. She figured there was no need for her to change.

“Hey.”

She turned, to find Alessio, walking towards her. “Hey, you.”

“Listen. I know you’re sad now that our arrangement has been foiled. But don’t worry, okay? Tomorrow we can go out.”

“Really? But how about your surprise.”

“Ahh. Don’t worry about that. It will be okay. Besides, tomorrow’s surprise will be much better. Trust me.”

She smiled, feeling much better than she did before. “Okay. Tomorrow then.”

Their plan was still on! She walked trying to keep a straight face in case someone had seen them talking. Cautiously, she looked around. The camp was almost empty now, the campers each gone with their assigned guide. Her heart fluttered and melted with warmth wondering what the surprise for tomorrow was. She would try and wake up early then. No, someone would notice. Her thoughts sprang at her in a twisted mumbo-jumbo. For now, she would put her best in the trek. Enjoy herself for the time being. She found her group waiting for her by the gate and off they went into the ominous forest.