Chapter 4

JAVIER 

    The screams and laughter of children filled the surroundings as the excited children alighted their bus. I think I'm gonna get a headache. I tried to search for Marina, I saw her talking to some guy. It was the same guy from yesterday. I don't like him, I don't know why but I don't. I was happy for the fact Bianca was among the team helping the kids. I don't think I can stand another minute of her endless rant without yelling at her to shut up.

 That would not bode well for her, her uncle and I. The fact that Lily Cabin was small meant it only needed two coordinators and a minimal number of children. Some people would call me mad. I mean look at my life. I claimed I needed peace and an escape from it all yet here I am at camp. As a camp coordinator for kids. And everybody knows kids are far from quiet. Which brings to mind the question 'why am I here?' I think the better question would be 'how did I know Marina would be here?'. 

    Before I could answer that thought, Marina approached me. A smile plastered on her face. "We need to go and pick up the kids who will be staying in our Cabin with us" she stated. I nodded. As we rounded up the kids, Bianca came close and discreetly pecked my cheeks. I glared at her and she simply smiled before turning away. After getting the kids settled in the Cabin, I wandered off to the kitchen to get a Coke. Turns out our mini kitchen is stocked with snacks and drinks. But we still need to attend Mess hall. I was about to grab a bag of chips when it was snatched from my hands. I turned to see Marina glaring at me. 

     "What?" She shrugged. 

"I will only say this once, 'keep it in your pants.'" 

I was shocked to say the least. What was she talking about?  

"What are you talking about?" My question infuriated her. 

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about." I think she might be having mental issues. I hadn't done anything all day to her. I've barely spoken to her. The confused look on my face might have given away the fact I didn't have an idea of what she was talking about  

"I'm talking about you and that Blondie. What's her name again? Bianca. Yeah, Bianca. I saw you two getting comfy yesterday and don't think I didn't see when she kissed you today." So that's what the rant is about. 

  

  Suddenly an idea struck me. "Marina are you jealous?" My question definitely threw her off balance. I smirked at her reaction.  

"Why would I be jealous?" She asked in a quiet voice. 

"Oh I don't know, I should be asking you the same thing" I said teasing her. I moved closer to her and whispered in her ear.

"Maybe you're jealous of Bianca. You wished you were in her place." I wasn't going to lie, I liked how close we were to each other. She looked me in the eye and pushed me off. 

"Of course I'm not jealous. I'm looking out for my best friend that is in fact your girlfriend and last time I checked, you are still dating her. I won't allow you to step out of line simply because she's not here." 

"Of course, you'd say that. But deep down, I know you're jealous" I brushed my lips past her ear, snatched my chips from her hands and walked to my room. 

   MARINA 

    Shocked. 

    Surprised. 

    Stunned. 

    Those were the adjectives I could use to describe how I felt as Javier stalked to his room after our episode. I quickly scanned the area to ensure that none of the kids witnessed that. After finding none, I exhaled a sigh of relief and relived the entire scene a hundred times in my mind. Ever since Javier started dating Britney, he stopped playing around with girls. Everyone's claimed Britney tamed his player ways but I still have cause to doubt him. Old habits die hard. But I hope he gets the message. I wondered where I got the courage to confront him, I usually shy away from confrontations, they were not my forte. But I just stood up to Javier, I felt proud of myself. But I also felt weak at that moment. 

 Clearly Javier has no idea that being that close to me was unhealthy- to me. He has no idea how affected I am by him. Of course I'm not jealous. I stopped being jealous a long time ago. But suddenly I had a feeling that sharing a Cabin with Javier was not such a good idea after all. 

   

JAVIER 

    Avoidance! She was avoiding me?! Marina was avoiding me as if I was her worst enemy, as if I had caught the plague. I hate being avoided. Ever since that incident in the kitchen two days ago, she became elusive. If I entered a room, she left. If I tried to talk to her, she pretended she was needed elsewhere. It was getting on my nerves.To add to that, she was hanging out with that guy, Nick and his buddies.

 Bianca was becoming clingy and extremely annoying. If I tried to socialize with any of the other camp coordinators, especially the girls, she would always interrupt me. She just wants to monopolize me all the time.  

Yesterday, one of the kids asked me to help her tie her shoes, then Bianca came over and said some stuff. The little camper got upset and began crying real loud. It took a bunch of camp coordinators to sooth her. But today was gonna be different. The bugle call sounded, it was a really annoying sound they used to get us out of bed. It was said we'll get used to it. But I hadn't, I still found it annoying. I knew Marina would be up trying to get the tiny campers ready for whatever activity planned for them. I knew I was supposed to help her but....... I opened the door to their room and chaos greeted me. Kids running around, loud shrieks from the girls as the boys chased them. How did the Boys get in here? I saw Marina trying to get a girl to get up from her bed. The girl was holding on to the bunk. This would not do. I whistled loudly to get the attention of every one, the room quietened down, everyone looking at me. 

"Boys out" all the boys filed out."Girls center of the room," all the girls quickly assembled including the girl who refused to get up. "Now you are all going to get ready for today. I don't want anymore noise. Am I understood?" They nodded their heads in affirmation and I left. After instructing the boys and getting all the kids ready, The bus arrived. I was so happy they were gone. I spotted Marina as she was trying to leave.

 "Marina" she stopped in her tracks. "Why are you avoiding me?" 

 "I'm not. I'm just ignoring you." Her answer threw me off balance, she turned to leave when I grabbed her wrists. 

"Javier let go." 

"Why are you in such a hurry? We are both in charge of setting up the boats for tomorrow's activity." 

   MARINA 

    I completely forgot about that. Julya reminded me yesterday but she didn't tell me Javier would be there. For most part of the camp, Javier is nowhere to be found, I was surprised he even showed up today to help with the kids. They are quite a handful but he clearly knows how to deal with them. I wonder why he hasn't been helping, leaving me all alone to deal with them by myself. Other Cabins are kinda huge and has a lot of coordinators to supervise the kids. But here, it's just me and Javier. 

    "Marina!"  

"What?!" I snapped at him. 

"I'm gonna get ready so we can leave together, okay" he said in a calm tone and I regretted snapping at him. I nodded and he left to get ready. I pulled out my phone to check for any new messages. 

Who am I kidding? Nobody ever messages me. Britney texts me from time to time and Mason does check in on me. But since I arrived at camp ground, only one text from Mason wishing me luck and zero from Britney. I guess she's so busy hanging out with her new cheerleader friends, she has forgotten about me. 

But I'm not bitter about it, she has been friends with me for a long time now. We were kinda low on the popularity ladder but ever since she started dating Javier, her popularity increased. I'm still low in the chain but I'm happy for her. I just wished she'd call me.

 "Its your favorite girl Britney, can't come to the phone right now, leave a message" her voicemail is really annoying.  

"Hey bestie, its Marina. I hope you're having fun with the cheerleaders. Call me." I also left a message for Mason. I hope he's doing well at the basketball program. I remembered that Javier was meant to go but he's here. I'm gonna ask him about it later, I just got a message from Mom. 

   Mom: Where are you? Why aren't you picking up my calls? I hope you're not out with some boy. Anyway, when you get back from your little sexcapade, make sure to get some whiskey. We're almost out. 

    It was really annoying and sad how that little incident tore our family apart. I was about to call her and correct her misconception when I heard a voice behind me. I turned to look at him and my jaw dropped. Standing in front of me was six foot four inches of Javier Anderson fresh out of the shower. He smelled of shampoo and aftershave. His piercing green eyes that resembled emerald orbs, jaw that could probably slice my toast and black ensemble, he looked hot. And I was staring, maybe even drooling. 

    "Like what you see" he smirked. 

"As if" I scoffed. 'Yes I do, You look so hot, I just wanna....' Okay, hold the phone, where did that come out from? 

"Come on Riri, let's go" he knows I hate that nickname. 

"Don't call me that" I scowled as we left the Cabin. "Whatever you say, Riri." Today was gonna be one heck of a day. 

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