jinkx
amateur sleuth
"Field trips fucking suck." is the general statement rolling around the bus, full of sweaty, disgruntled teenagers. They have been cramped in the bus for the last six hours, on their way out to an island in the middle of nowhere, and even the usually optimistic Sophie has resorted to closing her eyes and waiting for it to be over. She gave up on reassuring everybody that they would be there soon about an hour ago.
You should probably clarify that this is not your everyday, average, class but the tenth grade Special Ed class instead. This is the group of kids who couldn't be in the usual classes for whatever reason and honestly, you're a unique bunch of people. There are twelve of you in total but you, Jana Whitton, consider yourself to be a leader of sorts; you're the one that everybody turns to when they have a problem and you're the one that sits at the front of the bus and turn around in your seat to tell everybody that you can see the island. There's an exhausted cheer from the half of the class who are actually awake and a happy wave from Becky, the mute girl.
You prod Sophie awake to let her know that you've finally arrived at the island and she seems to snap back into optimistic mood automatically, smiling brightly at you and saying something about the wonderful view. You don't see much outside but murky trees and a lot of fog but she's your best friend, so you quickly agree with her. She pulls her camera out of the satchel bag she carries around and points it outside the window, snapping a quick shot of what looks like a very boring forest. She shows you the picture and you tell her it's very pretty.
"I'm gonna take lots of pictures for my Mom. She really wanted to come with us." Sophie says, brightly, and as the bus pulls to a stop, she leaps out of her seat. She slips on the parka that you have never seen her without and pulls her long hair out of the way- she has the prettiest long hair you've ever seen, sleek and black- before slipping down the aisle. You follow her off the bus, jumping into the inch thick mud. Your sneakers sink into it almost instantly and you feel disgusted, lifting one up and watching the mud stick to your shoe. It's like the cheese on a pizza but so much grosser.
"This sucks." The girl with the thick eyeliner and the leather jacket complains and there's a murmur of agreement throughout the group. Becky nods and you meet her eye. She crosses her eyes and mimes jabbing two fingers into her skull, making you laugh.
Even the teacher and leader of your group, Mrs Darands, looks like she'd rather be anywhere but here as she confers with the guide of the island. She's the kind of woman, who would much rather be at home with a bubble bath, champagne, a thick paperback novel and mourn the loss of Mr Darands. However, she addresses your group with the fake cheery tone that teachers use when addressing a bunch of kids they think are doomed to fail and she tells everybody that it's a bit of a hike to the cabins where you're going to be staying. She indicates a light deep in the forest, far in the distance, and you look down at your already battered sneakers. You don't want to walk.
Andrew, the small kid on the crutches, look physically pained at the idea and you feel awful for even complaining about the walk. You pat him on the shoulder as you lift your backpack onto one shoulder and walk past him. Mrs Darands takes the lead, walking up the beaten path through the woods, and you follow directly behind. Like you said, the teacher might be in charge but nearly everybody knows that you're the leader of the group. Your friend, Sophie, walks at your side as she has done for the last two years. She's the kind of person that will get easily distracted by something off-path so you take her hand and hold it tightly.
Unfortunately, you don't get very far before Sophie insists you stop so that she can take a picture of:
1. A fallen tree
2. The setting sun
3. You and the group
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