Disclaimer: So yeah you know how this goes, right? I don't have to repeat myself, right? This isn't necessary, is it? Ugh, I'm gonna have to repeat myself every time, aren't I? That I don't own the beautiful people that are Austin and Ally? Fudge it, I'll clarify. THEY ARE MY PUPPETS (; I have so much fun controlling them ;x
Traveling was never my forte. Driving I could handle, so long as I wasn't crowded and I wasn't stuffed in a car that didn't have air conditioning. However, flying and cruising over the ocean was never really on my to-do list. I hated the crowds, the heights, the risks and most of all, I hated the over-confidence that people had in the machinery. Plenty of planes have crashed and been lost and the Titanic was supposed to be unsinkable but it sank on its first voyage.
No, ships and planes could never fully be trusted because there is always that one chance that something could happen.
Why am I ranting about traveling, you might ask? Because the senior arts class of Marino Highschool was going on a trip to Africa, and this trip was considered exclusive, because only the top ten rankings of each class was allowed to come, and I was in the top five of both of them because I was secretly in both classes. To make matters worse, I was going on this trip without my best friend, Trish, because she wasn't in the arts classes because it didn't suit her tastes and god, I have never wanted to strangle her for her un-creativeness more than right now, because she was making me do this mentally alone.
Sighing, I follow the students and two teachers ahead of me, scanning the crowd of chattering teenagers ahead of me. Regrettably, I only recognize a few of them.
Desmond 'Dez' Worthy, who is number one in art class and, although I acknowledge his art talents, I can't say that I believe he's the sharpest tool in the shed. He has auburn hair and blue eyes and his fashion sense is creative. Honestly, that's the nicest way to put it. From what I can tell his favorite thing is to be spontaneous and, admittedly, he's funny and kind-of cute.
There's Acacia 'AJ' Johnson, who is tied for number two in music class, just under me and tied with Austin Moon. She's very beautiful and talented, but very quiet and I'm one of the only people that has the pleasure to see her real side because we get along better than most in the class. With us, it's not just about being the best, even though I'm topped number one to her second. She's genuine, sweet and she even writes in her own songbook, like me. Her hair is dark red but in certain lighting, it looks purple and her eyes are a deep hazel green, occasionally brown. One time, when I asked her about that, she said that her eyes change depending on the color of her clothes and her environment.
Also, the most competitive and chosen by voting, most beautiful girl in the class was Sophie Baxton, sister to Cody and Samuel Baxton, all of whom were coming on this trip. Cody, Sophie and Sam were all in music class and they were rank third, fourth and fifth respectively. I don't know much about the power team, only that Sophie and Sam had black hair, sleek and shiny, along with blue eyes while Cody had blonde hair and pale blue eyes, so pale that if you just glance they'd look gray.
When I'd first seen Cody I was attracted to his mysteriousness, because unlike Sam and Sophie, he was quiet and didn't act high and mighty. Though that changed when he was in his families presence. I was able to talk to him once or twice when he wasn't with Sophie and Sam, but when he was even in the same room as them, all he did was try to bully me. My feelings are long gone, now.
The last person that I can recognize would be Austin Moon. Gorgeous shaggy blonde hair and deep brown eyes, he was the epitome of gorgeous when compared to others in the class. His voice was grade A and, truthfully, the only reason why I was ranked higher than him is because the teacher said that he needed to work on his songwriting ability.
"Allyana Dawson?" I look up, frowning. "Yes?"
"Weren't you listening? I was taking attendance. We're about to leave. Anyway, since it seems you weren't listening, I was saying that anything you get done on this trip will get treated as extra credit and added to the grade-book, okay?" Mrs. Cooper repeats herself and I blink, nodding.
"This'll be fun." I murmur, dragging my bag towards the vans that were taking us to the airport. Sighing, I struggle to lift my bag up and into the back. I lean over, grumbling, just as a bag flies past where my head was previously.
Blinking, I look up. "What the...?" A chortle of laughter comes from behind me and I turn, my eyes landing on Cody, Sophie and Sam.
"Aw, it missed the little dweeb." I scowl. Did I mention that Sophie was not at all nice?
Ignoring them, I turn back around and intend to use my anger to lift my bag into the back. Surprisingly enough, I succeed, lifting it enough to tilt and push it onto the floor of the van. Turning back around I throw my other bag around my shoulders.
"Everyone, get in." Mr. Cooper commands and I take a moment to acknowledge the fact that my teachers are probably going to use this trip to have a vacation with each other before getting in, settling down next to Acacia and hoping that the person next to me won't be Sophie or Sam or Cody.
My wish is answered, though I don't know whether or not I should be much more happy as Dez moves past my seat, leaving the seat next to me the last as Austin climbs into the van. Fidgeting nervously, I glance at him, blushing as I notice he's already looking at me.
"So, you're the notorious Ally, right?" He asks breezily and I nod, unsure. "Cool! I'm Austin Moon." He smiles and I blush again, because I'm pretty sure that that was one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen.
The whole ride to the airport was spent blushing, answering questions with one word or a nod and trying to keep my shoulder from brushing against Austin's. My luck wasn't so great because the turn going into the airport parking lot was sudden and sharp and all of my weight was practically thrown onto Austin.
"S-sorry!" I stutter, quickly scooting back over as the van pulls to a stop and people begin to get out.
"It's okay, you weren't that heavy to begin with." He laughs, ruffling my hair before standing up. I stare after him, blinking. Jeez, if he's like this with everyone no wonder he's the most popular guy in school.
A/N: (*-*) Review please. I'll give you an Austin. Besides that, though, I'm putting this under the "Adventure" category because I feel like no matter how horrifying a situation is, it really does turn into an adventure (especially if you survive it...)
Oh, god, that sounds horrifying.