Preface:

My heart was pounding so fast and hard I was sure you could see its rhythmic pattern pounding out from under my shirt. I had always promised my self I would not cry over a boy. Not while I was still only sixteen. I mean I'm way too young to get in that deep. But still, as I looked into his striking eyes, I couldn't help but let go of the rest of my resolve once more, leaving me in more danger of being hurt than I ever wanted to be.

Chapter One: The announcement

Ugh. I despised parade. It was the absolute worst way to start off a school day. Especially a Monday. I let my mind wander, blocking out the mundane voice of the Head-of-Learning-Community. I thought about the day before. My younger sister, Kaci, and I had been watching the T.V when one of our favorite shows came on. It was about these kids who go into the Amazon to help some of the animals there and they all have to live in the forest and go through some really tough conditions. At first I didn't like the program; I felt a strange feeling watching it, a feeling which I soon discovered to be jealousy. I wished I could go and help someone. I wanted to have the experience of being away from your family and go through hardships.

I was tugged from my reverie when my best friend, Alice, pulled on my uniform sleeve.

"Bella, Bella, please come with me! Please, please, please, plea-" I cut her off. That girl gets too excited for her own good.

"Alice, what the hell are you on about?" It was way too early in the morning to be that excited. I eyed my friend suspiciously.

Alice was short, pixie – like almost. She had short, pitch black hair, cropped like Katie Holmes. Only Alice had it first. Alice was a fashionista and this crossed with her bubbly, and devious personality made her incredibly scary when in a mall. Very few people were able to rein her in.

Aside from myself, our other best friend Rose, was one of the only other people who could do this. However, most of the time Rose sided with Alice, and they were both intent on torturing me to death with endless amounts of clothes to try on and model for them. Rose was beautiful, just like Alice. Only Rose was about 5ft 10, platinum blonde, with a statuesque figure. Most people were putt off by Rosalie's abruptness, but once you got to know her, she was ok. It didn't help, though that most boys were fighting over her, and most girls hated her for this.

It was Rose who answered me, through her fit of giggles that was incurred through Alice's reaction.

"Bella, the school is having a trip to Cambodia! We so hav-"

She was cut off by the H-L-C who was glaring intently in our direction.

"Pfft. Everyone else was talking to." Rose mumbled under her breath.

The H-L-C continued on.

"The 3- week trip will entail humanitarian work in an aids orphanage. Students will be staying in the village and will encounter severe hardships. The teachers chauffeuring the trip will be Mr. Hodges and Ms Williams. For more information come and see me after parade."

He continued on talking about all the other trivial things that had occurred in our learning community and the school over the past week, but we weren't paying attention.

As soon as the bell sounded signaling the end of parade the three of us were right next to our HLC.

"Ah, of course," He sighed, "I thought you three would like this."

The three of us were well known to the teachers. I mean in grade 11 most students are, but we three especially. We were all smart, athletic and always involved in something around the school. Also Rose and Alice were unbelievably beautiful. They were always trying to tell me that I was too, but it was very hard to believe. I had long brown hair and brown eyes. To me, my features were plain. The only thing I had going for me was the fact that I was a girl, and therefore, I had curves. Still, my figure was nothing compared to Rosalie's.

"Here's the permission forms, girls. I think you will really enjoy this. You spend three weeks over there. The first few days you will spend in a Guest House, a bit like a backpackers, if you will. That will be in the capital, Phnom Penn. You will pretty much be debriefed there, and will have time to adjust to the country. It will be a big change."

I looked over to Rose and Alice. They both looked at me. Their grins could not have been more evident. Alice was bouncing so much with excitement, I think our HLC thought he should maybe sedate her. I agreed with him. He continued on,

"From there you will spend about 12 days in an orphanage. The orphanage is an Aids orphanage and also contains a village where families can stay. In order to stay there both the parents must have HIV Aids. This is so when the parents die the children will have somewhere to go. In the orphanage, you will eat what the children eat, and sleep on the floor."

The HLC paused there, and glanced to each of our faces. What ever it was that he was looking for, im sure he did not find it. Our faces were each set in masks of excitement and delight. Sleeping on the floor would just be another part of the adventure. Nothing could stop our trio from going on this trip of a lifetime!

He continued on once more.

"You will also be required to do some manual labor, while staying at the orphanage."

This time, when he paused and glanced at our faces, I saw a hint of a smirk playing at the edges of his aged lips. He definitely had won that one. Alice's face had gone from excited to terrified in a matter of milliseconds. Rose wasn't as bad as Alice, but her grin was no longer from ear to ear.

"Ugh, come on guys!" I exclaimed. "What's a bit of work? It will just make it so much more fun! Come on, you have to come! It will be awesome fun!"

When that didn't work, I decide to pull out my most powerful weapon: the puppy dog pout.

The HLC was grinning victoriously at me when a high pitched screaming polluted the air around us. I looked, horrified, to my side to see Alice and Rose holding each other, jumping around. Before I could react I was pulled into the awkward hug, and we were screaming "We're going to Cambodia!"

At that moment, three tall figures walked in through the door of the assembly hall.

"So are we!" They exclaimed.