Chapter 7
"Come on kids" cried Mr Barshaw "we're only half way there!" The man, despite his weight, seemed abnormally good at hiking, which happened to be the first evening's activity. Louise was dragging behind, breathing heavily, her little legs trying their best to keep up with the older kids. She could see Logan up ahead, easily coping with what she was sure was a mountain, but Mr Barshaw had insisted to her was just a hill.
"I can't take much more of this" she panted. She longed to be back in her warm bed at home, cuddling kuchi kopi, and listening to the distant sound of her parents getting tipsy and browsing the internet for stupid things to buy. She always enjoyed mocking their drunken purchases.
"Bunny girl" yelled Mr Barshaw. "Hurry up, you're slowing everyone down". Louise felt her cheeks redden, and kept her head down.
"Yeah well… you're… fat" she muttered as she gasped for air. "Clearly the lack of oxygen this high up is affecting my insulting capabilities" she thought to herself. "We really should have breathing equipment". She slipped on a loose rock, and fell to her knees. "I knew I'd die here" she thought with bemusement as she felt her energy drain. "I hope I get frozen in a glacier, then maybe I'll wake up 2000 years in the future".
"How pathetic" laughed Mr Barshaw's voice from the distance, accompanied by the sniggers of camp mates.
"Pick on someone your own size, which is difficult seeing as there are no sumo wrestlers around here" came Logan's voice. "Come on Louise, jump on". She looked up, to see Logan crouching down beside her, patting his back. He was not smiling at her, but there was an improvement from his usual look of disdain. Cautiously, fearing that he might throw her off at any moment, she clambered onto his shoulders.
"Thanks, Logan" she whispered, as he stood up and began to follow the rest of the group.
"Happy to help, Bunbun" he muttered. Louise rested her chin on his head, and sat in silence for the rest of the hike. She noticed his firm grip on her legs, and then his strong shoulders for the first time. She closed her eyes contentedly, and gently held onto him, enjoying the rhythmic bounce of his step. His hair smelled surprisingly sweet, and she frowned as she wondered why she had never noticed these things about him before.
"Louise, hey, Louise!" came Logan's voice, shaking her back to reality. "We're back". She opened her eyes, and saw the dingy room they would be calling home for the next fortnight. She felt Logan's hands pick her up around the waist and remove her from his shoulders to place her on the top bunk. She rested her head on the pillow, and felt herself drifting back to sleep almost immediately. "Goodnight, Bunbun" she heard Logan say softly.
"Goodnight, jackass" she replied quietly, enjoying the sound of his brief chuckle, before she fell asleep.