Mr Harrison, a man whose enthusiasm for team building was inversely proportional to the students own, clapped his hands loudly to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, welcome to Willows Valley Base Camp" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the dense trees.
"Phones are in the lockbox, and now we focus on connection and collaboration.Your first task is setting up your homes for the next two days. Tents are preassigned by randomized pairs to foster new relationships. Check on board".
A rush of students surged towards a large corkboard. Oliver hung back, already knowing his luck. When the crowd thinned , he walked over . The list was nearly typed:
Connor Martins & Leo Peter - Tent 1
Mike Robert & Paul Rodrigo - Tent 2
.....
Liam Adrien & Oliver Montero -Tent 18
.....
Oliver stared at the names , the words blurring for a second.Of course .The universe had a sense of humor.
He felt a shadow fall over him and looked up. Liam was standing there, a smirk playing on his lips. His friends were a few feet back, watching with interest.
"Tent 18, huh, Oliver?" Liam said , his voice casual but carrying a subtle edge of annoyance. " Looks like you finally made it to the A-List".
Oliver purses his lips, shouldering his backpack and turning away before Liam could say any more words.
He walked toward the massive pile of drab-green canvas tents and aluminum poles.Liam fell into a step behind him.
"Relax Liam , there are securities. We can surely deal with him when we get back to school" Tommy said patting Liam's back.Liam took a long look at Oliver who was busy doing some minor works.
"Just do with it . It's just three days." Paul said while Liam nodded. Then the others went to do their assigned jobs with their partners.
"We're supposed to find our gear," Liam said to Oliver , pointing to the messy pile."You grab the poles , I'll get the canvas ."
Oliver was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe Liam would finally talk to him this way.He knelt frozen, not knowing what to do.
Liam stopped, looking at him genuinely offended.A flicker of irritation crossed his face as he stared at Oliver's frozen figure."Are you deaf , or what are you daydreaming about" he almost yelled, but he quickly took a deep breath to calm himself.
Oliver came back to his senses and quickly did what Liam instructed him to do.
They didn't speak again as they located their assigned supplies. They had a shared task now, a forced collaboration that would define their next two days. As they carried their awkward bundles towards the open field designated for tent 18, the first dry, whispering rustle of the willows caught the breeze, a sound that seemed to carry an ancient, knowing secret just for them...
They finished the task in hostile silence. It wasn't perfect.The fly sheet was slightly lopsided, and one pole was distinctly off. But it was standing.
Oliver dropped his half of the supplies inside the cramped space, and immediately sat on his sleeping bag roll, trying to catch his breath. The physical exertion had left him shaky.
Liam tossed his poles down with a clatter, the noise sharp in the sudden quiet of the campsite setting in. He looked around the tiny interior with a look of pure disgust.
"Cozy," Liam sneered, his voice low enough that his friends, now heading toward the communal dinning area , wouldn't hear him.He kicked aside a roll of canvas. " Real cozy.This is what you live for , isn't it? Being trapped in a tent with me."
For the first time since they arrived at the Willows Valley.Oliver opened his mouth.
"I didn't choose this. Neither did you" he muttered, his voice shaking a bit.
"Yeah , but you fit right with the dirt and the bugs" .Liam jabbed, his usual public bravado turning venomous now that they were alone. He reached out into his duffel bag and pulled out a small , flat box wrapped in opaque plastic." My dad had these custom made. Mosquito repellent pads." He held one up, just a small gesture of superiority. Oliver looked away.
Liam didn't like that. He wanted a reaction. He leaned down , his face too close to Oliver's, a clear breach of the limited space in the tent.
" What are you going to do when it gets dark Oliver?, the teachers can't hear you in here. No one can."
The whisper of the willows outside seemed to intensify at the moment, a dry papery sound like an indrawn breath.