chapter 14 : Tour Preparation

Everyone was busy with the preparations for the camping expedition. Vanessa was making the banner along with Becca by sitting on the ground.
��Alex, can you pass me the glue?�� Becca told Alexander, who was busy booking a bus driver for taking the students to that part of the jungle.
He took a pair of scissors which was on the table and put them in Becca��s hand. ��Here,�� he informed her absentmindedly.
Feeling the cold metal on her hand, Becca glared at Alexander. ��I said glue, not scissors.��
��I still don��t know which driver will be suitable,�� he complained in frustration.
��For God��s sake, you are assigned with the task to appoint a driver for the trip, not for the world tour. Just choose someone willing to drive the bus properly that knows the location, it��s not like it��s rocket science,�� she taunted, making him scoff.
Vanessa quietly listened to them and chuckled.
Lucas walked into the room along with Sebastian with a few packets of food in his hands. ��Let's have lunch, guys,�� Lucas announced, grabbing the attention of Becca, Vanessa, and Alexander.
��Sure,�� Becca said and stood up from the ground. ��I am starving.��
Lucas handed a packet to everyone. When he was about to hand one to Alexander, he said, ��No need.��
��Why?�� Lucas questioned with a smirk on his face.
��I am not hungry,�� he responded curtly.
Since the food was warm, Becca kept her packet on the table, waiting for it to be cold. Meanwhile, Vanessa and Sebastian started eating quietly.
Lucas placed the packet in front of Alexander and sat next to Becca. He turned to her and said, ��Becca.��
��Yes?�� She decided to note down some story ideas on the notes app of her phone while the food was getting cold.
��Have you ever seen Alexander eating food ever since we met him?�� Lucas pointed out, preventing the smile which was threatening to erupt from him.
Pin drop silence descended upon the classroom they were working in to make preparations.
Vanessa and Sebastian exchanged a look, while Alexander clenched his fist, having to fight the urge to punch Lucas in his face.
Becca thought about the question asked. She never saw Alexander eating in front of her. She even barely saw him in the caf��teria of the college. So, she glanced at Alexander and shook her head in denial. ��I haven��t seen him eating anything.�� She further spoke, ��Just because I didn��t see it though doesn��t mean that he doesn��t eat. Maybe I failed to notice.��
��Or,�� Lucas added, ��Maybe he doesn��t eat at all. Can��t you see how pale his face is?��
She noticed Alexander��s pale skin. ��You might be right. His face does look pale.��
That��s 'cause I am a fucking vampire who is habituated with the weather of the vampire world, Alexander thought to himself. ��I do eat, but I am just not hungry right now.�� He looked at his sister for some help, but she raised her hands in defeat and shook her head, an amused smile on her lips.
��That��s bullshit,�� Lucas mumbled. ��I brought the delicious vegetable sandwiches from the cafeteria. Even at the mention of it, I am hungry.�� He took out his sandwich and started eating.
��Come on, Alex. Prove Lucas wrong,�� Becca urged him. ��Eat the sandwich and prove to Lucas that you do eat because that's what every human does.��
Groaning in annoyance, Alexander took out a piece of sandwich. He had to eat the human food because if he didn��t, it would cast doubts in Becca��s mind and Lucas would help her to grow those doubts.
Vanessa was amused seeing that Alexander was willing to take a bite of the sandwich, considering he loathed them with a burning passion.
Lucas had a devilish smirk on his face as he watched Alexander take a small bite of the food.
��See, Lucas? He is human, okay?�� Becca declared.
Lucas twitched his lips and said, ��Then let him finish the entire sandwich. A small bite of it won��t prove anything until he eats it all.��
Mumbling incoherent words, Alexander ate the entire sandwich. Becca joined him once her food became cold.
After eating the human food, Alexander had the urge to puke it all out. It was tasteless to him and he wondered how Vanessa adjusted to living on eating human food just for the sake of being friends with human beings.
Alexander was in the boys�� washroom, looking at the mirror. Where did you send me, Phil? he thought to himself. After he splashed some water over his face, he dried off his face and got out.
��Are you okay?�� Becca asked, appearing in front of Alexander as if she was waiting for him to get out. ��Were you full at that time? I am sorry for forcing you to eat. Lucas was challenging you and I didn��t want to see you defeated.��
Alexander raised an eyebrow, feeling his heart skipping a beat after hearing that Becca didn��t want to see him defeated. ��So you didn��t want me to be defeated. Nice.��
She could feel her cheeks starting to heat up. She placed her hand over her cheek and said, ��I�� I just wanted to know whether you were okay or not, since I consider you a friend.��
��Oh, okay,�� he mumbled, a small teasing smile formed on his lips.
��Also, we will be leaving on the trip tomorrow so we need to make sure you are feeling okay,�� she tried to explain. ��Otherwise, how will we be able to enjoy it?��
��Oh.�� He put his hands in his pocket. ��Are you saying that without me, you wouldn��t be able to enjoy the trip?��
She shook her head at that instant. ��No, I mean to say that everyone needs to attend the trip. Besides, you have helped Ness and contributed a lot, so you must attend.��
��Becca Hertford,�� Alexander started speaking, ��You accused me of trying to molest you and then murder you. But here, the case seems different.��
��What do you mean?�� she asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.
��I think you think you are the one trying to flirt with me because you like me,�� he said and continued, ��Or, you are trying to lure me into going on this on this trip so that you can kill me in the jungle and make the animals there feast upon me.��
A gasp escaped Becca��s lips. ��No, are you crazy? Why would I do something like that?��
��Only you know the answer.�� With that, Alexander started to walk away.
Becca followed him, trying to explain herself, ��No, you are misunderstanding my intentions, Alex. I was just asking about your health because I was worried about you as a friend.��
��Yeah, right,�� he mumbled and continued walking, with Becca trailing him. A wide smile was playing on his lips as he continued to tease Becca.
��I don��t know what to take there. I have never gone camping before, Ness,�� Becca complained to Vanessa, who had already finished packing.
��Why fear when Nessa Worthe is here?�� Vanessa said brightly, still not revealing her full name. ��I will pack your stuff and show you what to take. Come.��
Vanessa helped Becca to pack up clothes and other necessary stuff for the trip.
Alexander watched the girls pack their stuff. Wearing a black hoodie, he jumped out of his window to hunt as he would have to stay with humans surrounding him for three consecutive days.
Becca glanced at the window at that moment and saw someone jump. She had no idea that Alexander lived in that dorm, but she knew that it was the vampire in the college she was searching for. Because no one else would have that much speed and survive by jumping from that height.