Poison Rose of Avalon

Donovan kept giving himself silent instructions: Don't stare… don't you dare stare at her… stop… stop. But his eyes refused to obey. His gaze clung to her like a magnet, defying every command his brain issued.

Liora, noticing his persistent gaze, reached up and covered his eyes with both hands. Her palms were cool, but her touch sent a ripple of warmth through his skin.

Her movements weren't dramatic. She was uncomfortable and didn't want to get lost in his grey pools any longer in the battle of stares.

"Thank you," Donovan said, his voice startlingly even, making Liora blink in confusion.

This wasn't the reaction she had expected. She had braced herself for a scolding or, at the very least, an annoyed grumble order to get her hands off him, not gratitude.

"You… you're welcome," she replied hesitantly, her hands still resting over his eyes, his lashes fluttering slightly beneath her palms, tickling her skin.

The moment stretched, taut like a thread, ready to snap. Liora couldn't decide whether to pull away or stay still, afraid any movement would make things even more awkward.

Silvia, seated nearby, rolled her eyes and plugged in her AirPods, tuning out their conversation entirely.

A brief silence settled between Donovan and Liora before she spoke again. "Will...will you be able to take my weight for four hours? I might feel light now, but as time goes by…" Her voice trailed off, the unspoken implication left to be understood.

Her face flushed with embarrassment as soon as the words left her mouth. She silently prayed he couldn't see how red her cheeks had turned.

Her words weren't meant to insult him; her comment struck a nerve, challenging his manliness. 'Does she think I'm weak?'

The thought coiled around him in both irritation and amusement.

He gently removed her hands from his eyes with a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'll manage," he said, his voice low and steady.

Liora shifted uneasily, her cheeks burning. 'Why did I even say that?'

She tried to adjust her position, hoping it would ease his discomfort. Resting her head against the seat before her, she pulled out her phone. Needing a distraction, she unlocked the screen, and a notification popped up.

Her heart plummeted the moment the screen lit up. There he was, Caspian, with another girl. The photo showed her kissing his cheek while his arm wrapped casually around her waist. The caption read: 'My love.' Mocking her.

A sharp ache spread through Liora's chest, and a lump formed in her throat. As tears brimmed in her eyes, she fought to hold them back. "Caspian, you..." her whispers faltered, unable to complete her thought.

Her gaze was irresistibly drawn to the photo of him smiling with another woman. She took in every detail: his face beaming with happiness and his hand resting on the seductive figure in a red tank top and a mini-mini denim skirt. Jealousy began to creep into her heart.

But did she really have the right to feel this way? She struggled with her emotions, trying to make sense of them. They had never talked about their feelings, and she wasn't even sure if he felt the same way about her.

Though it felt selfish, an abundance of jealousy refused to leave her heart as she wrestled with the idea that she wanted more from him than friendship.

'Can nothing go my way today?' she thought bitterly. Her thumb trembled as she turned off the screen, unable to bear another second of it.

The previous night's excitement had robbed her of sleep, but now exhaustion and heartache overtook her; closing her eyes, desperate to block out everything, she slept deep.

Donovan noticed her slumped against the seat. She had an hourglass figure, and despite his best efforts not to stare, his eyes were drawn to her form. If he tried to close his eyes, her stunning face, particularly the beautiful spot beneath her left eye, would flash in front of his eyes.

He avoided glancing to his left where the irritable Kai sat. Deep down, he wished Logan were there instead of Kai. He knew that as soon as their eyes met, Kai would launch into his relentless jabs, and he wasn't in the mood to endure it.

Liora's bun was coming undone, with hair strands falling over her back. Liora was thrown backwards when the bus driver slammed the brakes, jolting him from his thoughts.

Her head pressed against his chest, and her legs curled gracefully across his lap. The warmth of her presence was unnervingly intimate, and Donovan's muscles locked up.

'What am I supposed to do? I can't even toss her anywhere.' He regretted his decision.

The idea of waiting for another vehicle for two to three hours, which had initially seemed like a tedious prospect, was starting to sound surprisingly appealing to Donovan. At least he wouldn't be in this uncomfortable situation then.

Sitting beside them, Kai, lounging in the seat, let out a low whistle. "Well, isn't this cosy?"

Donovan glanced over at Kai, who was leaning back with a smug smile plastered on his face.

"Shut it," Donovan muttered, his voice sharper than intended.

Kai was being Kai. He couldn't resist the opportunity for a unique selfie and aimed it towards Liora, who was still peacefully asleep on Donovan. He angled the camera to frame him, Donovan, and Liora.

"Smile for the camera, buddy."

"What are you doing?" Donovan hissed, his voice a harsh rasp.

"Relax, it's just a little keepsake," Kai said, the camera clicks barely audible. "Who knows? She might become your girlfriend soon. That would make for a great anniversary gift."

Kai smirked. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" A teasing glint in his eyes, "If you don't make a move, I might."

"Don't push it...or else..." Donovan gritted his teeth, glaring at Kai, who could have frozen flames. Unfortunately, it failed on Kai.

"You'll what? Snuggle her tighter?" Kai smirked, clearly enjoying himself.

Donovan didn't dignify that with a response. Instead, he adjusted Liora carefully, draping his arm around her to keep her from slipping further. Her head lolled slightly, and he felt the ghost of her breath against his neck.

'Who knew someone would use me as a human mattress?' He thought dryly, though an unfamiliar warmth stirred within him.

When the bus finally arrived at the campsite, Donovan gently tapped Liora on the shoulder to rouse her from sleep. She stirred, mumbling something unintelligible before rubbing her face against his chest like it was her pillow.

Donovan instinctively wanted to push her away; his discomfort was evident. Yet, he hesitated. A memory flickered in his mind—of a thunderstorm night when he had pushed away an injured girl who had needed him. The guilt of the night was still haunting him.

"Come on, wake up. We've arrived," he said softly. Liora, still half-asleep, kept her hand on his chest, causing Donovan to close his eyes in frustration.

Meanwhile, Kai leaned over and whispered softly in Liora's ear.

"You should wake up now. You're making my bro very uncomfortable." The words were playful, but there was concern for his beloved cousin Don's discomfort.

Liora gasped, her eyes fluttered open. She looked around and jolted upright.

'Damn it! I am on the bus, not at home.' She scolded herself. She looked at Donovan with remorse, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, flustered.

"Next time, watch where you're sitting," Donovan replied with a hint of amusement in his otherwise blunt tone.

She hastily stood up. "Yes, I'll.."

Grabbing her backpack, Liora rushed off the bus, only to stop and turn back.

"May I ask your name?" she asked politely, her hazel eyes locked with Donovan's stormy grey gaze.

"Nova," the name slipped from his lips before his mind could process it.

"Thank you, Nova." She offered him a tight-lipped smile before hurrying away.

As soon as Liora was out of earshot, Donovan raised his finger.

"Not a single word." He warned them, Logan and Kai, who were grinning from ear to ear, ready to unleash a torrent of teasing.

Kai grinned. "Nova? Oh, this is going to be fun."

Donovan chided himself for allowing her to call him Nova; that name was reserved for his family. He still couldn't quite understand why he had unwittingly used his nickname instead of his real name, and as he pondered it further, he realized he didn't even know her name.

Donovan rolled his eyes at his cousins before raising his hands in the air. "Help me up," he said, extending a hand toward Logan and ignoring Kai's comment.

Logan offered his firm hand, a teasing grin playing on his lips.

"You look like you could use a stretcher," he quipped, but his grip was firm as he pulled Donovan to his feet.

Donovan grimaced as he stood, a stiffness gripping his legs after four hours in one position. He tried stretching discreetly, only for a faint wince to betray him.

Kai, ever the opportunist, gave him a playful nudge. "She's got a real talent for picking the worst places to nap," he said, chuckling.

"I said, not a single word," Donovan snapped, his voice sharp.

Kai raised his hands, mock innocence plastered across his face, though the glint in his eyes said otherwise. "Fine, fine. But you have to admit, it's one for the books."

Logan clapped him on the back. "I am glad you survived."

As they exited the bus, Donovan scanned the crowd, searching for Liora. His eyes trailed her for a moment longer than he intended.

Her backpack bounced rhythmically against her back as she walked toward the campsite, her stride light despite the weight of her belongings. His lips quirked upward briefly before he turned away, brushing off the fleeting thought.

The campsite was a sight to behold. It was designed to accommodate 500 people and was a luxurious retreat. Each tent was a good height, looking more like a lavish cabin than a temporary shelter.

Their canvas roofs were transparent, revealing the expanse of the sky. Inside, the tents boasted tiled floors, plush mattresses, and even small amenities like mini-fridges and charging docks.

shimmering lake curved around one edge of the campsite, its surface catching the golden hues of the sun's rays. Paths wound neatly through the grounds, inviting leisurely strolls.

Students gathered around their homeroom teachers to receive their tent assignments. Liora and Daran approached their teacher eagerly to receive theirs.

"Students, once you've placed your belongings in your tents, please return here," their homeroom teacher announced.

Liora unfolded her assignment slip and turned to Daran. "Tent 435. What about you?"

"67," Daran replied, his tone light.

All the students after dropping their belongings in the tent, gathered around their homeroom teachers and followed them.

As they walked, a faint aroma began to fill their noses. The further they neared, the stronger the aroma became, tantalising and mouthwatering. The students hurried along, eager to discover the source of the delicious smell.

Few people stood by grills, turning skewers of meat and vegetables over glowing coals. The barbecue smoke curled into the air, carrying the irresistible scent of grilled food.

Opposite the grill were long wooden tables, crafted from fine wood, stretched out, surrounded by matching comfortable wooden chairs.

In the other corner, colourful picnic blankets were spread out on the lush green grass, inviting anyone who preferred a more laid-back, picnic-style meal to sit and relax.

On the opposite of the clearing, a sand volleyball court awaited. It was the perfect spot for students to burn off some energy and enjoy a friendly game.

Liora and Daran loaded their plates with succulent meats, crisp vegetables, and slices of fragrant baguette. However, when Liora attempted to join her classmates at the table, she was met with apprehensiveness.

Liora tried to smile, her voice steady as she asked, "May I sit here?"

The girl she addressed barely glanced up, her tone dripping with disdain. "My friend is coming. You should find somewhere else."

The words stung, though they were far from unfamiliar. Liora's grip tightened around her plate as she forced a polite nod.

It was not new for Liora, not just from the aristocratic students but also from those of humble backgrounds who maintained a distance from her.

Despite the positive changes in the school atmosphere following the media attention on the bullying incident, Liora found herself still isolated. No one would speak with her except Daran. And she still doesn't know why.

However, she was contained. She had Daran and Caspian as her friends. What else does she need more of? Liora convinced herself like that every day.

Turning to Daran, she managed a small, sad smile. "I'm sorry, Daran. Because of me, you're being excluded too. You can sit with your friends. I'll eat at the picnic spot."

Daran frowned, shaking his head. "Not a chance. I'd rather sit with someone real like you than those posers. And I have already decided I'm your shadow for this trip. You're stuck with me, Liora." He made an exaggerated puppy face, batting his lashes with mock innocence.

Liora laughed, the sound bubbling out and momentarily washing away her hurt. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Ridiculously charming, maybe," Daran said, grinning.

They both settled on a picnic blanket, enjoying their meal. They laughed and chatted without paying attention to anyone.

In the middle of their meal, Daran's phone buzzed. His expression turned serious as he read the message.

"I trust the timepiece I bestowed upon you is receiving the attention it rightfully deserves."

Daran stared at the words, his fingers hovering over the screen. After a moment, he typed a single-word reply: Yes.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket, his expression unreadable.