Chapter Three

Monday Morning.

The Expenditure Teens has already gathered round the school bus and some parents are present to see their kids off.

Hayley and her friends are standing in a straight line as the bus driver calls their name.

Callum is present and he is going to travel with them on the bus.

A lady dressed in black combat boots and a soldier's combat jacket is also at the school.

"Who's she?." Callum asked the principal as he met with him.

"That's Lesley Kendrick, ex delta force platoon soldier." Came Principal Badminton's reply.

"What's she here for?" Callum felt the need to ask.

"She'll be a guide to the forest, your job is to provide security." Principal Badminton said inwardly wishing he could cancel the trip but once again he had to remind himself that it was the kids idea and if their parents are okay then he should be okay, though he could bet that none of the parents were really informed about Bear forest or if they did, none seem bothered to let their children go out to the wilds where twenty five people got lost and not a body was even found.

Well, Callum and his guide are there with them, Jack Daniels was a survivalist before he became a teacher in the school. All should go well he hoped.

"The bus should be back before sundown." Principal Badminton asked Mr. Daniels whom answered in the affirmative.

"Emma Winston Faber?." The driver, Peterson calls the names on the list that Jack Daniels gave him.

Emma is happy as she gleefully enters the school bus and took a seat at the front.

"Joseph McAllister."

"Here!" Joseph said trying to show he was present. He enters the bus also and sat at the left wing of the bus.

"Helena Landon." 

She didn't say anything or showed any sign of excitement, she just walked in.

"Dane Fitzgerald."

Dane just scoffs and enters the bus.

"Ezra Eden Henderson."

"Am in the house!." He said and the girls around him giggles. Ezra has won the heart of many campus girls, though Alec Hathaway has the highest point in that specific area.

"Claire Nielsen."

"Am here," Claire commented quickly as she dash off into the bus sitting close to the left open window by the end of the seat. 

"Hayley Hathaway."

"Am here also." Hayley said, taking slow steps forward as she crosschecks something in her school bag, she sighs obviously happy she found what she was looking for. She enters the bus and sat down next to Hayley.

"Larry Pearson." 

"Sounds like my name." Larry commented and swiftly jumped into the bus taking careful steps to sit next to Helena, his girlfriend.

"Jay Gibson... Ellie Hartman... Dom Schroeder." Peterson called without getting any response. He turns to Jack and said, "Well I think that's our student and we're set to leave. Shall we?." He said but Jack looked ahead and saw a boy running to their direction, looking closely, it was Alec Hathaway.

"Sorry Mr. D." He said trying to catch his breath." Alec commented panting unbelievably.

"What's the matter Alec, thought you weren't interested in our little Expenditure and it sure looks you ran three miles to this point." Jack said slightly happy Alec had taken a students place.

"I didn't think it too but I figured I'll need the grades." Alec said catching his breath.

"Yea, I figured you would. Am happy you changed your mind though cause our crew needs a brilliant mind like yours." Jack said in more like a compliment than just talk.

As soon as Alec's feet stepped into the bus, his friends cheered him up shouting his name in the air.

"Hey Claire, hi lovely. Can I sit with you guys?." Alec asked Claire and Hayley. Hayley drags him down, after all, it was a three-seater-seat.

Claire gave a slight clarification that she was happy he came after all. Inwardly, she felt this was her one shot to let Alec know how she felt. 

Packing up everything and everyone, Callum and Lesley entered the bus and sat at the front seats while Jack sat at the passengers seat in the front next to Peterson.

"So we're gonna have some fun but theirs a couple of things you all should know before we leave." Jack stood up and announced to the students.

"Which are?." Dane commented quickly taking off his eyes of Hayley.

"Well, number is, when we get to Bear forest, you all should be in a file, like no wondering off alone and if you wanna take a leak, come to One of us but if you don't like that idea, take your friends with you but don't take long. And I hope you all brought your cameras cause we are going to take pictures of maybe landmarks or evidence of any kind." He spoke out having his students attention.

"Evidence of what?." Larry asked and Jack gave a frown which made Helena to giggle.

"Students who can remind Larry Pearson what we're going to Bear forest to do." Jack said in more like a statement than a question.

"To investigate the forest Mr. Daniels." Claire answered immediately.

"Thank You Claire. To investigate and when investigating there would be evidence right?." He directed his question to Larry.

"Right." Larry said feeling awkward.

"Very good. Now remember this is something we are going to do so we could be back before sundown. Hope we all are prepared?." He joked and the students roared a yes in the bus.

*****

Soon after after everything has been kept to place, the bus drove out of the school compound, the students waved goodbyes to their parents. And Principal Badminton looks on, silently doing a sign of the cross.

****

An hour later.

The teens are seen singing inside the bus loudly and laughing as well, Mr. Daniels is leading them, Lesley is enjoying the happy attitude of the cross but Callum's seems to be elsewhere.

The teens sang the Kings High School song for about thirty minutes, relaying and telling themselves jokes to distract them from the long journey.

"Lesley, I heard you were in the army." Helena suddenly said surprising Lesley who is checking her equipments.

"Yes, Helen I was." She replied taking a quick glance at her.

"And you've fought in a war?." Emma chipped in.

Lesley looked up and sighs, "Yes I have fought in three wars." She answered in a nonchalant manner.

"Okie dokie, can you share with us your war stories? Helena asked hoping for a positive reply.

"Not now girls, maybe some other time which should clearly mean not today." Lesley said and Helena quickly puts her hands up in a give up manner.

"What about you Callum? What's your story." Larry said but Callum kept mute, didn't even take a look at him. 

Dane scoffs and looks outside his side window "Some guy that's gonna protect us bullshit" he mumb led incoherently, then he took his gaze to Hayley, maybe the trip would help him win her heart. He thought.