"The clouds are awfully pretty today!"

She lifted a slender finger and pointed up at the sky. They were rainbow smudges of paint against the gray sky; purple, yellow, silver, red, black, and brown. The blades of grass brushed against her cheeks and her shoulder-length blonde hair was sprawled out in the grass on either side of her ears. Her big sky blue eyes were coated in dancing sparkles as she gazed in awe at the sky's many gradients. Her full, pink lips were parted slightly, ready to gush.

Suddenly, she couldn't recall who was lying beside her. She forcefully broke her gaze from the sky and slowly turned to face the person. Shark teeth jutted out from their upper lip and their eyes glowed a blood red. Their mouth foamed like a rabid animal and their fingers were long and ended in a sharp-looking point. She opened her mouth to scream but it was as if someone had removed her vocal cords. She attempted to scramble to her feet when the thing grabbed her neck with it's long fingers and pulled her close until she could feel it's cold breath on her ear.

"Linnea," it told her, "I'm going to get you."

"Linn! Wake up!"

Linnea jerked awake at the sound of her mother's voice invading her dreams. She felt so relieved she could hug her; but she settled with sitting up and gazing around. "What time is it?" she mumbled, her voice dripping fatigue.

"It's already seven thirty! You're going to be late!"

Linnea gasped, jumping to her feet and rushing to her closet. She slipped into an oversized knit sweater and skinny jeans, virtually jumping into some sneakers. She combed her hair and applied some mascara and was out the door before her mother could tell her another word. She jogged to school, panting upon her arrival but relieved when she heard the warning bell; she still had a minute to get to class, which was plenty of time. Her pace slowed to a walk and she finally caught her breath at the front doors of the school, pushing them open.

"Get to class, little girl," a familiar voice teased from across the hall, "You're gonna be late."

Castiel was leaned against his locker amongst the mingling crowds of people who were slowly dispersing to go to their classes and she chuckled, shaking her head. "Look who's talking, little boy," she jokingly called back. Her shoulder bumped someone else's as she passed and she stumbled back, her mouth giving a quick apology until she realized who it was. Amber greeted her with a flip of her glossy blonde hair, her usual crew trailing behind her. She gave her a grin. "Hey, Amber. Are we still on for Saturday?"

Amber smiled and nodded. "Don't forget like last time. I will end you."

Linnea laughed and nodded. "I'll try." She waved at Armin and Alexy as she passed them, giving them a smile, which they both returned, before she stepped in her class just as the bell rang.

"Oh, Linn," the teacher sighed, "If you walked just a step slower, I'd have to write you a detention slip."

Linnea grinned. "I didn't though so you don't have to." She scampered to her seat between Violette and Nathaniel before the teacher could get angry with her.

She nudged Nathaniel, giving him a hopeful smile and he sighed, shaking his head as he discretely passed her his homework. "You're going to bomb this test coming up," he whispered.

She gave him a smile. "No, I won't because yours will be right there in the open for me to... observe." He rolled his eyes and she giggled. "Have I ever told you how much I appreciatethe help you've given me this semester?"

He sighed again, looking away and Linnea felt a tap from her other side. Violette had a hurt look on her face as she whispered, "You never showed up this morning."

Linnea gave her a smile. "I'm sorry; I slept in. I'll make up for it after school." Violette looked away, her expression still hurt and Linnea tapped her shoulder, giving her a smile. "You're my best friend, Violette. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, okay?"

"Linnea Larsson," the teacher sighed, "You're always making so much noise back there. Should I move you?"

Linnea shook her head quickly, giving him a charismatic smile. "No, sir. This is the perfect seat for me."

The teacher was growing irritated and he opened his mouth to speak again but was interrupted by the door opening and a stranger with a visitor's pass ID stuck to his shirt approached the teacher. The teacher furrowed his brow. "Do you need something?" The stranger handed him a sheet of paper before rushing out of the room. The teacher gazed at the paper in confusion. "Alright, then, Nathaniel, Violette, and Linnea are wanted in the Principal's office."

The three of them gathered their things before quietly leaving the room, Nathaniel only speaking when the door closed. "I can't think of anything the Principal could want that involves you and me."

Linnea lifted her chin, smiling. "Yeah, I know, right? I mean I'm a smart, well-behaved, honor student and you're... you." He furrowed his brow at her and she giggled, indicating she was joking and he couldn't help but chuckle. They arrived at the Principal's office where they found Castiel, Rosalya, Alexy, Lysander, and Kentin. "Hey," she grinned at them, "the gang's all here."

"Not quite," the Principal interrupted, "Have a seat, you three. We're waiting on two more people." As if on cue, Armin and Peggy entered and both seemed puzzled at the big group of people. Once everyone was seated, she began speaking. "Okay, I've received a message from a corporation that wants to sponsor a school field trip. They've given me a list of names from the junior class and this field trip was only awarded to those characters who have good grades, are well-behaved, and show leadership skills."

"Good grades?" Armin chuckled.

Linnea laughed and pointed to herself. "I have all of those things. I told you, Nathaniel." He seemed utterly confused, gazing at Castiel across the room, who was returning his glare with a smirk. Linnea laughed again, nudging Violette. "This is hilarious."

"Excuse me," Rosalya chimed in, seeming just as amused as everyone else, "I'm not sure any of the people in here fit the criteria, except maybe Nathaniel on occasion."

Linnea was throwing her head back in laughter at the offended expression on Nathaniel's face when the Principal sighed. "Settle down, all of you. I didn't make this list so don't question it. If I made the list, you'd all be goofing off in your classes instead of in my office. It's a camping trip."

"We did an orienteering race in the woods not too long ago," Rosalya pointed out, "Wasn't that enough?"

The Principal was growing irritated. "I'm not the one who organized this trip. It's completely optional. If you would like to go, we'll meet in the court yard on Friday. Bring a week's worth of supplies and clothes, but pack lightly; you don't want to have to find somewhere to put ten huge bags. Tents will be supplied but you'll have to bring your own sleeping bags."

"Tents?" Linnea gasped, "I thought we would be sleeping in a cabin or something. Where would we shower? Or use the bathroom?"

"Your camp site will be near recently built, regularly cleaned facilities," she explained, "There is also a cafeteria where you can buy food at any time in the day or night. Bring money for food. It's a popular camp ground so be cautious and prepared when using the bathrooms or going to the cafeteria. Always travel in groups. There are five tents so you may group into twos, assuming you all decide you want to go. If you don't want to go, let me know now."

Linnea grinned. "That sounds like fun!" She linked her arm into Violette's. "Let's both go, Violette. We can share a tent!"

Violette gave her a warm smile, nodding once.

"Alright, that makes two," the Principal noted, "Anyone else?"

"I'll go," Lysander spoke up.

"Me too," Alexy grinned, "I'm on the same page as Linn."

"I guess I'll go too," Armin added.

There was a silence and Nathaniel sighed. "I'll go."

The Principal nodded. "Actually, I was going to make you go regardless. Someone has to keep an eye on these hooligans."

Linnea giggled, her gaze running over everyone and lingering on each person who hadn't spoken up yet. "You should come, Rosalya. It'll be more fun with you."

Rosalya shook her head. "I don't think I will. It doesn't sound too appealing to me."

She then eyed Peggy, sitting beside Rosalya, with puppy dog eyes and Peggy rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll go."

Linnea grinned and Castiel spoke up, "I guess I'll go."

Linnea's gaze fell on Kentin, who was already uncomfortable being eyed by Armin and Alexy. When his gaze met Linnea's, he gave an exasperated sigh. "I'll go, just stop staring at me like that."

Linnea, Armin, and Alexy all exchanged a glance and mutually chuckled. The Principal crossed her arms, gazing up at Rosalya. "That's nine. There is an uneven number of females in the group. Are you sure you don't want to go?"

Everyone in the group turned their gazes to Rosalya, and she crossed her arms, an unyielding expression on her face. It seemed that way, at least, until her expression began to waiver and her arms began to loosen. "Fine, I'll go! But if my clothes get even one spec of dirt on them, you all lose your heads."

Linnea giggled, clapped her hands together once. "Yay, we're all going! This is going to be so much fun."