Paulo.” Ori’s statement brought the introductions back full circle, prompting me to glance toward the one with the top-knot who first asked my name. The corner of his mouth quirked behind the hint of dark stubble, and my chest did that weird thing again.
“Nice meeting you guys,” I managed to say without butchering any words.
They stared, but said nothing more. No friendly banter, no follow-up questions. Just blank, emotionless staring.
Fun.
Nervous, I glanced around, noticing how all the other groups had grown to sizes of at least forty students or more. Meanwhile, standing beside the huge “#7’ sign, it was just the five of us. Two figures darting in our direction made me think my prayers were finally being answered. A pair of girls were approaching quickly with bright smiles that seemed out of place. They were way too happy to be at this event, but at least there were finally others to take some of the pressure off me. Standing here was starting to get awkward.
“See? I told you it was them!” the one on the left screeched, still grinning from ear to ear as she eyed Rayen, chewing her own lips as she stared at the ones inked on his neck. “I’m Nora, and this is my cousin Sienna. Ano-Luana,” she breathed with a smile.
“Can we get selfies with you guys?” Sienna asked excitedly. She didn’t bother waiting for a response before reaching for her phone. “We’re here from Sikuya. It’s about fifty miles east of here,” she elaborated. Her conversation came across like nervous chatter, which made sense, seeing as how her hands were shaking like leaves as she tried to access her camera.
Selfies? They’re acting like these guys are celebrities or something? This day just kept getting weirder and weirder.
“We know where Sikuya is.” Ori stared, expressionless after grumbling the clipped answer.
“…Oh. Well we, and a bunch of our friends, have followed everything you all have done for the island, and—”
“And we’re so grateful,” Nora interjected, cutting her cousin’s statement short. “They’ll never believe we actually met you if we don’t come back with proof.”
The pair flashed nervous smiles and their anxious energy was practically tangible.
“We’re busy.” Ori’s tone was hard and unfeeling, just like his expression. Crushed by the swift rejection, his admirers’ smiles had practically melted off their faces.
“Actually,” Kai chimed in, eyeing Ori before placing his hand on Nora’s arm, “we have a few seconds to spare, assuming you don’t mind that we’re not exactly camera-ready today.”
He peered down and I detected the slightest hint of embarrassment when he looked himself over. The four were definitely in need of showers and a change of clothes. However, I found it kind of sweet that he was humble in that moment, despite being fawned over like a movie star.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who found the look alluring, because the girls just about peed themselves as they stared, mouths agape.
“Don’t be silly. You guys always look great,” Sienna replied, not so subtly.
The excitement had returned to the admirers, as if they hadn’t been shot down a moment before. Three of my four mentors moved in willingly, but Ori was all but forced into the picture, not bothering with a smile when the camera flashed.
“Thank you so much! Sorry to disturb you,” Sienna apologized, sneaking a hug from Paulo.
Nora pulled her away with a tightly spoken, “Let’s go,” before lifting her gaze to the guys again. “Thank you, and may Spirit continue to guide you,” she offered as she dragged Sienna away. “Ano-Luana.”
As it turned out, instead of making things less awkward, Nora and Sienna had managed to do the opposite.
Sighing and passing a stoic glance toward the others, Ori lifted a clipboard I only now realized he held. He scanned it briefly, only mouthing the words he read to himself at first.
“Okay,” he huffed. “Looks like I’m supposed to start by giving you a rundown of the island’s dos and don’ts.”
They all looked beyond annoyed, and I guessed they had something else they’d rather be doing. Maybe whatever work they did for the island that the girls had mentioned. Even their attire screamed that they didn’t want to be here. For starters, the other mentors had arrived in uniform—white polo-style shirts and dark cargo pants—but this brood looked like they’d just participated in a triathlon.
Rayen and Kai each wore t-shirts that, while damp, clung to the washboards disguising themselves as abs. The tight-fitting tank worn by Paulo showcased his huge biceps and tribal markings. Granted,