Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1 - The Announcement
"We'll be going on a field trip two weeks from now" was the sentence that woke all students up from the naps they'd been taking while their biology teacher, Mister Schneider, had been blabbering on and on about mitosis in a voice so dry Newt thought it'd make him cough. At the words "field trip", heads were lifted from desks and eyes widened.
"A field trip?", Alby, who was sitting next to Newt, parroted astonished.
"Where to?", Newt added.
"What for?", Gally, the annoying boy in the back row, shouted. Newt normally rolled his eyes at anything he said, but not now - he was too interested in the teacher's answer.
"Indeed, a field trip, Mister Einstein", Mister Schneider repeated, obviously confused by the amount of attention he got. "We'll go to the country side to explore nature. We'll camp and collect plants and compile a portfolio on what we've learned. The field trip will last for six days; we'll leave on Monday and be back on Saturday. It will be tremendously educational."
Newt and Alby looked at each other with raised eyebrows. "Well, I don't know whatcha thinking about the educational part of this field trip, mate, but sounds better than hanging around this bloody school, if you ask me", Newt said in a lowered voice.
"True that", Alby muttered in agreement.
"...bring an extra tent for our lady", the teacher was saying at that moment. Some of the boys sniggered and some turned around to look at the only girl in the class, Teresa. She didn't blush, though, but just nodded at the teacher in an elegant, almost arrogant way.
Teresa had only transferred to their school a few weeks ago, together with Thomas, the second new student they'd got this year. They were all in their final year of high school, which meant that they were a pretty tight community already, and Thomas and Teresa seemed to know each other from somewhere, so they mostly hung out together and didn't mingle a lot. Newt thought that this was too bad - Thomas was tall, if one or two inches short of himself, and very good-looking with his dark hair, blue eyes and athletic body. However, he was sure that the new boy was interested in girls, from the way he stupidly laughed at Teresa's jokes, and therefore no boyfriend material for him, anyway. His classmates were still obsessing over the fact that they had now an actual woman (who was actually quite beautiful, as far as Newt was concerned - if you liked the slim, dark-haired, female type) sitting in their classroom, and since Newt was gay, anyway, he could lean back and watch the spectacle with amusement (and probably shoot secret glances at Thomas).
"The rest of you will camp in pairs", the teacher announced. Alby and Newt shot a quick glance at each other - of course they would stay together, they were best friends. Alby had known about Newt's sexuality for years and was completely fine with it - he was even glad that he had a gay wingman; probably because said wingman was quite a sight with his blonde hair and huge brown eyes. No-one had ever given Newt any troubles concerning his homosexuality - sometimes, when he outsmarted some of the boys, they would call him a "gay smartass", but in a joking and affectionate way. Newt counted himself very lucky.
"The tents will be provided, but you should definitely bring sleeping bags, warm clothes and good shoes. It goes without saying that alcohol and cigarettes are forbidden." A few people laughed, among them Minho, Newt's second best friend, who was sitting in front of them. The muscular Korean kid was known for his love for parties, and Newt could only guess what creative ways he would find to smuggle liquor into his tent.
At that moment, the bell rang, and the excited whispers that had filled the room since Mr Schneider's announcement turned into animated discussions, completely drowning the teacher's "We'll discuss the particulars tomorrow!"
Minho turned around, his elbows on Newt's table. "What do you think, guys? Sounds like a cool idea! And now that we have a girl in our class" - Minho wiggled his eyebrows at Alby - "things actually might get quite interesting!" Both of them grinned.
"Sorry to disappoint you, lads, but I guess she's taken!", Newt objected. Minho looked at him in disbelief. "What?” the blonde asked.
"Newt, man, you don't really think Thomas is even half as attractive as I am?", Minho asked in a shocked voice. Newt laughed at his stupid face.
"Actually, he's quite good-looking. And I know what I'm talking about."
"Oh right. Damn it. I guess I need to use my charming personality to win her over, then."
This time, both Alby and Newt were laughing out loud.
"You guys suck!" Minho got up, playfully acting as if he were insulted.
Teresa and Thomas were passing the friends at that moment, apparently talking about the fieldtrip. Minho turned his head to them. "Hey, Thomas!"
Thomas stopped and looked at Minho, then at Newt and Alby, still sitting at their desks. Damn, his eyes were dreamy. Too bad he was with Teresa. "What's up, guys?", he asked.
"Wanna share tents on the trip?", Minho asked in the direct tone that was his trademark; beating around the bush was not his style.
Thomas shrugged nonchalantly in a way that made Newt suppress smile. "Sure!" Everyone liked Minho because he was funny and honest. Thomas seemed to be no exception to that. Minho nodded at him and smiled at Teresa (which she ignored and which also caused Alby and Newt to grin at each other). Theresa and Thomas continued their way out of class. Minho turned back to his friends and grinned.
"Why did you do that?" Newt asked. He wasn't sure how he felt about hanging out with Thomas. Of course he wanted to get to know him - he was, after all, extremely cute - but he knew from experience that trying to be friends with boys he felt attracted to was a dangerous business, biased for heartbreak.
"Keeping pretty boy close and away from pretty girl, duh." Minho rolled his eyes at Newt. "Who knows, I might have done you a favour. I'm getting some distinctly gay vibes off him, to be honest."
"You bastard", Newt scolded and smacked Minho on the head.
"Language, golden boy. The Queen would not approve."
"Seriously? Three years of High school together and you're still not over the Brit jokes? I expect better from you." Newt got up. "Come on, guys, we'll be late for English."