Episode 6

                                    

                                          
Carlos listens to the teacher, who holds a marker in his hand. "When it's your turn, state your first and last name and say something about yourself. As an example, I'll start us off." The teacher writes with the marker and closes the cap, "My name is Walter Thomas and this is my first time teaching my own class. I look forward to being with you all!"
He then works his way around the classroom, making each student state their name and a fact about themselves. Carlos listens intently, doing his best to remember everyone's names. He didn't have to be too hard about it since most of these people he recognized from middle school.
There's Ashlyn Banner, who Carlos shared the same 8th grade classes with. They have interacted before in group assignments and outside of school, and didn't mind each other's company. He admires her long, ginger hair since it must be a pain to maintain it when it's that long.
After her, the attention moved over to one of the new students, Aiden Clark. Carlos finds it incredible how that smile on his face never goes away when he speaks. The blonde lists all his hobbies, and Tyler chuckles a little. Carlos finds Aiden interesting, finding that the two might get along just fine.
The other student was supposed to go next, the one sitting behind Aiden, but he was fast asleep, and Mr. Walter was too kind to wake him up. Aiden introduces the student to the class. His name is Ben and they're cousins. Carlos was a little surprised since they looked nothing alike.
A couple more students share, like the twins and Logan Fields. It was thanks to Logan that Carlos passed most of his classes, but the two both share some interests, like astronomy. He's a good kid, but really shy.
Taylor is her usual bright self. She's in the mechanics club and offers a simple "hi" to anyone. Tyler was less enthusiastic, only saying that he and Taylor are twins and he's on the baseball club.
Carlos stands as it's now his turn, clearing his throat a little, "I'm Carlos Martinez. I like picking on Tyler."
Tyler whips his head around, glaring at Carlos. He furrows his eyebrows and Mr. Thomas gives a disappointed look, "Carlos..."
"Fine, my bad," Carlos sighed in defeat before switching his answer, "I like playing soccer and the guitar."
"Alright, now that introductions are done," Mr. Thomas turns on the projector and brings their attention to the board. Carlos's face drops when he reads the big, bold letters on the screen, "Let's talk about the semester-long group project!"
A semester-long was too much for Carlos to handle, he could barely get a week-long project done on time. "I'm finished..." He muttered silently.
"Today you'll be choosing your group partners for the project," That sounded much better to Carlos, "and each group should consist of six to seven people each." Nevermind.
Carlos never minded being in a group, it's just some people are too serious and don't have a sense of humor.
"The rest of the class will be about the project," Mr. Thomas stated, "So go ahead and sit wherever you want with your group for today."
- - -
Carlos exhaled through his nose as he observed Ashlyn, who was hiding herself from everyone by using her shirt. He feels someone glaring at his soul and looks around to find out who when his eyes lie on Tyler.
"What?" He questioned, Tyler just scoffed at him and muttered, "Nothing." Carlos immediately understood what got him mad. "Was it because I said I liked picking on you in the class?" Tyler grumbles even further.
Carlos sighed and rubbed Tyler's back, "Well, if it upsets you that much, then I apologize for saying that. I didn't mean it, really, I didn't. Will you forgive me?" He offers Tyler a handshake.
"I guess it's fine..." Tyler grumbled while hiding his face who seemed to turn read and accepted Carlos's handshake.
Ashlyn looked at Carlos with a soft look before sighing. 
"This is also what your project will be about and the topics you'll choose to present on are stated in your rubric," Mr. Thomas spoke, "Additionally, there is an overnight field trip to go along with the project!"
Carlos's ears perk up at the idea of going on a field trip overnight. His mom is an understanding person, so he knows she won't mind him going on a field trip.
"Of course it's optional," said Mr. Thomas, "However those who attend can get extra credit for your individual grade. If you are interested, the permission slips are on my desk and include everything you'll need to know."
"I'm so going on that field trip," Carlos told himself.
Mr. Thomas points to the clock. "For the rest of the period, please choose what topic your group would like to represent on. You've got twenty-five minutes so spend it wisely."
- - -
"You aren't gonna go on the field trip?" Aiden's sentence caught Carlos off guard as he ran towards Ashlyn.
"Ashlyn, what the hell! Don't do this to me, you have to go otherwise it won't feel like a 'group project'." Unbeknownst to Carlos, Aiden's face darkens when mentions not wanting to go.
"What's wrong? I mean you have the others, right?" Aiden asked calmly.
"Field trips are only fun when my friends are going with me, so if she's not going, I'm not going," Carlos frowned.
An irk mark appears on Aiden's face. "Why not? You have me and the others to accompany you, surely it won't affect you that much if she doesn't come."
Before he knew it, Carlos and Ashlyn were out of the classroom, his eyes dart at the permission slips on the desk before grabbing two. "No way in hell, if I have to convince Ashlyn to come with us so that Carlos will join, then so be it."
- - -
A couple of hours after school ended, Carlos sprawled out on Taylor's bed, watching her run around her room. He chose to stop by after finishing his homework and packing for the trip. Taylor's currently in the process of packing her suitcase but isn't going so well for her.
"Let's see..." Carlos goes through his things. "Cologne, check. Deodorant, check. Extra clothes, check. My survival kit, check. Pocket knife, check-"
"Pocket knife?" Taylor questioned, "Why bring that?"
"You never know, what if something tries to attack us?" Taylor deadpans at Carlos's explanation but shrugs it off.
Carlos helps her fold her clothes and put the ones she didn't want away. They settle on a few decent outfits, even though only one would do. Just one extra outfit couldn't hurt anyone, right? Carlos zips Taylor's suitcase and pats it, "All done."
"Thanks, Carlos."
A light tap is heard from her door and Carlos turns around to see Tyler leaning against the doorframes, scanning the messy floors of his sister's room.
He whistles in surprise, "Damn, Tay. Packing got you a little worked up?"
"It's hard to choose just one outfit!" She pouts, placing her suitcase under her bed. She then walks around to pick up any remaining clothes and shoes. Tyler's sister was down on the bed beside Carlos, leaving some room between them so he could rest his hand behind his back.
Carlos leans in and whispers to him, "She packed way more than she should have."
They both snicker, causing Taylor to squint her eyes at them before looking back at her closet to put the clothes away.