Chapter 22
The student council carried water up the mountain, with Roman, their president, leading the way
Sitting under the shade of a tree, Eliana vividly recalled her life before the time travel. Back then, she’d used the sunscreen Willow had given her, only to break out in a severe allergic reaction.
Her face had turned bright red–like a baboon’s backside. Mortified, she hadn’t dared approach Roman for water, leaving her thirsty all day. She’d resorted to sneaking out at night to gulp down tap water, her pride in tatters.
“What a goddamn nightmare, she thought bitterly.
This time around, Eliana wasn’t about to let herself suffer again. She walked straight up to get her share of water. Spotting her approach, Roman grabbed a bottle and handed it to her.
Thanks.” Eliana muttered, spinning on her heel to leave.
“Hey, hold up!” Roman called after her.
She turned around, arching an eyebrow. “What’s up?”
Roman held out a tube of mosquito repellent “You’ll need this. There are a ton of mosquitoes at night when you’re camping up here.”
Eliana blinked, caught off guard by the gesture. Before her time travel, it was exactly this kind of thoughtfulness that had made her fall for Roman. But things were different now. She wasn’t going to tread that path again.
“Appreciate it, but I’ve got my own, she said, declining the repellent before walking off without a second glance.
Nearby, one of the student council members noticed Roman still holding the repellent. “Yo, Roman, where’d that come from? We didn’t pack anything like that, did we! Or did we forget?”
Roman slipped the tube back into his pocket. “Nope. I brought it myself Hed brought it specifically for Eliana, but since she didn’t want it. he let it go without pressing further.
Just then, Willow strolled over to grab some water, radiating her usual polished and cheery vibe.
She wasn’t even thirsty–she had her stash of sports drinks for that. She wasn’t here to stay hydrated; she was here to get Roman’s
attention
As expected, the moment Willow showed up, the student council guys perked up, their eyes lighting up like kids spotting candy.
Willow noticed the glances coming her way and felt a sense of satisfaction. She leaned in toward Roman and said softly. Thank you so much for lending me your jacket last time, Roman. I really don’t know what’d would have done without it.”
Roman shrugged, his tone indifferent. “It was the least I could do.”
After getting her water, Willow lingered, hoping to talk more with Roman, but he seemed uninterested. Feeling a bit awkward, she turned to chat with others nearby. Soon enough, her charming words captivated the student council members.
Meanwhile, Eliana was summoned to the command center by an officer.
“Did you need me for something, sir?” Eliana asked.,
“Your instructor wants to see you,” the officer replied
Eliana’s instructor approached her and said, “Eliana, if the training is getting too hard for you, you don’t have to keep going”
Eliana frowned. “I wouldn’t be fair to the others if I skipped it.”
“It’s fine,” the instructor reassured her. “Willow also opted out. She just submitted a medical exemption
Now Eliana finally understood why Willow could show up at the training all dolled up while everyone else looked like they’d been dragged through the mud. When training rolled around, she always disappeared.
that was how she did it
“medical exemption.”
When Willow returned to the Garcia family, Andy and Victoria wasted no time taking her for a full medical check–up.
1/2
But Cliana was a whole different story–she was practically bouncing with energy. During the weighted run, she charged ahead, her heavy backpack barely slowing her down.
Someone from the back shouted, “Eliana, what’s your secret? How the hell are you not wiped out like the rest of us?”
