While they were traveling, Alex was drawing an escape plan in his notebook. They didn't know what the camp looked like, but they still tried to imagine it.
Then one of the boys said:
— Hi, what are your names? I'm Vaska. What about you?
The spoiled children looked at him with contempt and arrogance. Maxim smirked and said:
— Sorry, can you repeat that? We don't understand the language of poor people.
All the spoiled children laughed at him.
Then another boy, Denis, said:
— Why are you laughing? He just asked you normally.
Kirill snapped:
— Did you lose your fear or something? Do you even understand who you're talking to? I have more money than your entire family will ever earn in their lives.
But Denis wasn't afraid.
— And so what? — he said. — You think money scares me? I don't care how rich you are or who you are. You could be the president's son, I don't care.
Kirill scoffed.
— We'll see how brave you are later, when we get out of here.
The counselors smiled slightly, but the children didn't notice, because they were sitting in front near the driver. Kirion said quietly:
— Of course… if you even want to leave.
Only the counselors heard him, and he smiled.
Then one of the girls with glasses said:
— Hi, Vaska. My name is Elizabeth.
A girl sitting behind her added:
— And I'm Adalin. I'm her sister. I'm two years older.
Vaska smiled.
— Nice to meet you. How old are you?
Elizabeth closed her book and said:
— I'm also 11. My birthday is in July, on the 5th.
Adalin said:
— I'm 13. My birthday was in April.
Another boy with big glasses said:
— My name is Sergey. My family calls me Serёga. I'm 12. I'll be 13 in August.
Vlad quietly muttered:
— So many four-eyes in this camp…
Elizabeth frowned.
— Are you really going to judge us for our appearance the whole trip?
The spoiled children answered together:
— Yes. We will.
Denis sighed.
— Can you leave them alone already?
Egor snapped:
— What's it to you? Mind your own business.
Denis stopped arguing, opened his book, and pretended to read.
Alex smirked.
— Good. Hide.
But Denis suddenly closed his book, handed it to Elizabeth, and stood up.
He walked over to Alex and punched him in the nose.
Blood immediately appeared.
Alex froze in shock, then hit him back.
— Bad idea, — he said coldly.
At that moment, Oleg came over and said:
— That's enough, children. Try to become friends. There's no need to fight.
Denis asked:
— Friends?
Alex answered immediately:
— NEVER.
Oleg only smiled and made them sit back down. He gave them water and tissues to clean the blood.
After that, they didn't look at each other for the rest of the trip.
The road was long. Alex hid his notebook and fell asleep, but two hours later he woke up.
Everyone looked tired, but still able to walk.
Then strange music started playing. No one knew where it came from or why it had started.
Vlad, half asleep, murmured:
— What is this strange music?
Maxim yawned:
— It's… actually calming…
Egor added:
— I feel like sleeping…
Alex said:
— We can't sleep… we'll lose track of the road…
But the music became slower and more beautiful.
Alex sighed:
— Fine… we can sleep. The road won't run away.
One by one, they fell asleep.
Elizabeth fell asleep hugging her book and resting her head on Vaska's shoulder. Adalin fell asleep next to Denis, and Sergey fell asleep near Elizabeth.
The counselors stood up and gently covered them with blankets.
— Sweet dreams, our dear children, — they whispered.
The children only slept deeper.
When they woke up, the music was still playing softly. They were still sleepy and didn't want to get up.
Adalin asked sleepily:
— Excuse me… how much longer do we have to travel?
Esmeralda replied:
— Not long… about one hour.
Alex took out his notebook to draw, but Kirill said:
— Let's draw later… when we're at the camp.
Alex nodded and put the notebook away.
Vaska looked at Elizabeth and asked:
— Do you really love reading books?
Elizabeth nodded.
Adalin added:
— "Love reading" is an understatement. She reads all the time.
Vaska smiled:
— Then I know what I'll get you for your birthday.
Elizabeth blushed and whispered:
— You don't need to waste money on me or books…
Sergey said:
— Why not? You're smart and beautiful. You deserve more books.
Elizabeth turned even redder and opened her book again.
Alia had heard everything and made a note in her notebook, checking a box: likes reading books.
Kirion smiled:
— She will definitely fit in here.
All the counselors smiled.
Vlad suddenly asked:
— Do you like reading?
Elizabeth looked at him:
— Are you talking to me?
He nodded.
— Yes, I really love reading. I adore books. That's why my eyesight is bad.
Vlad smiled for the first time without mocking her.
— I love reading too. My eyesight is also bad because of it.
Elizabeth smiled.
— Then why don't you wear glasses?
— I wear contact lenses, — Vlad said. — But I don't like them. When I read, I sometimes switch to glasses because my eyes hurt.
Elizabeth asked:
— What are your favorite genres and authors?
Vlad replied:
— Russian classics, philosophy, psychological horror, and fantasy. What about you?
— Same… and I also love Japanese literature.
— Murakami? — Vlad asked.
Her eyes lit up.
— He's my favorite author.
Alia quietly wrote in her notebook: "both love reading (non-stereotypical rich kids)"
Elizabeth asked:
— What book are you reading now?
— I'm reading Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, — she said.
Vlad nodded:
— I read it a month ago.
Adalin whispered:
— I didn't think rich kids liked reading…
Maxim shrugged:
— That's just a stereotype. We're not like that.
Sergey said quietly:
— Maybe they're not as bad as they seem…
Then the music became louder again.
Everyone yawned at the same time, as if something invisible had pressed a button.
One by one, they fell asleep:
Vlad, then Alex, then Elizabeth, then Denis, then Maxim, then Adalin, then Sergey, and finally Kirill.
The counselors gently woke them up and said in calm voices:
— We've arrived at the camp. Wake up, children.
They smiled softly.
And the camp waited for them.