Violet took her last step and reached the clearing. What she saw had blown her mind. Plain land stretched far wherever she looked. Green grass, shimmering with due droplets shined like little fairies dancing for the full moon. Somewhere in the middle, a large bonfire was already flaming. The fire was licking through the dark and stretching towards the heaven above. The students were sitting all around it on logs, chatting, laughing and eating.

But what really caught her eye was something else. Alex completed his journey as well and stood beside Violet. Now he could see the reason behind her amazement.

About half a kilometer behind the bonfire, was Buddha. Sitting cross-legged. He was resting the back of his hands on his knees and had his eyes closed. His ribs were evident and he had covered himself with a simple piece of cloth draped around one of his shoulders.

It was one of the most beautiful monuments that Alex had seen and he found himself wondering why he'd never heard of this place before. It rose way above than the bonfire, as if looking down towards a firefly.

"Whoa!" Alex exhaled a breath that he didn't know he was holding.

"Exactly!" Violet answered, without taking her eyes off the monument.

"We'd better reach the bonfire, in case everybody starts to worry."

They walked towards the others and this time Violet was keeping up well. It seemed as if the scenery had charged her up. Finally they reached the others.

"Just where were you guys?" Edward inquired.

"It took you guys a month y'know. We were just about to leave." Max added.

"Stop being over dramatic guys." Alex said with a chuckle and Violet felt her stomach melt away.

"Alex dear! Here, have some coke. You must be very tired." Elizabeth said, handing Alex a paper cup.

"Uh no! I am fine. I don't drink coke." Alex held his palms up in denial so they faced the cup.

"But what I really want to know. Is who lost? Because we've all decided that the loser is gonna complete a dare."

"I did." Alex and Violet said in union.

They both stared at each other with their eyes open wide.

"I mean She did."

"I mean he did."

Edward couldn't help but smile

"Um. We did..." Alex said while clearing his throat and kicking aimlessly. It had become an awkard moment

"...it was, well, a close call really." He ended.

Violet's cheeks flushed with blood as she felt heat rise up in her chest.

"She barely won!" Alex said as everybody gasped. They were staring wide-eyed at both of them. How could Alex lose?

Violet didn't know what to do. It was so cute that he stood up for her, but now she was cornered and she couldn't help him.

"Well then, get ready bro!" Jess said.

*****************

The dare was simple. They were going to have a lucky draw as one by one everybody in their group would take turns to pull out a note from a fish jar that Edward had brought with him (he would have probably thought about this dare even before they had left for the trip). The notes would have either of the two options written on them. Option number 1: Run. Which meant you'll have to run till the Buddha monument and then reach back. Option number 2: Rest, which sounded like heaven to Alex's ears.

After they had eaten their food they began. Edward was the first one to take out his note. He handed it over to Alex without opening.

"I'll let'cha do the honors" He smiled teasingly.

Alex opened the chit and on it, was scribbled in the ugliest handwriting "Run badass." (which Alex quickly recognized to be Edward's)

Alex threw the chit behind his back and began running. If he had to run, then it was better not to whine about it and just concentrate. He ran with a regular pace. Jogging his way through. There were due droplets on the grass and that made it hard to run. Once or twice he was caught off balance but managed to continue. All the way, he kept staring at Buddha's closed eyes. He seemed so peaceful, unaware of everything that surrounded him. He reached the foot of the monument and as soon as he reached, he turned and jogged back.

Next up was Max who pulled out his chit. Read it and began laughing.

"Wait? Why'd you stop? Run like the wind ********" The chit ended with something very inappropriate and Alex, as irritated as he was, still had to continue.

He ran back, starting to feel the strain of it.

Just keep your breathing steady.

Sweat poured down from his forehead. Even in this cold, he was perspirating. Once he reached to the foot of Buddha, he stopped this time to catch his breath. He looked here and there and realized how finely detailed the monument really was. Even the knuckles were carved perfectly. He rounded on the monument, looking at it from all sides. It was when he reached the back, that he realized what it concealed.

There was a wooden staircase, leading straight into the monument. Alex touched it and realized how dusty it was. He ascended those stairs and entered. There was no sign of any light inside, except the moonlight which seeped in through Buddha's eye sockets. The stairs changed into spiral ones and rose way up into the head. Alex came back outside.

Coming here wasn't bad after all.

Alex jogged back. He felt as if his body was going to fall apart any moment. He reached his friends and Elizabeth walked towards the jar.

"Hey! Who said you're part'ov our group?" Edward retaliated and she contorted her face in anger, then stormed away with Taylor accompanying her.

"Your turn Violet." Edward nudged her with the jar.

"No, I guess it's okay. I mean he's already ran two times." Violet said shyly. She was looking down at her shoes. She peeked up at Alex, and saw that he was already staring. She felt nervous with Alex's eyes upon her.

She looked so cute at that moment, standing guard for Alex. Even though he was tired, Alex thought he could run for her one more time.

"Well it is a game. And rules are rules." It didn't fit Edward to talk about obeying rules. But Violet was left with no other choice. She took hold of the jar and took out a chit. Slowly, she unfolded it and read.

"Rest." She looked at Alex.

"So you should probably drink some water and do just that." She advised.

The rest of their night passed by in stories, dancing and singing around the bonfire. Boys were allotted sleeping bags on one side of the bonfire were girls were on the other. Everybody snugged into their bags and tried having a good night sleep after the long and tiring day.

Alex was looking up at the starry sky. He had never noticed so many stars in the night sky before. They were shining brighter than usual and Alex found himself longing for the person who had brightened his life.

"Y'know, it's pretty cute. I mean, I didn't think she'd lie."

It was Edward, who was also staring upwards.

"Who?" Alex asked, now looking at Edward in a peculiar way.

"Violet." Edward replied softly, or maybe everything concerning Violet felt soft to him.

"When did she lie?"

"Um, there's something you should know..." Edward began, his tone had become appologetic. "You really don't think I'd put a 'Rest' chit in that bowl did you?" He said cheekily.

"WHAT? DON'T YOU EFFING TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NO EFFING REST CHIT IN THAT EFFING BOWL OF YOURS." Alex began punching Edward's sleeping bag as he took refuge in it.

It took Alex some time to get tired and he lay down again. He had his hands behind his head now.

"You know you're a bastard." Alex said.

"I love you too."

**********************************

-So, what do you think about this trip until now? Any guesses of what's to come? Your support means the world to me so comment and vote as much as you can. Share this story with friends :)