Day 1

Finally, Cabbage Week has arrived. Just as I predicted, the day starts terribly. I have to get up at three in the morning.

I practically lug my small bag to the bus, half-asleep. I mumble some words to Hayden, and before she can respond, I drag myself onto the bus, make a makeshift bed out of my seat, and immediately fall asleep.

I wake a few hours later to the sound of a quiet bus. Everyone else is gone, except for Hayden, who is reading one of my novels.

I rub my eyes and mumble, "What's going on?" in a groggy voice.

She barely spares me a glance as she replies, "The bus broke down."

I rest my head on the headrest, trying to collect my thoughts. "That still doesn't explain the empty bus."

"Oh, that. Most people decided to get some fresh air and a few snacks."

"And you didn't?"

She pauses to smile at me. "I needed to finish this chapter. Girl, now I understand why you're always nose-deep in these books. It's a book about a serial killer, but why is he so... hot? Okay, psycho daddy, you can slay me anytime."

I mentally facepalm. "Good to see you relate with your kind." She holds up a hand and pushes my head away from her as if it's disturbing her. "You should take care of that one. I just started that series," I reply, swatting her hand away.

She asks as she sifts through the ten books I've stuffed in my bag. "One question though. Why bring all this on a camping trip? With what Willow has planned, you might not even have enough time for one."

"Three words: my mental health." I smile brightly, and she shakes her head.

I turn away from her and think about my next moves. Sleep is not an option anymore due to the skin-melting heat.

I look back at Hayden. "While we wait for this to get fixed, you want to go look for something to counter this heat?" She wastes no time and closes the book.

"Sure."

The scavenger hunt is very successful. We manage to find at least three stores selling fans and cold drinks.

But Hayden, being Hayden, decides it would be a great idea to set me up with the cashier while I'm distracted.

I'll admit, he's cute, and I would be open to humouring him, but not now, when I had other things on my mind.

All I hear is, "You see that girl over there? The beautiful girl in the red dress? Yeah, she thinks you're cute and would like your number." Watching her very painful attempt at getting me a date is sad. And sad is all the encouragement I need to get out of there.

A few moments later, she walks back onto the bus with a paper in hand, looking proud.

I give her a death glare, but she takes it with elegance. She slips back into her seat, shoving both the paper and a few snacks into my lap. "From your latest suitor." I look down at the number and sigh, then look back at her. "You're welcome," she adds, finishing with a snarky smile and a wink.

I roll my eyes wearily and dig into the snacks.

The bus takes three hours to fix. I spend most of that time reading.

*******

"I never agreed to this," Suwi protests, giving the place another disgusted look and standing her ground.

We've just arrived at the campsite.

Everyone else is settled in except for Willow, Suwi, Hayden, and me and Willow decided it would be a great idea to deliver the bad news that we all have to share a cabin meant for two because she underestimated how many people would come.

"It's not that bad," she interjects, trying to diffuse the situation. Even though she's being confronted, she keeps her smile.

"If I wanted to share a room and a bunk with three other people, I would've gone back to boarding."

"That sounds fun. I bet your nights were full of nothing but interesting stories."

Suwi's lips press into a thin line. "Less interesting stories, more stealing of my stuff and not respecting my space."

Willow smiles nervously. "I'm sure you enjoyed it regardless."

"No. I wanted to burn down the school with everyone in it." She pauses, and the room falls silent. I look over at Hayden and give her a look, which she eagerly returns. This is low-key entertaining.

"Oh... okay. I'm sorry you went through that. But please don't let your past experiences affect this moment. This trip is going to be worthwhile, I promise," Willow defends.

Suwi angrily grabs her suitcase and pulls it towards the cabin, mumbling something I can't quite catch under her breath. I wait for a few minutes before following suit, leaving Hayden to do damage control on Willow, who looks like she's a few words away from crying.

The cabin is okay. A little hazardous, but we'll live.

Hayden is the most excited about it. "I love bunk beds."

Willow replies, equally excited. "Me too. There's just something about them that gives two people a bonding experience." She pauses and looks over at Suwi. "If there are any objections, take it up with yourself. This isn't changing." Her tone is scary.

Suwi has the most exhausted facial expression I've ever seen. We all look at her, waiting for any sort of protest, but it never comes.

She just puts down her bag near one of the bunks, changes into some pyjamas, and goes to bed without saying anything to any of us.

Hayden and Willow both take that as a sign to move on with their lives, and I do too.

I choose the top bunk as well to sleep on. I quickly change and fall asleep to the sound of crickets.

*******

The next day starts at seven in the morning. Willow herself makes sure of that.

She gathers us to talk about the day's schedule. "After breakfast, there will be a hike up the hill. It's voluntary, so it's up to someone if they want to go."

Andre cuts in, "Great. I'm not going. I have a game in a week, and I need to be perfect."

"Yes, you are. As an original member, you need to set an example," Willow replies.

Suwi scoffs. "I thought you said it was voluntary."

"Look who finally decided to show up," Willow replies under her breath.

"Hey, calm down." She takes a seat close to me and continues, "Could you please answer my question?" She finishes her question by letting out a loud yawn.

We all turn our attention back to Willow to see if she will fire back. Instead, she takes the high road.

"The hike is voluntary for everyone who is not one of us. And you, my people, are included."

Murmurs and whispers fill the room.

Suwi cuts in, asking, "My girl, another question. What even is the objective of this?"

"Honestly, there isn't much of an objective-"

Andre wastes no time interrupting her. "So you're telling me that you want me to risk my future on something that has no objective?" He pauses and laughs. "I'm not going."

I make sure to sneak in a quick, "Yeah, what he said," before she continues.

"Come on, guys, does it really matter if there is an objective? We are the leaders, and leaders set an example. It won't make sense for us to preach something we don't practice."

"That honestly sounds like a you problem," Andre defends.

Willow is on the verge of losing hope. "Guys..." She doesn't get to finish before Andre interrupts again.

"What did you expect?" he asks with a hint of exasperation. "Look around you. Half of the people on this entire trip have serious issues that cannot be fixed by a hike. You're funny if you think otherwise."

"It's not for nothing. Hiking is a great way for us to connect with nature and also a good time for people to let their minds go and focus on nothing too stressful. It will also help us plan for our next activity. Guys, I know what I'm doing." She sounds a little irritated.

"Doesn't seem like it," Andre mumbles under his breath.

"You know what-!" Willow says angrily.

Sebastian quickly cuts in before things go south. "Okay. Let's all calm down and figure this out."

I interrupt him. "No, not when it's just getting good," I whine. Hayden punches me in the shoulder, causing me to cry in pain. "Hey! What did I do?"

"Don't fuel this," she threatens.

I roll my eyes and turn away. "You never let me have any fun."

Watching the two fight is like watching a series. Willow has banned any form of technology, so this is my next best thing.

Sebastian continues, "Before we judge, how about we give the hike a try? You might like it, Andre."

"I will when she gives me a valid reason why. You can't just make me waste three hours for nothing," he replies.

"Cut her some slack, people," Sebastian voices.

"Another question. It's no secret that our club is filled with people who have serious issues. How do we know people will show up?"

Willow cuts in. "We don't. We just hope."

At that point, Andre has made up his mind. "Not going."

Sensing defeat, Sebastian moves on to convince his friend. "Suwi, why don't you want to go?"

She crosses her arms and replies emotionlessly, "Where I'm from, we don't hike for fun."

"We don't usually go camping either, but here we are. That's not a valid reason. You're going," he says, quickly turning his attention to me before Suwi can protest. "Nightowl-"

Suwi cuts him off, "That's unfair. You're asking me to do something potentially life-threatening."

"That's the thing; I'm not asking," he replies calmly. "And it's not even life-threatening."

"I could fall off a cliff, or worse, get eaten by wolves."

"First off, this is a private campsite. There are no wolves. Secondly, you're so reserved. You need a bit of excitement in your life now and then. A little risk here and there wouldn't hurt."

"Please," she scoffs, "I get enough of that from my parents."

He just stares at her in complete defeat, taking a slow, deep breath before looking back at me with a half-smile, like I'm his last hope.

"Moving on," he announces. "What about you, night owl? Are you facing death threats too?" he asks.

"No, I just don't like hiking," I reply calmly.

"I won't even argue," he says with a shrug. "How about you, Hayden?"

"I'm up for a hike. Unlike my sister over here, I actually enjoy it," she says with a grin.

"Right then, it's settled. Hayden, Willow, and I will lead the morning hike, and the rest of you will join us for the next scheduled activity."

"But-" Willow starts, but Sebastian quickly interrupts.

"Arguing won't get us anywhere, Willow. These are adults. If they say they aren't going, then they're not going. Best to leave them be." She rolls her eyes. "Besides, this is their only get-out-of-jail-free card. Everything else on the schedule is completely mandatory, no arguments. Now, let's all grab our schedules and be on our way."

Everyone stands up and grabs a notepad. I look down and see that I'm on cooking and cleanup duty for the day. I'm partly okay with it, but the only issue is the number of people I'll have to cook for.

After a bit of double-checking and some quick run-throughs, we all disperse.

I honestly can't wait to get the whole day over with. If someone had told me earlier that this is how I'd be spending my break, I'd have laughed at them. Look at me now.

*******

After breakfast, I take the time off as an opportunity to catch up on some reading. I'm eager to continue my vampire novel.

I sit down on an empty bench, wrap a tiny red blanket tightly around my shoulders, cross my legs, and begin reading.

A few moments later, someone sits down across from me, and I sigh. "What I'd give for some alone time," I think, keeping my eyes on the book.

Suwi takes a seat on the bench opposite me. She gives me a long look, and I begin to feel nervous, though I try to keep my cool. Her blank expression only adds to the already thick tension in the air.

"Nice book," she says quietly.

I glance at her and smile slightly. "Thank you." But she doesn't return my smile; instead, she purses her lips, as if judging me. My heart starts to race, so I shift my focus back to the book.

"Oops, where are my manners? I never formally introduced myself-I'm Suwi," she says, forcing a half-smile as she holds out her hand for me to shake.

"Tate, "I reply, pausing briefly before deciding to shake her hand. But something feels off-her words say one thing, but her expressions tell a different story.

She takes my hand with enthusiasm, then releases it, her hands returning to her sides. "Great, now that we're acquainted, I can formally ask you why you're sleeping with my boyfriend."

I go to turn the page but freeze halfway. Wide-eyed and breathless, I look up to meet her gaze. Her expression is blank, but her seriousness is clear.

My heart starts to pound, and I blink rapidly. "I beg your pardon?" I gasp, struggling to breathe.

She shifts slightly in her seat, crossing her arms but staying calm. "Me repeating it won't change the fact that you're a homewrecker. Which is a shame, because in some other world, we might have been friends." She curves her lips into a dark, snarky smile, and I dig my fingertips into my palms.

The thought of running away crosses my mind, but that wouldn't change anything. So I stay, bracing myself for whatever hatred is coming my way.

With my heart still racing, I close my book, place it on the bench, and meet her gaze once more. "I am not sleeping with Sebastian and I have never slept with him," I say firmly.

She chuckles. "Say that again a few more times. This time, make it sound more convincing."

"I don't know what he's told you, but-"

"He's told me nothing. That's why I'm here, getting answers from the one source who can. But it looks like I'll have to keep searching for the truth."She drops her fake smile and frowns. The tension thickens, and my stomach churns uneasily.

Suddenly, the air feels stale, and my blanket feels tighter around my neck than I remember. My palms start to sweat, and I quickly tuck them under the table before she notices. But I can't stop my stammer, "Su...wi...I-"

She cuts me off by raising a finger. "No need to explain." She sighs and stands as the warning bell for lunch rings. "Your expression is giving me all the answers I need." Then she walks away as if it's nothing.

I take a moment to gather myself and make sense of what just happened. Once I'm calm again, I laugh to myself like a madwoman. "And this, people, is why I never leave our room." I stand up, pack my book, and head straight to the cafeteria, dropping my stuff by the door on my way to the kitchen. "Here we go again," I mumble under my breath.

I choose a station, slip on my AirPods, and grab a sack of potatoes to start peeling.

In silence, I move to another counter and get to work on the vegetables. I hum a low tune, letting myself zone out as I peel and chop. It's almost therapeutic, the simple act of peeling and chopping, the rhythm of it lulling me into a kind of trance.

When I need more water, I head to the sink to fill a pot. As I stand there, my gaze drifts to the window, taking in the peaceful camp surroundings. The sun casts a warm glow over everything, creating a scene that is almost too serene. My eyes wander further, eventually landing on the ablution block in the distance.

And that's when I see him.

Sebastian is under the open-air shower, water cascading down his body, turning every inch of him into something out of a fever dream. His dark hair clings to his forehead and neck, wet strands framing his face in a way that makes him look almost unreal. His back is to me, muscles flexing with each movement as he runs his hands through his wet hair. I watch, mesmerised, as water droplets trace paths down his skin, catching the sunlight.

My breath hitches, and before I can stop it, that familiar fluttering sensation takes over my stomach. The butterflies and thoughts I've been trying so hard to kill since Suwi's revelation are now alive and kicking.

I know I should look away. I try to remind myself of the anger and betrayal-he lies to me. I should be mad, right? Right?

But my eyes have a mind of their own, tracing every corner of his body, from the sharp angles of his shoulders down to the ridges of his spine. The window only shows him up to his torso-clearly intentional, not to put his full naked body on display. But the window doesn't have to reveal everything; my imagination is doing just fine filling in the blanks.

My mind drifts, imagining what it would feel like to drag my fingers along those wet corners, to feel the firmness of his muscles under my touch. My gaze lingers on his abs, watching them contract and relax with each breath he takes. I can practically feel the heat radiating from him, even from this distance. His wet hair only makes him more attractive, more rugged, more...

A warmth spreads through me, pooling low in my belly, and I find myself leaning closer to the open window, completely lost in the sight of him.

"I think that's more than enough water for the potatoes," a voice suddenly cuts through my haze.

I jump, nearly dropping the pot I'm holding. Glancing over, I see one of the other girls from the lunch crew giving me a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. I give her a look that tells her I don't know what she is insinuating, but in reality, I am mortified.

Before I can fully gather myself, I realise there is a slight drool at the corner of my mouth. I quickly wipe it away with the edge of my turtleneck, my face burning with embarrassment. My heart pounds in my chest, and I fight the desperate urge to look up again.

'Just one look, then I'm done,' I tell myself, gripping the edge of the sink as if that will keep me grounded. Slowly, I let my eyes drift back up to the window.

But as soon as I do, I lock eyes with him.

Sebastian has turned to face me, towel drying his hair, and he is looking right at me. There is something unreadable in his expression, except for the slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

My heart jumps into my throat. My legs give out from under me, and I sink to the floor, my face burning with embarrassment. One of the other girls walks over to check on me.

I brush her off politely, saying I am fine and just need some air. Once outside, I take deep breaths as if I have never breathed so deeply before. I am still suffocating, but for a different reason this time, and I want to rip this damn turtleneck off because everything feels hot.

"He's someone's boyfriend who just happens to be a lying cheat," I remind myself. For a moment, I debate going back in and pretending like everything is normal, but it isn't. I need a moment to think, to regroup.

I untie my apron, toss it over my shoulder, and head straight for the lake. I can't go back to my room-Suwi will be there, and what would my explanation be? 'Hey, I just gawked over your half-naked boyfriend, sorry.'

I spend the rest of my afternoon studying trees and reconnecting with nature. Lord knows I need it.

Before it gets too dark, I regrettably make my way back to the camp.

Hayden finds me immediately. "Tate," she calls out, pulling me into a warm hug. She looks worried. She pushes back my hair and whispers, "Where were you?"

"The lake. I had to, um..." The thought of Sebastian in a towel flashes through my mind, and I push it away immediately. "...clear my head."

She takes a step back and studies me. My cheeks are still red and flushed, so I do my best to avoid her gaze. "Why do I get the feeling you're hiding something?" I roll my eyes and walk away. She gets excited and trots after me. "See, see, you're walking away, meaning something big happened."

"For your sake and mine, please drop it. I'm already embarrassed as it is."

She pouts. "No... at least not before you give me a little snippet." Her eyes light up, and I fight back a scoff. "I want to feel the second-hand embarrassment too."

I glare at her for a while, then, frustrated, rub my temples, sighing, "Hayden..."

Her pout deepens. "Please, Tae. Ever since Willow took our phones and you confiscated your book, you've been my only source of entertainment. Feel bad for me, I'm missing a whole season of *Legacy Housewives*."

"Did you just compare me to one of your messy characters with no moral compass?"

"If I say no, will you tell me?" Her pitch increases, and she smiles at me like a child waiting for candy.

I purse my eyebrows together. "No."

"Then you're just as messy as my ladies, sometimes even more, depending on the day most of the time."

I take a deep breath and fight the urge to tell her off. "I'm leaving." I turn away and keep walking.

"Come on... I was just joking." I ignore her. "Tae, my love, entertain your sister, please." She grabs me by the shoulders and turns me to face her. I nonchalantly look away. She proceeds to shake me, repeating, "Please," in progressively higher tones until I cave in-which is soon because once people start giving us weird looks, I sink like a bird, telling her everything from Suwi to Seb. By the time I finish, she looks more confused than a drunk after a night of heavy drinking.

"Now do you see why I'm embarrassed?" Sensing the growing crowd, she pulls me past some cabins into a darker corner.

She has a proud smile on her face when I turn to look at her. "Tae, you sly dog, up top." She holds up her hand, but I push it down, still feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Why are you high-fiving me? Didn't you hear me? Do I have to spell it out for you? I spied on someone's boyfriend while they were showering. You might as well label me as a certified creep."

She breathes low. "Please, I've done way worse." I open my mouth to interject but quickly close it-she's right. "Plus, you just happened to look at him. We can label that as a coincidence."

"If you say so..."

"I'm the aspiring lawyer; I know so." I smile warmly, and she smiles wider. "But girl..." Before I know it, she is smacking my bum. "Who knew you had it in you?"

"Was the assault necessary?"

"Very," she blurts without regret. I sigh. "So, what are you going to do now? I'm ready to see the next chapter unfold." She squints slightly, and I send her a look.

"Absolutely nothing," I reply, serious.

Her confused expression returns. "Nothing?"

"Nothing," I agree. "So what if he lied about his girlfriend? I don't care."

She looks at me softly and places her hands on both of my sides. "Tae-"

But I read her mind. "Don't, please."

Hayden's smile falters for just a second, but I catch it before she masks it with a brighter one. "We'd better get going; the welcoming bonfire is about to start, and we still need to change."

"Great idea." I manage to keep my voice upbeat as she took my hand, pulling me towards the cabin.

But even with the big smile plastered on my face, something gnawed at me, a sensation I couldn't shake off. I wanted to believe that it didn't hurt-that the dull ache in my chest was just a bruised ego. But if that were true, why didn't it feel right when I repeated it over and over?

In the cabin, Hayden tosses me a green khaki overall, and I pull it on without much thought, the colour blending with the earthy tones outside.

Hayden slips into an orange jumpsuit, the bright colour making her look vibrant and confident, as always.

She pauses for a moment, eyeing me with that protective look she gets sometimes. Before I can ask, she hands me one of her green juices. "Here, take this. You need to stay hydrated, and I don't want to hear any excuses."

I raise an eyebrow but take the juice anyway. "I'll finish it later, I promise. Let's just get going before Suwi comes back."

The awkward tension that is lingering between Suwi and me is thick enough to cut with a knife, and the last thing I want was another uncomfortable encounter. Hayden seemed to understand, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze as we left the cabin.

The bonfire is already in full swing when we arrive, the night air filled with the crackle of flames and the hum of excited voices. Hayden keeps her promise to stick with me, and together we scan the crowd, searching for Sebastian. But there is no sign of him.

My chest tightens, the familiar feeling of anxiety creeping in. The crowd is overwhelming, with too many bodies pressing in and too much noise. Hayden notices and steers us towards the edge of the gathering, where the trees provide a bit of cover and the benches are farther away. I let out a small breath of relief as we settle down in a quiet corner.

Willow takes centre stage, her voice booming as she begins the welcoming ceremony. The atmosphere shifts, the energy buzzing with cheers and laughter, easing my nerves slightly. Willow's enthusiasm is infectious, and as she launches into her introduction about the club, I find myself listening intently, momentarily distracted from the thoughts swirling in my head.

"I'm going to get us some drinks," Hayden whispers, "I'll be right back, okay?"

I hesitate, the thought of being alone in the crowd making my pulse quicken. But I force a nervous smile and nod, letting her go. "Yeah, sure. I'll be fine."

She gives me one last reassuring look before disappearing into the crowd. As she leaves, I can't help but glance around again, searching for Sebastian, but he is still nowhere to be found. I sigh, trying to focus on Willow's speech, the juice cold in my hand as I absentmindedly sip from it.

Not even a minute later, a familiar scent reaches me-pine. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my breath hitches, but I keep my eyes forward, refusing to turn around. My heart pounds in my chest, louder than the fire crackling nearby.

I don't have to look to know who it is.

His presence looms behind me, and before I can steel myself, he bends down, his breath warm against my ear. "Oh night owl, there was no need to sneak around to watch me," he whispers, his voice low and teasing. "If you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask. I would've given you a private show."

His words send a shiver down my spine, my grip tightening on the juice. I fight to keep my attention on Willow, but my mind races, my body betraying me.

My cheeks burn, and I clench my jaw, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. But his scent, his voice, the nearness of him is too much. I swallow hard, trying to steady my breathing as I stare straight ahead, my heart hammering in my chest.

'Get it together, woman,' I scold myself, willing the blush to fade. But the image of him, wet and teasing, flashes in my mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else.