~1 Week Later~

Your relationship with Garroth was complicated. You felt awkward around him, and you couldn't act like you were just friends. If you were asked to describe it, you'd say it was a budding romance.

And you knew Garroth felt the same, which really didn't help the awkwardness. But you couldn't just find a new friend and move on from him, so you still ended up hanging out with him.

***

You stepped outside your front door.

Immediately, hands were placed over your eyes from behind and you couldn't see.

"Garroth, is that you?" You asked with a smile.

"Nope, it's Travis." The hands lifted off of your eyes, allowing you to turn around.

It was in fact Travis who stood behind you. "Travis?!" You exclaimed. "Why would you do that?"

"To surprise you! Happy Birthday!" He said.

"What?" You asked, confused. "It's not my birthday."

"Yeah it is. Zoey told me."

You blinked a few times. "I think I'd know if it was. What's today?"

"(Your birth month and day)"

Your jaw dropped open. "It is?"

Travis laughed. "I can't believe you forgot your own birthday."

"I can't either." You mumbled, looking at the ground.

"But don't worry, mom. I made a whole list that tells us exactly what we're going to do today. You're going to have the best day ever."

You smiled. "I guess I am if you planned it."

Travis pulled a folded yellow piece of paper out of his pockets. "Today is going to be great. First thing on the to-do list: Katelyn."

"What?" You asked.

"Haha. I forgot that we're starting on number two." Travis replied, moving on to the next step.

You looked over Travis's shoulder, and surely enough, next to number 1, Katelyn's name was written. "Number two: Get ____ breakfast. Hey, that seems like a good idea." Travis said.

"That is a good one." You said, starting to follow Travis to the mess hall.

Once you got there, you sat down on one of the benches inside, and Travis came back with two plates. He placed one in front of you, then took a seat by your side.

Your plate had a slice of cake on it, which was unusual for breakfast, but whatever. There was (favorite breakfast foods) all together on the plate.

Travis finished his food about a minute before you did. After you threw away the trash, Travis pulled his list out of his pocket. "Number three. Get a book from the library."

You followed Travis out of the dining area, then stopped at the library. You walked up the steps to the front door, then walked in.

When you found a book, you went up to Emmalyn to check it out.

"Happy Birthday ____." She said as she examined the book you were getting.

"Thanks. For the book too."

She smiled. "You're welcome." She stamped a date onto the back side of the front cover. "Bring it back by this day." She pointed to the date, which was exactly a week from today.

You caught up with Travis who was chilling on a bean bag chair. He got up and walked outside with you.

"Did everyone know it's my birthday except me?"

"Not everyone. I just told Emmalyn that it was while you were picking out your book on," Travis looked at the front cover, "Lady Irene."

"Yeah, surprisingly she has a lot of those."

Travis stopped in front of a house. "Number four. A massage."

"Who on this island gives massages?" You asked, interested.

"You'll see." Travis gestured his arm out towards the front door. He slowly opened the door. "Go inside. I'll be waiting out here."

You did as instructed and went inside. You looked around. As far as you could tell, it was a normal house. A living room with two nice couches, and a coffee table in the middle. The room was well lit, not dark to set the relaxing mood.

"Hi ____. Are you ready to be more relaxed than ever?" Lucinda asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." You said, following Lucinda down her hallway.

Her hat was in the way in front of you, so you couldn't see where you were going. You just had to rely on Lucinda's back.

She opened a door and had you follow her inside. The room looked like it had been her bedroom, but now heavy, dark curtains covered the windows, making it dark. Small white candles and frankincense were placed on shelves. Lucinda had a long padded black table out that she had had you lay down face first on.

"Okay, now just relax. Your massage will begin in a moment."

"Do you have a lot of experience in massage?" You asked from the face hole that your head was placed in.

"Nope, but Fabio does." Lucinda replied curtly.

"Who's Fabio?"

"You should be asking 'what's Fabio'." Lucinda said sneakily as you heard her shuffling around with a few potions.

You weren't so confident about this massage anymore.

"Bigglesworth, can you fetch me that potion?"

Who's Bigglesworth?

Soon you felt something like hands on your shoulders, slowly kneading with pressure.

Whatever Fabio was, he was doing a great job.

***

You hadn't adjusted to the light outside, and you squinted your eyes at Travis to see him.

When you started walking, it felt... Different. You hadn't been used to moving your legs.

You had to open your eyes fully, because you felt them drooping closed. You had been so relaxed that you fell asleep during the massage, so now you just felt unnecessarily tired.

"Next thing on the list. Number five: Pick berries in the forest." Travis folded the list and stuck it back in his pocket.

"That sounds like a chore." You joked.

"Not with these berries." Travis reassured you. "We're going to use them to... Make paint."

"Okay..." You gave in.

***

On the way into the forest, Travis stopped and held his hand out to stop you too.

"What is it?" You asked quietly.

Travis squinted his eyes. "Slowly start walking backwards."

"What? Why?" You asked while taking a few steps backwards. You glanced around to see what Travis could be looking at.

"Bear." He said.

You looked up. It was a good distance away, but it was coming closer. A brown blob at first, then it came into focus. It was in fact a bear.

You started stepping back a little faster.

The bear was approaching. It was getting closer.

"Run." Travis whispered, trying not to spook the bear.