Next Morning – Camp Dining Hall
The air was buzzing with leftover energy from the beach outing. Students filed into the dining hall in pairs and groups, laughing, trading stories, clinking cups against plates. But Naya walked in alone.
Lucien was already seated at a table in the corner, headphones on, eyes locked on the table in front of him. He didn't look up.
Naya didn't sit near him.
Nora waved her over, but even she could tell something in Naya had closed off. There was no fire in her eyes today—just quiet weight.
Jessica, of course, noticed.
She tossed her hair back and strolled past Lucien's table, "accidentally" brushing his shoulder. "Morning," she said, voice like syrup.
Lucien didn't respond.
Jessica scowled and moved on.
Later – Group Hiking Trail
The camp coordinator announced a surprise hike—two hours through the woods, ending at a hidden waterfall. The students groaned but complied, strapping on boots and water bottles.
To Naya's dismay, the instructor split them into smaller groups again. And this time, luck—or maybe fate—wasn't on her side.
She ended up in a group with Lucien, Nora, and Kelvin.
Jessica, thankfully, was placed in a different group.
The hike began.
At first, no one spoke.
Leaves crunched underfoot. Birds chirped above like nothing was wrong. Naya kept her gaze on the path, avoiding Lucien's presence like it physically hurt.
Lucien didn't try to talk.
He walked a few steps behind, glancing at her now and then—but she never once looked back.
Kelvin cleared his throat a few times, clearly uncomfortable with the silence.
"So," he finally said to Nora, "are we just pretending none of you almost got eaten by the forest yesterday or…?"
Nora sighed. "We're all pretending a lot of things right now."
That shut him up.
Mid-Hike – Small Clearing
Naya stopped for water, stepping slightly off the trail. She took a deep breath, hoping the trees might help her feel less tangled inside.
Lucien walked past her—but paused.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words died on his tongue.
Instead, he said quietly, "Watch your step ahead. The rocks are loose."
Naya nodded once. Didn't look at him. Didn't speak.
Lucien walked on.
Nora lingered behind, eyes flicking between the two of them. She shook her head softly.
"I swear," she muttered, "if the tension gets any thicker, I'm gonna need a machete."
Naya exhaled shakily, shoulders stiff.
She wanted to be angry.
But mostly, she was tired.
End of the Hike – Waterfall Pool
When they reached the falls, the rest of the students were already jumping into the clear water, cheering and laughing. The sun filtered through the trees like gold.
Naya sat on a rock a little away from the others, shoes off, letting the cold water run over her sore feet.
Lucien didn't swim either.
He stayed under a tree, headphones around his neck, arms crossed—watching the pool, but not seeing it.
They didn't speak. Didn't look at each other.
But the silence between them?
It was deafening.