Chapter 12: The Edge of Something Real
The next morning, the cabin was filled with the sounds of breakfast preparations. The smell of bacon sizzling in the pan mixed with the faint scent of fresh coffee brewing in the corner. Riley was up earlier than usual, her mind still spinning from the night before. She had barely slept, her thoughts consumed by the events of the previous day, by the tension she had felt when Elenaâs eyes met hers across the fire pit.
It was crazy, she thought. She couldnât stop thinking about Elena. How could she? Elena had been a fixture in her thoughts for as long as she could remember, even more so now that they were in the same space. But it felt different now, more tangible somehow.
As Riley sat at the kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring her coffee, she could hear Sam and Jordan in the background, laughing and bickering about something trivial. Riley barely registered the noise, her thoughts still on Elena.
âRiley?â Mayaâs voice broke through the haze in her mind, pulling her back to reality. âYou okay? Youâve been zoning out all morning.â
Riley blinked, refocusing on Maya. âOh, yeah, sorry. Just... didnât sleep well.â
Maya arched an eyebrow. âYou sure thatâs the real reason?â
Riley hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should tell Maya about the growing tension between her and Elena. But she held back. There was too much uncertainty, too much she didnât understand yet. Instead, she smiled weakly and shrugged.
âJust a lot on my mind, you know?â
Maya studied her for a moment longer, clearly unconvinced, but she didnât press further. Instead, she grinned and grabbed a plate, filling it with scrambled eggs. âWell, youâll feel better once we get out there and do something. I think hikingâs on the agenda today.â
Riley nodded, though the idea of a strenuous hike didnât excite her as much as it might have on another day. She needed space, time to think, and time to breathe away from Elena. But she couldnât escape the feeling that the weekend, this trip, was bringing them closer to something neither of them was prepared for.
---
Later that morning, the group set off for the trailhead, a short but steep hike to a panoramic viewpoint that overlooked the valley. Riley found herself trailing behind, quietly observing the group as they moved ahead, engaged in easy conversation. Elena was walking a little ahead, her posture casual but confident, and Riley couldnât help but admire the way she carried herself. There was something so effortless about Elenaâs energy, the way she was always the center of attention without ever trying.
And then, there was Rileyâstill trying to figure out how to make her way through this strange mix of attraction and fear, excitement and doubt. She had worked so hard to change herself, to become someone worthy of Elenaâs attention, but now that she had it, she wasnât sure she knew how to handle it.
Sam and Jordan were ahead, talking animatedly, while Maya lingered behind with Riley, walking at a slower pace.
âSo,â Maya began, glancing over at Riley with a playful smirk, âhave you figured out what youâre going to do yet?â
Riley blinked, caught off guard. âWhat do you mean?â
Maya raised an eyebrow. âYou know, with Elena. Youâre not fooling anyone, you know. Itâs pretty obvious that somethingâs going on between you two.â
Rileyâs heart skipped, and she quickly glanced up at Elena, who was laughing with Sam ahead. âI donât know what youâre talking about.â
âOh please,â Maya chuckled. âDonât act like I canât see it. Itâs obvious. You like her, and I think she likes you, too. But neither of you are saying anything.â
Rileyâs face flushed. âIâ I donât even know if she likes me. I mean, we barely know each other.â
Maya stopped walking for a moment, turning to face Riley. âLook, Iâm not going to say anything. But youâre not blind, and neither is she. Trust me, Elenaâs not the kind of person to just forget someone who catches her eye. Especially someone like you.â
Riley felt a lump form in her throat. âSomeone like me?â
Mayaâs expression softened, and she placed a hand on Rileyâs shoulder. âYouâve been through a lot, Riley. Donât sell yourself short. Elena sees you. And you should see yourself, too.â
Riley looked down at her feet, unable to meet Mayaâs gaze. She didnât know if she was ready to believe it. She had spent so long thinking of herself as invisible, someone who would never be seen by someone like Elena.
But Maya was right about one thing. Elena had noticed her.
The hike continued, and Rileyâs thoughts were a blur. Every step seemed to bring her closer to something she wasnât sure she was ready for.
When they reached the top, the view took Rileyâs breath away. The valley stretched out below them, bathed in soft morning light, and the quiet stillness of the scene was a welcome relief.
Everyone took a moment to sit down, soaking in the beauty around them. Riley found a spot on a rock, close enough to the others but far enough to have a moment to herself. She needed to collect her thoughts.
As the others chatted and took photos, Rileyâs gaze once again found Elena. She was standing at the edge of the viewpoint, looking out at the landscape with a serene expression on her face. Riley couldnât help but feel a tug in her chest, a longing she didnât know how to express.
And then, as if sensing her gaze, Elena turned and caught her eye. For a moment, neither of them said anything. The air between them crackled with unspoken words, and Rileyâs heart hammered in her chest. Elenaâs gaze lingered, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
It was a small thing, a fleeting moment, but it felt like everything had shifted.
As the group made their way back down the trail, Riley couldnât shake the feeling that something had changed between her and Elena. It was subtle, but it was thereâan invisible thread connecting them, pulling them closer.
Elena didnât speak to her directly, but there was an undeniable shift in the air. The way Elena smiled at her when their eyes met, the way she seemed to linger a little longer than usualâit was almost as if she was waiting for something, for Riley to make the first move.
But Riley wasnât sure if she was ready for that yet. She had been moving through life in one direction, slowly building herself into the person she thought she needed to be, but now, with Elena so close, she didnât know what direction she was headed.
It was as though every step she had taken so far had led her to this momentâthis crossroadsâand Riley had to decide whether or not she was brave enough to take the leap.
But for now, all she could do was walk beside Elena, savoring the small, fleeting moments when their eyes met, when their worlds seemed to overlap for just a heartbeat.
And in that moment, Riley realized that maybe, just maybe, she wasnât as invisible as she had always thought.