Chapter Seven

ALL THE THINGS I'VE YET TO DO (4) : GO HIKING

“If anyone wants breakfast, get out here before I eat everything!”

I struggle to peel my eyes open before checking the time on my phone.

Who the hell calls a meal after 12pm breakfast?

Clearly, Adonis, that’s who.

I roll onto my back, rubbing my eyes. When I glance at the sleeping bag next to mine, it’s already open. At the sound of Ariel’s voice beyond the tent walls, I decide to get up.

Miraculously, I don’t have any sort of headache. As I remember the events of the previous night, a smile settles on my face. That smile instantly turns into a scowl once I remember the part involving a certain ice cube.

“Morning, sleepy head,” greets Ariel once I’m outside.

“How are you guys up earlier than me?” I groan.

Adrian takes a seat next to me and hands me a plate. “I don’t even know how you slept with all of the fucking forest creatures screaming all night.”

I laugh at his pissed off expression and accept the food, offering a thanks.

“You’re lucky he saved you some, I was serious about eating it all,” says Adonis as he joins us.

I roll my eyes. “All of you guys are fatasses under all that muscle.”

“Shut up before I throw all your shit in the lake,” jokes Alex, appearing at his older brother’s side. At least, I hope he’s joking. Knowing him, he’s probably dead serious. You never know with these guys.

One by one, the others come out from their tents and fill their plates.

The last to arrive is Christian, who mumbles a lazy, “Mornin’,” as he takes the spot on the other side of me. His hair is messy and I would like to admit that it looks rather attractive, but I would also like to say that it looks like someone had been running their hands through it all night.

My face moves to form a scowl, but I remind myself to remain civil. “Sleep well?” I ask cooly.

“Not at all, actually,” he groans, raising a toned arm to ruffle up his hair a bit more.

A snort escapes my throat, and I try to cover it up by coughing. I look around the circle, and those sitting near me give me a look to show that they had in fact heard me. Oh well.

“What’s up for today?” asks Addison, once a majority of us are finished.

She gathers up our garbage as she awaits an answer. Almost all at the same time, the rest of us shrug. Addison rolls her eyes and her sister gets up and walks over to their tent. When she returns, she’s holding up a map.

“I got this before we came. There’s supposed to be a trail near here that leads to a waterfall. It’s a bit of a hike though,” she says.

“Ugh, I don’t want to hike,” whines Olivia.

What does Christian see in her? Honestly, I’d like to know.

“I think it could be fun,” grins Eli.

Adrian pokes me in my side. “Isn’t hiking on your list?” he whispers in my ear.

I feel a bit of sadness at the mention of the list, but I put on a facade and nod. This will be the fourth thing crossed off of the list. That means that we’re almost a third of the way through. It’s only May, so we still have three months left.

“I’m in,” agrees Ace, causing me to shift my thoughts. It’s the first time I’ve heard him speak all morning. His dark hair is held back by a thin black headband and he looks utterly adorable.

We all return to our tents to change and get ready for the adventure. Zoe’s map says it should only be about a twenty minute hike from where we’re staying. I slip on my swimsuit under a pair of loose cotton shorts and a white tank top. After applying sunscreen and bug spray, I grab some comfortable shoes and I’m ready to go.

“Alright, I think it’s this way,” I hear Alex saying as he points to a trail on his left.

“Babe,” giggles Hailey, “you’re holding it upside down.”

All I can do is pray that these idiots don’t get us lost.

*

“We have to be lost!” I all but scream.

“Relax,” says Eli, draping an arm around my shoulder, “we haven’t even been walking that long.”

The sweat pouring down my forehead and the scrapes on my arms and legs beg to differ, Elijah. I ignore him and continue the trek uphill.

“Oof!” I yell, almost falling flat on my face after tripping over a stupid rock.

Please ask me again why this was ever on my list to begin with. What made me think that I would enjoy this?

“You’re absolutely the worst person to have out here,” I hear Christian call from behind me. Eli jogs up to meet Zoe as Christian takes his place at my side. “If we were in a horror movie, you’d definitely die first.”

I scoff. “Yeah, right. The killers always go after the horny ones first.”

“What the hell?” he laughs. “Evidence, please.”

Smiling smugly, I reply, “Freddy vs Jason. I’m pretty sure the first one to die out of the group is the guy that just finished getting laid.”

“When he folded him in the bed, right?” he asks. “You know your stuff. Point taken.”

“I love scary movies,” I grin.

He’s silent for a second. The pause lasts long enough that I assume the conversation is over, but then he says, “The first time I saw you, you were wearing a sweater that had a bunch of horror movie killers on it.”

A warm blush floods my face. “Why do you remember that?”

“As soon as I saw it, I knew you had to be cool,” he smiles slightly before it morphs into a smirk. “I was definitely wrong though.”

My arm shoots out and I punch him in the shoulder. “Take that back!”

“I’d be lying then!” he laughs as he defends against my attacks. He suddenly catches my hands and we stop walking.

We’re at the back of the group, but the others aren’t too far ahead. I look into his eyes and it’s as if everything is silenced, save for the sound of birds chirping and rushing water.

I try to calm my now racing heart by thinking of a witty response. “Bold words for a guy called Chrissy.”

“How many times…” he starts. Before continuing, he pulls on my hands so that I’m closer to him. My already rampaging heart takes it up a notch and I genuinely think that I’ll pass out if it doesn’t settle down. “... do I have to tell you not to call me that?”

“You can say it a thousand times, doesn’t mean I’ll stop,” I say. My intention was for my voice to come out cool and smugly, so when it comes out as quiet as a mouse, we’re both surprised.

“Say my name,” he replies, equally as soft.

Finally finding my resolve, I smirk back. “Chrissy.”

“Amaya,” he says. His voice is now stern, almost demanding. “Say my name.”

I immediately feel the tension begin to build up around us. His stare is holding me in place and I can’t help but feel self conscious. From his point of view, I have to look crazy. I can feel stray hair that has fallen from my bun sticking to my face, and I know that I reek of mosquito repellent. Still, I find myself drawn to him. Even if I wanted to, I cannot escape. My lips part and-

“Christian!”

The voice that responds does not belong to me.

“Maya!”

We look up to see Ariel waving from atop a large boulder about a hundred meters ahead of us. Christian releases my hands and, as if a spell has been broken,I am able to move. Without waiting for him, I start towards my best friend.

It takes me a minute to climb up without any help (I can’t bring myself to look at or talk to Christian right now), but when I reach the top, I’m amazed by what I see.

_________

OKAY SO I JUST REALIZED THAT I'VE HAD THIS CHAPTER DONE FOR MONTHS BUT I FORGOT TO POST IT..... I'M SO SORRY Y'ALL..... I haven't read it over or anything so sorry for any mistakes. I'm working on chapter 8 as we speak. Hope everyone's doing well!