Chapter 2
Morning light spilled through the cabin windows, soft and warm, brushing across my face until I finally blinked awake. It was barely 9 a.m., and everyone else was still asleep, sprawled across couches and bunks like we’d survived some kind of wilderness apocalypse. I slipped out of bed quietly, still in my sleepwear. Hair twisted into a messy bun I didn’t bother fixing.
The cabin was peaceful — the kind of quiet you don’t get in the city. I decided to make breakfast for everyone, something simple to start the day. I was pulling ingredients from the fridge when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Morning,” Finn said, voice low and sleepy.
“Morning,” I whispered back, smiling a little as I set a pan on the stove.
He sat at the dining table, rubbing his eyes. “How’d you sleep?”
“Alright. You?”
“Well enough. Still waking up though.”
“I know that feeling.”
We talked quietly while I cooked, the kind of soft conversation that feels safe in the early morning light. A few minutes later, Angela wandered in, hair wild and eyes half‑closed.
“You’re awake at this time?” She mumbled.
“Morning to you too, sleepyhead,” I teased. “I figured I’d make breakfast for everyone.”
“That’s really sweet of you,” she said, joining Finn at the table.
By the time the food was ready, the smell had lured everyone else out of their rooms. We ate together, laughing about yesterday’s hike, teasing each other, passing plates back and forth. It felt easy. Normal. Like the kind of morning, I’d been needing it for a long time.
After breakfast, Brianna and I rinsed our dishes and set them in the sink. “I’m going to shower and get ready,” I told her.
“Sounds good,” she said, already flopping onto the couch with her phone.
Natalie and Angela joined her, chatting quietly as I slipped into the bathroom.
When I came out, dressed and freshened up, I paused near the doorway. The girls were talking with Nicholas and Jacob, who had wandered in from outside.
“How’s Lola doing?” Nicholas asked. “We just want to make sure she’s enjoying this trip.”
Angela sighed softly. “She’s trying. She doesn’t want to think about Chase anymore, but… it’s hard. Even after two years.”
Jacob nodded. “Healing takes time. Especially after something toxic.”
Natalie added, “She’s been focusing on herself a lot lately. Spending time with us. Being alone when she needs to. She’s doing better than she thinks.”
They didn’t notice me listening. Part of me felt exposed, but another part felt… seen.
I stepped fully into the room. “Hey guys, you should get changed and do what you need to do.”
Brianna jumped. “Oh my god— you scared me.” Then she laughed and headed to the bathroom.
The girls started cleaning up the dishes, music playing softly in the background. Nicholas and Jacob grabbed their shoes.
“We’re going to go play some football outside,” Jacob said.
“Have fun,” I told them.
Finn stayed behind, lounging in the chair across from me.
“Aren’t you going with them?” I asked.
“Maybe later,” he said with a small chuckle. “Still waking up.”
“It’s almost afternoon,” I teased. “Time to join the land of the living.”
He laughed, then I added, “By the way… I heard everything you guys were talking about earlier.”
His cheeks flushed. “Oh… you did?”
“I’m not upset,” I said gently. “I just don’t want to be the center of attention this whole trip. I came here to clear my head. To breathe.”
“I’m sorry if we made you feel like that,” he said. “That wasn’t our intention.”
“It’s fine,” I said, and I meant it.
We talked a little longer before he finally stood. “I’ll go join the guys. We’ll catch up later, okay?” He winked.
I smiled. “Sounds good.”
By 3 p.m., we were back on the trails, hiking deeper into the park. We spotted birds, lizards, wildflowers — the kind of things you don’t notice when life is loud. We took photos, joked around, and let the day unfold naturally.
Angela and Jacob drifted ahead of us, laughing and flirting in a way that made the rest of us exchange knowing looks. Brianna and Natalie wandered off to explore a side path, leaving me and Finn together.
We reached a waterfall — tall, loud, beautiful — and decided to stop for a picnic. Angela and Jacob sat a little ways off, wrapped in their own world. I didn’t mind. It gave me and Finn space too.
“Where do you want to sit?” I asked.
“Right, here’s fine,” he said.
We dropped our backpacks and sat near the water, mist cooling our skin.
After a moment, he said, “I know we don’t know each other super well. We don’t hang out much. Life gets busy.”
“Truth,” I said with a small laugh.
“But… I want to get to know you better. And I really like you, Lola. I know you’re not ready for a relationship, and that’s okay. I just… see potential. No rush.”
My cheeks warmed. “You’re sweet. And maybe there is potential. But right now, I don’t want to risk anything. If we ever dated, I’d want to be fully there. I don’t want to treat you like a rebound.”
“That makes sense,” he said softly. “And I’m willing to wait. I don’t want to scare you away.”
“I appreciate that,” I said. “Not everyone would react the way you do.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, smiling.
“It was,” I laughed.
He asked, “So… what do you look for in a guy?”
I thought for a moment. “Someone loyal. Someone who gets along with my friends and family. Respectful. Patient. Supportive. That’s pretty much it.”
“That helps,” he said.
I tilted my head. “Are you in college? Majoring in anything?”
“Sociology,” he said.
My eyes widened. “Really? That’s cool. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“What did you think I was majoring in?” He asked, amused.
“Something in sports or physical science,” I admitted.
He laughed. “Fair guess. But sociology felt right.”
“I’m glad it’s working out for you,” I said.
He nodded. “What about you?”
“Psychology. First year. I’m enjoying it so far.”
“I can see you being a therapist someday,” he said.
I smiled. “Thanks.”
We talked until the sky started to dim, then packed up and headed back to the cabin.
By the time we got back, the sun was slipping behind the trees. We cooked dinner together — loud, chaotic, fun — and ate until we were full. After cleaning up, exhaustion hit me all at once.
I plugged in my phone, crawled into bed, and let my eyes close on their own.
For the first time in a long time, sleep came easily.