Trip Day 1 (Part 2)

The circle howled, whistles and claps ringing in the night. A couple of people even shouted names, tossing out wild guesses.

But me? My pulse betrayed me.

Because the answer was sitting just a few feet away, cross-legged on a blanket, her hair glowing in the firelight, her smile still lingering from the last joke. Lia. Always Lia. The one who stormed through my quiet, the one who made even my shadows feel less heavy.

For one insane second, the words almost spilled out. I almost said her name. The thought was right there, sharp on the edge of my tongue.

But I caught myself. I always did.

I let my lips curve into the faintest smirk, tilting my head lazily as if the question barely mattered. “That’s for me to know,” I drawled, letting my voice drip with the kind of mystery I knew would make them groan, “and for you all to keep guessing.”

The circle exploded in laughter and complaints—“Boring!” “Come on, that’s not fair!”—but it worked. The attention shifted back into noise, the pressure sliding away.

Still, I felt her eyes on me. Curious, puzzled. Like she wanted to piece together something she couldn’t quite see.

I didn’t look at her. I kept my gaze on the fire instead, where the sparks rose and died in the night air. Because the truth wasn’t ready—not yet. And until it was, I’d keep it hidden, even if it burned a hole straight through me.

The game didn’t let me off so easily. Liam was grinning like a wolf, and I knew that look meant trouble.

“Alright, since Mr. Mystery over here doesn’t know how to answer properly…” Liam leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Let’s make it specific. Truth again. Tell us, Justin Cole—what kind of girl actually gets your attention?”

The circle roared with interest. Great. Exactly what I needed—half the class waiting to dissect my love life under a sky full of stars.

I could’ve brushed it off. Said something generic, shallow. But then my eyes betrayed me. They slid, unthinking, across the firelight—straight to her.

Lia. Sitting there with messy hair that had slipped loose from her braid, grease from her burger at the corner of her lip, laughing at some inside joke with the girls, completely oblivious.

And for a second, the noise around me dulled.

I cleared my throat, forcing my gaze away. “Ethereal,” I said simply, the word tasting heavier than it should. “But not in the obvious way.”

There was a ripple of reaction—wolf whistles, exaggerated “oooohs”—but I wasn’t done. Damn it, I couldn’t stop.

“The kind that sneaks up on you,” I added, my voice lower now, my eyes daring—just for a heartbeat—to lock with hers. “Not perfect, not polished. Just… real. The kind that makes you look twice without even meaning to.”

The circle went wild. Someone yelled, “Damn, Cole’s got poetry in him!” while another added, “So, who’s the lucky girl?”

I smirked, masking the storm in my chest. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

The teasing swirled around me, but all I felt was the way Amelia blinked at me—confused, almost startled. Like she couldn’t decide whether I was joking or if I’d just handed her a piece of something I wasn’t supposed to.

And maybe I had.

Amelia POV

“One person you think about more than you should…”

The words lingered in my head longer than they should have. My gaze flickered toward him—lazy posture, that signature smirk, the firelight cutting sharp lines across his jaw. He didn’t even look guilty. He just looked… unreadable.

I hated when he did that. When he dropped something half-dangerous, half-sincere, and then leaned back like it meant nothing at all.

“Boring answer, Cole!” Liam laughed, throwing a twig at him. “You’re no fun.”

“Not here to entertain you,” Justin muttered, but there was a ghost of amusement tugging at his lips.

I should’ve looked away. I should’ve joined in the teasing, forgotten about it. But instead, I caught myself wondering. Who did he mean? Who could possibly have Justin Cole—the guy everyone swore was made of walls and shadows—thinking about them too much?

It couldn’t be me. Right? No. Stupid. Ridiculous.

I stuffed another fry into my mouth to distract myself, chewing harder than necessary.

The game rolled on—truths and dares bouncing around the circle, laughter spilling into the night.

Someone had to dance like a chicken, another confessed about sneaking food into class, one poor guy was dared to shout his crush’s name out loud. Everyone was glowing, carefree, the professors watching from a distance with fond smiles.

But me? My mind kept circling back to that moment. Justin’s almost-answer. The way his eyes had flickered—just once—before he masked it with that smirk.

And the worst part? I didn’t know why it mattered so much to me.

The laughter around the fire hadn’t died down yet when one of the professors — clearly enjoying the chaos as much as the students — raised his hand and said, “Alright, enough of shouting. Let’s settle this round with something calmer. How about… a dance?”

The words fell like sparks in dry grass. Within seconds, someone connected a speaker, music spilling into the valley night. The bonfire painted every face in shades of gold, and the air shifted — playful noise turning into something softer, expectant.

“Couple dance!” someone yelled. And just like that, cheers erupted, hands pulled hands, and the circle began to blur into pairs.

"But who'll dance with whom?" someone asked, pausing all the chaos and excitement in the middle.

"We've got everyone's names written on the chits. Let's make pairs with those," I suggested, pointing at the bowl filled with chits near Liam.

Everyone seemed to agree. Justin and I came forward to pick the chits and make pairs.

And within five minutes or so, we were done separating the chits into pairs.

"Liam, read out the names. We're done, here," Justin announced, stretching out his arms and lying down on the ground.

"Jake and Savannah.
Derek and Olivia.
Christian and Emma.
Patrick and Amber.
Travis and Melissa.
Jordan and Caroline.
Noah and Sophia.
Ryan and Katherine.
Liam and Sarah.
Andrew and Daisy.
...
Justin and Amelia."

God! No! Not again! Not in front of so many people! Fate had no mercy, for real!

Justin POV

The moment the words left Liam's mouth — “Justin and Amelia!” — the fire didn’t seem like the only thing burning.

I could swear her head snapped toward me faster than the flames crackled, those wide eyes of hers already screaming 'absolutely not'.

And God help me, I almost laughed, because watching her get flustered is my favorite pastime.

“Of course,” I muttered under my breath, dragging a hand through my hair to hide the smirk threatening to break free. “Figures fate wouldn’t give me a break tonight.”

She was glaring now, probably rehearsing ten different ways to murder me once this was over. But all I saw was the way the firelight kissed her skin, making her look like something unreal.

And maybe — just maybe — I was grateful.

Because if I’m being honest, I’d been dying for a reason. A reason to touch her without having to explain why. A reason to hold her, even if just for the length of a song.

So I straightened, stepped forward like this was the most natural thing in the world, and bowed slightly, extending my hand with a cocky tilt of my head.

“Shall we, partner?”

The way her lips pressed into a tight line almost made me chuckle, but then — she actually took my hand. And just like that, the joke wasn’t funny anymore. My pulse kicked, heavy and unsteady.

This wasn’t just a dance.
Not for me.

Amelia POV

It was supposed to be harmless. Just a dance. But with his hand at the small of my back, guiding me closer, it didn’t feel harmless at all.

The music wasn’t even romantic, not really. Yet somehow every beat felt like it belonged to us. The fire crackled, laughter and chatter blurred into background noise, and all I could focus on was the steady rhythm of his breath near my ear.

“Relax, Lia,” Justin whispered, his voice teasing, but low enough that no one else could hear. “You’re stiff as a board.”

“Because you’re—” I cut myself off, cheeks burning.

“Because I’m what?” His grin was maddening, but his hand tightened slightly at my waist, pulling me just close enough that I felt the heat of him, and not just from the fire.

I hated him. I hated how my heart betrayed me by thundering in my chest, how my fingers clung to his shoulder for balance like I wasn’t perfectly fine standing before.

And yet, when he leaned in — not close enough to cross the line, but close enough to dare me to notice — I realized something terrifying.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered before I even knew the words were slipping out.

His eyes flicked to mine instantly, concern shadowing the playful grin he wore. “Too much?” he asked, easing his hold.

And for some reason, that was what broke me. The fact that he could tease me one second and care the next. That he knew when to pull me closer and when to let me breathe.

“No, not too much.” My voice shook, my throat tight. “That’s the problem.”

His brows furrowed, confusion swirling in those eyes that always, always saw too much.

I swallowed hard, my fingers curling tighter on his shoulder like if I let go, I’d fall.

“I feel something, Justin. When I’m with you. When you look at me like that. When you…” I trailed off, heat rushing to my cheeks. “…when you hold me like this.”

It wasn’t a confession. It wasn’t a declaration of love or anything as dramatic. But it was enough. Enough to make my chest ache with relief and fear all at once.

And maybe, deep down, I already knew what it was. Maybe I already knew it was love. Or maybe it could be just a simple attraction.

But admitting even this much — that I felt something — was terrifying enough.

I dared a glance up at him, bracing for the smirk, the joke, the teasing comeback.

Instead, I found him staring at me like the firelight had nothing on me at all.

Justin POV

Her words hit me harder than I expected.

“I feel something, Justin. When I’m with you. When you look at me like that. When you… when you hold me like this.”

For a second, I swear the world stopped spinning. The fire, the music, the noise — none of it mattered. Just her, standing there in my arms, voice trembling with the kind of honesty that could break me wide open.

God, I wanted to say it. That she wasn’t the only one. That every second I spent near her was a battle not to pull her closer and never let go. That “something” wasn’t small, it was everything.

But then I saw it — the uncertainty in her eyes. The way she looked at me like she was afraid of what she’d just admitted. She wasn’t ready. And maybe… maybe I wasn’t either.

So I did the only thing I could do. I gave her an out.

I softened my grip on her waist, let a crooked smile play on my lips, and said lightly, “You know what that is, Lia? That’s friendship. The real kind. The true one. The kind people search their whole lives for.”

Her eyes blinked, wide and uncertain. “Friendship?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, keeping my tone easy, teasing. “I mean, not everyone gets this lucky, right? To have someone who makes them feel… safe. Comfortable. Like themselves.”

She let out a breath, her lips tugging into the smallest smile, like I’d just given her the explanation she needed. “Yeah. Friendship,” she repeated softly, almost convincing herself.

And that was it. She bought it. She believed me.

But inside? I was burning alive.

Because she did feel something. For me.

She just didn’t realize yet that friendship didn’t make your pulse race like that. Friendship didn’t make you stare at someone like they were your entire world. Friendship didn’t make your heart ache just standing this close.

Still, I kept my mask in place, played it cool, spun her lightly as the fire crackled beside us.

On the outside, I was calm. Just a friend. Just her partner in some harmless dance.

But inside? I was on cloud nine. Floating. Weightless. Because Amelia had just confirmed the one thing I’d been dying to know—

She felt it too.

Even if she didn’t understand it yet.

Author POV

Just when the air between Justin and Amelia had thickened beyond words, the speakers suddenly crackled — and a new beat dropped. Loud, fast, reckless.

The slow hum of the firelight was replaced by 'Cheap Thrills', laughter erupting as someone yelled, “Party time!”

🎶Come on, come on, turn the radio on
It's Friday night and I won't be long
Gotta do my hair, put my make up on
It's Friday night and I won't be long🎶

Cheers rose, and just like that, the whole atmosphere shifted. No more couples swaying, no more delicate steps — everyone rushed in, breaking apart duos and forming a wild circle around the bonfire.

🎶'Til I hit the dance floor
Hit the dance floor
I got all I need 🎶

Justin loosened his hold on Amelia, and she looked up at him, half startled, half relieved. He gave her that maddening grin — the kind that made her want to roll her eyes but also never look away — before tugging her into the mess of people.

🎶No, I ain't got cash
I ain't got cash
But I got you baby 🎶

Ryan was the first to find them, dragging Katherine along with both hands up in the air, singing completely offbeat. Liam and Sarah joined in next, Liam bouncing like he owned the dance floor while Sarah tried to calm him but couldn’t stop laughing herself.

And then Andrew and Daisy appeared, all dramatic twirls and exaggerated moves that had the entire group howling with laughter.

It didn’t take long before all of them were dancing together, their little circle forming inside the chaos. Their laughter blended with the music, the firelight painting their faces in gold and orange.

🎶Baby, I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
Baby, I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills) 🎶

It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t even proper dancing. But it was loud, messy, full of energy — the kind of moment that didn’t need perfection, because it already felt unforgettable.

Justin threw his arm over Liam’s shoulder at one point, yelling lyrics into the night, while Amelia and Sarah linked hands and spun in clumsy circles. Ryan nearly tripped, Katherine caught him, and Andrew dipped Daisy so dramatically that she almost fell into the sand.

The professors watched from the sidelines, smiling at the sight of their students letting loose, their chatter now soft discussions about tomorrow’s plans.

But for the group of 'Certified Agents of Chaos' by the fire, there was no tomorrow. Not yet.

There was only this night — the fire, the music, and the kind of joy that only came when you were young, reckless, and surrounded by people who made you feel like the world could never burn you down.

And in that chaotic, golden moment, their laughter rose above the music, sealing the night with a memory none of them would ever forget.

From Justin almost confessing to Amelia in the bonfire, to that slow burn of realization of love in her chest during the dance, and finally the chaos of the dance circle — my heart is still racing. I loved writing their little moments: the teasing, the stolen glances, the pulse of something unspoken. And then—BAM—party energy! 🎶 Messy, loud, golden laughter everywhere. I hope you felt it too.

Please vote and drop your comments if you liked this chapter. The next chapter will ne updated soon. Take care, cuties 💙