The air was cold, damp with dew, laced with the scent of pine and earth. A soft blue glow clung to the sky as alarms rang one after another across dorm rooms. Emma stirred, blanket tangled around her legs, groaning into her pillow.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Noora mumbled, still wrapped like a burrito in her sheets. "Or they'll make us run ten laps."
"Not helping," Emma grumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Twenty minutes later, they were outside in gray sweatshirts and joggers, lined up like soldiers on the cracked asphalt courtyard. Morning fog hung thick, curling around the ancient oaks that lined the campus border. They ran. And ran. And then ran some more.
Emma wasn't a runner. Not before this week.
Her breath came in short bursts, legs burning as she pushed herself up the steep hill behind the campus. Just as she faltered, a familiar hand steadied her elbow.
"You're doing good," Jake said beside her, his voice low and quiet. "Almost there."
Even winded and flushed, Emma managed a smile. "You say that every time I almost pass out."
"It works, doesn't it?"
She laughed weakly. "Barely."
Behind them, Caleb yelled something unintelligible about Ryan cheating in a race. Noora trailed behind, waving dramatically. "I regret everything!"
But Jake stayed with Emma. He always did.
Training Days
Training continued through the week — grueling obstacle courses, tactical drills, crisis simulations, and debate rounds. They'd work together to build rope bridges, map out survival plans, and face blindfolded navigation challenges in the forest. Some days, they'd tackle games that made Emma's heart race, like the timed zip-line exercises or the trust falls where she would have to step backward, trusting someone to catch her.
And then there were moments where she felt vulnerable. She'd always struggle with the physical tasks, but Jake always stayed by her side, offering quiet guidance when she faltered, lifting her when she grew tired.
But Jake wasn't the only one she relied on.
Adrian.
Tall, blonde, and effortlessly charming, Adrian had a way about him that made people gravitate toward him. He was a smooth talker with a playful edge, his smile never quite leaving his face. From the second day of camp, it felt like he was everywhere. He pulled Emma into conversations, threw playful comments her way, and never hesitated to offer her his water bottle when she looked thirsty. He had a lighthearted ease that made Emma laugh, made her feel like she could just be—not the daughter of Verona Valeria or the girl everyone assumed to be aloof.
And for the first time in a long time, Emma didn't feel like she was carrying the weight of her family's name.
During an afternoon first aid drill, Adrian knelt beside her, tossing her a grin as she wrapped a bandage around Ryan's arm.
"You're better than you think," he said, leaning in a little closer than necessary, his voice smooth. "Trust me."
She chuckled awkwardly, focusing on the task at hand. "I'm just trying not to mess up."
"You're doing fine. It's more about confidence." He tapped her nose lightly, a move that should've been playful but felt… intimate in the moment.
Jake, who had been across the room, watched the exchange with furrowed brows, his gaze sharp and unreadable. He didn't understand why it bothered him so much. But it did. Every time Adrian and Emma shared a laugh, or a touch, Jake felt the knot in his stomach grow tighter. It wasn't just the easy banter between them—it was the way Emma looked at Adrian, her face softer, more open.
As the week wore on, Adrian became a fixture in Emma's days. He partnered with her during team relays and helped her navigate more tactical drills. He was always there to lighten the mood, to tease Jake in a way that made Emma laugh out loud, something Jake hadn't seen her do much with him. Adrian's effortless confidence only seemed to pull Emma deeper into his orbit, until she was openly chatting with him after every exercise, her eyes sparkling with genuine amusement.
Jake couldn't help but notice the change in her. She was laughing more, talking more, and it was with Adrian—not with him.
Jake's Perspective – Later that Night
By the time music night rolled around, the whole camp had gathered around a bonfire, playing acoustic guitars and passing around marshmallows. People were pushed together in cozy circles, and Emma, as usual, had found herself beside Adrian.
"Come on," Adrian teased, nudging her gently. "Let's do a duet."
Emma hesitated, biting her lip, but Adrian's grin was infectious. Before she knew it, they were coaxed into singing some old pop ballad that everyone seemed to know. It was light, fun, and mostly off-key, but the crowd cheered them on.
Emma's laugh as they finished was pure, genuine—free.
Jake stood on the outskirts of the crowd, his hands tucked in his sleeves, eyes locked on Emma and Adrian. His heart clenched in a way that felt entirely unfamiliar. Every time Emma smiled, every time Adrian leaned closer, his stomach twisted painfully.
She's not mine, Jake tried to remind himself. But the thought was hollow.
When they finished, the crowd clapped, and Emma flushed from the attention, turning to Adrian with a wide, happy smile.
Jake didn't clap. He didn't even move.
Jake Alone in His Room
Later that night, Jake sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the foggy window, the sounds of laughter and music from the bonfire still drifting through the air.
Why did it bother him so much? Why was he finding it impossible to ignore how easy it was for Adrian to make her laugh, how comfortable she was with him?
She's just a friend. The words echoed in his mind. But they didn't bring him peace.
He remembered the way her eyes lit up when she sang with Adrian. The way she seemed to belong in that moment, her laughter bubbling out like it hadn't in so long. And then, the thought hit him harder than expected:
I feel something for her.
It wasn't just the fact that he cared about her—it was deeper than that. It was the realization that seeing her with Adrian had made him feel something that wasn't easy to ignore. He stared at the bracelet she'd tied around his wrist during the trust fall activity, a soft cotton band, faded blue. He hadn't taken it off.
What am I going to do?
The Last Night – Reflections
Before lights out, they were asked to write reflections about the week.
Emma sat under a tree, pen against paper. Her thoughts swirled, trying to capture everything this week had been.
"I didn't think I'd enjoy this. I didn't think I'd find anything to hold onto in a place like this. But I did. I found people who made me laugh, who didn't see my last name before they saw me. And I found someone who always stood beside me — even when I didn't ask him to. Jake, thank you. This week… was beautiful because of you."
She folded the page softly, slipping it into the collection box with a wistful smile, unaware that Jake was nearby, his thoughts on the same person.
The Return – Dorm Packing
The rain tapped against the windows the next morning as students packed up their things, laughter echoing down the halls. Emma was folding her hoodie when Jake entered the hallway — distant, unreadable.
She looked up. "Hey, you okay?"
"Fine," he said shortly, his tone clipped. "Just came to say… bus leaves in twenty. Don't be late."
Her chest dropped. "Oh. Right."
He turned and walked off without another word. Emma blinked, confusion settling in. That wasn't like him.
The tension between them hung in the air, unspoken, as they packed their things. Emma tried to shake off the feeling, focusing on the looming journey ahead—but something told her that things weren't going to be the same when they got back.
End of Part 18