Chapter 42 – Rest Day 5 (Part 4)
The morning air was still fresh as Cody, Noah, and Owen left the mess hall like a well-oiled unit. Without saying much, they walked with steady steps, a clear direction, as if sharing a nonverbal mission. From the slope, beyond the trees, they saw her:
Katie.
She was alone, walking slowly, eyes downcast, with the dragging pace of someone still carrying their heart in their heels. Her loose hair covered part of her face, and she held her half-finished breakfast like it was more burden than nourishment.
Cody paused for a second, glanced around, and the three regrouped as if each already knew what to do.
"You go left," Cody murmured.
"And I go behind? Like a surprise hug," Owen said.
"Just no hugs. For now," Noah corrected.
"Got it," Cody replied with a calm smile.
Without another word, they moved like a synchronized pack.
Katie didn't notice them until they were already there.
Cody to her right, steady stride and warm smile.
Noah matched pace on the other side, hands in his pockets.
And Owen… well, he was already walking just behind, waving a spoon like it was a peace emblem.
"Hi, Katie," Cody said, voice soft but clear. "Do you have a moment?"
She flinched slightly. Blinked. Looked at the three of them, confused for a second. Her breakfast trembled slightly in her hands.
"Hi…" Katie murmured.
Cody didn't step closer, just lowered his tone a bit.
"I saw you this morning. And yesterday too. Bridgette mentioned you've been having a rough time. I thought… if you don't mind, maybe we could talk. Not just me. The guys too. Nothing serious. Just sit for a bit," Cody said.
Owen raised his eyebrows, nervous but friendly.
"I promise not to talk about cereal the whole time," Owen said.
Noah tilted his head slightly.
"Only 70% of the time. We're working on it," Noah said.
Katie looked at them. Then lowered her gaze.
She wasn't crying. But she wasn't smiling either. She just looked tired.
Then she nodded. A small gesture, restrained. But real.
"Okay," Katie said. "I guess… it wouldn't hurt."
—
Campfire Clearing – Minutes Later
The four walked in silence to the center of camp, where the circle of logs and sleeping ashes marked the emotional heart of the place. Where challenges, confessions… and farewells had happened.
Cody sat on one of the logs, leaving space on either side. Owen sat first, then Noah, who calculated exactly how much distance was appropriate.
Katie sat last, shoulders still tense, but feet firmly planted.
For the first time in hours, she wasn't surrounded by tears or forced questions.
Just company.
And comfortable silence.
That was all she needed to begin.
The breeze slid gently between the trees surrounding the campfire area. The circle of logs felt more welcoming that morning, lit by a warm light bouncing off the gray ash remains. There was no fire—but none was needed.
Katie, sitting with her arms wrapped around her legs, stared at the ground without saying a word. Her hair fell to the sides of her face like a poorly arranged curtain, hiding almost all of her expression.
Cody to her right, Noah to her left, and Owen directly in front formed a relaxed but attentive triangle. No one pushed. No one tried to sound wise or like a savior. They were just there.
Cody picked up a small twig from the ground and began tracing circles in the dirt, not looking at her directly.
"You know something, Katie? I don't want this to sound like a cheap movie pep talk, but…" Cody paused, "…we've noticed you've been dimmed since Sadie left."
Katie didn't lift her head, but her chin dropped a little more onto her knees.
"It's not that I want to drag everyone down with my sadness…" Katie said, barely audible, "but I don't know how to… be me. Without her."
Noah stared off at the landscape, eyes a little distant.
"Sure. It's like losing a soul-arm," Noah murmured.
Katie let out a small, short laugh—barely audible. But it was there.
Owen leaned forward with exaggerated seriousness, eyebrows furrowed.
"Yes! Like suddenly your best jam toast is just… toast. And you say, 'Hey, where's the sweet stuff?' And no one answers. Just toast… dry," Owen said.
They all looked at him for a second. Then Cody smiled.
"Not… the best metaphor. But the point stands," Cody said.
Katie curled up a little more.
"I'm trying, really. But everything reminds me of her. Everything. Even dumb stuff like seeing the bathroom line or noticing my bunk is messy because she's not there to complain about it," Katie said.
Cody sat up a bit straighter, still not looking directly at her.
"And it's okay to miss her. No one's asking you to forget. But… I want you to look at this differently, Katie," Cody said.
He paused, and this time he did look at her—with that gaze that doesn't judge, just invites you to see from another angle.
"Sadie's not here physically, but that doesn't mean she's gone from you. You have all those moments you shared, all that energy you built together… and now, it's your turn to live them for both of you," Cody said.
Katie pressed her lips together. Not out of anger, but like someone trying not to break.
"What if I can't? What if I'm not as strong as she thought? She was always the one saying I could handle everything. I don't know if that was true," Katie said.
"Katie," Owen interrupted, his tone unusually gentle. "You jumped into a freezing lake to get a bracelet without screaming. I'd freeze just looking at it!"
Noah added seriously:
"And last week you jumped the electric fence during the relay challenge like you had propellers. No one understood it. Not even Chef," Noah said.
Cody leaned forward slightly.
"And that's not all. You're not just strong. You're funny, kind—and when you laugh, it shows. Because camp feels lighter. You have no idea how many people here see you as the one who keeps things soft… even if you don't realize it," Cody said.
Katie rubbed her eyes and shook her head gently.
"Yeah, but all of that… was with her. I felt that way because she was there. Now I feel like… an incomplete version," Katie said.
Noah sighed, and for the first time, he turned his face slightly toward her.
"Okay. Let's say it's true. You're in demo mode. Not at 100% energy. But that's no reason to shut down the whole console, right?" Noah said.
She turned her head toward him, puzzled.
"What?" Katie said.
"What I mean is…" and here Noah glanced at Cody with a look that said, 'yes, I'm about to use a gamer metaphor, forgive me' "…you don't have to be your best version every second. Just not giving up already shows more strength than most."
Cody nodded.
"And Sadie… wherever she is, I'm sure she's hoping you'll enjoy what she can't right now. You're still in the game. You can make this meaningful for both of you," Cody said.
Katie looked up. Her eyes were still wet, but focused.
"I never saw it that way…" Katie murmured. "I thought if I enjoyed things… it meant I was forgetting her. Like saying I was okay without her."
Cody smiled.
"But it's the opposite. It's telling her that what you lived together gave you strength. That it wasn't in vain. That it's worth continuing—for her," Cody said.
A comfortable silence settled.
Then Owen leaned forward.
"And also, I mean… tears don't suit you much. You're prettier when you smile. Did I say that right? I rehearsed it mentally," Owen said.
Katie laughed. Small, like a spark-filled sigh.
Cody backed him up, playfully:
"Totally agree. Actually, we all think so. Right, Noah?"
And as he said this, Cody gave Noah a few light taps on the arm—just as he was drinking from his water bottle. The gesture caught him off guard, and he nearly choked.
"What—?!" Noah said.
Cody looked at him, completely innocent.
"I said someone here enjoys it more when you smile. And I have strong suspicions," Cody said.
Noah straightened slowly, trying to regain composure while Owen started laughing openly.
Katie… noticed.
And for the first time in a long while, she truly smiled.
A smile still forming through clouds—but full of light.
Katie lowered her gaze after smiling, a little embarrassed, but not hiding it completely. She still played with the sleeves of her shirt, twisting the edge between her fingers like it helped her land inside the moment. For a few seconds, no one spoke—but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was soft, enveloping. Almost comforting.
"You're not being fair," Katie murmured then, a mix of teasing and sincerity. "Between the emotional talk and that subtle push on Noah… I don't know whether to laugh or cry."
Owen raised both hands.
"Can we do both? I've always wanted to cry from laughter," Owen said.
Noah gave him a dry look.
"We could just be quiet. That's also available," Noah said.
Katie laughed again, this time more confidently. Like the laughter came from somewhere deeper.
"Seriously… thank you. All three of you," Katie said.
Cody made a small gesture with his hand, barely looking at her, like saying it didn't need to be mentioned.
"We're just on community service. The anti-drama squad in action," Cody said.
Noah added with ironic solemnity:
"And in special cases, we match souls with a discreet touch," Noah said.
Katie looked away, but clearly struggled to contain the smile still forming.
"Still, I don't want to be a burden. I'm scared of those stories about girls who sink without their best friend and become… I don't know, someone else," Katie said.
Cody leaned forward, forearms on his knees, and looked at her calmly.
"But you're not sinking, Katie. You're sailing. Sometimes against the current. But still in the water," Cody said.
Noah clicked his tongue.
"Marine metaphors. At this rate, Owen's going to use a food one," Noah said.
"Oh! I've got a list!" Owen replied immediately. "You're like an emotional lasagna: lots of layers, something warm inside, and when you least expect it… boom, flavor!"
The three of them looked at him in sync. Katie burst into laughter.
"Owen… never change," Katie said.
"Not even if I could," Owen said, crossing his arms proudly.
The tension had almost completely dissolved. The atmosphere was different. Katie sat up slightly, stretching her back like someone waking from a long nap. Her eyes still held some sadness, yes—but now they also sparkled with curiosity and a desire to connect.
"And you, Noah?" Katie asked suddenly, turning her face with interest. "Do you really have nothing to say that isn't sarcastic?"
Noah blinked, surprised.
"Me?" Noah said.
"Yes. I've been told you have your charm… hidden, but real," Katie said.
Cody placed a hand on his chest.
"A reference to our unauthorized investigations!" Cody said.
Katie raised an amused eyebrow.
"Oh, was that a secret? Oops," Katie said.
Noah, for the first time in a while, looked away with a hint of feigned discomfort.
"Well, let's say… if you ever need a conversation without sugar but full of meaning, I can be around," Noah said.
"Was that an emotional offer?" Cody said, pretending to be scandalized.
"It was a coupon. Valid for one conversation. Non-transferable, non-stackable," Noah said.
Katie shrugged.
"I'll take it," Katie said.
The four of them stared at the center of the clearing. There was no fire—but warmth was there. The breeze passed in soft gusts. The voices of the rest of the camp were a distant murmur.
Cody took a deep breath, then turned his face toward her one last time.
"Today's a good day to start laughing again, Katie. Not because everything's fixed… but because you can," Cody said.
She looked at him. Held his gaze. And nodded.
"Only if you help me."
Owen raised a finger.
"I can help you eat three extra servings guilt-free. No questions asked," Owen said.
"And I," Noah added, for once without sarcasm, "can help you look forward without making it sound cheesy."
Cody sealed the deal with a simple gesture.
"And I can be here whenever you need to remember that," Cody said.
The agreement was sealed with smiles.
No eternal promises.
No poster quotes.
Just real people sharing a sincere moment.
And for Katie… for the first time since Sadie's departure, that was more than enough.
The silence among the four began to dissolve—not from discomfort, but because the moment had fulfilled its purpose: the atmosphere was lighter, and the clouds that weighed on Katie now seemed thinner, as if they'd let in a little light.
Cody gave one last glance at the sky between the trees, inhaled calmly, and smiled with that expression of his that always meant something was forming in his mind.
"Well…" Cody said, standing up and brushing his hands against his pants, "if we're all in agreement, then I hereby declare our next mission officially launched."
Noah looked at him with a neutral expression.
"Does it have a name?" Noah asked.
Cody turned to the three of them as if he were giving a dramatic presentation.
"Fun… for forgetting," Cody said.
Owen raised both eyebrows, excited.
"That sounds like an amusement park with free sausages!" Owen said.
Katie let out a small laugh that made Cody shoot her a triumphant look. It had been just an improvised title, but it was already working.
"We need to do something that pulls our minds away from sadness, challenges… even wet socks," Cody continued with a solemn gesture. "And that means dividing forces."
He turned to Noah with a raised eyebrow.
"You, sharp-tongued sage, will escort our companion to the elevated refuge. The mystical sanctuary of uneven walls and inspiring views: the treehouse," Cody said.
Noah blinked, torn between fleeing or replying.
"Please tell me that doesn't include dressing up as a spiritual guide," Noah said.
"Only if you want to wear my blanket cape," Cody replied with a half-smile.
Katie shrugged, glancing sideways at him.
"I guess I need air on another level," Katie said.
"Perfect." Cody turned to Owen. "And you and I… we'll organize the backroom."
"Secret party?" Owen asked, excited.
"Surprise entertainment plan for a potentially extra memorable afternoon," Cody replied. "And also, if possible, cookies."
Noah looked at him as if unsure whether to laugh or fine him for excessive charisma.
"What kind of improvised plan are you cooking up now?" Noah asked.
"One that smells like the start of something good," Cody replied, already walking away from the clearing.
Owen followed immediately, humming something while Cody began mentally listing camp resources: ropes, blankets, flashlights, maybe an old box of forgotten supplies from Chef.
Katie and Noah stayed behind for a moment.
She looked at him, still with the shadow of a smile.
He sighed with theatrical resignation.
"Alright," Noah said, starting to walk toward the woods. "Let's head to the refuge of the sentimental guru."
Katie caught up, hands in her pockets, standing a bit taller than before.
"Do you think it has clean windows?" Katie asked.
"I think if we survive the cobwebs… it might have a little magic," Noah said.
And so, they walked off toward the treehouse.
One with cynicism.
The other with a heart that, little by little… was starting to beat differently.
The trees along the northern path of the camp rose like green columns with golden brushstrokes. It was the exact hour when light filters through the leaves as if trying to draw secret maps on the ground.
The path to the treehouse wasn't long, but it had just the right distance for a conversation to shift from awkward to interesting… if you knew how to handle silence.
Noah walked with his hands in his pockets, looking ahead with his typical "this wasn't in my plans" expression, coated with a touch of elegant resignation.
Katie walked beside him, her stride looser, her steps lighter. Her eyes moved, attentive to everything—the scenery, Noah… and the strange invisible thread that had connected them for a while now.
Neither spoke at first.
A few more seconds.
Ten.
Twelve.
Fifteen.
Katie squinted with a mischievous smile that began to bloom slowly.
"So… someone's been watching me, huh?" Katie said.
Noah nearly tripped on a root. Literally. His foot grazed a small rise in the ground and his shoulder tensed. He turned his face toward her, eyebrows raised.
"Excuse me?" Noah said.
"I mean, according to Cody's confidential report, of course," Katie said, shrugging. "I don't know how much credit to give someone who plans things like theatrical rehearsals."
Noah looked away and exhaled through his nose, as if a witty reply had tried to come out… but got stuck between pride and surprise.
"He… exaggerates," Noah said.
"So you didn't look at me?" Katie asked with feigned innocence.
"That depends on the time frame, time of day, and lighting angle," Noah replied, crossing his arms. "And maybe the emotional context."
Katie let out a playful laugh.
"That sounds like a yes… but said with words that make me forget whether I should feel flattered or confused," Katie said.
Noah sighed, accepting his fate.
"Look, it's possible that… at some point during camp, my eyes… considered your existence worthy of notice," Noah said.
"Aha…" Katie said.
"Under objective standards," Noah added quickly. "Like 'here is a human being with visually harmonious features and notable social behavior.' You know. Clinical observation."
Katie stopped for a second on the path. She looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Did you just call me pretty in lab language?" Katie said.
"Only if you understood it that way," he murmured, resuming the walk while pretending to be very interested in a fallen leaf.
Katie took two steps, aligning with him again. She smiled with closed lips.
"Are you always this awkward when you like someone… or am I special?" Katie said.
"'Like'?" Noah turned his face toward her, trying to regain composure. "You're moving fast, Katy Perry."
"Katie." Katie said.
"That's what I said," Noah said.
"Sure," she murmured, enjoying every awkward curve of the dialogue. "Still… I like your awkwardness. It's genuine."
Noah rolled his eyes.
"Wonderful. First step to becoming emotional pet of the month," Noah said.
"Don't say that. Cody already claimed that title and prints it on recycled cardboard plaques," Katie said.
They both laughed, and in that moment, the pace of the walk became lighter. Katie's shoulders relaxed. Noah's too, though he pretended not to.
After one more bend in the path, the vegetation opened into a space where the ground was cleaner, bordered by large roots and flat rocks. And then they saw it.
The treehouse.
Katie stopped, mouth slightly open.
"Okay… this is not what I expected," Katie said.
"More rustic or more epic than you imagined?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"More… wow," she said, walking around the trunk in awe. "This looks like something out of an adventure movie."
"Yeah, well… Cody built most of it. Though not without my technical help, of course," Noah said.
"Really?" Katie said.
"My exact words were: 'use triangular support if you don't want to fall like a cutting board,'" Noah said.
Katie looked at him with a mix of doubt and amusement.
"Sounds… precise," Katie said.
"Cody told me I can brag when I bring people here for the first time. I'm counting it as my only official license to sound arrogant this week," Noah said.
She raised both hands.
"Fair enough. It's amazing. I'd give it five stars on the secret cabin app," Katie said.
They climbed a rustic ladder reinforced with planks, and upon reaching the main platform, the view was even better.
From there, you could see a portion of the lake, the camp in the distance, and the treetops swaying in the wind.
They sat in silence.
And for the first time in days… the silence was comfortable.
Katie lay back on a cushion and looked up, where the branches formed an irregular but beautiful canopy.
"You know what's weird?" Katie said after a few seconds.
"That you're here with me and not your usual emotional half," Noah replied without looking.
"A little… yeah." Katie played with a loose strand of hair. "But I also feel… free. Not less sad. But less… trapped."
Noah lowered his gaze and murmured:
"Yeah. Sometimes losing someone gives space for other versions of you to breathe for the first time."
She looked at him.
"That sounded… intensely wise," Katie said.
"Save it. I only get one per week," Noah said.
Katie smiled.
"Then I'm lucky," Katie said.
They stayed like that, saying nothing more. And for a moment, sadness no longer had full control.
Not because it had left.
But because something new had entered to share the space.
And that was a good beginning.