chapter 24 - Trip

"You seem happy, a lot today," Ruby commented, noticing the unwavering smile on Amy's face.

"Well, aren't I always?" Amy replied with a grin.

"You were being sad till yesterday." Ruby raised an eyebrow, curious.

Amy waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing, nothing. Is there something new recently?"

Noah chimed in, "There is. College trip! Heard about it??"

"Woah, really? Where are they taking us this time?" Amy asked, excitement building.

"Mountains, for hiking," Noah replied.

"It will be so fun, we all should go," Amy exclaimed.

Mia spoke apologetically, "I'm sorry, guys. I can't come. There are some exams I'm preparing for, and they are close by."

"Huh?? No way, you should come," Amy protested.

"I wish I could. But not this time, I am really busy," Mia said.

"Sigh. Fine. Well, let's go to the cafeteria," Ruby said, giving in.

At that moment, Amy's eyes fell on Zahn, who stood a little distance away, gazing at her with a warm smile. "Sorry guys, I'm gonna have lunch with him," Amy said, and with that, she ran to Zahn.

Ruby frowned, crossing her arms. "Huh! Not him again. Why does it feel like she isn't giving us any importance?"

Noah laughed, teasing her. "If you're so lonely, why don't you date someone too?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Shut up. I don't want to go through mood swings like Amy."

Amidst their chit chat, Mia's eyes wandered to Amy and Zahn, who were walking together, laughing, and sharing fond looks. They really did look amazing, no doubt about it.

But a sense of sadness surfaced in Mia's heart. I never got someone to love me. The guy I liked used me to get close to Amy...

She shook her head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts. Yes, she envied them, but she wouldn't let it affect her friendship. She pressed down her conflicting feelings. I'm genuinely happy for them, she thought.

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Amy and Zahn sat together in the quiet corner of the campus garden, enjoying their sandwiches. It had become more common for them to have lunch together now.

As they shared the meal, nostalgia washed over Amy's face. "We used to have quiet lunches together on the school rooftop."

"And you used to steal my lunch," Zahn chuckled, recalling how bratty Amy had been during those days, always chasing him around to annoy him and disrupt his peace.

Amy giggled, "Sorry for that."

He shook his head with a smile, then decided to ask a question that had been on his mind. "Ella... did she say something rude to you?"

"Ah, some things. It doesn't matter now... since you are mine anyway," Amy said with a smirk.

He looked at her, amused. "Being possessive? Though you had me really worried. I thought you wanted to leave me or something. Your changing moods scare me, silly," he gently tapped her forehead.

"Haha, I will let you know if something bothers me in the future. Well, well, have you heard about the college trip? Want to go?" Amy asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"College trip..?" Zahn replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Mhm, let's go! It will be fun," she urged.

He shrugged. "What will I do there? I'm not into going with a lot of people."

Amy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Zahn, you will be with me! We should have fun during our college life, after all, our youth is meant for fun."

"Hah," he chuckled, actually impressed by her enthusiasm. Amy had a positive outlook on life and just wanted to enjoy every moment. But he preferred solitude, a comfort zone. He could go anywhere with Amy, as long as it was just the two of them, but joining in others' fun wasn't his thing. "I'm not going."

And there was no way Amy would go on the trip, leaving Zahn alone and away from all the fun. "No way, you are going with me no matter what, or else I will bother you a lot!"

"Oh yeah? What will you do?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I won't let you study at all!" she threatened playfully.

He was amused by her persistence. "Go ahead," he said, with a playful challenge in his voice.

"Ughh, please?? For me?" She held his arm, acting like a child whining to get her way.

Zahn shook his head with a fond smile. Impossible, it seems like I can never say no to her. Since Amy really wanted him to come, he couldn't help but agree. "Fine, fine, I will go."

Her lips widened into a big smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yay, great! It will be really fun."

He petted her head, a smile tugging on his lips at seeing her happiness. Her childishness was one of the things that really charmed him. "Yes, yes."

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The day of the trip arrived, and Amy was the most thrilled. Early on a crisp Saturday morning, they boarded the bus with their classmates, excitement visible on everyone's faces. The college had arranged everything meticulously, buses, guides, and even the teachers who would accompany them.

As the bus wound its way through scenic routes, Amy chatted with Zahn and her friends, enjoying some snacks. Amy's excitement dimmed when she noticed Ella. Why did she even come?

Amy decided to ignore her presence. She was here to have fun, not to care about Ella.

Upon arrival, they were briefed by their teachers and a professional hiking guide about safety measures and the day's itinerary. With their backpacks secured and spirits high, they set off on the trail, ready to explore the beauty of the mountains.

The group set off on their hike, the path winding through dense forests and rocky trails. The crisp mountain air invigorated Zahn, but Amy's initial excitement quickly turned into exhaustion. Her legs felt heavy, and her enthusiasm waned with each step.

After a particularly steep incline, Amy stopped to catch her breath and sat down, leaning against a tree. "This trip isn't as fun as I thought it would be," she admitted, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Zahn sighed, slightly leaning down. "What did you expect? You were the one who badly wanted to come. Now get up, don't be lazy." He extended his arm to help her up.

"You are right. I was wrong," she admitted.

"You better fix your physique. How many minutes have even passed since we started hiking?" Zahn teased.

"Come on, Amy, why are you sitting there?" Ruby's voice called out.

Amy looked at her, surprised.

Everyone seems fine except me. Gosh, I need to be fit, she thought.

After what felt like an eternity of hiking, they finally reached the summit. Amy's breath caught in her throat, not just from the exertion but from the breathtaking view that stretched out before them

Zahn turned to Amy, his eyes sparkling with triumph. "Happy now?"

Amy couldn't help but laugh, her earlier frustration melting away. "Mhm, it's so beautiful here."

As the group gathered, the hiking guide suggested a short break to rest and enjoy some snacks. They took their seats on the fallen logs, and Amy munched on the leftover chips and biscuits from earlier.

Her eyes fell on Elliot, who was eating a cream-filled pastry on the side. "Want one?" he offered, holding out a pastry with a grin.

"Mhm. Looks delicious," Amy replied, reaching for the pastry.

As she took a bite, a dollop of cream landed on the corner of her lips. Elliot noticed and chuckled. "You got some on your mouth," he teased.

Before Amy could react, Elliot leaned in and gently wiped the cream off her lips with his thumb. "There, all clean," he said with a grin.

Zahn, who was coming back with a water bottle, felt a pang of jealousy as he watched the interaction. His eyes narrowed slightly as he walked towards them. "Excuse me?" he called out, his tone icy.

Elliot froze, forcing a smile. "Ah, Zahn... hello... bye!" he said, fleeing from the spot with exaggerated haste.

Amy chuckled, "Gosh, you scared him away."

"Don't let anyone get too close to you," Zahn muttered, his jealousy evident.

"Oh my. That's hot, Zahn, like the guys from comics," Amy said with a sly smile, batting her eyelashes playfully.

He rolled his eyes, realizing Amy never took anything seriously. "Seriously, Amy, I'm being serious."

Then his eyes fell on someone waving to him--it was Jack, with his signature grin and big expressive eyes. Zahn ignored him and didn't bother to wave back.

Noticing it, Amy lightly hit Zahn on the shoulder. "It seems like Jack wants to be friends with you! Don't be so cold."

"I'm not interested. I don't need friends," Zahn grumbled.

"Not someone you can talk to? Don't we all need friends?"

"I have you," Zahn replied, his voice soft.

Amy sighed, Huh, stubborn and cute at the same!

The college had organized a group dinner, but this time, the students were given a special task: to gather fresh fruits and vegetables from the surrounding area.

The hiking guide explained the types of edible plants and fruits they might find, providing a quick lesson on foraging safely. Amy and Zahn paired up, armed with baskets, and ventured into the woods, scanning for berries, wild herbs, and other edible plants.

"Perhaps it's not too bad," Zahn said, examining a cluster of wild berries. "The trip."

"See? I told you," Amy grinned, plucking a few berries and dropping them into her basket. "It's kind of fun, isn't it?"

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, and it is.. i never done such things"

Amy replied, rubbing the tip of her nose with pride. "With me, you aren't gonna miss out on anything!"

Zahn looked at her, amused by her confidence.

They continued to forage, chatting and laughing as they discovered different plants.

Amy then spotted a large, colorful mushroom. "Wow, this one looks amazing!" she said, picking it up.

Zahn's eyes widened in alarm. "Amy, put that down! That's not an edible mushroom, it's poisonous one!"

Her face turned pale, and she quickly dropped the mushroom back on the ground. "Oh crap!" She exclaimed, shaking her hand.

He sighed, " don't pick anything before asking me from now on. "

She let out an awkward laugh..  "I will just stick to the berries, I think."

The camp had quieted down as the night deepened, the only sounds being the gentle rustling of leaves.  After a hearty dinner around the campfire, everyone had retreated to their tents, the exhaustion of the day's hike lulling them to sleep.

Amy lay in her sleeping bag, staring at the canvas of her tent, unable to sleep..

Suddenly, she heard a soft rustling outside her tent, followed by a whisper.

"Amy, are you awake?" It was Zahn's voice, gentle and reassuring.

Curious, Amy carefully unzipped her tent and peeked outside. Zahn stood there, a faint smile on his face. "Wanna take a walk?" he said softly.

She stepped out, the cool night air enveloping her. They walked a little distance away from the tents, finding a quiet spot under the starlit sky.

"I couldn't seem to fall asleep. Maybe because I never slept anywhere except my home," Zahn began, his voice soft.

"Hah... same. Though I've been on trips many times, I think I've gotten used to sleeping at your place," Amy said with a sly smile.

"Hm, have you?" He chuckled.

They stood there in comfortable silence, the night sky above them and the world seeming to pause. Zahn looked at Amy, his eyes reflecting the starlight. Without a word, he leaned in, and their lips met in a tender kiss.

As they pulled away, Amy felt a sense of contentment.

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The next day, Amy woke up in a good mood. She yawned and stretched before getting out of her tent. The morning sunlight warmed her face, energizing her.

Ruby walked over, greeting her. "Yo, woke up?" There was a smirk on Ruby's face that made Amy suspicious.

"Mhm... but why are you smiling, huh?" Amy raised an eyebrow.

"You know... I saw you and Zahn yesterday. Kissing each other," Ruby whispered into Amy's ear. "Do you want to be caught?"

Amy nearly choked on the water she was drinking. "What the...? You saw?"

Ruby nodded with a smirk. "I did. What else have you done with him?"

Amy's face turned crimson. "What?! Nothing at all!"

Ruby's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Really?" she teased.

"For real, duh!" Amy shouted, her face burning with embarrassment.

Ruby continued, "But you stay at his house---?"

"Oh, shut up, Ruby," Amy snapped, mortified. She turned and ran away,

Ruby's laughter echoing behind her.

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Note :

It's so boring and I'm not motivated to write at all 😪