The morning after Lindsay's birthday was calm, almost unreal. The sunlight streamed through the windows of the room, illuminating the space with a warm glow that seemed to envelop everything in an aura of serenity. As I got up, I couldn't help but reflect on the events of the previous day. I had given Lindsay two gifts: the necklace my mother had given me years ago and the ring I presented during the party. While both held deep meanings, I knew the true gift was the necklace. It was more than just an object; it was a tangible piece of my past, something that directly connected my mother to Lindsay. The ring, though beautiful, was more of a symbolic gesture, a way of not being left behind when everyone else was giving their own gifts.
I smiled as I remembered Lindsay's reaction when she received the necklace. I had seen how her eyes sparkled as she listened to the story behind it, how her hand trembled slightly as she touched the star-shaped pendant. That moment had been magical, intimate, and I was certain she understood what it meant for me to share something so personal. On the other hand, giving the ring had been fun, especially because Olivia had squealed excitedly from the back of the garden, as if she were the official organizer even of my romantic moments. I shook my head, laughing to myself. Olivia always managed to steal the spotlight, but this time I didn't mind. Everything had turned out perfectly.
After getting dressed, I went downstairs for breakfast. Lindsay was already in the kitchen, making coffee alongside Ellie, who had quickly become another member of our group. Olivia, as expected, appeared shortly after, looking fresh and radiant as if she hadn't spent the entire party running around.
"Good morning, team," Olivia said, sitting at the table with her cup of green tea. "What are we doing today? Because I have an endless list of planned activities."
Lindsay smiled, approaching with two steaming cups of coffee.
"I think we could do something relaxing. After all, yesterday was pretty intense."
Ellie nodded, taking a sip of her drink.
"Yes, something calm would be nice. But… how about we take a walk around the estate? I love exploring new places."
Olivia frowned, pretending to be indignant.
"Walking? Really? I thought we'd do something more exciting, like play croquet or go horseback riding."
I rolled my eyes, unable to contain myself.
"Olivia, no one wants to play croquet. Besides, I think a walk sounds perfect. It'll help us clear our minds after everything that happened yesterday."
Lindsay supported me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Exactly. And who knows, maybe we'll find something interesting while we walk."
Ellie grinned widely, visibly excited.
"I hope so! I've always been curious about the paranormal. I find it fascinating and intriguing."
I looked at Ellie, surprised but intrigued.
"The paranormal? I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, it's always fascinated me. Ghost stories, unexplainable phenomena… It's like there's a hidden world right in front of us, waiting to be discovered."
Lindsay crossed her arms, looking at Ellie with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the topic, but I don't dislike it either. I just prefer to stay away from horror movies. Once I saw a trailer and had nightmares for days."
Olivia huffed, shaking her head.
"I can't even watch trailers for those movies. They're too scary! I'd much rather watch romantic comedies or documentaries about fashion."
I laughed, remembering how opposite that was from her usual personality.
"Come on, Olivia. You were the one who insisted on investigating that haunted tower at Stanford last Halloween."
Olivia grimaced, clearly uncomfortable with the memory.
"That was different. I thought it would be fun. But we ended up walking for hours in the dark without finding anything. I almost froze to death."
Ellie leaned forward, completely absorbed in the conversation.
"A haunted tower? Did you really go investigate it?"
I nodded, enjoying Ellie's interest.
"Yes, there were rumors that the tower was haunted. Some students claimed to have seen strange lights or heard unexplainable noises. So we decided to check it out ourselves."
Lindsay chimed in, smiling as she recalled the memory.
"It was madness. Olivia led the expedition, convinced we'd find something exciting. But in the end, all we found were cobwebs and dust."
Ellie burst out laughing.
"Even so, it sounds amazing. I wish I had been there. What exactly happened?"
Olivia scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We walked around the tower, tried to get in, but the door was locked with a padlock. Then we realized it was way too cold and that we were probably wasting our time. So we left."
Ellie shook her head, incredulous.
"But that doesn't mean there was nothing there. Maybe you needed better equipment or more time."
I leaned back in my chair, thoughtful.
"You're right. You never know. Maybe someday we'll go back with more preparation. Though I doubt Olivia would want to repeat the experience."
Olivia raised her hands in surrender.
"No way. Once was enough for me. I don't need to spend another freezing night looking for ghosts that probably don't exist."
Ellie smirked mischievously.
"So, what do you all think about investigating other paranormal legends at Stanford when we go back to school? I've heard there are several supposedly haunted places on campus."
Lindsay raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Really? I had no idea."
Ellie nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, there are plenty of stories. From libraries where footsteps are heard on empty floors to dorms where lights flicker for no apparent reason. We could form our own investigation team."
I looked at Lindsay, who seemed torn between curiosity and caution.
"It sounds interesting, but… won't it be dangerous?"
Ellie shook her head.
"Not at all. We just need to be careful and respectful. Plus, it would be fun. We could record videos, take pictures… Who knows, maybe we'll capture something incredible."
Olivia rolled her eyes, obviously unconvinced.
"You can count on me to edit the videos, but don't ask me to join any nighttime expeditions. I've had enough with the tower."
We all laughed at her comment, though I knew Ellie wasn't going to give up easily. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a spark of excitement at the idea of exploring the unknown.
Finally, we agreed to take our morning walk around the estate. As we strolled under the bright sun, talking about possible places to investigate at Stanford, I couldn't help but think about how much my life had changed in such a short time. Lindsay, Olivia, Ellie… They were all now a fundamental part of my everyday life.