The chilled air bit at my skin, but I didn't mind it. The ice beneath my blades was familiar, steady, as I glided across the rink. My movements were smooth, like I'd done this a thousand times before. It was the only place where I could just... be. No deadlines, no assignments hanging over my head, no one asking for anything.
Just the sound of my breath, the scrape of my skates cutting through the ice, and the distant hum of music filling the air.
I closed my eyes for a moment, losing myself in the rhythm, the peacefulness. Everything else faded... the stress of university life, the parents who always expected perfection from me, the pressure of trying to keep up. At that moment, it was just me and the cold, and I could stay like that forever.
"Aria!"
I froze mid-skate, my heart leaping into my throat. I hadn't heard her approach. I opened my eyes and slowed to a stop, turning to face my best friend.
"Dove," I sighed softly, placing my hands on my hips. I watched as she walked into the indoor skating rink, her bright pink jacket standing out against the white of the ice. "You could've at least waited until I was done with my set."
She rolled her eyes playfully, "If I had done that, I would've been waiting for hours. Besides, I need your help."
"Of course you do." I grumbled, slowly gliding to the edge of the icy floor. "Let me guess, you need someone to go with you to a party."
"So close! I actually need you to go on a little camping trip with me."
I stepped off the ice and bent down, untying the laces of my skates. "I think I misheard you. Did you just say camping?"
Dove's boots came into view as she stood in front of me, and I looked up at her as I pulled my shoes off. "You're serious?" I asked after I didn't receive an answer. "Since when do you go camping? You don't even like nature."
She sighed loudly, "Since I overheard Tyler mention that tonight him and his boys are going to Virek Forest for a one night camping trip."
Ah, of course. Dove had been crushing on Tyler Beckham since fourth grade, and we were now well into our first year at Virek University. She was the boldest, most confident person I knew, but she was a candle blown by the wind whenever Tyler was around.
"Let me get this straight," I said as I picked up my skates. Dove followed me as I walked to my gym bag where I had left my sneakers. "You want to gatecrash Tyler's camping trip with his boys in the middle of the night? That's creepy, Dove, even for you."
"No, Bella told me that she's going, and she said we could tag along because she doesn't want to be stuck talking about football and motorcycles all night."
I groaned, knowing that I would end up saying yes. I could never say no to her, no matter how spontaneous or crazy her ideas gradually became. Besides, camping was something I actually enjoyed doing, and Virek Forest wasn't that far from our campus.
"You need to tell him how you feel tonight. I can't keep doing this with you." I said with narrowed eyes. Dove squealed, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Thank you! I owe you a lifetime of favors. And, yes, tonight is definitely the night."
I was certain I'd heard her say that at least three times.
I slung my bag over my shoulder. "Call Bella. I guess we're going camping."
♡°♡°♡°♡
Darkness filled the sky as the sun set, leaving me surrounded by stars and uneasiness. I sat at the edge of my single bed, my bag half-packed and my phone buzzing beside me. My mother's name flashed across the screen, and I felt my stomach clench.
"I hope you're not wasting time doing useless things. Midterms are around the corner. Stay focused. I expect perfect grades. No excuses."
No hi, no how are you, no love you. Just expectations, as always. I locked my phone without replying and tossed it face-down on the blanket.
Maybe I should've stayed in tonight. Studied. Reviewed that statistics module I barely understood.
Instead, I shoved a hoodie into my bag, zipped it up, and slung it over my shoulder. I could already hear Dove's excited voice in my head, chirping about snacks and tents and whether her lip gloss was "camping cute." A smile tugged at my lips despite everything.
One night. One tiny camping trip with friends. That wasn't so bad.
Right?
I walked out of my dorm, making sure to lock the door behind me. Of course it was okay. This would be an unforgettable night. I got to relax, Dove got to tell Tyler how she feels. All would be right.
As soon as I stepped into Dove's car, we were off. The trees thickened the further we drove, streetlights fading into distant memories behind us. Dove hummed to the music on the radio, completely unbothered. Meanwhile, I kept my eyes glued to the dark road ahead. We drove for a long time.
"This place is farther than I thought," I muttered, glancing at the GPS. "I thought we were camping in the forest right next to the university."
"Virek Forest," Dove confirmed with a grin. "It's huge, so they decided to be as far from the university as possible. Just to get the full experience."
I wasn't sure if the chill down my spine was from the wind or the growing quiet around us. The university was miles behind now, and the only light came from the car's headlights casting eerie shadows along the trees. The deeper we went, the more it felt like stepping out of the world entirely.
"There they are," Dove said suddenly, making me look away from the window. "Up ahead!"
I squinted as figures came into view—four of them, silhouettes lit faintly by a pair of parked cars and the dim glow of a flickering flashlight.
Dove parked next to Bella's rust-red Jeep, the gravel crunching beneath the tires. She immediately killed the engine and hopped out of the car, waving like she hadn't just dragged us into the middle of nowhere on a school night.
"Heyyy!" she called, practically skipping toward them.
Bella met her halfway, arms folded with that unimpressed older-sister energy she always gave off, though the slight smile said she was happy we came. The others turned as I stepped out of the car, my breath forming little clouds in the cold night air.
Tyler Beckham stood near the firewood pile, flannel jacket undone, hands shoved into his pockets. His friends, Callum and Jordan, gave polite nods or waves, though they looked a bit surprised to see us. Tyler's eyes lingered on Dove a little too long before he smiled and said, "Didn't think we had guests."
"We couldn't decline an invite," Dove said with a casual toss of her hair.
I leaned against the car, watching the way they all interacted. It felt easy for them—comfortable. And yet something about the forest behind them made my stomach knot.
"Aria, hey. Are you okay?" Bella asked, walking over to me. I knew her through Dove. They were good friends, even though she wasn't very close to me. Still, she was always nice to me, and I appreciated that.
"Yeah," I nodded, even though that felt like a lie. "Just… colder than I expected."
She glanced at the trees too, like maybe she could feel what I felt. "Let's just get this over with before it gets darker. Tyler said there's a good spot not too far from here."
I nodded and looked back at the forest line.
I didn't know it then, but this was the last time we'd all be together.