Maya's pov
The sunlight slipped through the cream curtains,I stirred beneath the sheets,my heart was already racing, and i hadn't even opened my eyes yet.
Adrian....
His lips....
His hands gripping my waist....
The way his voice dropped right before we kissed, like the world had narrowed to just the two of us.
"No, nope we're not doing this," i muttered to myself(my heart), throwing the covers off like they were to blame
Cherry stirred on the other bed, hair a frizzy mess and face buried in the pillow "Mmm… what time is it?"she mumbled
"Still early," I replied
Sadie, burst in "y'all are seriously still in bed? Breakfast starts in fifteen and Mrs Martha is already downstairs doing roll call!"
Cherry groaned "Tell her I died peacefully in my sleep".
Sadie rolled her eyes "whatever, but I'm not missing pancakes and whipped cream" she slipped out just as fast as she came in, shutting the door behind her
Breakfast Hall
The dining area buzzed with students moving between the buffet line and their tables,plates clattered, laughter echoed, and the smell of syrup and butter hung in the air like a cozy fog
I stepped in, subtly scanning the room,my eyes darted from group to group, guys in matching hoodies, girls taking selfies by the window, some teachers chatting near the juice station but their was no Adrian...
My stomach twisted
Cherry noticed "who are you looking for?"
"No one".
Cherry raised a brow
I sighed "Okay,maybe… someone.... Adrian"
"okayyyy?"Cherry said
We stepped to the side, near the hot chocolate dispenser, I lowered my voice
"after we all got settled in the room,I had a nightmare and I couldn't go back to sleep so I stepped out for air,then ran into Adrian...we talked… kind of flirted,then we kissed".
Cherry blinked "wait!!! what!!!! Adrian Sinclair kissed you?"
I nodded slowly
Cherry blinked at me "Gurll look I'm happy that you're finally loosening up but....THE Adrian Sinclair??, you have to be careful babes, that guy is full of games,there was a rumor that he got ginny the senior obsessed and insane about him when they were together and that he never really gave their relationship a title.
"come on cherry,you know that was just a rumor," I whispered, "and besides you set this whole thing up when you insisted he drives me home.... remember?"
"I know.... and I still stand by that,I just don't want you to actually FALL for him, just flirt, play around with him, don't take him serious or you're gonna get your heart broken"
"Yeah whatever " I sighed
Nature Hike
The group gathered at the trailhead behind the resort, everyone in matching Hillcrest Eco Resort drawstring backpacks and varying degrees of hiking enthusiasm
I stood near the back, tightening the straps on my water bottle,the sun filtered through the trees, dappling everyone's faces with light
Cherry adjusted her sunglasses and bumped my shoulder "you good?"
"Yeah,"I just don't feel like hiking uphill for two hours in the name of bonding and sight seeing".
Cherry raised a brow "that, or you're worried about bumping into tall, hot, and kissy".
I glared "shut up...."
Coach Tim's voice rang out "let's keep the pace steady, people!!! We'll be stopping at the lookout point in thirty minutes, so stay with your partners".
"there you are babe,thought you bailed" Ray said to cherry waving from the side path,his camera swung around his neck,
Cherry lit up "please, like I'd miss a chance to mock your wilderness skills".
Ray grinned "partner up?"
Cherry looked at me in hesitation
"Go ahead, I'll be fine" I said
Then she turned to ray and looped her arm through his
As they started walking ahead, I took a casual step toward Ray before he could fully turn away
"Hey," I said low enough that only he could hear "Have you seen Adrian this morning?"
Ray blinked "Oh yeah, actually he left".
My brow furrowed "Left?"
"Yeah,early this morning,said he had to get back for something… family stuff, I think" Ray shrugged
My mouth went dry "Oh".
Ray didn't seem to notice my shift "Anyway, I'll catch you at the lookout."
He disappeared with Cherry up the trail.
He left? Just like that? No message… nothing?
My thoughts were spiraling until a voice slid in beside me
"Looks like we're hiking buddies".
I looked up and there was Cole, giving me a crooked grin
I blinked "what happened to your usual crew?"
"They went ahead, I'm pacing myself today," he said, falling into step beside me
We started walking, the trail crunching beneath our sneakers
"You always walk this fast, or are you trying to outrun something?"
I glanced at him "Do you always ask weirdly deep questions on school trips?"
He laughed "Only when I'm bored".
"you could've paired with anyone else," I pointed out
He looked at me sideways "yeah,I know"
Then, Cole reached out and plucked a leaf from my hair
"Seriously" I muttered
He smirked "Nature likes you".
"Is this your version of small talk?"
"No, this is me being… subtle".
I frowned in suspicion "subtle about what?"
Cole just shrugged, his smirk deepening "nothing important".
"right....you're weird, you know that?"
He smiled "takes one to know one".
We kept walking, the trail weaving through trees that whispered and shifted in the breeze.
Last day at the resort
The hike was over, and the sun was already dipping lower in the sky, casting long golden streaks across the wooden floor of the cabin. I dropped onto my bed with a soft thud, my legs aching and my heart even more so.
Cherry walked in a few seconds later, tossing her backpack onto the other bed.
"Tell me again," she groaned dramatically, flopping beside me, "why hiking is considered fun?"
"Tell me about it "I replied looking a little bit down
Cherry tilted her head, noticing the faraway look in my eyes
"What happened?" she asked gently "Did you run into Adrian?"
I hesitated, then slowly sat up
"No I didn't run into him," I said quietly
"Because… he left...."
Cherry blinked "What?"
"Ray told me on the trail,he said Adrian left the resort this morning,packed up and everything".
Cherry sat up "Seriously?"
I nodded, eyes still fixed on the floor "Didn't say goodbye, didn't text,nothing".
"For what it's worth… if someone left without saying goodbye to you, they're either stupid or scared" she added
"What if it's both?"
"Then that's their loss" Cherry replied
The door swung open
Sadie popped her head in, face flushed from the hike, a bottle of water in hand
"Hey," she chirped, "you guys packed yet?"
Cherry blinked "Packed? Already?"
"Yeah," Sadie said, stepping fully into the room. "We're heading back, trip's officially over
The teachers said to be ready, we're leaving tomorrow morning"
Sadie kept talking "Oh! And guess what, the resort has this tiny store near the lobby? I went in to grab gum, but they actually have really cute summer clothes...you know...like bikinis, wrap skirts, and stuff
Cherry sat up, immediately interested "wait, are you serious?"
Sadie nodded "really serious,you two better come, retail therapy after death by hiking".
Cherry looked at me, silently asking without asking
I gave a small shrug "Why not?"
Sadie grinned. "Great,ten minutes meet me outside".
She bounced out of the room
Cherry turned to me as she stood and stretched "Nothing a little overpriced sundress can't fix, right?"
I smiled "let's go see what trouble we can shop ourselves into".
The next day–At my house
The next day was gray, not rainy, just quiet
The kind of day that made everything feel like a dream you'd barely woken up from
I sat cross legged on my bedroom floor, my suitcase flipped open, clothes half folded and scattered around me.
The faint scent of the resort still clung to my hoodie, and my legs were still a little sore from the hike.
She I pulled out the sundress I bought from the resort's tiny store, I ran my fingers across the fabric absently
Then my phone buzzed
I reached for it lazily, expecting a message from Cherry
Unknown Number:
Want to know more about your father?–meet me here tomorrow night
53 Hollow Creek Road, Silvervale
My breath caught in my throat as I reread it
Once....Twice
The phone stayed in my hand, screen glowing, finger hovering
I barely had time to process before the door creaked open.
"Maya?" my mom's voice came in soft
"what are you doing?"
I jumped slightly, my thumb immediately pressing the side button on my phone ,the screen locking with a snap
"Y-yeah. Just unpacking," i said quickly, stuffing a few shirts back into the suitcase
My mom stepped into the room, holding a basket of freshly folded laundry "I washed your sheets while you were gone,thought you'd want a clean bed after that trip
"Thanks mom," I said, forcing a small smile as I reached to take the basket
My mom lingered for a moment, eyes scanning my face like she could sense something was off
"You okay?"
I nodded too fast "yeah"
My mom gave a soft hum
"Dinner's in twenty".
And with that, she stepped out, leaving the door slightly behind her.
I sat back down slowly,then grabbed my phone and sent a text to cherry telling her to come over immediately.
I paced my room, checking the address again, replaying the words in my head
Then the doorbell rang
I nearly tripped over my unpacked suitcase as I bolted down the stairs
"I'll get it!" I called, already halfway down
I yanked the door open to find Cherry standing there in a hoodie, bun half-done, brows already lifted
"I got your text, what's.....?"
I grabbed her wrist and dragged her inside before she could finish
"Whoa!!!!" Cherry laughed "Kidnap vibes?"
From the kitchen came my mom's voice "Who is it, Maya?"
"Just Cherry!" I called out, tugging her towards the stairs "I invited her over for dinner!"
Cherry quickly added, "Hi, Miss Monroe!"
"Hi sweetheart!" my mom replied "There's enough pasta for you both".
Cherry smiled, slightly out of breath "Your mom loves me".
"she tolerates you," I muttered with a grin, yanking her up the last few steps.
When we got to my room, I shut the door, locked it, and turned around with wide eyes.
Cherry plopped onto the bed "Okay, spill, you're acting like you just found a body".
I picked up my phone, opened the message, and handed it to her
Cherry read it in silence,then looked up "Umm…"
"Yeah," I said, arms crossed "Exactly".
Cherry held the phone like it was cursed
She looked up at me
"Okay… breathe...first, let's not panic,let's just start with something simple".
I raised an eyebrow "Like?"
"Like Googling the address,Duh" Cherry slid off the bed and grabbed my laptop from the desk
"Fifty-three Hollow Creek Road, Silvervale," she muttered as she typed
I sat beside her, heart thudding as the results loaded
We scrolled through a few blurry photos from some old real estate site, a faded listing from years ago
An old two-story building, bricked up windows, a rusted gate.
A warehouse or maybe an old shop,The description was vague: "Previously used as a shipping and distribution site, vacant for years,no current owner listed"
Cherry leaned back "Okay, so definitely creepy… but real".
I stared at the screen, "so it's not just some prank, someone actually wants me to go there".
Cherry turned to me, voice gentle "maybe you should talk to your mom, I mean,If it's really about your dad, she might actually know something"
"No"
I stood quickly, crossing the room like the air had suddenly grown too tight
"I can't do that"
Cherry looked confused "why not?"
"Because," I said, voice tight, "I don't want to remind her of the past she's finally gotten over".
I turned toward the window, arms wrapped tightly around myself
"I don't even know if this is real, Cher,what if it's some sick prank? What if I bring it up and she gets hurt… for nothing?"
Cherry was quiet for a moment, then stood and crossed the room to me
"You don't have to decide anything right now," she said softly "But whatever this turns out to be… you're not doing it alone,Okay?"
I nodded slowly, still staring out the window
"Okay," I whispered "Thanks Cher"
"Of course, anytime gurl" she replied
Next day–At school
The next morning at school, the halls were alive with chatter, the kind that felt louder than usual, too loud, too chaotic.
I stepped through the front doors with my backpack slung over one shoulder, still fogged up with thoughts from last night
I barely noticed the shift in energy at first,but by the time I took ten steps down the hallway, it hit me like a punch to the chest.
People were staring
Eyes lifted from phone screens, then darted straight to me,whispers swirled around like smoke,someone stifled a laugh
Another girl gave me a look that could slice glass
I slowed down
What the hell?
"Is that her?"
"She's bold for even showing up."
"I'd be in hiding."
"In the freaking tub...…"
I blinked "Tub?"
A guy not so subtly pointed at me while showing his friend something on his phone.
Another girl muttered the word "sl*t" under her breath, followed by a pitying chuckle
My heart pounded in my ears my throat tightened What's happening?
My pulse raced as I looked around,my world spinning while everyone else seemed to know something I didn't.
Then, through the blur of faces, someone stepped into my path
He didn't say a word.
Just reached out, gently but firmly, and grabbed my wrist
Cole.
I looked up, stunned, but before I could speak, he was already leading me away, cutting through the crowd with sharp, deliberate steps.
He didn't let go until we were halfway down the old arts wing, where the unused photography room sat behind a thick, soundproof door
He opened it and guided me inside
I stumbled a little, my breath shaky "Cole…. what is going on?
He didn't speak
He just pulled out his phone, tapped something, and handed it over
I took it slowly
And there it was...
A video of me and Adrian In the tub at the resort...making out,the soft lighting, his hands round my waist, the kiss, every stolen moment laid bare
The caption read:
"Adrian Sinclair's newest toy. Resort secrets spill 🍑🔥 #HillcrestTrip #InThetubBliss"
My whole body went numb.
"No… no no no…" my hand trembled as I held the phone "How did this...?"
Cole's jaw tightened,his voice low "Looks like someone recorded it,maybe from outside,maybe from the deck,doesn't matter,It's everywhere now".
I couldn't breathe,my face burned,my chest ached I wanted to scream,Or vanish "This can't be happening…"
Cole stepped closer, his tone suddenly softer. "Hey, it's gonna be okay"
But all I could think was:
Who filmed this?
Who leaked it?
And why did it feel like my entire world had just imploded!!!