The evening sun bled into the horizon, its last embers painting the garden in muted gold. Shadows stretched long between the hedges, where a lone sparrow gave a final, hesitant chirp before silence swallowed the air. Amara stood motionless, every hair on her arms raised, her pulse echoing in her ears. She could feel the weight of those grey eyes on her back—like cold fingertips tracing her skin in the darkening light.
When she finally turned, Elle was there. Silent. Unblinking.
The moment stretched.
Then—
"You shouldn't be here," Elle said softly, her voice carrying the same low, even tone she used when delivering bad news without flinching.
Amara startled, her hand flying to her chest. "God, Elle, you scared me!"
Elle's lips twitched — not quite a smile, not quite indifference. "That was the idea." She took a slow step forward, her shadow falling over the uneven soil by the flower bushes. "Snakes like these spots. The scent of the flowers draws them. I thought you might scream if one brushed past your ankle."
Amara blinked rapidly, a nervous laugh tumbling out. "You're evil."
"Mm." Elle tilted her head just slightly, as if she found the accusation… amusing. "Maybe. But the snake part? That's not a joke. Edric found two here earlier this week. One was still alive."
Amara's eyes widened. "You're telling me this now?"
"I didn't think you'd wander," Elle said simply, her voice almost too calm. "Come on, before you end up in the ER with a swollen leg."
Amara shook her head, still chuckling, the tension dissolving under Elle's composed presence. Whatever strange shiver she'd felt before — the cold, suffocating fear — melted into embarrassment. Elle wouldn't let anything happen to her. Not here. Not anywhere.
They walked back toward the swing, the garden returning to its tranquil state as though nothing had happened at all.
Two Days Later – Early Morning, City Airport
The terminal buzzed with pre-flight chaos — rolling suitcases rattling over tile, the hum of announcements, coffee-scented air mixing with the faint tang of jet fuel.
Noah waved from near the check-in counters, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. "Ladies! Over here!"
Amara and Elle made their way through the crowd, Elle's wheeled suitcase gliding soundlessly behind her. Her travel look was understated — high-waist linen trousers, a cream blouse, and her hair loosely tied back. Amara, on the other hand, was already dressed like she was stepping onto a resort photoshoot: sunglasses perched on her head, floral maxi dress flowing with each step.
As they reached Noah, Elle's gaze shifted to the unfamiliar faces clustered beside him.
"Okay," Noah began, gesturing with the enthusiasm of a man about to reveal a secret weapon. "You already know me, Kai, and Amara. These are my guys — Ryan Hale, Ethan Cross, Liam Ward — all from our class, so no awkward introductions needed later."
The three boys grinned, each giving a casual wave. Ryan, tall and lean with a messy head of dark hair, looked like he belonged in a beach volleyball ad. Ethan had a sharper jawline, confident posture, and a faint smirk that said he knew it. Liam, slightly shorter with warm hazel eyes, seemed the quiet observer type.
Then Noah gestured to the girls. "These two are Giselle and Lena from the Department of Media and Communication Studies in our college."
Giselle stepped forward with practiced charm. Her golden-brown hair was styled in soft waves, and she wore a smile so polished it could've been patented. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Elle. I've heard a lot."
"That's kind of you to say. Nice to meet you too." Elle replied politely, her expression smooth as glass.
Lena, a brunette with softer features and a more reserved demeanor, gave a shy smile. "Hi."
"Hi," Elle returned, her tone warmer but still measured.
Ryan's gaze lingered a fraction too long on Elle before Kai's voice cut in from behind, laced with mild amusement. "You three planning to gawk all day, or should we check in?"
Ryan cleared his throat, looking away. "Just being friendly."
"Sure," Kai said, deadpan, and walked past them toward the counter.
Noah laughed, slapping Ryan on the shoulder. "Don't mind him, he's just protective of his… classmates."
Elle didn't react, busying herself with handing her passport to the airline staff. She'd learned to ignore such attention; it was easier that way.
Giselle Carter — Weeks Before the Trip
In her own mind, Giselle wasn't just another student with a crush — she was someone who understood Kai Lennox better than anyone else. She'd noticed him on the first week of term: tall, athletic, with that maddeningly calm confidence. He was polite to everyone, but he never lingered — unless Elle Deveraux was involved.
It started small. She'd see them walking into class together, or Kai holding a door open for Elle when he didn't bother for others. Then came the rumors — that he'd spoken to Elle on their first day when both were late. That he sometimes sat beside her in lectures. That his gaze, so unreadable to most, softened when it landed on her.
Giselle had tested her theory. She'd "accidentally" bumped into him in the library, in the cafeteria, even near the faculty wing. Each time, his responses were polite… and forgettable. He treated her exactly like everyone else.
So she adapted. If she couldn't get close to him directly, she'd work sideways. Noah was the perfect bridge — friendly, trusting, and easy to charm. It had taken her two weeks to become part of his casual friend circle, another week to get Lena on board with her plans.
When Noah mentioned the trip, she pounced. A chance to be in Kai's orbit for a whole week? It was perfect.
And now, standing at the airport, she was determined: this was the moment she'd start changing how Kai saw her. Elle might have his attention now, but Giselle wasn't going to let that last forever.
Check-In Complete – Boarding Area
The group sat scattered across a row of metal chairs, their carry-ons piled nearby.
Giselle chose the seat beside Elle, offering a little snack pack she'd bought at a nearby café. "Here — you'll need this. Airplane food is so bland."
"Thank you," Elle said, accepting it without opening it. Her grey eyes studied Giselle for just a second longer than politeness required. Something in the girl's gaze was too calculating, her friendliness a shade too eager.
"So, how long have you known Kai?" Giselle asked casually, like it was an afterthought.
Elle took a sip from her water bottle. "Since the first day of college."
"Oh, right," Giselle said with a little laugh. "You two seemed close."
Elle's expression didn't change. "We're friends. That's all."
If Giselle was fishing, she got nothing. Elle gave her a small, non-committal smile and turned her attention back to Amara, who was scrolling through her phone beside her.
On the Plane – Seat Assignments
Elle and Amara slid into the middle and window seats of their row. Just as Amara reached for the seatbelt, Kai appeared in the aisle.
"This one free?" he asked, nodding at the aisle seat.
Amara smirked. "Guess so."
Kai sat down, stretching his legs slightly. "Good. I didn't feel like getting stuck between two guys fighting over armrests."
From a few rows back, Giselle's stomach sank. She'd been hoping — no, planning — to sit beside Kai. But now Lena was already sliding into the middle seat next to her, and Liam had claimed the window. She smiled tightly, masking the irritation that burned in her chest.
In the row ahead, Noah was sandwiched between Ryan and Ethan, animatedly telling a story about a disastrous camping trip they'd taken last semester.
Kai leaned slightly toward Elle as the plane began taxiing. "You nervous flyer?"
"No," Elle said, her tone calm as ever. "Why?"
"Most people grip the armrest like it's a lifeline during takeoff."
"I prefer to read." She lifted the corner of the novel in her lap.
Kai's lips curved faintly. "Figures."
Amara, seated between them, looked from one to the other with a knowing little grin. "Are you two seriously going to talk about books while we're heading to a literal island paradise?"
"Better than arguing over sunscreen brands like you and Noah," Kai shot back.
"That was important!" Amara protested, laughing. "Some of us care about skin health."
Elle let the conversation wash over her, gaze drifting to the oval window where the runway blurred into motion.
Behind them, Giselle leaned back in her seat, eyes fixed forward but ears tuned to every word. She told herself it didn't matter — that Kai was just polite, that Elle was just another girl. But her fingers twisted the edge of her boarding pass until it crumpled.
Lena glanced over. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Giselle said, forcing a smile. "Just… thinking."
But her thoughts weren't calm. They were sharp, precise, and singular: this trip was her chance. She'd waited too long already.