14. Unspoken Tension

The following morning, the cabin was unusually quiet. The usual banter and laughter that had once filled the rooms seemed distant, replaced by an unspoken tension that weighed on everyone. Harper woke early, her mind still clouded by the events of the previous night. The mysterious figure in the woods haunted her thoughts, and she couldn't shake the feeling that danger was closer than ever.

She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Rachel, and made her way to the kitchen. As she reached for a mug, she nearly jumped when she saw Leo already there, leaning against the counter with a steaming cup of coffee in hand.

**"Morning,"** he said, his voice soft.

**"Morning,"** Harper replied, trying to steady her nerves. **"You're up early."

Leo offered a small smile. **"Yeah, couldn't sleep. You?"

Harper nodded, her thoughts drifting back to the previous night. She hesitated, then decided to tell him. **"I saw someone last night, after the bonfire. They were watching me from the woods."

Leo's expression darkened, his gaze sharpening. **"Did you see who it was?"

**"No,"** she admitted. **"But it didn't feel right, Leo. It felt like they were waiting for something."

Leo set his coffee down, his jaw clenched. **"We need to be more careful, Harper. Whatever's going on, it's getting worse."

Harper could see the worry in his eyes, and she reached out, placing a hand on his arm. **"We'll figure this out, Leo. Together."

The simple touch lingered longer than either of them expected, and a spark of something unspoken passed between them. For a moment, the weight of their situation lifted, and they were just two people, leaning on each other for support.

Leo looked down at her hand, then met her gaze. His eyes softened, the guarded expression he'd been wearing all morning melting away. **"Thanks, Harper. I don't know what I'd do without you here."

She felt her cheeks flush, warmth spreading through her at his words. **"You're not alone in this. We'll get through it."

Leo seemed to struggle with something, as if he wanted to say more but held back. Instead, he gave her a small nod, the moment passing as he picked up his coffee again. **"I'll make sure Marcus knows to keep an eye out. Whoever it was might come back."

**"I'll be careful,"** Harper promised, but as Leo turned to leave the kitchen, she found herself wishing he hadn't. The connection between them was undeniable, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than just friendship.

---

Later that day, the group decided to take another hike, this time to a nearby lake that they had visited during their college days. The plan was to try and shake off the tension, but Harper couldn't stop thinking about her moment with Leo that morning. She kept catching herself glancing at him, her mind drifting back to the way his eyes softened when he looked at her.

The path to the lake was narrow, winding through dense forest. Harper and Leo found themselves walking side by side, their arms brushing occasionally. Each touch, however brief, sent a jolt through Harper, making her heart beat faster. She wondered if he felt it too or if she was just imagining things.

**"You remember the last time we were here?"** Leo asked, breaking the silence.

Harper smiled, grateful for the distraction. **"Yeah, we had that ridiculous race to the lake, and Marcus ended up falling in."

Leo chuckled, the sound easing some of the tension in the air. **"He was so mad, but we couldn't stop laughing."

**"You were the first to jump in after him,"** Harper said, her smile widening at the memory. **"You've always been the one to save us when we got in over our heads."

Leo glanced at her, his expression serious now. **"Maybe. But you're the one keeping us together now, Harper. You're the glue holding this group together."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and she felt a blush creeping up her neck. **"I'm just trying to help."

**"You're doing more than that,"** Leo replied, his voice low. **"You're keeping me sane."

They reached the lake, the water glistening under the midday sun. The others were already there, setting up a picnic near the shore. Harper paused, turning to face Leo.

**"Leo,"** she began, searching for the right words. **"I…"

Before she could finish, Marcus called out to them from the shore. **"Hey, you two! Come help us with this!"

Leo gave her a rueful smile. **"We'll talk later, okay?"

Harper nodded, though she couldn't help but feel disappointed. As they joined the others, she realized how much she wanted to finish that conversation, to tell Leo what had been on her mind since this trip began.

---

The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and shared memories. The group swam in the lake, played old games, and for a brief time, everything felt normal again. But as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the water, the tension returned.

Harper found herself sitting on a rock by the water's edge, watching the sun dip below the horizon. She was lost in thought when Leo approached, sitting down beside her. The warmth from earlier returned, and she suddenly felt nervous, unsure of what to say.

**"I never got to finish what I was saying earlier,"** Leo said quietly, his gaze fixed on the water.

Harper's heart skipped a beat. **"What were you going to say?"

Leo hesitated, then turned to face her. **"I've been thinking a lot about us, Harper. About how things have changed since we got here. And I realized that I don't want to lose you. Not just as a friend, but…"

He trailed off, his eyes searching hers for a reaction. Harper's breath caught in her throat, and she knew that this was the moment she'd been waiting for. The fear, the tension, the danger—they all faded into the background as she focused on the way Leo was looking at her.

**"Leo, I… I feel the same way,"** she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. **"I've been thinking about you too, more than I probably should."

A slow smile spread across Leo's face, and he reached out, taking her hand in his. **"Then maybe, when all of this is over, we can figure out what this is. Together."

Harper's heart soared at his words, and she squeezed his hand, a sense of hope blossoming in her chest. **"I'd like that."

For the first time since the trip began, Harper felt like she could breathe again. Whatever was happening around them, whatever danger they were facing, she knew she could face it as long as Leo was by her side.

As the last light of day faded, Harper and Leo sat together in silence, their hands intertwined. The future was uncertain, but for now, they had each other. And that was enough.