Chapter 9:Beyond First Impressions

Morning arrived with the sound of birds chirping and the groans of students being forced out of bed.

Caesar was already awake, sitting on his bunk with a book in hand. The air was crisp, the wooden cabin still dimly lit by the early sunrise. Across from him, Zach snored loudly, sprawled out in his bed like he had fought a war in his sleep.

Blythe, stretching by the window, smirked as she glanced at Caesar. "How did you survive sharing a room with him?"

Caesar sighed, turning a page. "I tuned him out."

Blythe chuckled. "Impressive. His snoring could probably scare off bears."

Zach stirred at the sound of voices but only groaned in protest before rolling over, pulling his blanket over his head.

Before Blythe could make another joke, a loud whistle cut through the morning air.

"Alright, campers!" their instructor's voice boomed from outside. "Today's activities will test your teamwork and survival skills. Pair up or form groups! Let's see how well you work together."

Zach's groan of complaint was muffled by his pillow. "Ugh. Sounds like work."

"It is," Blythe said cheerfully. "And guess what? You're with us."

Zach blinked, his sleepiness fading as he processed her words. "Wait, what? No way."

Caesar sighed, closing his book. "Too late. You're stuck with us."

Zach groaned dramatically, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. "Great. Stuck with a nerd and a loudmouth. This trip just keeps getting better."

Blythe elbowed him. "Oh, shut up. This will be fun."

Caesar wasn't so sure.

---

Their first activity involved crossing a suspended rope bridge over a small river. The bridge was narrow, shaky, and only secured by two ropes on either side.

"Who's going first?" the instructor asked.

Blythe raised her hand immediately. "Easy!" She grinned and stepped onto the bridge, moving with confidence.

Caesar watched as she balanced with ease, taking careful but swift steps. She wasn't even hesitating.

"Show-off," Zach muttered.

Blythe reached the other side and turned, placing her hands on her hips. "See? No problem. Your turn, genius."

Caesar hesitated. Heights weren't exactly his favorite thing. He wasn't scared of them, exactly—but the idea of walking across a wobbly rope while everyone watched made his stomach tighten.

Still, he wasn't about to back out.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the bridge. The rope wobbled slightly under his weight, and he instinctively gripped the sides.

"Don't look down!" Blythe called out.

Too late.

The rushing water beneath him suddenly felt a lot closer.

He swallowed hard and forced himself to focus, carefully taking one step at a time. Just a little further. Almost there—

Then—

The rope shook violently.

Caesar's breath caught in his throat. His fingers tightened around the sides as the bridge wobbled beneath him.

"Zach—!"

Zach, who had grabbed the rope with both hands, laughed. "Relax! It's just a little—"

Before he could finish, his foot slipped.

His eyes widened. "Oh—"

Blythe's shout rang through the air. "ZACH, YOU IDIOT—"

In a single chaotic second, Zach lost his balance, his hand instinctively grabbing Caesar's arm—

And just like that, both of them toppled over the side, crashing into the water below.

---

The cold water hit Caesar like a slap. He surfaced quickly, coughing, his clothes sticking to his skin. Beside him, Zach emerged, shaking his wet hair like a dog.

From the riverbank, Blythe erupted into laughter, clutching her stomach.

Caesar glared at Zach. "That was your fault."

Zach, still coughing up water, grinned. "Technically, it was gravity's fault."

Caesar's glare intensified. "You're an idiot."

Blythe skipped over, still laughing. "That was the best thing I've seen all year."

Zach ran a hand through his soaked hair, then grinned mischievously. Before Caesar could react, Zach suddenly shook his head aggressively, sending a spray of water in all directions.

Caesar flinched. "I hate you."

"Love you too, buddy," Zach smirked.

Despite himself, Caesar felt the corner of his lips twitch.

Maybe Zach wasn't completely unbearable.

---

Later that evening, the three of them sat by the campfire, their clothes finally dry. The rest of the students were scattered around in small groups, chatting and laughing under the starry sky.

For the first time since meeting him, Caesar noticed Zach was… quieter.

Blythe noticed, too. "What, no cocky remarks?"

Zach let out a small chuckle, but it lacked his usual arrogance. "I'm out of energy, believe it or not."

Caesar glanced at him. "You act confident all the time. Is that tiring?"

Zach leaned back, staring at the stars for a moment. His usual grin was gone, replaced by something more thoughtful.

"You ever feel like… you have to be a certain way?" he asked.

Caesar frowned. "What do you mean?"

Zach let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "People expect me to be the loud, arrogant guy. The life of the party. It's easier to play that role than to let people see…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening slightly.

Blythe and Caesar exchanged a glance.

"See what?" Blythe asked softly.

Zach smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Nothing. Forget it."

Caesar didn't press, but something about Zach's tone made him wonder.

Maybe, just like himself, Zach had his own struggles.

And for the first time, Caesar found himself wanting to understand.

---

To Be Continued…