The Fun

As they drove along the winding roads, the car filled with the hum of conversation and occasional bursts of laughter between Richard and Jane. Jane sat in the passenger seat, her face glowing with excitement as she flipped through her phone, double-checking the hiking route. Behind her, Richard leaned forward slightly, eager to engage, while Nick kept his grip firm on the steering wheel, his jaw tightening every time Richard opened his mouth.

"You know, Jane, there's a Diwali celebration happening here in California next weekend. A proper one, with fireworks, food stalls, and all the traditional stuff. It might not be quite like back home, but it's something. You should come."

Jane glanced over her shoulder, her expression lighting up. "Really? I miss the celebrations so much. When I was in Dubai, we celebrated too, but nothing compares to the fireworks back home.

Richard smiled, a playful gleam in his eyes. "I bet you'd look stunning in a saree. You should wear one for the occasion."

Jane's cheeks turned pink, and she looked away with a small, bashful smile. "Maybe," she said, laughing softly.

Nick, who had been silent up until now, caught the exchange in the rearview mirror and rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'm sure you'd look like a minion in traditional clothes," he muttered, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

Jane spun toward him, her brow arched. "Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?"

Nick shrugged, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I mean, I've never seen you in traditional clothes before. I'm just saying it might be… unexpected."

Richard chuckled, leaning back smugly. "I'd say she'd look amazing—absolutely radiant."

Nick's hands tightened on the wheel, but he forced a light laugh. "Yeah, I'm sure she's got plenty of admirers lining up for a glimpse."

Jane turned her attention to Nick, her eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. "You're insufferable, you know that?" Nick smirked, his tone softening. 

The tension between the two was palpable, but Jane, seemingly oblivious, kept the conversation light. 

Adam leaned forward, throwing a curious glance at Richard. "So, Richard, are you one of those hiking lovers or just here for selfies?"

Richard chuckled confidently. "Oh, I'm a regular. I go almost every month. Keeps me fit and clears my head." 

Adam raised an eyebrow and turned to Nick, biting back a grin. "What about you guys?" Richard asks. 

"Oh, we hike every now and then," Nick replied smoothly, his tone casual. "Actually, I'm pretty good at it."

Adam nearly choked on his laugh. "Really? When was the last time you hiked? Let me guess—middle school field trip?" 

Nick shot him a warning look in the rearview mirror. "Don't underestimate me, Adam. I'm a natural when it comes to these things."

Jane, seated in the passenger seat, couldn't hide her laughter.

"Natural, huh? Nick, I've never even heard you mention hiking."

Nick shrugged, keeping his voice level. "That's because I don't need to brag about it, unlike some people." He flicked a quick glance toward Richard.

Richard smirked. "Well, I guess we'll see who's still standing by the end of the day."

Adam snorted, crossing his arms. "Yeah, Nick's endurance is legendary. He once ran almost 10 km without breaking a sweat when his father chased him for breaking a pot."

Jane burst into laughter, and even Richard cracked a grin. Nick sighed, clearly annoyed by his friend. 

 The drive seemed to stretch on a few more hours, and as they finally reached their destination, she breathed a sigh of relief getting out of the car.

After checking into our rooms. I turned around to see Nick leaning up against the door frame, his arms were crossed and the shadows of the porch light made his face look ridiculously handsome. "Why do you hate Richard?"

I couldn't help but smile slightly as Nick let out a big sigh and rolled his eyes at me. 

"You wouldn't understand." 

We all started with the hiking around 11 am. 

Nick couldn't shake the feeling of annoyance as Richard hovered around Jane, his presence grating on Nick's nerves. Every time Nick tried to sidle closer to her, Richard would slip in between them, laughing too loudly and throwing playful jabs.

Nick leaned against a boulder, his breathing heavy as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Richard and Jane were a few steps ahead, effortlessly scaling the steep trail, their laughter echoing through the trees. Adam plopped down beside him, offering his water bottle with a smirk.

"Man, I don't like the guy either," Adam said, glancing at Richard with narrowed eyes. "He's just too… perfect."

Nick shot him a sideways glare. Adam shrugged, feigning innocence. "Hey, I'm just saying—he's got the charm, the confidence, and let's not forget, he's her first crush." He emphasized the last two words with air quotes, earning another sharp glare from Nick.

Nick let out a low growl. "He's not that great." He said as his gaze fixed on Jane. She was laughing at something Richard said, her ponytail swaying as she climbed effortlessly.

Adam chuckled, clearly enjoying Nick's frustration. 

"You've got yourself some tough competition, Nick," Adam added, taking a sip from his bottle. He pointed toward the duo ahead of them. "And look at them. They're like a hiking power couple. Meanwhile, we're here, panting like a couple of unfit dads."

Nick groaned, leaning back against the rock. "I'm not competing with him. Jane and I… we're different."

Adam snorted. "You're currently losing to Mr. Perfect up there, we must do something."

Nick clenched his jaw, his pride bruised. "I will not lose her."

Nick took a deep breath, determination flashing in his eyes. He pushed himself up, grabbing his water bottle. "Let's go."

As they trudged after the group, Adam couldn't resist one last jab. "If you collapse, though, I'm not carrying you."

Nick shot him a sharp look but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "If I collapse, it'll be because I was too busy outrunning you."

The campsite at the top was alive with energy—music playing, people laughing, the smell of barbecue in the air. Nick finally caught up to Jane, his breath uneven as he stood next to her, wiping his brow.

"Finally," he said, half-joking, leaning on his knees.

Jane laughed, her eyes sparkling. "You're acting like we climbed Everest."

"Feels like it," he muttered, straightening up. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

"Come on." He grabbed her hand without thinking, leading her toward a small food stall.

A girl at the stall, probably in her mid-twenties, greeted them with a wide smile, her eyes lingering on Nick. "What can I get for you, sir?" she asked, her tone overly friendly.

Nick didn't get a chance to answer before Adam stepped in. "We'll take… everything!" Adam said dramatically, making Jane chuckle.

Nick grabbed a plate and started loading it with rice, gravy, and some grilled meat. Before Jane could pick her plate, he handed it to her.

"Here, this one's for you," he said, already preparing a plate for himself.

Jane smiled, warmth in her voice. "Thanks, Nick."

They found a large rock and sat down to eat. Adam flopped down beside them, already stuffing his face like he hadn't eaten in days.

Just as they were getting comfortable, the girl from the stall walked over, holding a cold water bottle. She handed it directly to Nick, her smile a little too friendly.

"Here you go," she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "If you need anything else, you know where to find me."

Nick took the bottle, his expression neutral. "Uh, thanks."

She flashed him another big smile before walking away, her steps just slow enough to make sure Nick noticed.

Adam nudged Nick with his elbow, grinning. "Well, well. Someone's got a fan."

Jane didn't say anything at first, just smirked as she poked at her food.

Nick rolled his eyes. "She's just being nice."

"Right," Adam said, smirking. "And I'm a professional hiker."

Jane finally chimed in, her tone teasing. "So… are you going to take her number?"

Nick smirked, leaning back a little. "I don't need to."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Nick casually held up a small napkin with a phone number scribbled on it—the one the girl had slipped under the water bottle.

Jane's playful smile wavered, turning into a tight-lipped expression. She quickly covered it up, but Nick noticed. He couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips.

"Guess I'm just that charming," he said with a shrug, glancing her way.

Jane forced a laugh, stabbing her fork into her food. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

Nick hid his laugh behind a sip of water, secretly enjoying her reaction. This hike was turning out to be way more fun than he expected.

As Jane sat on the rock, trying to enjoy the peaceful moment, Michelle and the group approached her, their energy bubbling over.

"Hey, look! They've got some activities going on over there," Michelle said, practically bouncing on her feet.

Jane gave her a tired smile. "I think I'll sit this one out. You guys go ahead."

"Oh, come on! It looks like fun." Without waiting for a reply, Michelle grabbed Jane's hand and started pulling her toward the crowd.

"Michelle!" Jane protested with a laugh, reluctantly getting up.

As Richard moved to follow, Nick quickly hopped off the rock and fell into step beside Jane, giving Richard a challenging look. Not one to back down, Richard smirked and walked on Jane's other side.

When they reached the group, everyone was gathered around watching the activity. An announcer was hyping up the crowd with a microphone.

"Alright, here's the deal," he explained. "It's a partner game! The guys have to carry their partner to the other side, grab a stick with a red flag, and race back to the finish line. First couple to cross wins!"

The crowd cheered, and some people immediately started pairing up. Nick and Richard both perked up, their interest in the game obvious.

Before Nick could say anything, Richard turned to Jane with a confident smile. "What do you say, Jane? Wanna be my partner?"

Jane looked surprised, glancing between the two of them.

Nick's jaw tightened as he clenched his fists. He stepped closer to Jane, forcing himself to sound calm. "Or you could team up with me," he said, his voice steady but his eyes locking with Richard's in a silent challenge.

Michelle laughed, sensing the tension, and nudged Jane. "Well, this just got interesting."

Jane rolled her eyes but smiled. "I didn't even agree to play yet!"

Richard leaned in slightly, his grin widening. "Come on, Jane. I bet we'd make a great team."

Nick stepped closer, crossing his arms. "I don't think you've got the stamina for this, Richard. Jane deserves someone who can actually finish the race."

Jane groaned, feeling caught in the middle of their unspoken rivalry. "Guys, it's just a game!"

"Exactly," Nick said, his smile sharp. "So, what do you say, Jane?"

Jane looked at Richard, hesitating as she noticed the amused smirk on his face. She took a small step back, shaking her head.

"No way. I'm not doing this," she said quickly, gesturing toward the participants who had just finished their round, many collapsing halfway to the pole. "How can you carry me and run? Did you see them? They didn't even make it!"

Richard chuckled, crossing his arms. "You don't think I can carry you?"

Jane opened her mouth to reply, but Michelle jumped in, nudging her with a mischievous grin. "Come on, Jane! It'll be fun.

Before Jane could protest again, one of Michelle's colleagues grabbed Michelle's hand, pulling her toward the start line.

"Wait, what—Michelle!" Jane called, laughing nervously as she tried to back down.

Richard was still waiting for an answer when he felt a firm tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Nick standing there with a sly grin.

"What—" Richard began, but before he could finish, Nick sidestepped him, slipped behind Jane, and effortlessly lifted her off the ground. 

I saw a mischievous glint in Nick's eyes.

"No, Nick. Don't even think about it—" I started, but before I could finish, I found myself hoisted up and over his shoulder.

"Guess we're partners now," Nick said casually, striding toward the start line without giving Richard another glance.

"Nick!" I shrieked, flailing in protest as he began running towards the pole. Unlike the other participants who carried their partners on their backs or in a bridal style, Nick had apparently decided this over-the-shoulder approach was the way to go.

"Put me down!" I yelled, my voice muffled slightly as I bounced against him with each step. He playfully shifted his grip, making it feel like he might drop me, and I shrieked louder, smacking his back.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Richard standing frozen, his brows knitted in concern as he watched the game.

Nick didn't even flinch at my protests, his focus locked entirely on the game. Being upside down was making me dizzy, but somehow, he managed to run faster than most of the other pairs. He reached the pole, grabbed the stick with the red flag, and immediately pivoted to race back to the starting point.

"Nick!" I cried again, clutching onto him as tightly as I could, both from fear of falling and sheer disbelief that he was pulling this off.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Nick sprinted back to the starting line, his confidence and determination drawing everyone's attention. Within seconds, he crossed the finish line and finally set me down.

I stumbled as my feet hit the ground, all the blood rushing back from my head too quickly. The world spun for a moment, and I staggered backward—straight into someone's arms.

My back collided with a solid chest, and hands gripped my waist to steady me. I blinked, dazed, and looked up to see Richard's concerned face staring down at me.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle as he held me steady.

I nodded, raising a hand to my forehead to steady myself further. "Yeah, just a little dizzy. Thanks."

As I turned back toward Nick, I immediately noticed his expression darken, his jaw tightening. His eyes flicked to where Richard's hands still rested on my waist, then back to my face.

Oh no.

I could practically feel the tension radiating off Nick as I quickly stepped away from Richard, brushing myself off. "I'm fine now," I said quickly, trying to diffuse whatever brewing storm was forming.

Nick, however, didn't look convinced, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared at Richard, who simply raised a brow in response, his expression almost smug.

"Well," Richard said lightly, breaking the silence, "good teamwork."

Nick's laugh was humorless, and I could tell this wasn't the end of it.

"That was way too reckless, carrying her like that," Richard said, his voice sharp as he glanced at Nick, who looked far from apologetic.

Nick's jaw tightened, and his lips pressed into a thin line. "She was fine," he replied curtly, clearly not in the mood for any lectures.

I brushed myself off, straightening my shirt and shooting Nick a glare before walking toward the group of ladies gathered near the food stalls.

Michelle caught my arm, her eyes dancing with amusement. "That was one hell of a game," she teased, biting her lip to hold back a laugh.

"Stop it," I muttered, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

"I think you just started a war," Michelle said, her gaze shifting pointedly toward Nick and Richard.

Curious, I turned and saw the two of them standing shoulder to shoulder, their eyes locked in an intense glare.

I sighed heavily. "I don't know what's going on between those two. They just... don't seem to get along."

"Oh, I know exactly what's going on," Michelle said with a knowing smirk. She winked at me before grabbing a tray of food and joining the others.

I lingered for a moment, then picked up two cans of Coke and walked back to Nick and Richard, hoping to ease the tension. As I approached, both of their heads snapped toward me simultaneously, their expressions unreadable.

Clearing my throat, I handed Nick one of the cans. He took it without a word, cracked it open, and walked off without even glancing back at me.

I hesitated, then handed the other can to Richard. He smiled, a hint of warmth in his expression. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his tone soft.

"Yes," I replied quickly, not wanting to make a scene.

Richard seemed unconvinced but didn't press further.

The rest of the evening passed quietly. After dinner, we all sprawled out on the grass under the stars, sharing stories and laughing softly as the night deepened.

By the time we packed up and headed to the hotel, the air between Nick and Richard seemed less charged—but only slightly.