Chapter 25

Chapter 25 – Breezes and Glances

The third morning of the trip arrived with soft sunlight peeking through the curtains of the shared lodge room. Bella stirred slowly, her body aching just a little from the past two days of hiking, games, and endless laughter.

It was hard to believe they were already halfway through the trip.

Time was flying.

Emily was already up, brushing her hair in front of the mirror, while Sarah hummed a tune and laced up her sneakers.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Sarah teased.

Bella groaned. "Don't remind me. My legs feel like jelly."

"Well, you better get ready," Emily said with a grin. "The teachers announced there's a team-building challenge this morning. Something about crossing obstacle courses in groups."

Bella blinked. "Obstacle courses?"

"Yep!" Sarah grinned. "Better start stretching."

By the time they got to the open field, most of the students had gathered in front of a set of colorful obstacle stations — rope swings, balance beams, crawling nets, and wooden walls to scale. The teachers were already arranging them into teams.

"Each team must work together to get all members through the course," the instructor explained. "Points will be awarded for teamwork and time."

Bella's stomach twisted slightly as names were called out.

She was grouped with Sarah, Emily… and Ethan.

Her heart sank.

Of course.

Jake and Matt were in another group, shouting encouragement from the sidelines as they poked fun at Ethan. Rachel, conveniently, was placed in another team — and did not hide her irritation.

The activity began.

At first, Bella avoided Ethan entirely, focusing only on helping Emily balance across the wooden beam and giving Sarah a push over the net crawl. But when it was time to climb the rope wall, Bella struggled. Her hands trembled halfway up.

"I can't do this," she murmured, trying not to panic.

"Bella," Ethan's voice called from below, calm and steady. "You can."

She hesitated.

"I'm right here. Just reach your foot a bit higher. Yeah, there."

She did.

"Good. One more pull."

And just like that, she made it to the top.

Ethan climbed right after her with ease, landing beside her with a cocky smile. "Told you."

Bella gave him a short nod, trying not to let the small smile pulling at her lips show.

By the time their group finished the course, they were laughing and catching their breath together.

"You did amazing," Emily whispered, nudging Bella's side.

"Especially with a certain someone watching," Sarah added slyly.

Bella rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were warm.

Later, as the groups rested under the shade of a large tree, Matt and Jake strolled over to Ethan, grinning like foxes.

"We saw that heroic coaching moment," Jake teased. "Saving the damsel in distress?"

"Don't start," Ethan muttered, sipping water.

Matt leaned closer. "You like her, don't you?"

Ethan shrugged. "She's different."

Jake laughed. "Different good or different dangerous?"

Ethan didn't answer. His gaze flicked to Bella, who was laughing with her friends not too far away, the wind gently tousling her hair.

"Different enough," he murmured.

Nearby, Rachel watched them from the corner of her eye, lips pressed into a thin line.

She wasn't amused.

The sun was beginning to dip when the teachers announced the next group activity: a guided forest trail with a mini scavenger hunt.

Each team was to follow a marked path through the woods, solving clues to find hidden flags. While not as intense as the obstacle course earlier, it was meant to test observation skills and team cooperation.

Bella wasn't particularly thrilled.

She still hadn't said much to Ethan since the morning's activity. That moment on the rope wall stayed with her, but she brushed it off. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten to her. Again.

Their team started down the trail with maps and clue sheets in hand, laughing as they found their first two flags easily. Bella was paired with Emily, and they took the lead, walking slightly ahead of the others.

"Bella," Sarah called from behind, "don't go too fast. It gets steep further in."

But Bella was already climbing a rocky slope to reach what looked like another flag sticking out between tree roots.

"I think I found it!" she called over her shoulder.

"Wait, Bella—!" Ethan's voice cut through sharply.

But too late.

Her foot slipped on loose dirt.

Bella's body tilted forward, and the world blurred for a split second.

She tumbled.

Not far — maybe four feet — but she hit the ground hard with a thud, her ankle twisting beneath her and a gasp escaping her lips.

"Bella!" Sarah shouted.

Ethan was the first to reach her.

He knelt beside her instantly, his hands hovering, unsure whether to touch her or not. "Bella—are you okay? Does anything hurt? Talk to me!"

"I—I'm fine," she mumbled, propping herself up slightly. "Just slipped."

"You fell hard. That wasn't nothing," Ethan said, eyes flicking over her as if checking for blood or bruises.

"I said I'm fine," she repeated, softer this time. Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment more than pain.

The others caught up, concern etched on their faces.

Emily gently examined Bella's ankle. "It's a little swollen, but I don't think it's broken."

"She's not walking on that," Ethan said firmly. "I'll carry her back."

"What? No. I can hop," Bella protested.

Ethan ignored her and carefully scooped her into his arms.

Bella's breath caught in her throat — not from pain, but from the sudden closeness.

"You're really overreacting—"

"No, I'm not." His voice was low, almost angry. "You scared the hell out of me."

Bella stared up at him, eyes wide.

He didn't meet her gaze.

The group turned back, retracing their steps to the edge of the trail where a staff member helped escort them to the nurse's tent.

The sprain wasn't severe — ice, rest, and she'd be okay.

But that night, as Bella lay in her bunk with her ankle wrapped and elevated, she kept replaying the look on Ethan's face when he rushed to her.

It wasn't fake.

It wasn't playful.

It was real, raw concern.

And for the first time, Bella wasn't sure if ignoring him was the right thing to do.