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The air inside the canvas tent was thick and warm, smelling of pine needles and damp earth. Outside, the Brighton Wisdom Academy camping trip was winding down—the distant laughter and crackle of a campfire were the only sounds. But inside this small tent, the world had shrunk to just two people.
Gabriella's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, trapped bird. Jake—the infuriatingly popular, annoyingly handsome boy who was supposed to be her target—had just leaned in. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, were locked on hers.
He hadn't just leaned in; he had cornered her. Jake was a wall of muscle and heat, and the tent fabric pressed into her back. His left hand braced against the opposite side, trapping her.
"Are you…" Jake's voice was a low, husky rumble, like the sound of gravel shifting. He paused, his gaze burning.
Gabriella had a thousand sharp, witty retorts ready—that was her armor. But now, her mind was blank. All she could manage was a wide-eyed stare. This was not part of the plan. This revenger's mission was supposed to be cold, calculated, and purely about payback.
He raised his hand slowly, his fingers brushing her temple, then gently tucking a stray string of dark hair behind her ear. The simple, tender movement sent a shocking jolt through her. As his face came closer, his lips didn't land where she expected. Instead, they brushed the curve of her cheekbone. It wasn't a kiss, but an agonizing, soft, circular sweep that made her knees feel liquid.
A flutter—no, an entire dizzying flock—of butterflies erupted in her stomach.
"You smell so nice," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.
It was the tipping point. The mission, the anger, the calculated distance—it all snapped. Before he could do anything else, the true Gabriella—the guarded girl beneath the avenger's facade—acted on instinct.
She pushed.
Jake was sitting inside the tent, and the sudden force sent him tumbling backward. He grunted in surprise, but his reaction was instantaneous. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her down with him.
She landed hard on his chest. He was shirtless, and she was pressed against the warm, solid expanse of his bare skin. She inhaled sharply, her own breathing ragged and heavy. The smell of pine, sweat, and something uniquely Jake filled her lungs.
He looked up at her, an amused, dark glint in his eyes.
"Why so fast, Gabby?" he smirked, his voice laced with playful challenge.
Shame and panic fueled her. She scrambled off him immediately, tripping over her own feet, her long, flowing cotton skirt getting in the way. She didn't look back. She just bolted.
Jake sat up straight, dusting the dirt from his jeans. He didn't look defeated. He wore the confident, playful smile of a predator who knows his prey isn't going far.
Outside, under the cold, distant stars, Gabriella leaned against a rough-barked oak tree. Her chest heaved. She was cold from the night air, yet she felt insanely hot.
"What's happening to me?" she whispered into the darkness.
☀️ The Morning After
The next morning was a chaotic mess of typical teen campers. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of woodsmoke and morning dew. Some students were preparing the small grills; others were queuing for the shared campsite mirrors, brushing their teeth.
Gabriella, dressed in a simple, olive-green cotton shirt and practical hiking pants, went to a picnic table to start chopping vegetables for a salad.
A deep, warm, and distinctly husky voice materialized right behind her ear. "Good morning."
She screamed, flinging the knife up and turning around, adrenaline spiking.
"Woah! Cool, cool. It's me!" Jake threw his hands up, looking genuinely terrified.
"Don't freak me out again!" she snapped, putting the knife down with a clatter.
He approached the nearby grill. "You overcooked the meat, by the way."
Gabriella followed his gaze. The last pieces of breakfast sausage were indeed about to turn to charcoal. She quickly removed them.
Jake pulled on a denim apron. "Can you tie this?"
She walked behind him, her fingers clumsy as she looped the strings around his waist. He was so close. The scent of him—soap and fresh air—was captivating. As he started perfectly grilling a fresh batch of meat, she couldn't tear her eyes from his side profile. With the concentration lines etched in his brow, he looked stunning, the early light catching the gold flecks in his hair.
He turned suddenly. She spun away, trying to look busy.
"Plate," he requested.
She handed him one. "Do you know how to cook?" she asked, trying to sound completely normal.
"Mmm, I've been excellent since 10th grade," he said, flipping the meat with practiced ease. "If I hadn't gotten into business school, I'd have definitely become a chef."
She smiled—a genuine, unguarded smile.
He turned back and held a perfectly grilled piece of sausage to her lips. "I'm serious."
She widened her eyes and took the bite. It was perfect. Flavorful, juicy, slightly smoky.
"Is it tasty, right?" he asked, one eyebrow arching in a cocky, knowing look.
It's so delicious,she thought.
"Not bad," she managed, forcing a neutral expression.
Jake frowned. "What? Just 'not bad'?"
She just smiled a secret, subtle smile. When he looked down at the grill, her face immediately turned straight and distant.
🏔 Trucking
Hours later, all students from Brighton Wisdom's first, second, and third years were on the final ascent of the hill. The hill was actually a moderate mountain, the air growing thin and sharp. They were reaching the snow line—the cold breeze was exhilarating, and they could see the bright, pristine white of the summit just twenty steps away.
Gabriella was three steps behind Raina, Jake's best friend and, coincidentally, the cause of Gabriella's past misery—the true reason for this entire revenge plot.
Clang. Snap.
A heavy, snow-laden branch from an ancient pine, weighed down by the winter's cold, cracked and began to plummet directly toward Raina's head.
Time seemed to move in slow motion. Before her conscious mind registered the danger, Gabriella reacted. All thoughts of revenge vanished, replaced by a primal instinct to save. She swiftly dropped her gear, grabbed the strap of Raina's heavy backpack, and yanked her backward with all her strength.
The enormous branch slammed into the earth where Raina had been standing seconds before, sending a shower of snow and debris everywhere.
Everyone gasped.
Jake barged through the crowd. His eyes were wide with panic. He went straight to Gabriella, his voice thick with concern. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, still breathing heavily.
He turned immediately to Raina, checking on his best friend.
Han,Gabriella's cousin Brother, ran up, equally concerned. "Are both of you guys okay?"
Gabriella nodded, though she was still in shock. Her eyes involuntarily lifted to the tree above. She scanned the ridge.
And then she saw them. A few steps away, near a cluster of ice-covered rocks, stood Selina and Elisabeth.
Selina looked genuinely shocked by the near-disaster.
But Elisabeth—didn't look shocked. Her eyes, cold and hard, were locked straight onto Gabriella. They were eyes burning with an intense, calculated vengeance.
Gabriella's eyes locked on hers in return. It wasn't a warning. It was a silent, dangerous promise.
The accident wasn't an accident. And it wasn't meant for Raina.
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To be Continued....
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