The day of the trip finally arrived, the air was thick with excitement as the girls loaded the last of their supplies into the car. It felt like the perfect escape from the whirlwind of their daily lives. Lilianna was in high spirits after the court victory, and her energy was contagious. They could tell that this trip was more than just a vacation—it was a fresh start, a chance to reset and focus on what mattered most.
"Did we get everything?" asked Carly, double-checking the pile of bags near the trunk.
"I think so!" replied Lilianna, snapping the trunk closed. "And don't forget, we have the s'mores ingredients. No trip is complete without s'mores."
"Couldn't agree more," laughed Carly. "I'm already planning what toppings I'll put on mine."
As they piled into the car, the excitement was palpable, but so was a sense of quiet anticipation. The road ahead was wide open, and so were the possibilities. The sound of the engine roared to life, and they set off towards their destination, ready for whatever adventure awaited them.
Lilianna cranked up the playlist they made specifically for the occasion. The girls sang their hearts out as the flow of music was creating even more excitement. As time passed their throats were sore from singing but they didn't care. Singing to the music also made time seem to go by faster and soon they were only an hour away from their destination.
During a pause between songs, Lilianna turned down the music and looked at Carly who in return, looked at her as well.
"Can I ask you something?" Lilianna hesitantly asked Carly.
"By the look on your face it's something bad isn't it?" She responded.
"What happened that day of the crash?" Lilianna asked as her heart sank.
Carly stayed quiet, a blank expression on her face. Lilianna knew this was the wrong time to ask, and she felt bad for asking. The quiet continued for a while before Lilianna tried again to speak, "you know you can talk to me right? I'm here for you and if it helps, I want to be sure that you feel comfortable talking to me about it."
Carly's eyes lingered on the road ahead, her fingers nervously tapping against the window. The silence between them felt heavier than Lilianna had imagined. She immediately regretted asking, her stomach tightening in that uncomfortable way when you know you've crossed a line you weren't supposed to.
"Sorry," Lilianna mumbled, reaching over to turn the volume back up. She didn't want to make Carly feel more uneasy.
But Carly's hand stopped her, gently pressing against the dial. Her voice was soft but steady, like she'd been thinking about this moment for a while.
"It's not your fault," Carly said, her eyes glistening with something Lilianna couldn't quite place. "It's just hard to talk about it."
Lilianna nodded, her heart aching. She knew Carly had been through a lot since the crash. They all had, in their own way. But Carly, especially, had carried a weight no one could fully understand.
"I'm not trying to force anything out of you," Lilianna continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you've been carrying this alone for so long. You don't have to, you know? I'm here. Whenever you're ready."
Carly let out a shaky breath, and for a second, Lilianna thought she might shut down again. But then Carly spoke, her voice barely audible but full of a quiet strength.
"It's just... I don't know how to explain it," Carly began, the words coming out in fragments. "The crash... Everything felt so fast. One moment we were all laughing, and the next—nothing. Just this... loud noise, and then the world went dark."
Lilianna's hand instinctively moved to Carly's, giving it a gentle squeeze. Carly's fingers curled around hers, a silent acknowledgment of the bond between them.
"It wasn't your fault, Carly," Lilianna said softly. "You didn't do anything wrong. You were there, and you tried. You tried your best."
Carly nodded, but her expression remained distant, like she was seeing something Lilianna couldn't.
"I keep wondering if I could've done more," Carly admitted, her voice breaking slightly. "If maybe there was something I could've said, or done differently. I don't know if I'll ever stop asking myself that."
Lilianna leaned back in her seat, not knowing what the perfect words were, but she knew this was just the beginning of a conversation that would take time. The road to healing was long and complicated, but they didn't have to walk it alone.
"You don't have to have all the answers right now," Lilianna said, her tone soft but firm. "You just need to know that you have me. And I'm not going anywhere."
Carly glanced over at her, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Lili. I don't think I've said that enough."
The tension in the car shifted slightly, but it wasn't gone—just tucked away for a while. They still had a long drive ahead of them, and though the silence lingered, it wasn't quite as heavy as it had been before.
"Hey, what do you say we make it the rest of the way with one more sing-along?" Lilianna suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
Carly gave a small laugh, her smile growing more real now. "You're on. But I'm picking the next song."
As Lilianna cranked the volume up again, the music flooded the car, and for a few moments, it felt like everything might be okay again. They still had a lot to work through, but for now, they were together, and that was enough.
As they pulled into the campsite, the sign for the campsite hung over the road. "Welcome to Crocodile River Campsite" it read. The girls gave each other a quick smile as they pulled up to the booth. An older woman with brown hair mixed in with some white smiled at them.
"Hello I'm Leanne River, I'm the campsite manager. Do you have a registration with us?" She asked.
"Yes Mam, it should be under Lilianna Rodes," Lilianna responded.
"I see it right here, you're in campsite B4, it's conveniently near the restroom," Leanne says with a smile.
"That's perfect!" Carly said excitedly.
Leanne handed Lilianna a small map of the campsite, pointing to the shaded path that led to campsite B4. "You'll find it just near the river. It's a quiet spot, but not too far from everything. The bathrooms are kept clean, and there's a nice spot by the fire pit for grilling. If you need anything, I'll be around the office, just up the hill."
"Thanks, Leanne," Lilianna said with a smile, tucking the map into the glove compartment.
The girls waved as they drove off, heading toward their designated site. As they made their way down the winding road, the campsite slowly revealed itself—a mix of open spaces and lush trees, the quiet hum of nature surrounding them. The sight of the shimmering river in the distance made the whole place feel peaceful, like they were in a world of their own.
"Looks like paradise," Carly said from the backseat, taking in the view through the window.
"It really does," Lilianna agreed. "I can already feel the stress melting away."
Soon, they reached B4, a secluded spot tucked between tall oak trees. The ground was soft and mossy, and a small clearing offered the perfect space for their tent. Nearby, a few other campers had set up their sites, but the space still felt private.
"This is perfect," Carly said, jumping out of the car and breathing in the fresh air. "It's like we have our own little corner of the world."
The girls got to work, unloading the car and setting up camp. Tents were pitched, coolers unloaded, and the fire pit was prepped for the night. Lilianna, feeling the weight of the last year slowly lifting.
"I'm so glad we're doing this," Lilianna said.
"We both needed this," Carly replied, handing her a can of soda. "But don't get too comfortable, Lili. We're going to need you on s'mores duty later."
Lilianna laughed and raised her soda in mock salute. "You've got it. But first, let's enjoy the river. We're here to relax, after all."