rlina’s dorm room looked like a Sephora and Target haul had a wild party and forgot to clean up.
There were bucket hats, bikinis, bug spray, and three different sunscreens on the bed. She stood in front of the mirror, holding up two bikinis—one black, one dark green. She didn’t say a word, just raised her brows at Phoebe from across the room.
Phoebe glanced up from her open duffel bag.
"Left one’s safer," she said, pointing to the black. "Right one’s trouble."
rlina smirked. "And what’s wrong with a little trouble?"
Phoebe tossed a pair of sunglasses at her. "Nothing, as long as you bring sunscreen and plausible deniability."
rlina grinned and tossed it into her bag.
From her own side of the room, Phoebe was carefully arranging her beachwear. Snatched coverups. Snatched bikinis. Snatched... snacks. Priorities.
Belford was gearing up for its classic two-night camping trip at El Capitan Beach. They called it ’building community,’ but Phoebe? She was here for the sunsets, the bonfires, and maybe a little scandal under the stars. Her goals? Look effortlessly flawless and not get devoured by every mosquito in California.
"What if we get matching anklets?" Phoebe blurted out, eyes shining like she’d just invented the next big trend.
rlina laughed, shaking her head. "You really think this is Coachella?"
Phoebe smirked, tossing a bottle of glitter sunscreen into her bag. "It’s El Capitan. Girls’ Edition. Sa vibe, fewer flower crowns."
Just then, gan breezed in, rocking denim shorts, flip-flops, and a mini bag of kettle corn like it was a designer clutch. She looked painfully cute and heartbreakingly casual.
"Y’all are gonna miss so bad," she said, plopping on Phoebe’s bed.
Phoebe fake-sobbed. "You’re ditching us for your mom? What’s really going on?"
gan sighed, looking down at her hands. "It’s so family stuff. Nothing urgent, but I can’t skip it."
rlina reached out and gently touched gan’s arm. "We understand."
Phoebe nodded, softer now. "Yeah... we’ll miss you."
gan managed a small, grateful smile. "I’ll miss you all too."
They shared a quiet mont. No more jokes. Family ca first.
rlina disappeared into the bathroom with her towel and portable speaker. The sound of Beyoncé’s "Virgo’s Groove" followed. As soon as the door clicked shut, Phoebe’s eyes snapped toward gan.
"So..." Phoebe said, flopping next to gan and lowering her voice like they were FBI agents. "About Craig Lesnar."
gan smirked. "Oh God. What did he do now? Set soone on fire with his cheekbones?"
Phoebe leaned in, "No, I’ve been aning to tell you all week," voice barely above a whisper but dripping with drama. "I asked him straight up if he was into rlina."
gan choked on a popcorn kernel. "You what?"
Phoebe leaned in, whispering with sharp urgency. "I confronted him, g. Like, deadass. I asked, ’Do you like her?’ And he snapped, said it was stupid to even think that."
"Wow," gan blinked. "That’s dramatic. But honestly...kind of valid."
Phoebe sat back, offended. "You’re taking his side?!"
"I’m just saying," gan shrugged, "I talked to rlina the other night. Asked her straight up if sothing was happening. It was awkward, I felt crazy to even think that."
Phoebe’s face twisted. "So you’re saying I’m delulu."
"I’m saying," gan said gently, "maybe Craig was just being Craig. Moody, mysterious, and a little out of character, but not necessarily in love with rlina."
Phoebe crossed her arms. "But the way he looks at her sotis..."
"It’s all because of Conor, she said so herself." gan replied, waving it off. "Maybe he’s one of those people who fixate on what they hate. Like scrolling my ex’s new girlfriend’s Insta."
They both burst into laughter.
"But seriously," gan continued, stealing another Twizzler, "I think you were reading too much into it. rlina would’ve said sothing if there was more. And Craig? I don’t know. I don’t think he’s the type that falls easily."
Phoebe sighed, dragging her hand down her face like she could physically wipe away the embarrassnt.
"God... I feel so dumb," she muttered, pacing a slow circle around gan’s bed. "And now I’ve been avoiding Adriana like a coward."
She stopped mid-step, turning to gan with wide, anxious eyes. "What if he told her? What if Adriana thinks I’ve been... plotting so weird love triangle?"
gan smirked, folding her arms. "Look where your mouth got you. Should’ve kept quiet."
Phoebes squeals, "I just...I was so sure."
rlina walked out of the bathroom, glowing and towel-wrapped, unaware she’d just been the headline of their latest gossip.
"You guys talking about sunscreen or secrets?" she asked, suspicious.
Phoebe threw a pillow at her. "Both. Now hurry up and pack your sassiest beach hat. We’ve got boys to ignore and bonfires to light."
rlina grinned. "That’s my kind of therapy."
That was supposed to lighten the room but it didn’t, there was still a sprinkle of tension in the air. The after effect of close range gossip.
"I was just wondering if Craig and Adriana would be coming to the camping trip." Phoebe said, trying to make light of the atmosphere.
rlina half-shrugged, already heading to the dresser. No way was she diving into that convo.
"Phoebe, Does Craig Lesnar strike you as the camping type ? With randoms ? That doesn’t sound like his thing."
rlina tried not to listen, she didn’t want to think about him—not today. Not after a whole week of him giving her nothing but silence and cold shoulders. Today, all she wanted was to focus on the trip and the peace it promised.
Outside Belford’s dorms, the yard was alive with energy—students buzzed like soone had just dropped the sester’s hottest playlist. Luggage trailed behind them as they swapped jokes, flaunted new beachwear hauls, and chattered excitedly about the camping trip to El Capitan Beach. The air was thick with the scent of energy drinks and a tinge of nervous anticipation.
rlina and Phoebe stepped out from the building, their bags slung casually over their shoulders as they navigated the lively crowd. Ahead, a massive charter bus waited by the South Gate, looming large and slightly uncomfortable like a tal beast ready to roar. But boarding hadn’t started yet—it was more like a prega party on wheels.
Phoebe’s attention was glued to her phone, thumbs flying with urgent speed. rlina caught the faint crease of worry between her friend’s brows and raised an eyebrow.
"What’s up?" she asked, voice low but curious.
Phoebe didn’t look up. "If Keith flakes on this trip, we’re done. Like, officially over. I don’t get why he’s not here yet."
rlina shrugged, trying to keep her tone light. "Maybe he changed his mind. Camping’s not everyone’s thing."
Phoebe bit her lip, tapping the screen faster. "No way. I’m telling you, if he’s not coming just because Craig isn’t, then I’ll need to find myself a new boyfriend. I don’t date followers, I date main characters!"
A flush crept up rlina’s neck. She glanced around nervously, wishing gan was there to back her up. "Phoebe, calm down. People might hear you," she whispered, lowering her voice and feeling a bit embarrassed by the scene.
"Ugh! And seriously, do they think they’re too cool for camping? Newsflash—it’s El Capitan, not so remote village."
Just then, Louis strolled over with his usual easy charm, tugging a mini suitcase behind him and wearing that smile—the kind that made people stick around without knowing why. For rlina, it couldn’t have co at a better ti. A much-needed rescue.
"Hey, M," he said warmly, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "Phoebe! Glad you made it." Louis nodded toward a small group nearby. "That’s Jay, my debate partner, and Mia from psych class."
Jay grinned, offering a quick wave. "Ready to roast so marshmallows and maybe so poor decisions."
Mia laughed, tossing her sunhat onto her bag. "Campfire confessions incoming."
rlina smiled and nodded. "Hey, nice to et you both."
Phoebe gave a distracted smile but was back on her phone in seconds. rlina watched her, sensing the tension underneath the excitent.
Then, like soone hit the pause button on the ruckus, the buzz and mindless chatters died down. Heads snapped around, turning towards the sa direction, phones popped up, and whispers turned into excited murmurs.
Phoebe’s heart practically skipped a beat as Keith ca into view. Relief and happiness blood across her face like sunshine breaking through clouds.
And then rlina saw him.
Craig Lesnar. Walking beside Keith like he hadn’t been a ghost all week.
Her breath seized, painfully. A heat surged up her body—not the warm kind. It was the sting of every feeling she’d tried to swallow since their last conversation. Anger. Want. Confusion. Regret.
Why was he here? Why now?
She didn’t move. Didn’t say anything. Just stood there, clutching her tote like it was the only thing keeping her upright. Her knuckles were white, fingers cramping, but she couldn’t let go, because if she did, maybe her hands would shake, or her face would give sothing away, or worse—she might walk straight to him.
Her heart wasn’t just racing, it was scrambling, like it was trying to claw its way out of her chest.
The trip that began as a perfect weekend getaway had just turned into an emotional minefield.
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