Letting You Go in Alaska

Chapter 4: Limerence

Elara's Pov

I saw a boy...

A boy who carries something heavy—not the kind you can see, not something he can set down and forget, but something deeper, something that stays.

It looked like a boulder resting on his shoulders, unmoving and unrelenting, something that had been there for so long that maybe he had already forgotten what it felt like to stand without it. And yet, he stood anyway.

I rest my chin lightly against my hand and let my gaze drift to the side, settling on Hale.

He's with Sophie, Laine, and Hannah, listening more than he speaks.

There's a faint smile on his face, easy enough to pass as natural, and he responds when spoken to, nodding at the right moments, letting out a quiet laugh when Sophie gets a little too dramatic.

From the outside, he looks fine—normal even.

But his eyes don't match.

I keep watching, just enough to notice, not enough to be obvious. There's something quiet in them, something distant. It's not loud or desperate, not something that demands attention, just... there, like a question that was never asked out loud.

For a moment, I wonder what it would take for him to stop holding it in.

Then Sophie laughs loudly at something she just said, and Hale lets out a small laugh in response. It's soft, almost careful, like he's making sure it sounds right.

I catch the way his shoulders loosen for a second—and then settle again.

He stands a little after that.

"I think I'll head back first," he says, voice calm, almost apologetic. "I'll see you guys later."

"Oh, already?" Sophie pouts. "We're just getting started."

"I'll join again next time," he replies with a faint smile.

Hannah nods. "Alright. Don't stay up too late."

Laine gives him a small wave. "Rest well."

He nods once, then turns and walks off, hands in his pockets, steps steady but unhurried.

I watch him go.

There's something about the way he leaves—quiet, unnoticed, like he's used to slipping out of things without making it a moment. No one stops him. No one questions it. It just... happens.

And somehow, that feels more telling than anything else.

"...hey."

Sophie nudges my arm.

I blink. "What?"

"You're staring again."

"I'm not."

"You are," she insists, leaning closer with a grin. "You've been looking at him the entire time."

I let out a small breath, shaking my head slightly. "I was just thinking."

"About him?"

I hesitate, then glance in the direction he left, even though he's already out of sight.

"...maybe," I admit.

Sophie immediately perks up. "I knew it. You think he's cute too, right?"

I smile faintly. "He is."

Laine watches me for a moment, her gaze a little more knowing. "That's not what you're thinking, though."

I glance at her. "What do you think I'm thinking?"

"That you're trying to figure him out."

Hannah nods lightly. "Yeah... you get that look sometimes."

"What look?" I ask, amused.

"The one where you're already ten steps ahead in your head," Sophie says.

I laugh softly. "I don't do that."

"Sure," Laine replies calmly.

I don't argue.

"...he's more than that," I say after a moment, quieter now.

Sophie tilts her head. "More than what?"

"Than what he shows."

They follow my gaze instinctively, even though he's no longer there.

Hannah's expression softens. "He does seem... quiet."

"Not just quiet," I say. "He's holding something."

Sophie's smile fades just a little. "You can tell that just from that?"

"I don't know," I admit. "It just feels like it."

Laine hums, thoughtful. "Some people are like that."

"Yeah."

There's a brief silence—not awkward, just... reflective.

Then Sophie claps her hands lightly. "Okay, that got serious fast. I'm hungry. Let's go get food before I start overthinking too."

"That's because you never stop talking," Laine says.

"That takes energy."

Hannah laughs. "She has a point."

I smile, letting the moment lighten again. "Didn't the caretaker mention a convenience store nearby?"

"Oh, right!" Sophie perks up immediately. "Let's go."

We head out together, the cold air greeting us the moment we step outside. I pull my coat a little closer, falling into step beside them as the conversation resumes.

"So tomorrow," Sophie starts, already energized again, "we need a proper plan."

"I like wandering," Hannah says.

"You would."

Laine glances at me. "You?"

"I like both," I answer. "Plans are good, but sometimes the best things happen when you don't have one."

"Exactly!" Hannah agrees.

Sophie groans. "I'm outnumbered."

I laugh softly, but even as I do, my thoughts drift back—to the way he left, to the quietness of it, to the way it didn't seem unusual to him.

"...Elara?"

I blink. "Hm?"

"You spaced out again," Sophie says, narrowing her eyes. "You're definitely thinking about him."

"Am I that obvious?"

"Yes."

"Very," Hannah adds.

Laine studies me briefly. "You're curious."

I pause, then nod. "...yeah."

Curious is the easiest word for it, even if it doesn't quite cover everything.

We reach the convenience store, warmth spilling out as we step inside. The change in temperature makes me relax slightly, my shoulders easing as we split up to grab what we need.

Sophie immediately picks up more than she should.

"You don't need all that," Laine says.

"I do."

"You don't."

"I feel like I do."

Hannah laughs quietly, and I find myself smiling along.

It's easy with them—light, uncomplicated.

And yet, in between reaching for things on the shelves, my mind drifts again. Not as sharply as before, but enough.

To him.

To the way he smiled.

To the way it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"...Elara."

I look up. Hannah is holding two snack options. "Which one?"

I blink, then point. "That one."

"Got it."

We regroup near the counter, chatting idly while we wait. Sophie keeps talking—about plans, about souvenirs, about anything that comes to mind.

I listen. I respond.

But part of me stays elsewhere.

I don't know what he's been through, and I don't know what he's dealing with. Maybe it's presumptuous to think this way, but a small part of me wonders if there's anything I can do, even just a little.

"Hey."

Sophie leans closer. "You're doing it again."

I sigh lightly, smiling. "Am I?"

"Yeah. You go quiet when you're thinking too much."

Laine nods. "It's obvious."

I shake my head. "I'm fine."

Hannah smiles softly. "You don't have to figure everything out, you know."

I meet her gaze for a second, then smile back. "I know."

And I do.

But still, if there's something I can do—not to fix it, not to understand everything, just to be there—then maybe that's enough.

We head back after paying, the night air colder now but easier to handle. Their conversation fills the space again, laughter slipping through the quiet surroundings.

I join in. I laugh. I talk.

But every now and then, my thoughts return to him—to that boy who looks so broken, and yet refuses to bend.

*****

The next morning feels different—not because anything obvious has changed, but because something has quietly shifted.

I stand near the entrance of the cabin, adjusting the sleeves of my coat while listening to Sophie enthusiastically lay out our plans for the day.

The cold is sharper this early, crisp and biting, brushing against my cheeks and fingertips, but it doesn't bother me as much.

There's a kind of excitement in the air that makes it easier to ignore, something light and restless settling in my chest.

"We're definitely skiing first," Sophie says, practically glowing, her hands moving as she talks. "Then food—real food—and then maybe river fishing, and hiking if we still have energy."

"That's a lot for one day," Laine comments, though there's a small smile tugging at her lips.

"We're on vacation," Sophie insists immediately. "We're supposed to do a lot."

Hannah laughs softly, her breath visible in the cold. "She has a point."

I nod. "We'll see how far we actually get. Knowing us, we'll get distracted halfway through."

"Hey, I stay focused," Sophie protests.

"You got distracted by a souvenir stand yesterday," Laine replies.

"That was important."

I laugh softly, but my attention drifts—just slightly.

Then I hear footsteps.

I look up.

Hale.

He steps out from the cabin, adjusting his coat, his movements calm and unhurried. There's something about the way he carries himself—steady, controlled—but not rigid. Like he's holding everything together without making it obvious.

For a moment, I just watch.

"Hale! Good morning!"

The words slip out too quickly, brighter than I intended.

Laine nudges my arm. "Well, well. Someone's in a good mood."

"I'm always in a good mood," I say, trying to sound normal.

"Not like that," Sophie adds, already laughing.

Hannah hides a smile behind her sleeve.

Hale chuckles, the sound quiet but genuine. "Good morning," he says. "You guys are up early."

"We have plans," Sophie says proudly. "Very serious ones."

"Should I be worried?" Hale asks lightly.

"Only a little," I reply before I can stop myself.

He glances at me briefly, amused, and something in my chest shifts.

Sophie immediately starts listing everything again—skiing, food, fishing, hiking—her energy filling the space between us.

"That's... ambitious," Hale says, a small smile forming.

"It's efficient," Sophie corrects.

"It's chaotic," Laine adds.

"Same thing," Sophie insists.

I shake my head, smiling—and then my thoughts move ahead of me.

If he doesn't have plans—

"Why don't you join us?"

Silence falls.

I freeze.

Oh no.

I immediately cover my face with both hands. "I'm sorry—I got carried away," I say quickly, my voice muffled. "I didn't mean to just invite you like that. If you already have plans, you don't have to feel pressured or anything—"

"Hey, hey," Sophie cuts in, laughing. "Relax."

Laine snorts softly. "You really didn't think that through, huh?"

"I didn't," I admit, still hiding my face.

There's a small pause.

Then Hale laughs.

Not polite.

Not forced.

Real.

I lower my hands slowly, peeking at him.

"It's okay," he says, still smiling. "Actually... I don't have any plans."

I blink. "You don't?"

He shakes his head. "Not really." He hesitates, then adds, "Is it okay if I join you?"

"Yes," Sophie answers immediately.

"Of course," Hannah says with a small nod.

Laine chuckles and ruffles my hair. "There. Problem solved."

"Stop doing that," I mutter, swatting her hand away, though I'm still smiling despite myself.

Sophie claps once. "Perfect. Let's go."

Before Hale can say anything else, she grabs his sleeve and starts pulling him toward the car.

"I can walk," he says, laughing under his breath.

"I know. I'm just speeding things up."

"That's not how that works."

"It is today."

I follow behind them, shaking my head, a quiet laugh slipping out. The embarrassment lingers, but it's softer now—lighter.

At the car, everything turns into a small mess of movement and voices.

"Laine drives," Sophie declares.

"I was going to," Laine replies dryly.

"Hannah, front seat."

"Okay."

"And you—back seat," she tells Hale.

He barely gets a say before he's guided inside.

I hesitate for a second, then climb in after them.

And somehow, he ends up in the middle.

Between me and Sophie.

Of course.

Sophie looks entirely too pleased with herself.

Hale shifts slightly, letting out an awkward laugh. "This feels... intentional."

"It is," Sophie says.

"It's really not," Laine mutters as she starts the engine.

Hannah giggles quietly.

I sit there, one hand brushing lightly against my cheek, still warm from earlier. My heart is beating a little faster than usual, and I can't quite tell if it's from the cold, the embarrassment, or something else entirely.

I glance at him.

He notices.

Our eyes meet.

Just for a second.

He smiles.

Soft. Easy.

"...thanks," he says quietly.

"For what?" I ask.

"For inviting me."

There's something in his voice—something sincere, something that makes it feel like it mattered more than it should have.

I look away first. "It's nothing."

But even as I say it, I know it's not.

Not really.

As the car starts moving, Sophie's voice fills the space again, Laine responding, Hannah laughing softly. The warmth inside the car settles in, wrapping around us, contrasting the cold outside.

"So Hale," Sophie says, turning slightly toward him, "have you tried anything here yet? Like food-wise?"

"Not much," he admits. "Mostly just whatever was available."

"That's not acceptable," she says seriously. "We're fixing that today."

He chuckles. "I'll trust your judgment."

"You shouldn't," Laine mutters.

"You definitely shouldn't," Hannah adds, smiling.

I laugh softly, leaning back slightly as the conversation continues around me. It's easy to fall into it—to listen, to respond, to just be there.

And then, without meaning to, I glance at him again.

He's looking out the window, quieter now, but not as distant as before.

Not completely.

Just enough for me to notice.

And for some reason, that small difference stays with me.

Maybe it's nothing.

Or maybe—

it's the beginning of something I don't understand yet.

*****

End of Chapter 4