Chapter-1
627 Words
The sky was already dimming, the clouds painted soft shades of lavender as the four friends sat in their usual spot — a long bench near the edge of the park, tucked just far enough from the main road to feel quiet. The grass was still damp from the afternoon rain, and the air smelled like wet concrete and summer leaves.
“So,” Callum said, kicking at the edge of the path with his trainer, “we’ve got what, eight weeks before we’re back to full-time work and zero freedom?”
Zaira leaned back on her elbows, her wavy hair spilling behind her like a lazy river. “Yep. And I refuse to waste it doing nothing. We need to do something. Something actually fun.”
“I second that,” Bryan said, sitting next to her. “No sitting at home watching the same shows over and over.”
“Okay, but not camping,” Maisie said quickly, crossing her arms. “Let’s all be honest. We are not the camping type.”
Callum laughed. “Speak for yourself. I was born for roughing it.”
“You cried when your power went out for three hours,” Maisie deadpanned.
“Yeah, and I nearly died,” Callum replied dramatically. “I don’t do well without snacks and Wi-Fi.”
Zaira grinned. “Alright, no tents,. But a road trip could still be good, right? Somewhere quiet. Scenic. And we stay at a proper hotel.”
“That,” Bryan said with a nod, “I can get behind.”
Maisie relaxed a bit. “Yeah, okay. That sounds doable. Just… peaceful, right? I want one trip where nothing goes wrong.”
“Agreed,” Zaira said. “I want views, hot chocolate, and maybe a spa if we’re feeling fancy.”
Callum raised an eyebrow. “A spa? What happened to adventure?”
“Adventure can wait until next summer,” Zayra said, bumping her shoulder into his. “This year, I want a comfy bed and a place with no drama.”
Bryan smiled to himself. “I know a place — Pendle Hills. Not far, quiet countryside, good hiking spots if we want them, and there’s a little boutique hotel that looks pretty nice.”
Maisie hesitated. “Wait, isn’t Pendle where the old witch trials happened?”
Zaira waved her hand. “No it was a myth.”
Maisie gave her a look. “You’d better not drag us into some ghost tour halfway through.”
“i agree,” Zaira teased, but she shot Bryan a quick smile. He smiled back — soft, unspoken.
Callum was scrolling on his phone. “Alright, I found the hotel. Looks decent. Double rooms, breakfast included. And a big garden or something.”
“Book it,” Bryan said. “Let’s just pick a week and go.”
Zaira’s heart skipped a beat. Bryan was always calm, always reliable — and lately, something about the way he looked at her felt different. She wasn’t sure what it meant yet. Not really. But she liked it.
Maisie caught the look Zaira gave Bryan. She didn’t say anything, but her stomach twisted a little. She glanced away, pretending to focus on her shoes.
“I’ll make a playlist,” Zaira said, snapping back to the group. "just some bangers”
Callum laughed. “So… just artic monkeys and girly music?”
“Exactly.” she says joking back
As the sun dipped behind the trees, the four of them sat in easy silence, the air between them buzzing with quiet excitement. The kind that only comes right before something begins.
They didn’t know it yet — but this trip would be anything but normal.
- Writer
