Photograph [Maya Hart]

18 ~ mount ski lodge

The class got to the Mount Ski Lodge.

Maya opened the door to reveal that Riley was holding onto Maya and Harley for support.

Riley tripped as she got out of the bus and Maya and Gabe proceeded to help her get to the Mount Ski Lodge.

"Hey, you're Harley?" Josh Matthews said as Harley got out of the bus. 

Josh had gotten out of the bus and was waiting for Harley by the door.

"Yeah," Harley said. "And you're..."

"Josh," Josh said, "I'm Riley's uncle."

"Huh, that explains it," Harley said.

Harley and Josh headed up to the Mount Ski Lodge.

"I hear from Riley that you're a photographer," Josh said.

"Yeah," Harley said, not looking at him. "Why're you asking?"

"Just making small talk," Josh said, looking ahead.

They entered the Mount Ski Lodge.

Cassie, Farkle, Smackle and Zay fell behind.

Smackle excitedly followed Harley and Josh in.

"When's the first nature hike, dreamboat?" Smackle said, dreamily.

Harley took a step back to watch.

"Smackle, do you even know who this is?"

"He's Maya's Boing," Smackle siad.

"Then why would you call him dreamboat?"

"'Cause look at him," Smackle said, pointing towards Josh's face.

Harley and Cassie glanced each other.

"Okay," Josh said, clearly uncomfortable, "while Cory and Topanaga are checking us in, let me welcome you all to the Mount Sun Lodge where we are here to turn our thoughts from our indoor relationships to towards our relationships with the outdoors."

"Yeah, I don't think so, Cub Scout," Zay said, doubtfully.

They turned to the lounge area to see plenty of happy couples.

"This should be interesting," Cassie groaned. 

"Tell me about it," Harley said.

They turned to a look at a sign that revealed that it was...

"You brought them here on Couples Weekend?" Mrs. Matthews said, horrified.

"Of course I did," Mr. Matthews said, knowing that he had messed up.

"'Nature Sez: Tree's a Crowd,'" Harley read.

"'Moonlight Walk: Triangle Trail,'" Cassie read the second line.

Later on the day, the class went on a hike, leaving Riley back. Due to her injury, she wasn't able to join them.

Harley, Gabe, Lucas, Farkle, Smackle Maya and Cassie entered the Mount Ski Lodge from the hike.

Unlike his friends, Harley was slightly shaken up.

"How was it?" Maya asked her friends.

"Oh, just like you'd think," Lucas said, "Farkle wandered off the trail, told Harley to follow him for a picture, and Maya broke the rules and went after them."

Riley got up and limped over to Maya.

"Maya," she said, "you broke the rules?"

"Yeah," Gabe said, "she always breaks the rules, but this time, she could have been killed."

"It's like you never know when to stop," Lucas added.

"Harley," Maya said.

"She saved my life," Harley said. 

"Wait, what happened?" Riley asked, turning to Harley.

"Farkle saw a this - this rare - what's it called?" Harley looked at Farkle.

"I went after a rare Achemon Sphinx Moth for my collection," Farkle said, "and I wanted Harley to take a picture too."

"The moth began flying around us -" Harley continued.

"Like he was taunting me," Farkle interrupted. "And no one taunts Farkle!"

"Anyways," Harley said. "I quickly take a picture as Farkle tried to grab it. So, we try to go after it. Farkle tripped and I kept going since Farkle really wanted it and... I slipped off the edge of the trail. I was from a tree branch. I was hanging by my fingertips."

Riley looked, stunned.

"Maya tears off after them, lumps and saved Harley," Cassie finished.

"What were you doing?" Riley turned to Lucas and Gabe.

"I tried to stop Maya, but of course, she didn't listen," Gabe said.

"I was saving Smackle," Lucas said.

"What happened to you?" Riley turned to Smackle.

"I was all, 'Help, Lucas. Help,'" Smackle said.

"All while Harley was hanging by a tree?" 

"No, every chance I get," Smackle clarified. 

"At least my camera didn't break," Harley said.

"How old is that camera?" Maya asked.

"I don't know, a couple of years," Harley shrugged. "It's the last thing my dad gave me before..."

His voice trailed away.

Everyone noticed. 

Harley shook his head and took a deep breath.

"Anyways, I'm just glad that it's not broken," Harley said.

Seeing Harley not press on the matter of his father, they all went back to Maya.

"Come on, Midget, you're not really mad at me," Maya turned to Gabe. "It's what you like about me, but you just don't want to admit it."

Gabe gave her a look

"I'm taller than you," Gabe reminded her, "and, no, it's not, Maya. I don't think it is."

Harley and Cassie stood there, awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

Farkle, Lucas, and Smackle walked away and Harley and Cassie followed, knowing better than to stay.

"Why are you with us?" Farkle asked Lucas, Harley, and Cassie.

"Hey, I don't want to deal with them," Lucas said.

"We don't know half the stuff that goes on between the three," Cassie said.

Harley nodded.

Harley went up to the room he was staying in.

Cassie knocked on the door and entered.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Harley said.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "After you mentioned your dad, you seemed..."

"Yeah, I know," Harley said. "I'm fine. I just... miss him, that's all."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Cassie asked, sitting next to him.

"No," he shock his head. "I don't... not now... not today."

Cassie nodded, understandingly.