April 27th

Chapter 5

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Five

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"Camping?" April whispered to Paige, hoping for a negative response. "Did he say camping?"

"Yeah, I heard it too." Paige nodded. "Is it just me, or does camping on an open beach sound a teensy bit loco?"

April sighed in slight frustration, while Amanda nudged Paige with her shoulder. "Pay attention." 

"The woods are not too far from here, so we're gonna walk down there, set up our tents, light a bonfire and everything else we'll need. We will camp the night out and return tomorrow morning or at noon, depending on how exciting it is."

April balled her fists, physically restraining herself from groaning. She didn't hate camping per se, but she would've much rather sit inside and avoid Javier and the spiraled frenzy he sent both her logistics and emotions into whenever they got close.

Being in the woods with him was not part of the plan. What if something happened to pull them together? What if they got stuck with each other? She wouldn't put it past whatever spirits she had accidentally offended in her past life.

She spared a quick glance in his direction once again, sucking in a sharp breath as he immediately met her eyes. She turned to walk away, but bumped into someone else by accident.

Nathan.

The look he sent her way would've been enough to make a child shit his or her pants. Not April though. She simply muttered an apology and found her way back to Amanda.

"When do we leave?" She asked. She hadn't heard all the details due to being distracted, but there was no doubt her friend would've.

"They're still deliberating."

Patrick was bent slightly, his ear to Hannah's mouth as she fervently whispered something into him. She paused, allowing him to adjust his posture, before pulling him down again to continue the whispering.

"They're so goals," Paige muttered, right before Patrick stood again, now ready with his announcement.

"So we have a series of activities already planned out by..." He jerked his head toward Hannah. "My wife. We'll be having a series of team building, trust exercises, a scavenger hunt and a little extra treat, cliff jumping."

April could feel her skin tense at the sound of that last item. She wouldn't be doing that part and she knew it. Fear of the ocean, activate.

"Kids, go pack! We're staying a day, and our walk begins at noon exactly." It was Hannah's voice this time, directed at them.

April rolled her eyes as she turned around. A sigh fell off her lips as she began finding her way inside.

"What? You don't wanna go?" Paige bumped her shoulder with hers. "It'll be fun seeing who survives the longest. I call dibs on cremating Nathan's body."

"Very funny, Paige."

Amanda joined them with a smile. "Are you guys excited too? We're camping in the most dangerous beach in Hawaii!" She said, her voice dripping in sarcasm. "Well, at least the mosquitoes will get fed."

Paige nearly doubled over with laughter. "I know right?"

April looked past them at the way Nathan and Malia held each other by the waists, walking towards the door of the Kleins' house. Javier soon joined them, nearly tripping at the way Malia suddenly leapt to hug him. They made eye contact—she and Malia—and April took it as an opportunity to roll her eyes and prove her indifference.