Love, Camping

Chapter 22 | Lost and found

Jessica Timbers P.O.V.

I was jolted awake by the sound of my roommate, Avery, yelling urgently.

"Jessica! Wake up! We're running late!"

Groggy and disoriented, I blinked at the clock. It was already 6:30 AM. Panic surged through me-I had overslept.

Avery, already dressed and halfway out the door, threw a hurried glance over her shoulder.

I scrambled out of bed, heart racing, and began hastily throwing on clothes and stuffing my belongings into my backpack. "I'll meet you outside," Audrey called, disappearing through the door.

Still breathless and with my hair a tangled mess, I rushed through the hotel lobby and quickly checked out. As I dashed outside, I saw our coach, Mr. Abdel, standing with the group, clipboard in hand, taking attendance.

"Jessica, just in time," he said as I approached, a mixture of sternness and concern on his face.

"Sorry, Mr. Abdel. I overslept," I replied, still catching my breath.

Mr. Abdel's expression softened slightly, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out a protein bar. "It happens. Here, take this. You probably didn't have time for breakfast."

I accepted the protein bar gratefully. "Thank you so much, Mr. Abdel. I really needed this."

"Let's get moving," he instructed with a small nod. "We have a long hike ahead."

I joined the others, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. As we set off on the trail, the protein bar in my hand felt like a lifeline, and I silently thanked my coach again for his kindness.

As I trudged along the hiking trail, my mind was a whirlwind of confusion and regret. Thoughts of Derrick kept resurfacing, tormenting me. Last night, we had almost slept together. My mind and body had been at war, pulling me in two completely opposite directions. I had thought I was ready, but at the last moment, I chickened out. How could I back out when I had convinced myself I wanted this?

Despite my confusion, I felt a strange sense of relief that it hadn't happened. Derrick's reaction last night had been confusing too. He had seemed frustrated when I stopped, and I couldn't blame him. I had rejected his arousal at the last moment. I wondered if he was mad at me, and that was why he hadn't met me all morning.

These thoughts consumed me as I hiked, the physical exertion doing little to distract me from my mental turmoil. I sighed deeply, wishing I could clear my head. That's when my phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts. It was Mom calling.

I picked up, grateful for the distraction.

"Hi, Mom!" I greeted, trying to sound cheerful.

"Hey, sweetheart! How's the trip going?" Mom asked warmly.

"It's been great so far. The scenery is amazing. I miss you and Dad, though," I said, my voice wavering slightly. A lump formed in my throat as emotions surged-I had a lot on my mind lately, and the call made me realize how much I missed home.

Sensing my emotions, Mom tried to cheer me up. "We miss you too, honey. Tell me, how's Alex? You two must be having a lot of fun."

My heart sank. My relationship with Alex was in a bad place, and I knew I was partly to blame. Unable to share this with Mom, I forced a smile and lied, "He's with his friends right now. We're doing okay."

We chatted for a while, and I tried my best to keep the conversation light. Eventually, I noticed my phone battery was nearly dead. "Mom, I have to go. My phone is about to die."