One More Step To You

Sparks Fly

We were singing, loud and clear and horribly off-key, but we were enjoying ourselves all the same. Ethan had pulled out his phone and was currently draining its battery by playing music. We had started with Taylor Swift and were now making our way through Spotify's top 100. Jason was up ahead, and when the music had started, he had turned around for a moment, but his expression was unreadable, as always. I swear I had seen his lips moving a couple of times, though, so I liked to think he was enjoying himself, too.

Sarah and I had looped our arms together, our hiking poles strapped to our packs. We were walking at the same pace, singing loudly and having fun. The sky overhead was cloudy, there was a breeze in the air, and it felt great to hike without the heat glaring down on us. Everyone's mood was high, the trail filled with music, laughter, and singing.

"What's the chance of rain?" Rachel called from behind us, and Tim checked his phone.

"High, about 60%, but it doesn't look like a storm. We should be able to keep hiking without a problem. It's just going to get muddy," he called back to her, grinning. I heard her groan in response.

"Rain? Noooo," Haley called from behind us. "We just had a shower, and now we're going to be covered in mud!"

"Oh, you're going to be covered in mud often," Tim assured her. "There will be days where it rains for a week. That's when you'll find out if you've got what it takes to make it through the entire trail or not — when you can't get dry."

Haley looked miserable at the idea, and I reached out and patted her arm. "It's okay, you've definitely got what it takes," I said reassuringly, and she sighed.

"I'm afraid Casey might have what it takes, and you know I absolutely hate her for it. I can't leave her, though — she's my best friend. I'm only tapping out if she does."

I must have had a surprised look on my face, because she grinned at me. "I'm only out here because she needed this. I love hiking and nature, but six months? Not really my style. Bad breakup, you know? She just wanted to get away, and somehow, that led both of us here." Haley explained, and Casey turned around, walking backward quickly so she could see us.

"Hey, Haleybaby, if I wanted everyone to know my ex-boyfriend is trash, I'd have told them." There was no malice in her voice, and she had a small, lopsided smile. "But you know I appreciate you coming with me."

"I know you do," Haley shot back, and held out her hand for Casey, who took it and pulled her past us so they were walking side by side again.

"They're adorable," Sarah said, a little wistfully.

"Miss someone?" I asked, curious, and Sarah nodded.

"I had a best friend in college; we were inseparable. We were dorm mates, same major, took all the same classes. We were friends for ten years, and I've never had a friendship like that before. We knew each other, inside and out. I thought we'd be friends well into old age, but then I found out she made a pass at my husband." She took a deep breath and then sighed as she released it.

"I couldn't believe it, but I knew Rodger wouldn't lie. They had always been friendly, but for her to overstep with my husband, of all people... our friendship couldn't recover from that."

"I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head. "I can't imagine having someone I love break that trust. I understand why you couldn't forgive her — you wouldn't be able to trust her again."

"Exactly. I tried. I wanted to. She had been such a large, wonderful part of my life for so long, but I couldn't see past it. So, we went our separate ways."

"Sometimes it's the only option," I agreed. "I had lost my share of friends when they went off to college — I tried to stay in contact through social media, but their lives were moving forward, and I was standing still. I understood why it was happening, though," I nodded at her, "and no one betrayed me. So, losing those friends was hard, but easier than what she did to you."