In Your Orbit (1st Book) Completed.

Chapter 18: Flames and Whispers

Lisa was dead to the world, her face buried in the pillow as she clung to the last few precious minutes of sleep. It was early, way too early, and the camp's morning chill hadn't helped her situation. But peace didn't last long when Jisoo, her overenthusiastic best friend, stormed into their cabin with far too much energy.

"Lisa! Get up! Jog time!" Jisoo announced, standing over her friend, arms crossed.

Lisa groaned from under her pillow. "Five more minutes..."

Jisoo wasn't having it. She grabbed the edge of Lisa's blanket and ripped it off with zero remorse, causing Lisa to curl into a tighter ball. "Nope, no excuses today. You promised me you'd jog with me this morning."

"I did not," Lisa muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow.

With an exaggerated sigh, Jisoo yanked at Lisa's arm. "Come on, get up!"

When Lisa didn't budge, Jisoo resorted to drastic measures. Grabbing Lisa's arm and leg, Jisoo pulled with all her might, dragging Lisa halfway out of bed until—THUD!

Lisa hit the floor with a heavy thump, still wrapped in her sheets, blinking up at Jisoo from the ground. "Are you trying to kill me?" she mumbled, rubbing her head but still very much unwilling to get up.

Jisoo grinned down at her. "I'm trying to save your lazy butt. Now get up before I drag you the entire way."

Groaning dramatically, Lisa finally relented and scrambled to her feet, her hair a disheveled mess. "Fine, fine! I'm up. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," Jisoo said with a smug grin. "Now go get ready. We're running."

Lisa shot her a glare, but it was half-hearted at best. Once she changed into her running gear, she sent a quick message to Jennie as a courtesy.

Lisa: "Hey babe, going for a jog with Jisoo. Be back soon. I love you."

With that, Lisa and Jisoo headed out into the fresh morning air, the early sunrise painting the sky in soft shades of pink and orange. As they jogged around the campgrounds, they passed groups of students gathered by the lake, enjoying the serene view of the water reflecting the first light of the day.

Lisa and Jisoo slowed to a stop, pausing to take in the beauty of the moment.

"Wow," Jisoo said, slightly out of breath but smiling at the scene before them. "This is why I wanted to jog."

Lisa, still waking up, took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. "Okay, I'll admit it's worth getting up early for this."

The quiet murmur of voices caught their attention. It wasn't surprising—they were used to being noticed. With their legacy as the school's volleyball champions, with a nearly undefeated record, Jisoo and Lisa were pretty much camp celebrities. A couple of students pointed their way, whispering and glancing at them, clearly in awe.

Jisoo smirked. "We're famous."

Lisa chuckled. "Well, we have been kicking butt for years."

They shared a laugh before resuming their jog, ignoring the murmurs as they enjoyed the calm start to the day.

When the camp bell rang out, signaling breakfast, Lisa and Jisoo made their way to the dining hall. They were the last to arrive, stepping into the large dining area packed with students chatting excitedly. The room quieted slightly when they entered, eyes flicking their way, but neither of them paid much attention.

Scanning the room, Lisa quickly spotted Jennie and Rose sitting at a table near the middle. Jisoo and Lisa made their way over, plopping down next to their girlfriends.