Julie squints her eyes as she gazes at the long trail of trees winding up into the mountains. The car hums steadily along the road, the trees now becoming thicker and more enveloping. Beside her, Misha blasts her favorite playlist through the car's speakers, singing along with uncontainable excitement. The winding road feels like a prelude to the adventure ahead. After about an hour, they pull off the road and park near a massive cliff. Julie's eyes widen in shock as she spots the ropes dangling from the rocky face. Her heart races as she looks from the cliff to Misha and Sam, who have already gotten out of the car.
"Don't tell me we're here for mountain climbing," Julie asks, her voice tinged with panic.
"Yes! Isn't it exciting?" Misha exclaims, practically bouncing with excitement. Her enthusiasm is contagious, but it only makes Julie feel more apprehensive.
Julie turns to Sam, her eyes wide and pleading. She can't hide her discomfort. Misha, too busy grinning, doesn't notice the silent communication between Julie and Sam. She jogs toward Nathan's car as she sees them pulling into the parking area.
Sam turns to Julie, noting her unease. "Relax," he says calmly, placing a hand on her shoulder in a comforting side hug. "You're not the only one who's never done this before. I can tell you're nervous, but I've done this a lot. We come here all the time, and I promise you—it's safe." He watches her face for signs of belief but sees doubt lingering in her eyes. "I know it seems scary, but trust me—it's exhilarating. I'll be right here with you."
Julie shakes her head, still skeptical, her gaze fixed on the towering cliff before her. She wants to believe him, but this is a whole new experience. She's never taken risks like this.
Sam senses her hesitation. "Look," he continues, speaking gently, "if you feel like you can't do it at any point, you can stop and come back down. There's no pressure. You can always change your mind."
Julie sighs, her mind swirling. It's not that she has a fear of heights, but the thought of being that high up, hanging by a rope, feels like a challenge she's never faced before. But then, as the excitement of the moment begins to pull her in, she wonders: *What's the point of being here if I don't try?*
After a long pause, she nods. "Okay. I'll do it."
Sam smiles warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's the spirit," he says, squeezing her shoulder before leading her toward their friends. Unbeknownst to them, three pairs of eyes watch the exchange with interest, though they can't hear their conversation. To them, the silent communication speaks volumes.
"What do you think they're talking about?" one of Kellie's friends murmurs, eyeing the way Sam's hand had briefly rested on Julie's shoulder.
Kellie's eyes narrow as she observes Sam and Julie. A flash of jealousy crosses her face. She's seen Sam with other girls before, but this... *this* is different. She doesn't like the way he looks at Julie. There's a spark in his eyes that she's never seen with any of the others. And it irks her. She has always been the one Sam turns to—she knows this. No one else gets that privilege. *No one.*
Kellie clenches her fists, but her friends say nothing. They know better than to get involved.
As Misha and Julie walk toward the others, Misha taunts loudly enough for Kellie to hear. "Since when did the princess come out of her castle?" she mocks, her tone light but biting.
Kellie's eyes flash with fury. *That's it.* She forces a smile, pretending to laugh it off. "Haha, Misha, you're so funny," she says, but her voice lacks sincerity. It's the kind of smile that only hides her growing irritation.
Julie shakes her head and sighs inwardly. She had hoped the weekend would bring a break from Kellie's drama, but it seems she was wrong. Now, instead of enjoying the adventure, she's starting to feel like a pawn in someone else's petty game.
After taking their tickets, they gather in the waiting area. Misha steps away to take a phone call, and after fifteen minutes, she returns, her face lit with a mischievous grin. She whispers something to Rebecca, whose smirk deepens at whatever Misha has planned.
"Okay, let's do it," Rebecca says, the glint in her eyes unmistakable.
Julie's brow furrows as she looks at Misha and Rebecca. "What are you guys up to?" she asks, unable to shake the feeling that something's not right.
"Nothing," Rebecca announces with a wink. "Just have to hit the bathroom."
"I'll come with you," Misha says, and the two girls walk away, leaving Julie watching them go.
As they walk off, Misha turns back to wink at Julie, and almost immediately, Rebecca bumps into Kellie. The collision is loud enough that Kellie's belongings scatter across the floor.
"Are you blind?" Kellie growls, her voice dripping with disdain as she glares at Rebecca.
Rebecca is about to snap back, but Misha quickly steps in, pulling her away just in time. Kellie's followers—Megan and another girl—help her pick up the scattered items, but the damage has already been done.
Misha and Rebecca return moments later, their faces gleaming with satisfaction. Sam raises an eyebrow, glancing between them and the commotion Kellie is causing. He can tell something's up, but Misha just winks at him with that knowing look.
"You have no idea," she says, leaning toward him with an amused expression.
Sam shakes his head but chuckles. He knows better than to question Misha when she has that glint in her eye.
After a few more minutes, they are called to get ready for the climb. Two assistants help them strap on harnesses, safety pads, and helmets. The sheer height of the cliff is intimidating, but there's an excitement bubbling in Julie's chest. Maybe it won't be so bad.
"Number 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28!" the instructor calls out, his voice loud and authoritative. The group hands over their tokens, but Kellie approaches just as a pair of women are about to descend from the cliff.
"You can go after those two come down," the instructor tells Kellie, handing her token back.
Kellie's eyes flash. "No, I want to go now," she protests. "My token is 27. I was supposed to go with Sam!"
The instructor shakes his head. "You'll have to wait."
Kellie mutters under her breath, seething with frustration as she glances toward Misha. Her eyes widen as she realizes what's happened—*Misha switched the tickets.*
"Give me back my token!" Kellie screeches, charging toward Misha. But before she can get far, two security guards intervene, blocking her path.
"You'll have to wait your turn, ma'am," one of them says firmly.
Misha and Rebecca exchange a satisfied look, and as the group starts to head toward the ropes, Misha looks back at Kellie and blows her a kiss. "Have fun," she teases, the words dripping with mock sweetness.
Kellie stands there, trembling with fury, watching them walk away.
---
**Meanwhile, Julie feels a nervous flutter in her stomach as she watches the climbers ahead of her. The sheer height of the cliff makes her question her decision. Why had she agreed to this again?**
Sam notices the uncertainty in her eyes and approaches her slowly, his voice soft. "Hey, you okay?"
Julie shoots him a half-smile. "What do you think?" she asks sarcastically, her nervousness obvious.
Sam chuckles, his presence a comforting weight beside her. "I think you'll be just fine," he reassures her. "I'll be right here with you, and I've done this enough times to know you'll be fine. Just don't look down, okay? Focus on the climb, not the drop."
Julie lets out a deep breath and nods, grateful for his encouragement, but still uncertain.
Misha, sensing her discomfort, offers a reassuring smile. "Just follow me," she says. "And if you start to feel scared, just keep your eyes on us. We're all in this together."
Julie nods, grateful for the support. She feels her anxiety slowly melting away as she realizes that, maybe, just maybe, she can do this.
---
**Kellie, however, is seething with anger. She stands apart from the group, watching them in silence. The humiliation of being excluded from the climb gnaws at her, but more than that, she's *jealous.* Sam is slipping away from her, and this new girl—*Julie*—is in the way.**
Her fists tighten at her sides, but a dark thought flashes through her mind. "You messed with the wrong person," Kellie mutters under her breath, her eyes narrowing. The plot has only just begun.
---
In the final moments before the climb, Julie's nerves seem to settle. With a deep breath, she nods to herself. *I can do this
.*
And with that, she takes her first step toward the ropes.
The adventure is about to begin.