"Liam?" Steven called out, spotting his friend from a distance.
"Wassup? You didn't go on the ride?" Liam asked, leaning against the railing of an open balcony.
"No, I will, a bit later. Everyone else is there already. I have something to ask you about last night." Steven approached, looking slightly apprehensive.
"I know. Here, the apology letter you asked for." Liam handed him the letter, retrieved from the infirmary.
"How did you get this?" Steven took the letter, eyebrows raised in surprise.
"I kinda managed it. You acted out of anger, I know that was dangerous anyway, but that kid made a mistake. Just forget about it, alright? They promised not to be careless again. And yeah, I didn't tell Ms. Evans. Thought she would make a scene, after all Maya is close to her." Liam retorted, his gaze shifting from Steven to the snowy landscape where everyone was riding.
"Ahhhhh." Steven nodded, a weight seemingly lifting off his shoulders.
"You like Larson, don't you?" Liam's question was sudden, making Steven's eyes widen in shock. Liam smirked, looking down at the snow.
"It's obvious, Steven. I know I'm nobody to talk to, but I'm scared somehow." Liam's voice softened, his concern evident.
Steven met his friend's eyes, confused.
"Levi likes her too, doesn't he? You know that well. I'm afraid this will affect things..." Liam's voice trailed off.
"It won't, it won't, Liam. I promise." Steven interrupted, stopping Liam from finishing his sentence.
Just then, Liam's phone rang, vibrating on the table beside them. Steven glanced at the contact, it said Levi.
"Hello," Liam answered.
"Is Steven with you?" Levi's voice came through the speaker. Liam looked at Steven as Levi asked.
"Yes, he's here. Why?"
"Isaacs, from his department, broke his nose from the ride. Tell him to come over. We're taking him to the hospital."
"Oh God. Alright." Liam hung up, turning to Steven.
Steven and Liam rushed to the nearest hospital as Levi instructed. Maya and Levi weren't there; Levi had told her to stay in the camping zone while the boys handled things outside. Nira was sitting in the lobby, and Kobe was inside with the doctor. Nira exhaled in relief when she saw Liam and Steven. They stayed there until the afternoon, waiting anxiously as the doctor attended to Isaacs.
Shonn went for the ride at 11 am and saw his brother sitting quietly on a bench while others enjoyed the rides. He ran to his brother and sat beside him.
"Levi."
"Where are your friends?" Levi asked, not seeing Jacob and Mason with him.
"There, see?" Shonn pointed at the guys who were already on the snow.
"They're playful, aren't they?"
"Yes, totally. By the way, why are you sitting here? Come with me."
"I don't feel like going. You can go." Levi retorted softly.
"Something happened?" Shonn furrowed his eyebrows, sensing something was off. Levi just smiled, not saying anything.
"So something happened... Levi... When you know you're ready to let go, then you shouldn't hold on to it." Shonn added, gazing off into the distance. Levi looked at his brother, who was looking all serious. He smiled again and patted his brother's head.
Shonn became flustered, "What was that for?" He furrowed his brows.
"You're cute, Shonn. Alright, let's go." Levi said, getting up from the bench and holding out his hand to Shonn. Shonn scoffed a little laughter, averting his eyes from his brother's and held his hand. Ethan listened to them from behind and sighed deeply as he had already heard from Tiffany.
. . .
One day later, in the evening (the last day at camping),
Nira was in Kobe's room, treating him while everyone else was in the backyard of the hotel, in the cold, preparing for the barbeque party. Maya was sitting on a bench, unpacking the ingredients they'd need.
"Can I sit?"
Maya looked back and saw Tiffany. She got a little scared as she encountered Tiffany, becoming quite nervous, slightly looking for someone to come over and sit with her. Tiffany was staring at Maya, being all cautious, and she scoffed a little laughter.
"No wonder why everyone fell for you. You're beautiful, Larson." Tiffany said, pulling out a chair and sitting beside her. Maya looked confused at Tiffany's sudden change in attitude and just smiled awkwardly.
"I'm sorry for everything I said to you." Tiffany retorted a minute later after getting no reply from Maya. As Maya looked at her again, Ken jumped out of nowhere and started speaking loudly, getting everyone's attention.
"Tiffany Spencer, you again? Are you bothering Larson? I don't know what's the deal with you, but I really hope you can stop. This is nuts."
Maya tried stopping him, but he wouldn't listen. Tiffany kept smiling at Ken as he continued. Ethan came to rescue his girlfriend.
"Ian, what are you saying?"
"Am I not right? Spencer was the one who tried..." As Ken was about to speak, Levi covered his mouth. His gloves were smeared with chili paste, and Ken started screaming and running after a few seconds when he realized the chili from Levi's hand had gone into his mouth. Everyone was laughing at this point. Liam helped Ken to calm down. Steven just observed, not understanding anything. Levi looked at Maya and said coldly, earning attention from both Ethan and Tiffany as they stood beside him, "You're needed on the cooking team."
Maya just nodded as Levi left and turned to Tiffany and said, "Sorry, I don't quite understand what happened earlier. Anyway, I think I know what you meant. If you're truly sorry, I don't mind befriending you. That's it then." Maya left, following Levi. Ethan looked at Tiffany with full admiration and patted her head.
"Good job."
Maya was grilling the beef, starting to sweat a while later. Levi noticed and didn't intend to help as he waited for Steven to come over.
Steven was washing the dishes since he couldn't cook while Levi was cutting vegetables. Levi told Steven to do something else and said he would wash the dishes. Steven looked confused as Levi wasn't really done with cutting vegetables, "Don't just wash dishes, Steven."
"Do you need help with vegetable? I can help with that."
"It's alright. I can handle it myself. Oh, the fire is dying down already," Levi said, looking at the grilling spot. "Can you go and help there?"
"Sure." Steven said and ran to Maya.
"Oh, you're sweating. Move over." Steven said, looking at Maya. He checked the heat and asked, "Is it dying down?"
"No, it's fine." Maya replied, wiping her forehead.
Steven peeked at Levi and already understood why Levi sent him here. He scoffed a little laughter that made Maya scared. She looked at him, confused.
"Why are you smiling like that? It's creepy." She retorted.
Steven furrowed his eyebrows, placing his hand on his chest, acting like he was hurt.
"No one ever told me that, Maya." He said dramatically.
"Move if you want to creep out here." Maya said, trying to hide a smile.
"No, you should take a break. You're sweating. I'll watch over it for a while."
Maya sat on the bench, her eyes on Steven.
"Do I look handsome?" Steven teased.
Maya quickly averted her eyes to the ground, avoiding his gaze.
"Just admit it. It's hard not to fall for me, Maya." Steven continued teasing her.
"You're just full of yourself. I'm leaving." Maya stood up, clearly flustered.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"To walk around. I'm bored." Maya said, taking out her phone from her pocket to check the time.
"Wait up. I'm almost done here. Let's walk after having dinner." Steven suggested.
"Alright." Maya sat back again.
"So you want to walk with me?" Steven teased her once again. Maya didn't reply this time.
After dinner,
"I want to walk on the snow." Maya said softly.
"Then let's go to that area," Steven pointed at a distance where snow covered everything.
"That's a bit far and risky too." Maya said, pouting.
"Did you really think I'd make you walk on the snow?" Steven asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?"
"You hurt your leg, didn't you? Hop on my back." Steven was on his knees already, offering her a piggyback ride.
"You're seriously childish. Let's just walk around, not that far. And I hurt my leg two days ago, it doesn't hurt that much. Tch."
"Don't talk. You've been tottering all day long."
Steven pulled her so she fell on his back.
"Hey Steven, what are you doing? If anyone..."
"No one will see. You think people will come out here in this cold? Stupid, let's go."
It wasn't the first time Steven gave Maya a piggyback ride, practically it was the third time and theoretically first as Maya was fully conscious. Her grip was loosened. She was flustered about what was happening, afraid Steven could hear her heartbeat. She was trying to create a gap between their faces as she feared her cheek might touch his. Steven knew it all. He was laughing softly as he walked, "Do you want to fall?" he asked.
"Uh… who wants that?" Maya stuttered.
"Then tighten your grip onto me. It's not the first time I'm giving you a piggyback ride." Steven's words made her even more nervous.
"What?"
"You were drunk two other times. One at college and one at reunion. Now, just tighten up." Steven retorted, giving her a smile, and their faces touched briefly.
"Seriously? I never knew," As she spoke, Steven just smiled. "Hey Steven, why are you so nice to me?" Maya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because you deserve it," Steven replied, his tone sincere. "And because I care about you."
Maya felt her cheeks flush, her heart pounding in her chest. She tightened her grip around Steven, feeling a strange mix of security and excitement. They walked in silence, the snow crunching beneath Steven's boots, the cold air nipping at their faces.