"All right, team!" Olivia exclaimed, throwing herself onto the couch with her arms wide open. "We're in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It's time to decide what we're going to do!"
I sat at the kitchen table with my coffee in hand, while Sack, leaning against the counter, looked at his phone with a neutral expression.
"I guess relaxing in the cabin all day isn't an option," he muttered without looking up.
"Of course not!" Olivia rolled her eyes. "We're in Yosemite, Sack. You come here to explore, not to lock yourself up like a hermit."
"Okay, okay," I said, trying to mediate. "What are our options?"
Olivia pulled out her phone and started swiping frantically.
"Let's see… we can hike to Vernal Fall or Nevada Fall, which are stunning waterfalls. There's also Glacier Point, where the view of the valley is epic. Or, if we want something more relaxed, we can take a walk through Tuolumne Meadows. Oh, and let's not forget Mirror Lake—it's gorgeous for photos."
"You didn't mention El Capitan," Sack interrupted, showing no apparent emotion. "I thought you'd be obsessed with seeing it."
"Obviously we're going to see it!" Olivia exclaimed as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "But I want something more dynamic than just staring at it. Although… if you feel like climbing it, we can consider it."
Sack raised an eyebrow at her.
"Sure. Me and my nonexistent climbing skills."
I laughed and looked at the list of options.
"I like the idea of the waterfalls," I commented. "And if we have time, we can stop by Glacier Point before heading back."
"Perfect!" Olivia clapped her hands. "Then, boots ready, backpacks packed, and… lunch? We need food for the hike."
"I'm going to assume you plan for Sack to carry everything," I said, smiling at her.
"Well, obviously," she replied without a hint of shame. "He's the strongest of the three of us. Besides, he needs something to do to feel useful!"
Sack sighed and put down his phone.
"Fine. But if I'm carrying all the food, I get to choose the playlist for the car."
"Deal!" Olivia quickly agreed.
A little while later, we left the cabin with our backpacks and headed toward the start of the trail. The fresh morning air was invigorating, and the sound of birds broke the silence of the forest.
"Did you know that Yosemite was the first national park protected by the U.S. government?" I mentioned as we walked.
Sack looked at me with a half-smile.
"Is that your way of saying you studied before coming?"
"Lindsay always comes prepared!" Olivia gave me a pat on the back. "And that's why we love her."
The hike to Vernal Fall was incredible. Olivia, with her endless energy, tried to rush ahead several times, only to run out of breath and make us wait while she recovered. Sack, on the other hand, maintained a steady and calm pace, as if he wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere.
"If you keep running like that, you're going to need us to carry you back," I told Olivia as she drank some water.
"Nah! I just get excited… Look at that!" She pointed toward the waterfall towering in front of us, the water cascading down with impressive force.
We fell silent for a few seconds, admiring the view. Even Sack seemed speechless for a moment.
"It was worth the hike," he murmured finally.
"I knew it!" Olivia pointed at him with a triumphant smile. "I knew you'd get emotional! It's written all over your face."
"I'm not emotional. I'm just saying it's… nice," he replied, but his expression betrayed him.
While Olivia enthusiastically took pictures, I noticed something curious. Sack also had his phone in hand, but he wasn't just checking messages like he usually did. He was taking photographs, capturing details of the landscape with unusual concentration. He looked… almost happy doing it. I suddenly remembered something he had casually mentioned during our first days at Stanford: he wanted to join a photography club. Maybe tomorrow I could ask him about that.
After spending some time enjoying the view, we decided to continue toward Nevada Fall before heading back to the car. The sun was high, and the sound of the water created a relaxing atmosphere.
"Ready for another climb, Olivia?" I asked with a smile.
"Obviously!" she responded, though she was breathing a little harder than before. "I'm going to beat you there!"
"We'll see about that," Sack said with a small smile, picking up the pace.
I just laughed and followed them, enjoying every moment in this natural paradise.
When we finally returned to the cabin late at night, we were exhausted. Olivia collapsed onto the couch with a dramatic groan, while Sack dropped the backpack with a sigh.
"I'm so tired I could fall asleep right here," Olivia murmured with her eyes closed.
"That wouldn't be the first time you've fallen asleep in a random place," I joked, sitting next to her.
Sack didn't say anything, but he sank into an armchair with his eyes closed, looking more relaxed than I'd seen him in a long time. Maybe this trip was growing on him more than he wanted to admit.
When Olivia finally fell asleep, I helped her up and carefully led her to her room. When I returned to the living room, Sack was still sitting there, his head resting against the back of the chair.
"She out?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"Completely," I replied with a smile.
I sat next to him, and for a moment, we just enjoyed the silence. Then, with an almost distracted gesture, Sack raised a hand and gently ruffled my hair. I laughed and lightly pushed his arm.
"What was that for?"
"I don't know. I just felt like doing it," he replied with a half-smile.
I rolled my eyes, but deep down, his gesture made me feel warm. After a while of light conversation, I rested my head on his shoulder. He didn't protest, and instead, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
And that's how we stayed, talking quietly, enjoying the calm of the night and the unexpected closeness that seemed to be growing between us.
I woke up feeling something warm around me. It didn't take long to realize that Sack and I had ended up falling asleep hugging each other. Before I could move, I felt a flash of light and a soft click.
I opened one eye to see Olivia holding her phone high, a huge smile on her face—apparently, she had gotten up to get water in the middle of the night.
"Oh, no…" I murmured.
"Oh, yes," Olivia responded, waving her phone. "This is pure gold."
"Delete that," Sack whispered, without opening his eyes.
"Not a chance," Olivia replied, smirking mischievously as she waved her phone. "This is going straight to Instagram. Get ready to be famous."
"Olivia, don't you dare…" I said, trying to get up, but she was already running toward her room with her phone held high.
"Too late!" she sang from afar. "Welcome to the internet!"