The next morning, Luna woke to the smell of coffee and the soft hum of Liam's voice. She stepped out of the bedroom to find him standing in the small kitchen, holding a mug and talking to himself as he scanned a map.
"You're narrating again," Luna said, smirking.
Liam turned, his grin sheepish. "What can I say? It's how I focus." He held up the map. "There's a trail about a mile from here that leads to a ridge with a panoramic view. Thought we could check it out."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can handle following a map? Because last time, you got us lost for six hours."
"That was one time," Liam shot back, laughing. "And I had no reception. Besides, I have this now." He waved the map dramatically.
Luna sighed, grabbing her coat. "Fine. But if we end up stranded, I'm blaming you."
The trail was beautiful, winding through dense forests of pine and birch trees, their branches heavy with fresh snow. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, creating a dazzling display of light and shadow.
Luna walked ahead, her breath visible in the crisp air. Liam trailed behind, snapping pictures with an old camera he claimed had "character."
"This is incredible," Luna admitted, pausing to take in the view.
"I told you," Liam said, stepping beside her. "Nature never disappoints."
They continued walking, the silence between them comfortable. But as they approached the ridge, the trail became less defined, and the snow deeper.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Luna asked, glancing back at Liam.
"Of course," he said confidently, though he avoided her gaze.
"Liam..."
Before she could finish, her boot sank into a hidden snowdrift, throwing her off balance.
"Luna!" Liam lunged forward, grabbing her arm just as she started to fall. They tumbled into the snow together, landing in a heap of laughter and tangled limbs.
"You're such a klutz," Liam teased, brushing snow from her hair.
"Me?" Luna shot back, laughing. "You're the one who insisted on taking this detour!"
For a moment, they just lay there, breathless and smiling. But then Liam's expression softened, and the laughter faded.
"I missed this," he said quietly.
Luna's smile faltered. "Liam..."
He held up a hand, cutting her off. "I know. I just... wanted to say it."
The trail was beautiful, winding through dense forests of pine and birch trees, their branches heavy with fresh snow. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, creating a dazzling display of light and shadow.
Luna walked ahead, her breath visible in the crisp air. Liam trailed behind, snapping pictures with an old camera he claimed had "character."
"This is incredible," Luna admitted, pausing to take in the view.
"I told you," Liam said, stepping beside her. "Nature never disappoints."
They continued walking, the silence between them comfortable. But as they approached the ridge, the trail became less defined, and the snow deeper.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Luna asked, glancing back at Liam.
"Of course," he said confidently, though he avoided her gaze.
"Liam..."
Before she could finish, her boot sank into a hidden snowdrift, throwing her off balance.
"Luna!" Liam lunged forward, grabbing her arm just as she started to fall. They tumbled into the snow together, landing in a heap of laughter and tangled limbs.
"You're such a klutz," Liam teased, brushing snow from her hair.
"Me?" Luna shot back, laughing. "You're the one who insisted on taking this detour!"
For a moment, they just lay there, breathless and smiling. But then Liam's expression softened, and the laughter faded.
"I missed this," he said quietly.
Lu's smile faltered. "Liam..."
He held up a hand cutting her off. " I know. I just... wanted to say it."
Eventually, they reached the ridge, the view taking Luna's breath away. The snow-covered valley stretched out before them, framed by jagged mountains and an impossibly blue sky.
"It's beautiful," Luna murmured, her voice filled with awe.
Liam stepped closer, his shoulder brushing hers. "Worth the trek, right?"
She nodded, though her thoughts were far from the scenery. Being here with Liam felt surreal, like stepping into a memory she'd forgotten she cherished.
As they stood in silence, the first flakes of a fresh snowfall began to fall. Luna tilted her head back, letting them land on her cheeks.
"You're smiling," Liam said softly, watching her.
"I guess I am," she admitted.
smile faltered. "Liam..."
He held up a hand, cutting her off. "I know. I just... wanted to say it."