Chapter 91
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Maya grumbled under her breath as we continued down the road.
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“Honestly,” she muttered, stepping over a fallen branch. “If there was really a snake there, what would you’ll have done?”
“I’m sorry girl but I would have ran, forget that I came with you guys.” Jamal muttered.
“And you call yourself a man,” I nudged him.
“Wow. Friendship at its peak.” Maya snorted.
Nora let out a tiny giggle that sounded like a squeak. She slapped a hand over her mouth, “S–Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Maya sighed, waving a hand. “I’d do the same to him.”
We walked a bit longer as the path widened, sunlight streaming through the tall trees.
“Oh-” Nora perked up, head tilting slightly. “We’re close to the lake.”
“You can hear it that clearly?” I asked curiously.
She nodded shyly. “Yeah. The sound from the lake… it’s even louder than I expected.”
“I don’t hear anything,” Maya muttered.
“Same,” Jamal agreed. “But you’ve got good ears. You need to teach me your ways.”
“J–Jamal–I- I’m not- I’m not that good-” Nora stuttered, almost tripping on her own feet.
He chuckled. “Relax, I’m just teasing.”
The air felt cooler, damp with the soft mist drifting off from the water.
“Whoa…” Jamal breathed. I could feel
The lake stretched wide and glassy, the surface reflecting the sky like a perfect mirror. Smooth pale stones lined the shore, and bright patches of moss covered the fallen logs like nature’s carpet.
“It’s… beautiful,” Nora whispered.
Maya nudged me. “Rate it.”
“Ten,” I said immediately.
“I’ll give it a Six,” she muttered. “Finally. Something in this forest deserves a raise.”
“Now don’t do this to our dear forest.”
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We wandered down to the edge, the sunlight warming our backs.
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“Whoa…” I breathed. The water also looks clean enough to drink. This is beautiful,” I said softly, moving closer to the lake.
“Yeah,” Jamal murmured, pulling his camera up. “Perfect lighting.”
Maya flopped onto a flat rock. “Finally! A reward for all my suffering.”
“You walked for ten minutes,” I reminded her.
“Ten minutes too long,” she muttered.
Nora stood a little behind us, fiddling, “Are you okay?” I asked her gently.
She nodded. “It’s just… really nice.” Her eyes sparkled.
I followed her gaze to the lake and smiled.
Jamal crouched near the water and dipped his fingers in. “Cold,” he noted. “But refreshing.”
“Don’t fall in,” I warned.
He shot me a look. “Okay mamacita.”
“HEY!” I hissed. “I am not your mamacita!.”
I shook my head and wandered closer to the water. Noticing tiny fishes darted near the shore.
Jamal stood up and tugged his backpack off. “Let’s take a group photo.”
“Right now?” Maya groaned, “but I’m so tired.”
“Yes, now bring that lazy ass here,” he insisted. “C’mon, the lighting is perfect.”
“I’m sweaty, dusty and-”
“Maya,” I cut in. “Just get up, it won’t take long.”
She groaned dramatically but stood up anyway.
“Come on, Nora,” I called, smiling at her. “You too.”
Her breath caught. “M–Me?”
“Yes, you,” I insisted, looping my arm around her. “You’re part of our group, at least for now.”
Her whole face turned to a shade of pink.
Jamal angled his camera. “Okay–everyone–close in.”
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We squeezed together, me in the middle, Maya leaning on my shoulder, and Nora hovering like chauffeur “Closer,” Jamal said.
Nora inched closer.
“Closer.”
She squeaked but stepped in until her arm accidentally brushed Jamal’s.
The picture turned out nice- brighter than I expected with all of us smiling naturally.
Maya peeked at it. “Oh my gosh, look at me, I look good—”
“You always look good,” I teased.
“I know, but I like to hear it.”
“You look cute too,” I smiled, staring at her.
We sat down at the lake’s edge,
“This is honestly so relaxing,” I murmured.
Jamal nodded. “Worth the walk.”
Maya sipped from her juice box like a toddler. “Plus this amazing background, I’ll give this place… a seven now. The lake raised the rating and beauty.”
“What happened to your four?” I giggled.
“I changed my mind. The nature seduced me.”
After a few minutes, Maya turned to her. “So, Nora…. you can really hear the water before we get here?”
Nora nodded slowly. “I–I grew up near a river when I was little. I got used to recognizing the sound.”
“Ahhhhhh,” Maya nodded. “So you’re like a water whisperer.”
Nora blinked. “A… what?”
“Water whisperer,” Maya repeated. “Very rare species but it’s endangered.”
“Ignore her.” Jamal chuckled. “She just says whatever comes out of her mouth.”
“No,” Maya held up a finger. “You’re our official water whisperer now. That’s your role for this trip.”
“This lad is deluded,” I smile
“Okay… I guess.” We spent a while there, skipping stones. Jamal was good, Maya was terrible, I managed one skip, and Nora surprised us all with three. We made jokes, took pictures, soaked up the calm lake air. It felt… good.
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Nora wandered a few feet away and crouched near some sea gems. Jamal followed her, camera in hand.
Maya plopped down beside me, leaning her head on my shoulder. “I need a lot of rest,” she muttered.
“Same here,” I agreed softly. “But it was fun.”
“I still want the internet signal.”
“Obviously.”
“We should head back,” Jamal said, brushing dirt off his jeans. “Before the sun sets and Mrs Hopkins sends a search party.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Let’s go.”
As we walked back toward the main trail, Nora moved clover to me.
“T–Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For… letting me sit with you guys. And coming to the lake. And… everything.”
I smiled. “You’re always welcome, Nora.”
She nodded, too.
“They must be students from the other school.” I looked up to see a group of four students–two girls and two boys.
I gasped as one of the girls with had dark skin, soft brown hair in matted twists, and eyes so bright and doll ice–blue eyes.
She laughed at something her friend said–then turned.
And froze.
Her smile dropped instantly as soon as her gaze met mine. Her eyes widening like she’d just seen a ghost.
Her gaze locked onto me.
Straight at me. Through me.
“…Ava?” she finally breathed out.
Who is Ava?
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Chapter 92
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
