Chapter 14

“Are everyone here?” Mr. Jones asked. 
“Alright, we are moving towards the Mystic Hollow next.” he said, starting the bus. 
Now, it's ten in the morning. We are moving towards the forest. Today I need to find what Stiles had been hiding there. That's when we reached the entrance of the forest. Now we had to walk in the forest. 
We all followed Mr. Jones. He was guiding us in the forest and showing us nature such as waterfalls and animals. What I was excited for is the mountain. We walked for a few hours. 
It was almost one and lunch time. We all took a break. Now we were in the middle of the forest. The supervisor gave us the parts to build a tent. We had to make a tent for ourselves. 
Oliver and I helped each other to make the tent. It was almost done. Then Oliver made a mistake and the tent collapsed. 
“Really. It was almost done.” I said. “It's not my fault.” He said, trying to defend himself. 
“Okay. Now make it yourself.” I said, moving away. 
Mr. Jones said that we could hang out in the forest but not too far. It was a good opportunity to find the tree. I walked far away trying to find the place. Unexpectedly, I found the tree. It was on a mountain. 
Great. Now I have to climb a mountain. The good thing is it has a way to go upside. I walked towards the mountain. Finally I reached towards the tree. I was exhausted. I sat for a few minutes and then started to dig it. 
It's somewhere here. I know it. It has to be. I dig the land pretty deep. I couldn't find it. Is it really here? I started digging nearby too. Then I found something. A bag. I pulled it down. 
It had dirt everywhere. I opened the bag. There was a phone and some photos. I saw the photos. It was Luka selling drugs. I found the evidence. So Stiles had been hiding it here. 
I also found his second phone here. I unlocked it. There were the same photos of Luka selling drugs. Maybe for backup. There were some names written in the messages. I guess it's the names Luka used to sell drugs for. So Stiles had been hiding this. 
I saw the time. It was almost three. I was late. I walked down and started to find my way back. I returned back to the tents without getting lost. 
“There's no network.” Clara said, holding her phone. 
“Because we are in the middle of the forest.” Josh replied. 
“Where were you?” Max asked. 
“I was just hanging nearby.” I replied. 
“Do you know there's going to be grilling tonight? Also a barbeque.” Ava said, with a smile. 
“By the way, where is Cam?” I asked. 
“With her girlfriend.” Max said, pointing towards Cam. 
“Girlfriend. When did it start?” I asked. 
“Yesterday. They are assigned as partners.” Clara said. 
“He is lucky.” I said. “He is. My partner snores all night.” Mia said. 
“Better than mine. My partner is a boy who tried to flirt with me. I told him I was gay. Since then he hasn't talked to me.” Ella said. 
Mr. Jones clapped his hands, getting everyone’s attention. “Alright, listen up! We’re starting a scavenger hunt. There are a few items hidden in the forest. Your job is to find them before the other teams do. The team with the most items wins.”
The group murmured with excitement. I sighed. Great. Another pointless game.
Mr. Jones continued, “You’ll work in teams of two. I’ve already made the pairs.”
I barely paid attention until I heard—
“Liam and Oliver.”
I turned to Oliver. He looked just as annoyed as I felt. “You better not slow me down,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “Like I’d lose to you.”
“Alright, teams, take your clue card! The game starts now!” Mr. Jones blew a whistle, and everyone rushed into the forest.
The First Clue
Oliver grabbed our card and read aloud, “Find something red that grows on trees.”
“Easy,” I said, already scanning the trees for red leaves or berries.
Oliver crossed his arms. “Really? Because I don’t see you finding anything.”
I ignored him and kept walking. The other teams were already searching, some running ahead. If we wasted time arguing, we’d lose.
“There!” I pointed at a branch with red berries.
Oliver smirked. “You sure those aren’t poisonous?”
I hesitated. “Uh… probably not.”
“Wow. Great confidence, genius.” He walked over and plucked a few. “Whatever. We got the first item. Let’s move.”
The Second Clue
Oliver read the next card. “Something soft and white, but not alive.”
I frowned. “Soft and white? Like a feather?”
Oliver groaned. “Do you ever think before speaking? Feathers are from birds. That’s alive.”
“Not if it already fell off,” I shot back.
He opened his mouth, probably to argue more, but then—
“There!” I pointed at a small patch of cotton-like fluff on a bush.
Oliver scoffed. “Lucky guess.”
I grabbed it before he could and smirked. “That’s two for me.”
Oliver narrowed his eyes. “We’re on the same team, idiot.”
“Still winning.”
The Third Clue
“Find something hidden under a rock.”
We wandered deeper into the forest, flipping over stones.
Oliver grumbled, “This is stupid. What if someone already found it?”
“Then we look harder,” I said, kicking over a large rock.
Nothing.
Oliver bent down and lifted a flat stone near a tree root. His eyes lit up. “Got it!”
“Give me that.” I reached for it, but he yanked it away.
“I found it, so I’m keeping it.”
“Doesn’t matter who holds it!”
“Yeah? Then why do you want it so bad?”
I lunged to grab it, but Oliver dodged. We wrestled for a second before—
CRACK.
A branch snapped behind us. We both froze.
I turned my head slowly. Was that… someone else?
Oliver gulped. “Uh… Maybe we should move.”
For once, I agreed.
Oliver and I kept moving, still arguing over who found the last clue.
“I swear, you’re the worst teammate,” I muttered.
“Oh, I’m the worst? At least I don’t waste time acting like I know everything.”
I rolled my eyes. “At least I actually do know things.”
Oliver huffed. “Yeah? Then where’s the next clue, genius?”
I glanced at the card. “Find something round and shiny.”
A second later, I spotted something glinting near a tree root. I bent down to grab it, but—
Oliver shoved me aside. “I got it!” He smirked, holding up a small silver coin.
“Oh, come on! That was mine!”
“Who?”
“Say the fact that I saw it first!”
“And yet, I picked it up first.”
I groaned, rubbing my temples. “I can’t stand you.”
“Feelings are mutual.”
We kept walking, bickering about everything—which way to go, who was better at the game, even whether the air smelled weird. (It didn’t, but Oliver insisted it did just to annoy me.)
The Final Clue
By the time we reached the last clue—“Find something with a name on it”—we were so caught up in our fight that we didn’t even look properly.
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Oliver said, waving the card. “How can an object have a name?”
“I don’t know! Maybe it’s a tree carving, or a tag, or—”
“You don’t know? Wow. The great Liam doesn’t have all the answers?”
I clenched my fists. “I swear, if you don’t—”
Before I could finish, a loud cheer erupted from the distance.
We both turned.
Mr. Jones stood at the starting point, grinning. Other teams were already back.
The game was over.
And we had nothing.
Oliver sighed dramatically. “Well. Nice job, partner.”
I glared at him. “Nice job?! You were the one who wasted time arguing!”
“Oh, please! You’re the one who wouldn’t shut up about winning!”
We stomped back to the group, empty-handed.
Mr. Jones checked his list. “Liam and Oliver… zero points.”
The group laughed.
Oliver and I avoided looking at each other.
I muttered under my breath, “Next time, I’m picking my own partner.”
“Next time, I’m making sure you lose,” Oliver shot back.
The worst part? I already knew we’d probably end up paired together again.
By the time the game ended, it was already seven. It was getting dark. I went towards my friends and started talking with them. Now it's time to start grilling. I started to set up the grill. Cam and Oliver started the fire. Clara and Max brought all the vegetables. Ava and Josh brought some meat and beef. Mia and Ella brought juice and water. 
I started to put meat on the grill and when it got hot I picked it up. We ate our dinner by grilling some meats and vegetables. It was just eight. I decided to hang around the forest. 
I was looking at the trees when I saw a figure. It was a shadow. Someone was spying on me. I saw a flash. Was someone taking my photos? I turned around as I heard someone running. I walked around to see who it was so I was late. 
“What are you doing?” Oliver asked me. 
“I think someone was taking my photos.” I replied. 
“Don't be delusional. You aren't that attractive.” He said, smiling. 
“Why are you here? Are you following me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. 
“Everyone decided to play something. They were worried about you. Let's go now.” Oliver said, pulling me. 
“So we are playing Never I Have Ever. The rules are pretty simple. If someone has done something which the player said then they have to drink beer.” Mia said, taking the drinks out. 
“Wait. When did you buy it?” I asked. 
“When we were shopping for clothes. I have already decided to play this game.” Ella said, giving the beer to everyone. 
It was just me, Clara, Max, Ava, Cam, Mia, Ella, Josh, Oliver and Bella who is Cam’s girlfriend. We all agreed to play it. 
"Alright, let's start," Cam said, leaning back with a smirk. "I'll go first. Never have I ever… skipped school just to sleep in."
Ava groaned immediately and took a drink.
Cam followed, shrugging. "Worth it."
Mia raised her beer, grinning. "I regret nothing."
I lifted mine too. "Mornings and I don’t get along."
Josh snorted. "Lazy asses."
Oliver hesitated, then sighed and took a sip. "Only once. Overslept."
Clara rolled her eyes. "That doesn’t even count."
Max chuckled. "Alright, your turn, Clara."
She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Never have I ever… been in handcuffs."
A second of silence.
Then Mia and Ella both took a drink at the exact same time.
Josh nearly choked on his beer. "Wait—what?"
Mia smirked. "Chill, detective boy. It was for a prank."
Ella nodded. "And once for a protest."
Cam lifted his beer and took a sip.
Bella blinked at him. "Excuse me?"
Cam grinned. "I was drunk, it was a joke, and that’s all you need to know."
Ava crossed her arms. "Not suspicious at all."
We kept going, the game picking up as the questions got bolder, the beer disappearing faster. Then, after a few rounds, Max grinned mischievously.
"Alright, Never have I ever… kissed someone of the same gender."
The air shifted. This was going to be good.
There was a beat of silence before Mia and Ella smirked at each other, completely unfazed. Without hesitation, they both took a sip of their beers.
"Obviously," Mia said, nudging Ella, who just rolled her eyes playfully.
Then, to my surprise, Cam lifted his beer and took a drink.
Bella’s eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
Cam shrugged. "It was just a dare. Back in high school."
Josh burst out laughing. "Dude, you kissed a guy, and you never told us?"
"It wasn’t a big deal," Cam said, but there was a slight flush creeping up his neck.
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Who was it?"
Cam waved her off. "Not important."
I glanced around the group, watching as Oliver hesitated for half a second before lifting his beer and taking a slow sip. That caught my attention.
"Wait, Oliver?" Clara leaned forward. "You too?"
Oliver cleared his throat. "It was... college. A party. Things happened."
Max whistled. "Damn. This game’s getting interesting."
Ava stretches her legs out, eyes glinting. “Alright, next one,” she says, tapping her bottle against her knee. “Never have I ever… sent a risky text and immediately regretted it.”
Mia groans and takes a drink. Ella follows. Then Oliver. Josh hesitates, then drinks too.
Ava points at him. “Ooooh, spill. Who was it?”
Josh shakes his head. “Not happening.”
Mia snorts. “That means it was bad.”
The group laughs, and Oliver leans forward, smirking. “Fine, my turn.” He thinks for a second, then smirks wider. “Never have I ever… faked being drunk to get out of something.”
A beat of silence.
Then, Ava, Bella, and Ella all take a drink at the same time.
Josh raises an eyebrow. “Wow. No shame.”
Bella shrugs. “Hey, sometimes you gotta escape a situation.”
Mia nudges Ella. “What was yours?”
Ella grins. “Family reunion. My aunt was trying to set me up with a guy.”
The group erupts in laughter.
I shake my head, then lean forward. “Alright, my turn. Never have I ever… kissed someone I shouldn’t have.”
A ripple of reactions.
Ava drinks first, no hesitation. Then Josh, who sighs before taking a sip. Mia and Ella share a look before both drinking.
And then—Oliver.
I raise an eyebrow. “Dude, really?”
Oliver just smirks. “Regret is a strong word.”
Before I can question that, Bella leans in, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Alright,” she says, dragging out the words. “Never have I ever… had a dream about someone here.”
Silence.
Then, one by one, drinks go up.
Josh drinks. Ava drinks. Ella drinks.
And then—Oliver.
Again.
My fingers tighten around my bottle.
Ava whistles. “Damn, things are getting interesting.”
Cam, who has been quiet until now, finally speaks up, smirking. “Alright, keep going. This is getting fun.”
The tension in the air thickens. The game isn’t just a game anymore. It’s turning into something else—something charged, something dangerous.
And I can’t shake the feeling that before the night is over, someone’s going to say something they can’t take back.
Our drinks are finished. We finished five bottles of beer. We were pretty drunk. We decided to give it a night and return back to our tents. We decided to sleep. I was moving towards my rent with Oliver. Unable to walk straight. I was very drunk and didn't know what I was doing. I somehow reached my tent. I almost tripped over. Oliver grabbed me. 
I let out a breath, flopping onto my sleeping bag. The space is small, barely enough for the two of us, and everything feels a little too warm. Maybe it’s the alcohol. Maybe it’s just… Oliver.
“You good?” Oliver asks, voice low, slightly slurred.
“Yeah,” I mumble. “Just drunk.”
He chuckles. “No shit.”
Silence settles, just the sound of our breathing and the faint hum of crickets outside. My head is spinning, my body heavy, but I don’t feel like sleeping yet. I shift, turning to face Oliver.
Big mistake.
In the dim light, his face is too close. His eyes half-lidded, lips slightly parted.
I should move back. I should say something. But I don’t.
Then I move—maybe to adjust, maybe to get comfortable—but my balance is shot, and before I know it—
I crashed right into him.
And suddenly, my lips are on his.
For a split second, neither of us moves. The warmth of his mouth, the faint taste of beer—it’s all I register before I jerk back.
“Shit—” My heart pounds. “That was—”
Oliver blinks at me. Then, slowly, a lazy smirk spreads across his face.
“Well,” he murmurs, voice teasing but softer than usual. “Didn’t see that coming.”
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
Oliver watches me for a moment, then leans back onto his pillow, stretching like nothing just happened. “You gonna pretend that was just the beer?”
I swallow hard. “It was an accident.”
“Sure,” he says, amused. “Let’s call it that.”
I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling of the tent, my pulse still racing.
Accident or not, I don’t think I’ll forget that anytime soon.
I feel warm, my head heavy from the beer. I shift slightly, my body relaxed and sleepy. Oliver is close, his breath soft against my skin.
I don’t think so. I just move.
My lips brush against his—light, barely there. A soft, sleepy kiss.
Then, before I can even tell if he noticed, sleep pulls me under again.