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| ❛ C H A P T E R  S E V E N ❜ |
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The weekend arrived faster than I expected. I woke up early on Saturday morning, excitement bubbling within me as I prepared for the hike with Kieran. But before I could focus on that, I had to deal with a bit of drama involving James.

James had been complaining to me and Lydia about his 'punishment' all week. As we sat together in the cafeteria the previous day, he vented his frustrations.

"I can't believe Lexington made me join the decorating committee," James grumbled, poking at his lunch with a fork. "It's so unfair. All because of that stupid party incident."

"You kind of brought it on yourself," Lydia pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "You knew the consequences."

"Still," James muttered, crossing his arms. "I'm not cut out for this kind of thing. Glitter and streamers aren't exactly my thing."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, James. It could be worse. At least you'll get to work with some cool people. Plus, you'll get a say in how the next event looks."

He shot me a glare, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one stuck making paper flowers."

Lydia and I exchanged amused glances. "Just try to make the best of it," she said. "Who knows, you might actually have fun."

James rolled his eyes but didn't argue further. I knew he was secretly relieved that his punishment wasn't harsher. It also gave him something constructive to focus on, which he sorely needed.

˙ . ꒷ 🌊 . 𖦹˙—

After getting dressed in my most comfortable hiking gear and tying my hair back into a ponytail, I headed downstairs, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon greeting me warmly.

"Good morning, sweetheart," my father said, looking up from his newspaper as I entered the dining room.

"Morning, Dad," I replied, taking a seat at the table. "Smells delicious."

"Figured you'd need a good breakfast before your hike," he said with a smile. "I hope you have fun."

"Thanks, Dad," I said, reaching for a piece of toast.

We chatted casually as we ate, the comfort of our morning routine putting me at ease. Just as I finished my breakfast, our driver, Charles, appeared at the doorway.

"Miss Aurora," he said politely, "Mr. Kieran is waiting for you in the living room."

"Thanks, Charles," I said, wiping my mouth with a napkin and standing up. "I'll be right there."

As I walked towards the living room, I felt a flutter of nerves and excitement. I found Kieran standing near the window, looking out at the garden. He turned around as I entered, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Hey," I greeted him, my own smile matching his.

"Hey," he replied, his eyes lighting up as they met mine. "A-are you ready?"

"Absolutely," I said, feeling a rush of excitement.

My father appeared at the doorway, a kind smile on his face. "Good to see you again, Kieran," he said, nodding in approval.

"Nice to see you again, sir," Kieran replied politely.

"Take good care of my daughter," my father added with a wink.

"I will, sir," Kieran promised.

With that, Kieran and I headed out the door and into the crisp morning air. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

As we walked towards the car, Kieran reached the vehicle first and, with a charming smile, opened the door for me.

"After you," he said with a small bow, gesturing toward the passenger seat.

I laughed, stepping into the car and settling into the plush seat. "Thanks, Kieran. You're quite the gentleman."

He slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine. As we pulled out of the driveway, he glanced over at me, his eyes bright with curiosity. "So, what kind of music do you like? I'm thinking of putting something on for our drive."

I thought for a moment. "I'm pretty open to anything, but I have a soft spot for classic rock and indie tunes."

"Classic rock, huh?" Kieran said, nodding approvingly. "I can work with that."

He reached for the radio and soon enough, the car was filled with the energetic riffs of old rock. The rhythm of the music seemed to blend perfectly with the hum of the engine as we drove through the winding roads leading to the hiking route.

"You know," Kieran started, glancing at me with a playful grin, "I had a bet with my friend last night about whether you'd show up. He thought you'd cancel."

"Really?" I asked, intrigued. "What made him think that?"

Kieran shrugged with a chuckle. "He said that rich people often flake on plans like this. I told him you seemed pretty committed, and I'm glad I was right."

I smiled, touched by his confidence in me. "Well, I'm glad I could prove him wrong."

The drive continued with us exchanging anecdotes from our lives. I shared a funny story about a family camping trip that ended with a raccoon rummaging through our food, while Kieran recounted an embarrassing moment from his last school play that had me laughing out loud.

As we neared the hiking trail, the road became narrower, and the trees seemed to lean closer, creating a canopy of green. Kieran turned down the volume of the music and spoke more earnestly.

"I really appreciate you coming out today, Aurora. I-It's nice to have someone to share these kinds of experiences with," he said, his tone sincere.

I looked over at him, feeling a warmth spread through me. "I'm glad to be here, Kieran. Thanks for inviting me."

Kieran smiled, his gaze returning to the road. The car pulled into a small parking area near the trailhead, surrounded by lush trees and the distant sound of a babbling brook. Kieran parked and turned off the engine, the cabin falling into a peaceful silence.

We stepped out of the car, the cool morning air invigorating and fresh. Kieran took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the landscape with appreciation.

"Ready?" he asked, turning to me with a grin.

"Absolutely," I replied, excitement bubbling up inside me.

𖦹 !! ꒰ 07 ꒱ ᯓ 🌤️