"You want to go on a ride right now?" Freya asked, trying to understand. "Do you know how late it is?"

"Yeah, why not?" Tate responded casually.

"For one thing, we have school tomorrow," Freya pointed out.

"So?" Tate shrugged. "Who cares?"

Freya felt torn. She didn't know what to say to him, other than yes. She didn't care that school was tomorrow or that she wouldn't get enough sleep, but she did care about what Tate thought of her.

Tate opened the passenger door, motioning her inside with a deep, clever smirk. He knew they wouldn't be back for a while, so he told her to get her affairs in order, and then they drove off. Freya texted the details to Vita and then stashed her phone away in her pocket.

"So, Freya, how has the boys' school been treating you since you moved here?"

"Besides your wicked stepsister and her psychotic boyfriend, it's been treating me well."

Tate tightened his grip on the wheel. "I'm so sorry about them."

"Don't be," Freya replied. "I can handle them."

"You say that, but you know, for what it's worth, you don't have to do it yourself. You seem well-adjusted for a girl who literally had her whole world turned upside down. I'm shocked you're able to manage it for so long."

"It takes practice," she stated.

"Maybe you could teach me sometime."

Freya grinned as wide as a Cheshire Cat, their eyes meeting almost instantly. They both wanted to explore this connection between them. When Freya could think straight again, she wondered about where he was taking her. When they passed by an outstanding church, she asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're not too far. Just a few more miles. There's a spot I go to clear my head. It's a secret place."

"Well, it's not so secret, since you're taking me there," Freya added.

"True, but now it's our secret. A special place just for us." On a bumpy back road just outside the neighborhood, behind the closed girls' boarding school, he parked his car by a tranquil lake, surrounded by trees and nature.

"It's so beautiful," Freya said, "How did you ever find this place?"

"Believe it or not, there's a cliff another mile or two from here, and I fell off it, resulting in a few broken bones and multiple stitches. The water from the cliff is shallow, and it connects to the lake. I woke up in pain on some rocks."

Tate's honesty made Freya feel a mix of concern and admiration for his resilience.

"Why were you at the cliff in the first place?" Freya asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"I was dared by one of my friends to jump, and because we were all completely drunk, I fell down and was swept away by the waves," Tate admitted, recalling the reckless decision that led to his fall. He felt so stupid for the dare he received from Reese, since they shouldn't have even been drunk and so close to the edge. Without telling Freya it was Reese, he continued, "We were all just trying to have fun, but it got out of hand really quickly."

"I'm glad you're okay," she said, relief washing over her face.

"Thanks, Freya. It was a close call, but I'm alright now." He then pointed towards a spot nearby and said, "There's something I want to show you. Over that unstable embankment, there's a stream of water that flows through an underground canal. It's pretty incredible."

"Show me," Freya responded as she stepped out of the car and followed him.

Tate led her carefully to the edge of the embankment. "Just be careful, it's a bit unstable here," he warned. As they reached the spot, the sound of rushing water became louder, and Freya could see the steam flowing into the dark mouth of the underground canal.

"Are those the rocks where you woke up?" Freya asked, pointing towards the jagged stones near the embankment.

Tate nodded. "Yeah, those are the ones. I must have been washed up there by the current. It was pretty disorienting."

"You're lucky to have survived," Freya said softly, her voice filled with concern. "I hope you learned a lesson from this."

"And what lesson would that be?" Tate asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't accept a dare from friends you shouldn't keep, don't get drunk and stand at the edge of a cliff, and most certainly don't do anything that would lead to a hospital trip."

Tate chuckled. "That's a lot of lessons."

"You didn't say to pick one," Freya joked.

"Then, I have a lesson for you..." Tate said, leaning in with a playful grin. He admired the way her hair reflected on the water, and his flirting alerted Freya to what she couldn't resist. He said, taking her hand, "Follow me."

Freya felt a rush of excitement as she willingly took Tate's hand, her heart racing at the warmth of his touch. She looked up at him with a smile and asked, "Where are you taking me?"

Freya noticed the color of Tate's eyes, a blue sea green, as he led her towards a secluded spot by the lake. "This is where the moonlight shines high in the night. If you were to stand under it, your bright blue eyes would turn into shimmering stars, reflecting the magic of the night sky."

"Look, there it is," Tate whispered with a hint of a thrill, the glow illuminating her face. His flirting with her was so cute, natural, and freeing. As the moonlight danced off her and the water, creating a serene and magical atmosphere, he gazed at her like she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Freya's heart fluttered as they shared this perfect moment, feeling a deep connection growing between them.