falls (featuring sasha sloan) - odeza

~YOUR POV~

You and Hoseok spent the remainder of the 45-minute drive to Lihue eavesdropping on Kai and Mia while texting each other about everything they said. Honestly, it made the car ride go by rather quickly, and it was fun to tease the two of them about their blossoming relationship. Hoseok was trying hard not to push Kai's buttons, however, because he didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable about getting close to someone.

Lea, Felix, and Kaylen were directly behind the truck you were in, so everyone was able to arrive at Safeway at exactly the same time. You all managed to snag a few parking spots close to the entrance.

"So what exactly do we have to buy?" you asked, unbuckling your seatbelt as you waited on Kai to turn off the car and unlock the doors.

"Quite a few things, actually. Camping gear, food, new camera batteries, sunscreen. A bunch of general stuff like that. We already have some things back at the house, but there's a lot of people going so we need to make sure we have enough gear for everyone," Hoseok explained. Everyone got out of the car shortly after.

"How was the car ride?" Lea walked up to you, a knowing smile spreading across her face.

"Oh, it was interesting. I didn't know Kai could be such a delightful person," you said quietly, so he wouldn't overhear.

"Tell me all about it later, yeah?"

"For sure."

Once Kaylen and Felix joined up with the rest of the group, everyone headed inside. The store was large and clean and barely had anybody else there. It was the middle of a workday for most people, and it was likely that the only other shoppers were people in Kauai on vacation. It seemed like the perfect place to gather everything necessary for the soon-to-come adventure, but you felt a twinge of apprehension.

Even though you had brought a large sum of money to Hawaii with you since you knew you wouldn't be able to have a job, that money was limited. You wondered how much all the gear would cost, and how the bill would be split between everyone. You didn't want to bring it up, though, because you didn't want to be that person. You weren't stingy with finances, but you had to remain realistic in the sense that the dollars in your bank account weren't exactly unlimited.

"So, I wrote out a list for every one of the things they'll need, and I've sent it in a group message. I guess we can all split up, grab the supplies, and meet back here when we're done?" That was Lea, pointing to her phone to prompt everyone to look at theirs and find the list.

New Message from Lea:

-backpack

-metal water bottle

-sleeping bag

-flashlight

-batteries

-portable phone charger

-sunscreen

-hand sanitizer

-snacks

-lighter

"Anything that's not on the list we already have back at one of the houses, okay? And we will all split the bill on the permit, except for Kaylen since he's a kid and has no money," Lea chuckled.

"I would be happy to get a job if somebody didn't hover so much," Kaylen nodded toward Kai.

"Hey, the reason your head hasn't been bitten off by a shark is thanks to the fact that I'm overprotective, so you're welcome," Kai countered.

"What does me working at a snow cone stand or something have to do with getting my head taken off by a shark?"

"That's not relevant," Kai shrugged.

"What are you talking about?!"

"Guys, we don't have time for this," Lea intervened.

"Technically, we have all the time in the world," Felix said. Lea gave him a narrow-eyed look, and that shut him up. You held back a laugh.

"How about we all just start shopping now?" Hoseok proposed, and everyone was quick to agree.

You and Hoseok ended up going off alone together, while the others split up as well. You didn't know for sure, but you figured that Mia had wandered off with Kai. The thought made you smile.

"What're you grinning about?" Hoseok nudged your side, giving you an equally as big grin.

"Kai and Mia are making me happy. I'm glad that seems to be working out," you replied, grabbing his hand and holding it in yours as you two began to walk up and down the aisles, searching for everything on Lea's list.

"I'm really not kidding when I say that I've never seen him act like this with anyone, much less a girl. I'm glad they seem to be getting along. Kai needs someone to level him out a bit," Hoseok said as he grabbed a small shopping basket that was sitting on a stand at the end of the aisle.

"I mean, why is Kai so closed off? If you don't mind me asking..."

"I don't think there's really a specific reason. He's just been through a lot of unstable times in his life with his mom leaving and his dad in the military. I think he's just the type that emotionally closes himself off as to not get hurt by anyone," Hoseok shrugged, "So all joking aside, it really is a miracle that he's opened up to Mia at all."

You grabbed two reusable water bottles from a shelf and tossed them into the basket.

"Well, I'm glad she came along, then. It's kind of funny how things end up working out."

"What do you mean?" Hoseok looked over at you.

"It's just funny how things work about accident. I met you by accident, and that lead to us being in a relationship, me getting to meet your friends and become friends with them as well, and now Kai getting to Mia. It's just funny how things can develop just because two people met by accident."

"It really is," Hoseok agreed, smiling, and giving you a kiss right there in the middle of the store.

☼☼☼

After the supplies were bought and everyone had a chance to haul everything back to their respective houses, the group met up at Papalani Gelato to discuss the plans for the following day.

"So, we're leaving at 4 am sharp, okay? So Lea and Felix should meet us at our house, and then we'll swing by and grab Mia and Y/N on the way," Kai explained.

"And make sure you pack up your bags tonight so that you don't have to worry about it tomorrow," Lea suggested.

"Yep! And I have the permits taken care of, so I'll just carry those with me. Plan to be gone for three days, but it won't necessarily take that long for us to go all the way there and back." That was Felix, who unsurprisingly had Lea sitting in his lap. They were the King and Queen of PDA.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm excited," Kaylen said, taking a huge bite of his ice cream. According to Hoseok, Kaylen had managed to guilt Kai into letting him come along.

"I'm excited too!" Mia exclaimed. She wasn't sitting beside you on the grass, but beside Kai. They had a modest amount of space between them, but were still sitting close enough that it caught your attention.

You, on the other hand, were simply sitting beside Hoseok, his arm draped lazily around your shoulders as he had done several times before at this point.

"Who's driving tomorrow?" you asked in between bites of tiger butter gelato.

"I'll bring my car, and Kai will drive the truck like we did going to the store today," Felix replied.

"We should all get home, we have an early morning tomorrow," Hoseok said. He stood up, helping you up as well as you finished the last of the ice cream.

"Hoseok's right. We should go," Kai agreed, prompting everyone else to get up, throw their trash away, and head for the cars.

Lea and Felix took Kaylen back home, while you, Hoseok, Kai, and Mia ended up in the truck to be taken back to your house. Hoseok opened the truck door for you when you arrived, and walked you up to the door. Mia and Kai, however, remained mysteriously alone together in the truck.

"How're you feeling about tomorrow?" he asked softly, pulling you into a gentle and comforting hug. You were tired after the long day of running around, and the feeling of being so close to Hoseok made you drowsy. He was always so warm.

"I'm not gonna lie, I'm still a bit nervous. But, I'm really excited. I just feel like there's this giant adventure out there waiting for me," you giggled, "that was so cheesy, I'm sorry."

He laughed, "Don't apologize," he pulled away so he could see your face, "You're cute."

"Stop," you gushed, leaning back into his embrace so he couldn't see your blushing cheeks. "I'm tired so kiss me goodnight."

"That, I can do," he laughed, kissing you quickly on the lips, "Go to sleep, now. I'll question Kai until he tells me all the details about his thing with Mia. And I'll see you in the morning, bright and early. I bet you look cute when you're sleepy."

"You're too much sometimes, you know that?" you shook your head at him, smiling stupidly.

"Yeah, but you love it."