Two days before the ferry left for Haven Bay Island, Jade sat cross-legged on her bed, laptop balanced on a pillow, the video call window open to Linda's face.
The late afternoon light slanted through her bedroom window, turning the walls golden.
Lin was in her LA apartment—curtains half-drawn against the bright California sun, a half-eaten bowl of cereal visible on the desk beside her.
"Okay, spill," Lin said, leaning closer to the camera with a grin.
"Permission slip signed? Bag packed? Swimsuit situation under control?"
Jade laughed, running a hand through her hair.
"Signed, packed, swimsuit is… adequate.
I'm not planning to win any beach fashion awards."
Lin rolled her eyes dramatically.
"You're going to an island for five days with Rose.
Adequate is not the vibe.
You need to at least look like you're living your best life."
Jade felt her cheeks warm.
"It's a school trip, Lin.
There will be teachers, group activities, assigned cabins—"
"Cabins," Lin interrupted, eyebrows shooting up.
"Plural.
But you and Rose are sharing one, right?
You told me you asked her to room together."
Jade nodded, trying to keep her voice casual.
"Yeah , we did because it just made sense.
We get along.It's way easier than being stuck with random people."
Lin's grin turned positively wicked.
"Uh-huh. Five days. Same room , same bed? with same island sunsets?
Sounds suspiciously like a honeymoon to me."
Jade's face went hot.
"Lin!"
Lin laughed, delighted.
"What?
I'm just saying!
You two have been orbiting each other like planets for weeks.
Now you're literally going to be sharing breathing space for five whole days."
"No parents,no school bells,
just you, Rose, the ocean, and whatever tension you two refuse to name."
Jade pulled a pillow into her lap and hugged it, half-hiding her face.
"It's not like that.
We're friends, good friends who are just going on a trip together with the whole school."
Lin leaned back, folding her arms.
"Sure.
Friends who chase each other through corridors with paint on their faces.
Friends who catch each other when they almost fall and then stare at each other like the world stopped.
Friends who share hot chocolate and chamomile tea and look at each other like they're the only person in the room."
Jade buried her face in the pillow for a second, muffling a groan.
"You're impossible."
"And you're blushing so hard I can see it through the screen," Lin shot back, laughing.
"Come on, Jade.
You're excited.
Admit it.
You're excited to spend five uninterrupted days with Rose."
Jade lowered the pillow slowly.
She looked at Lin for a long moment, then let out a small, honest breath.
"…I am," she admitted quietly.
"I'm really excited.
Not just because it's an island.
Because… it's with her."
Lin's teasing softened into something gentler.
"I know.
I can hear it in your voice every time you talk about her."
Jade hugged the pillow tighter.
"It's weird, right?
How much I look forward to seeing her.
How the day feels better when she's around.
How even little things—like her bringing me tea, or waiting for me after class—make me happy in this stupid, quiet way."
Lin smiled—warm, not teasing anymore.
"It's not weird. It's nice , really nice.
You deserve someone who makes your days feel like that."
Jade looked down at her hands.
"I just… don't want to mess it up.
She's important to me.
More than I expected."
Lin nodded slowly.
"Then don't overthink it.
Just… be with her.
Five days on an island.
No exams.
No pressure.
Just the two of you, the ocean, and whatever happens next."
Jade exhaled a small laugh.
"You make it sound so easy."
"It is easy," Lin said.
"You already make each other happy.
The rest is just… letting it happen."
They talked for a while longer—about what Jade was packing, what Lin thought she should add a cute sundress, about how Ethan would probably tease Rose nonstop about the trip.
But underneath the banter, Jade felt a quiet thrill building—steady, bright, impossible to ignore.
When the call ended, she closed her laptop and lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Two days left,then the ferry.
Then Haven Bay Island.
Five days with Rose.
She smiled to herself, small and private, the excitement settling deep in her chest like sunlight on water.
She didn't name the feeling yet.
But she let it stay—warm, certain, growing.
Monday couldn't come soon enough.