Monday morning arrived with a spark of excitement that seemed to hum through the entire neighborhood. It was the day everyone in Aria's class had been waiting for — the beginning of their three-day school trip.
Aria stood in her room, double-checking her small blue suitcase for what felt like the hundredth time. Her mother laughed softly from the door.
"You've checked that bag three times already. You'll be late if you don't hurry."
"I just want to make sure I didn't forget anything," Aria replied, stuffing her hairbrush into the side pocket.
She barely slept the night before, thinking about the trip, the memories she'd make — and secretly, about spending time with Ethan outside school for the first time since they became a couple.
---
At the school gate, the atmosphere was buzzing. Students stood in groups, chatting and laughing while teachers called names and checked attendance. The air smelled faintly of the morning breeze and fresh excitement.
Aria arrived, dragging her suitcase behind her, her cheeks a little pink from the morning chill. She spotted Ethan leaning casually against the bus, earphones in, looking effortlessly cool.
"Someone's early for once," she teased as she walked up to him.
He looked up and smirked, removing one earbud. "Someone's late as always."
"Excuse me?" she folded her arms.
He chuckled. "You always take forever to get ready. I'm surprised you even made it on time."
"Oh, shut up," she said, lightly smacking his arm as he laughed.
Their friends watched with amused smiles, whispering and giggling about how adorable they looked together.
When it was finally time to board the bus, Aria found herself a seat by the window, gazing outside at the rising sun. Ethan, without even asking, dropped into the seat beside her.
"Seriously? You could've asked if it's taken," she said, raising an eyebrow.
He leaned closer with a grin. "Is it taken?"
"Now it is," she said, turning away to hide her smile.
The bus started, and the trip officially began. Students sang loudly, passed around snacks, and played games. Ethan leaned back, arms folded, occasionally glancing at Aria, who was pretending to be absorbed in the view outside.
After a few minutes, he pulled out one of her earphones.
"Hey, did you pack snacks?"
"Yes."
"Can I have some?"
"You literally brought a whole bag yourself."
"Yeah, but yours taste better."
She rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"And you love it," he said teasingly.
Aria turned to look out the window again, hoping he wouldn't notice her small smile.
Half an hour later, Aria dozed off, her head slowly leaning against Ethan's shoulder. He froze for a second, then relaxed, his lips curving into a quiet smile. Instead of waking her, he simply watched the scenery pass — his hand resting carefully on her wrist so she wouldn't bump against the seat when the bus turned.
For the rest of the ride, he sat perfectly still, letting her sleep peacefully against him.
---
By the time the bus stopped in front of the camp resort, everyone was cheering. They had arrived at a lakeside retreat surrounded by pine trees and hills. The air was fresh and cool, filled with the sound of chirping birds and laughter.
The teachers divided everyone into rooms — boys on one side, girls on the other. Aria shared a room with two of her friends, while Ethan's room was across the hall.
At lunch, Aria and her friends took endless selfies and silly videos. Ethan, walking by with his friends, leaned into one of their pictures at the last moment.
"Ethan!" Aria exclaimed, glaring at him.
"You're welcome for making it better," he said, smirking.
Her friends laughed as she shook her head, trying not to laugh too.
After lunch came the outdoor games. Ethan and Aria were put on the same team. She tried to act serious, but he kept teasing her whenever she missed a shot.
"Do you even know how to aim?"
"Do you even know how to stop talking?" she fired back.
Their teammates laughed as Ethan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, you win this round."
---
When evening fell, the teachers announced a campfire night. Everyone gathered around a crackling fire, roasting marshmallows and singing songs. The golden glow of the flames flickered across Aria's face as she laughed with her friends.
Ethan came over, stealing the marshmallow from her stick.
"Hey! That was mine!"
"It was burning. I saved it," he said, eating it before she could react.
"You—you thief!" she exclaimed, smacking his arm.
"Now it's perfectly golden," he teased. "You're welcome."
"Then eat it yourself!"
"Gladly."
Their classmates started cheering for them to sing a duet. Aria's face turned red. "No way!"
Ethan, of course, began singing off-key on purpose, making everyone laugh until Aria finally joined in just to stop him. Their voices blended awkwardly but adorably, and by the end, the class was clapping and whistling.
---
Later, when the campfire was almost out, Ethan and Aria stood at a distance from the crowd, watching the reflection of the stars in the lake.
"This place is beautiful," she whispered.
"Yeah," he said, not looking at the view but at her.
She caught his gaze and smiled shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thanks for not letting this trip be boring."
Ethan grinned. "Anytime, girlfriend."
She gasped, cheeks turning red. "We're in public, Ethan!"
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Then I'll just whisper it next time."
Before heading back to her cabin, Aria threw a marshmallow at him.
"You missed!" he called after her, catching it mid-air.
"I wasn't aiming properly!" she replied, laughing as she walked away.
Ethan stood there watching her go, a small smile on his lips — the kind that comes when your heart feels lighter than the air around you.
---
That night, when Aria lay in her bed, the faint sound of crickets filled the quiet air. She hugged her pillow, thinking about every small moment — the bus ride, the laughter, the campfire, Ethan's teasing, his smile.
And without realizing it, she whispered softly to herself before drifting into sleep,
"Good night… boyfriend."
Across the hall, in his room, Ethan was wide awake — smiling at his phone, typing the same words she had just whispered.