Chapter 1

Caleb's Point-of-View

Richard Clark, the class representative, hadn't even finished assigning the rooms, yet the atmosphere had already become electric.

Richard handed out red wristbands while loudly reminding everyone, saying, "You're paired up as long as you have matching numbers! You're grouped together for this three-day, two-night trip based on your wristband color. You're not allowed to go off on your own!"

There was a chorus of whistles sounding through the crowd, with a few young women deliberately teasing Faye Lister with meaningful glances.

Xavier Jensen still wore a smile as he fastened the wristband and casually took Faye's bag. Faye blushed even harder and hid behind him with her small frame. Xavier smoothly removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders before addressing the crowd. "Oh, enough messing around. Faye gets shy easily."

"Oh, my! Xavier is being so protective already! You guys better watch out. If you make Faye unhappy, Xavier will come after us!"

In that instant, the crowd's teasing quickly swelled into a collective clamor.

I was standing away from everyone else, clutching a ball in one hand and lugging a heavy suitcase in the other.

Faye shoved her belongings into my suitcase before we left for this trip, saying, "You'll be the one carrying my bags when we get there anyway, and you wouldn't be able to manage an extra suitcase of your own."

She then pointed at my newly bought coat and asked, "What about that one? I heard the nights are cold there, so that can be mine to wear."

In the three years we had been together, Faye had never acted intimately with me in front of our classmates, let alone worn my coat.

I was thrilled, believing she would announce our relationship during the trip, but on the first day, she was in Xavier's coat, and even the bag she said I would carry ended up on his shoulder instead.

I was lugging a very heavy suitcase, straining my entire side and sending sharp pains from my fingertips to my shoulder. I bent down, let go of the handle, and cleared my throat to steady my voice. I then raised my hand and said tentatively, "Uh, excuse me…"

It was then that everyone's attention shifted toward me, and Richard, still unable to hide his excitement, asked, "What's up, Caleb? Do you have something to say about this arrangement since you're Xavier's roommate?"

Xavier went stiff, a faint, awkward smile playing on his lips. Faye snapped her eyes up, her expression both anxious and cautious. She was worried for nothing, though.

I merely showed them the ball I was holding and asked, "Who has number 3?"

Richard glanced around and caught someone waving from across the crowd, saying, "I have!"

It turned out to be a young woman from our class who rarely drew any attention to herself.

Richard chuckled. "It turns out to be Ruth Hall! You're single, right, Ruth?"

He then turned to me and asked, "How about you, Caleb? You can pair up if you're single too; otherwise, I'll arrange for you to room with a guy instead—"

I calmly interrupted him, saying, "I'm single."

I caught Faye's expression softening and then tightening again out of the corner of my eye. She shifted her gaze toward Ruth, but Richard had already taken out the orange wristbands, saying, "That's great, then! You're both single, so maybe we'll see another couple by the end of the trip!"

I took the wristband from Richard and nodded slightly, saying, "Thanks."

I could feel someone watching me as I picked up the suitcase again. I wasn't sure what she looked like at the moment, but I assumed she was probably just relieved.

Anyway, once the room assignments were settled, everyone started lining up to check in.

Xavier left to call home, while Faye stalled for time, presenting their IDs only after I was the only one left in line.