PROLOGUE
From the last chapter of Before Summer.
The sun rose over the serene campground, casting a golden hue across the dewy grass. The crisp morning air was filled with the sounds of nature-birds chirping, leaves rustling-and the faint chatter of campers packing up their gear. It was the last day of the summer camp, and while excitement for home mingled with the reluctance to leave, the kids busied themselves with stuffing clothes into bags and gathering up keepsakes from the two-week adventure.
In one of the cabins, Cyrus zipped up Noah's duffel bag with a sigh. "Can't believe it's over already." She was helping him pack.
Noah, sitting on the edge of his bunk, nodded as he folded his last T-shirt. "Yeah, but I'm ready to sleep in my own bed again. Plus, no more surprise raccoon visits at night."
Cyrus laughed. "You know you're going to miss the raccoons, Noah."
Noah grinned and playfully bumped shoulders with Cyrus. "Maybe. But not as much as I'm going to miss you."
Cyrus blushed, but before she could respond, the door swung open, and Maddie, looking flustered, poked her head in. "You guys almost done? Breakfast is starting soon."
Noah stood up, shouldering his bag. "Yep, just finished. You?"
Maddie shrugged. "Almost. Lily's having a bit of a crisis with her suitcase, though."
Cyrus chuckled. "Typical Lily. Let's go help her out."
The three of them walked out of the cabin, the morning light making the campsite seem almost magical. Other campers were also packing up, a mix of high schoolers and middle schoolers, all with varying levels of enthusiasm about returning home.
After everyone had finished packing, they made their way to the dining hall for breakfast. The hall was alive with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of cutlery against plates. The aroma of pancakes and syrup filled the air, a comforting scent that everyone would miss.
Lily, seated between Jake and Emma, was still grumbling about her stubborn suitcase. "Honestly, I think it's alive. I zipped it up, and it just popped right back open!"
Jake chuckled, passing her a plate of pancakes. "Maybe it's trying to tell you to stay."
"Very funny, Jake," Lily replied, rolling her eyes but smiling.
Across the table, Max watched the exchange with a mixture of annoyance and longing. He'd tried to get closer to Lily during camp, but it was clear her attention was elsewhere. Olivia noticed his expression and nudged him.
"Cheer up, Max. We've still got today, right?" Olivia said, trying to lift his spirits.
Max nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, you're right."
After breakfast, the camp counselors gathered everyone outside for the final activity of the camp-a memory walk. The idea was simple: the campers would take a stroll around the campsite, stopping at key locations to share their favorite memories from the past two weeks. It was a chance to reflect, laugh, and savor the last moments together.
As the group meandered through the familiar paths, they stopped at the lake where they'd had their first campfire, the clearing where the talent show had taken place, and the ropes course that had challenged even the most daring among them.
Emma walked beside Alex, the guy she'd met during camp. They'd clicked almost instantly, bonding over their shared love for books and hiking. Now, they walked in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging glances that spoke volumes.
"This was fun," Alex said softly, breaking the silence as they approached the final stop-a large oak tree that had served as the camp's central meeting point.
"It really was," Emma agreed. "I'm glad we met."
"Me too," Alex replied, his smile warm and genuine.
Nearby, Joey and Jordan walked hand in hand, a picture of young love. Will, Mike, and Sam trailed behind them, pretending to gag at the sight.
"Seriously, Joey? You're making the rest of us look bad," Mike teased, though there was no real malice in his tone.
Joey just grinned, squeezing Jordan's hand. "Maybe you guys should step up your game, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah," Sam muttered, though he couldn't help but laugh.
As the memory walk concluded, the campers gathered back near the buses. The counselors thanked them for their participation, and everyone clapped and cheered, a final show of camaraderie.
With the last goodbyes said, the kids began boarding the buses. The high schoolers naturally gravitated towards the back, while the middle schoolers claimed the front seats, excitedly chatting about the trip home.
Cyrus and Noah found seats near the middle, still wrapped up in their own world, while Liam sat beside Maddie, the awkward tension between them almost palpable.
"So...," Liam started, trying to think of something to say.
"So...," Maddie echoed, twirling a strand of hair nervously.
They both fell silent, neither knowing quite how to navigate the new dynamic between them. Meanwhile, Max sulked in his seat as he watched Lily and Jake sitting together a few rows ahead. Olivia sat beside him, trying to distract him with stories from the camp, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
At the front of the bus, Brad and Nick were engaged in a playful argument over who would get to sit next to Ava and Lexi.
"I called dibs first!" Brad insisted, grabbing his bag from the seat.
"No way, I was here first!" Nick shot back, refusing to budge.
Ava and Lexi watched the exchange with amused smiles, clearly enjoying the attention.
As the bus started to fill up, Emma and Alex managed to snag seats together near the middle, while Joey and Jordan settled into the back, still holding hands. Will, Mike, and Sam grumbled as they found seats nearby, casting envious glances at the couple.
Joey caught their looks and smirked. "Maybe next year, guys."
"Keep dreaming," Will shot back, though he couldn't help but laugh.
The last of the campers boarded, and the bus doors closed with a hiss. The ride was filled with the usual antics-loud conversations, jokes being passed around, and the occasional sing-along to whatever song blared from someone's phone. The middle schoolers were especially noisy, their energy seemingly boundless even after two weeks of camp activities.
In the back, Joey and Jordan leaned against each other, talking quietly. Maddie kept sneaking glances at Liam, who was doing his best to look anywhere but at her. Noah and Cyrus shared a pair of earbuds, listening to music and exchanging the occasional smile.
Max was still brooding, but Olivia managed to get him to crack a smile by recounting a particularly funny moment from the talent show. Meanwhile, Jake and Lily were deep in conversation, their heads close together as they talked about their plans for the rest of the summer.
One of the camp instructors, a tall man with a clipboard, stood at the front of the bus, doing a final headcount. He glanced up from his list and called out, "Alright, everyone, are we all here? Anyone missing?"
The campers paused their conversations and looked around, making sure all their friends were accounted for. Liam, who had been half-listening while staring out the window, suddenly frowned and began scanning the rows of seats.
"Wait a second," Liam muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His confusion grew as he continued to search the faces on the bus.
The instructor looked at Liam. "What is it, Liam? Did we forget someone?"
Liam's eyes widened slightly as he turned back to the instructor. "Where's Than?"
A few kids near him turned to look, confused.
Jake, sitting across the aisle, furrowed his brow. "Who?"
Liam blinked, as if realizing his mistake. "I mean, Where's Ethan?"
A pause spread through the bus, followed by an awkward silence as everyone looked around, trying to spot their missing friend. The instructor scanned his list again, eyebrows knitting together.
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, wondering how they could have missed noticing that Ethan wasn't there. The tension in the air was palpable as the reality of the situation began to sink in.
