Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
"The guys are already at the cabin," Riley said, looking up from her phone. Her voice carried a hint of excitement, mirroring the anticipation bubbling within me.
As our car pulled up the gravel driveway, the towering trees cast long shadows over the lush surroundings. The air was cold, and I was hoping the cabin would be warm enough to keep us cozy.
We parked next to the other car, which belonged to Lucas, and hurriedly unbuckled our seatbelts, eager to join our friends. The sound of car doors opening and closing echoed through the quiet evening as we all jumped out. I looked at the luxurious cabin we would be staying in for the next week and felt a rush of excitement.
The guys emerged from the cabin, smiles and waves greeting us. "What took you guys so long?" Max called out, a playful grin on his face. 
Max was the wild card of our group, always ready for an adventure or a bit of trouble. His energy and spontaneity brought an exciting edge to our dynamic and his carefree manner made it comfortable to be around him. He was the tallest of the three guys, standing at about 6'2", with a runner's build. He had a rectangular face shape, with sharp angles and a defined chin, and his light brown eyes were always alight with excitement. He kept his black hair in a neat buzzcut, accentuating his striking features and out of everyone his fashion sense was more eclectic and daring, often wearing bold colors, vintage finds, and quirky accessories that made him stand out.
"We had some car trouble," Kayla chimed in, breaking the momentary silence as she walked past the guys and into the cabin. Her nonchalant tone belied the inconvenience we had faced on our journey here.
Lucas furrowed his brow, his gaze shifting to the three of us girls. "What kind of car trouble?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. Riley made her way over to him, planting a quick kiss on his lips, making me smile at them. 
Riley and Lucas had met at a party in the beginning of freshman year, and their outgoing personalities clashed in the best possible way. Lucas had a natural charisma that drew people to him, making him the life of any party. They were what us girls all liked to refer to as #couplegoals. Lucas was athletic and well-built, standing at about 6 feet tall. In contrast to Riley his style was casual, often wearing fitted jeans, graphic tees, and a leather jacket that added to his effortlessly cool persona. He had a strong jawline and prominent cheekbones, with deep blue eyes that always seemed to be filled with mischief and confidence and his dark brown hair was usually styled in a casual, tousled look. Their personalities not only matched, but they were an aesthetically gorgeous couple as well.
"Serpentine belt snapped or something," Riley explained casually. "Had to call roadside assistance."
Jason's eyes met mine at that moment, a silent exchange passing between us. He had a small smile and a raised eyebrow, and I couldn't help but return his smile, both of us undoubtedly recalling the shared memory of our own roadside encounter.
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6 months ago
When I saw his silver Chevrolet pull up, I let out a sigh of relief. He parked next to my car and turned off his engine. As he went to open his door, I felt a surge of nervousness at his close proximity.
"Hey," I said when he stepped out.
"Hey," he replied. I expected him to say something else, but he just watched me intently. I looked at the ground in discomfort.
"Let's take a look, then," he said, pointing to my car after a few moments of silence.
"Uh, yeah. Sure." I moved aside and let him check out what was wrong.