Between the Lies

25| Picture

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

Picture

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Chapter 25: Picture (Vanessa's POV)

"Everybody is already at the waterfalls, last I heard from Zach," Jade replied. 

"The lower falls?" Aaron asked, pocketing his phone. 

"I don't know, I guess we'll find out when we get there," she replied. 

We had just parked the car and were now on our way to the waterfalls. It's about a five-minute walk to the lower level from what Aaron says and from there it's a little longer to get to the higher level. 

"Since Aaron is our tour guide," Thomas sighed, patting his shoulder, "he should lead the way." 

"I have never in my life been to Hawaii, let alone these waterfalls," Aaron mumbled, "but sure." 

"Great. We'll follow Aaron and Van," Daisy agreed. 

I turned to Aaron as we started walking. "Do you know where we're going?" 

"No," he sighed, slowing down when we hit the slippery and damp soil. We walked straight ahead, following the trail but being careful not to slip. At one point, we reached a steep point. "We have to go down to reach the lower levels, from there we take the new trail to go up," Aaron huffed, glancing at my sandals. "You could have worn something a bit better, no? Something that could at least prevent a sprain if you fall." 

"Why would I fall? You'll catch me, right?" I smiled. I ignored the chuckles behind us and lifted my brows at him. "Let's go." 

Aaron took the bag from me. "You don't need anything disrupting your balance," he mumbled, grabbing my hand and locking our fingers together. There were trees all around us, some of them dripping water, most of them just providing shade. 

"How many bugs do you think are here?" Jade asked. 

"None, please tell me none," Daisy whined. We stopped when someone behind us yelped and I turned in time to see Daisy slipping but Julian caught her, steadying her. 

"Stop thinking about bugs if you don't want to fall," he sighed. 

Aaron took a step forward, tugging at my hand. I followed, watching each step I took. Going downhill, you walk faster than you would. "Walk on your heels, Vanessa," Aaron instructed. "You'll fall if you walk on your toes." 

"How do you walk on your heels when you're going down a hill?" 

"You try," he deadpanned, glancing at me over his shoulder. 

I tried. It didn't work. So, I started walking on my toes again but then I just slipped forward. I gasped, stumbling ahead in quick steps. Aaron stopped and spun around to face me right before I crashed into him. My hands flew to his shoulders so I could catch myself while he secured an arm around my waist, sighing in annoyance. 

He looked from the others behind us to me. "See. I told you you'd slip," he whispered, holding my gaze. 

I blinked, frozen.