He began to realize she treated almost everyone with the same distant politeness.

There were only a few people she showed real warmth to—

and somehow, he had made the list.

He figured it had something to do with what they had discovered a few days earlier.

One afternoon, when Will came home from school,

his mother caught him the moment he stepped through the door.

She pulled him aside and asked,

"Do you want to see the cutest thing ever?"

She pointed toward the dining table, where his younger sister, Alex,

was sitting next to one of her classmates—

still in their school uniforms,

leaning over notebooks and textbooks,

doing homework together,

stealing glances at each other with pink cheeks and shy smiles.

Will and his mom melted on the spot.

They tiptoed closer like they were approaching a pair of rare, delicate creatures.

If Alex had a boyfriend,

they absolutely had to meet him.

They found out the kid’s name was Eli. Both he and Alex turned bright red when Will hinted that they were more than just classmates working on an assignment together.

Will and his mother wanted to invite Eli to stay for dinner, but he said he would eat at home—his sister or his mom was supposed to pick him up soon.

When Will opened the door to let Eli out, he was surprised to see Megan standing there. Both of them were caught off guard at the sight of each other.

Once Megan realized she was indeed at the right house, she stepped inside, a little embarrassed at first. But as soon as they started complimenting her brother, she smiled warmly.

"I’m glad I finally got to put a face to the person he’s always talking about," she said softly.

They all chuckled quietly, and a moment later, Eli came out with his bag, ready to go.

He walked over and hugged her, and she hugged him back, running a hand gently through his hair.

"You ready?" she asked, and he nodded.

She turned to Will’s mom and said, "You have a lovely home," and then to Will, "I’ll see you at school."

Later that night, Will told his mom who Megan was. She was a bit shocked.

"She does not seem like that kind of girl. I’m sure there’s more to the story than what meets the eye," she said.

Will nodded and shared the theory he had come up with over the time he had known them.

His mom listened, then slowly nodded in agreement.

Will's mood had started to sink. He did not have the chance to talk with his best friend as much as he wanted.

Then he got the news: his grade was going on a school trip, an overnight stay at a youth hostel.

Since he barely knew anyone in his class, he could only hope that Morgan and Taylor would end up sharing a room with him.

From what he had seen, the students were split about the trip—some were excited, others less thrilled or simply uninterested.

Since the trip was part of the academic program, skipping it required special permission, and Will knew that even if his mom would understand, she would never let him miss it.

She would see it as a perfect chance for him to meet new people.

Two days before the trip, during lunch break, Will took his food and went to eat outside alone.

After a few minutes, Morgan approached him and sat down next to him.

"Hey, Will. How are you feeling?" he asked, his expression serious and concerned.

"Fine. How about you?"

"I noticed things are tense between you and Taylor. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Will looked at him. There was something sincere in him that made Will feel how much Morgan truly cared about his friends. He wondered how many problems could be solved if people just sat down and had a real heart-to-heart talk.

"I do not think so..." Will finally answered quietly.

Morgan pressed his lips into a thin line. They sat in silence for a moment.

"I heard we need three people in a room," he finally said. "If you did not already promise someone else... do you want to join me and Taylor?"

Will looked at him, unsure. Taylor had barely spoken to him all week. They only exchanged a quick hello when they passed in the halls, and he had not texted or called.

"I do not want to overstep," Will said honestly. "I do not want to make Taylor uncomfortable."

"Why would you say that?" Morgan looked surprised.

"Look, I know that in relationships there are ups and downs, and I noticed you and Taylor are in a down right now. But I want you to know that I am also your friend.

I do not mind you being in the room with us – on the contrary.

I know it will push Taylor out of his comfort zone, and to be honest? I actually think it will be good for him."

"Really? That is what you say to your best friend’s boyfriend? I expected at least a 'if you hurt my friend, you will regret it' or something like that," Will said jokingly.

Morgan smiled brightly. "No, I would not say that. I know you are a good guy."

"Thanks. It will make things easier for me if we share a room. I am only familiar with you and Taylor. I do not think I could sleep in an unfamiliar environment," Will said sincerely.

"Then it is settled. The three of us will share a room."

Will’s feelings were mixed. He really wanted to get to know people at school, but something about the place was holding him back. He did not know if it was the pretending with Taylor, or if there was something else about the school that he had not discovered yet.

He and Morgan kept talking. Morgan made him laugh with stories about his teammates.

Will talked with Daniel that evening and found out that Daniel also had a school trip coming up. He said he wished they could meet during the trip because he finally wanted to see him after such a long time. Will wished for that too. He joked and said that if he saw him, he would give him a big hug.

Man, he really missed him. When he went to sleep, he really wished he could see him. He made a promise to himself that the weekend after the trip, he would go to his old hometown to see all his friends.

The day of the trip came, and Will dragged a suitcase that his mom insisted he take. It was packed with everything he would need for a night away from home. She packed him sheets and towels—because even if they are provided, it is always better to bring your own. Toiletries, two sets of clothes to change into, two pairs of shoes—she even managed to squeeze in a pillow and a light blanket.

Will did not have the energy to argue with her, so he just took what she gave him.

Before he got out of the car, she told him she had packed some snacks in his backpack that he was welcome to share with his friends. They hugged, and she promised him that things were going to work out.

Will was not sure exactly how things were supposed to work out, but he knew it was one of those things parents say to help their kid feel comfortable.

He walked to where the other kids were standing, waiting for instructions from the teachers about which bus to load their stuff onto and get on.

Morgan and Megan came and stood near him.

"What's up, roomie?" Morgan asked him.

He laughed. "Fine. What about you two? Did you bring everything you need?"

He saw that Megan had also brought a suitcase, but Morgan had brought a duffel bag. Morgan smiled proudly and patted his bag.

"I brought everything I need."

"You sure? It doesn't seem like you have enough clothes in there. What about toiletries?"

Megan rolled her eyes. "He usually borrows from me or Taylor." She looked at his suitcase and said, "It seems you came prepared."

"Yeah... but I have to give my mum all the credit. My head's not in the right place right now, so she packed my suitcase and even my backpack..." Will sighed. "I feel like I'm seven years old again."

Megan came closer to him and asked in a low voice, "Everything okay?"

He nodded to her, and she said, "If you want to talk..."

He smiled at her in gratitude.

"Taylor! We're here," Morgan shouted and waved to Taylor over all the kids' heads.

"Hey," he greeted them.

Megan sighed when she saw that Taylor had also brought a duffle bag.

"Seriously? You too?"

"What?" he asked, confused.

Morgan held up his duffle bag to show Taylor what the conversation was about.

"I do not see the problem..." Taylor told them.

"You sure you have all the things you need for an overnight trip?" she asked him skeptically.

"Yes. I managed to shove in clothes, a towel, and my hair products and body wash," Taylor tried to justify himself.

Megan and Will exchanged a glance at Taylor’s last words.

"Hair products?" Will asked with amusement. "I did not know your hair needed preparation."

Taylor blushed. "It is just shampoo and conditioner with flower extract..."

Morgan put an arm around Taylor’s shoulder.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Tay. And as a sign of loyalty, I am willing to use your hair products."

Before anyone could respond, one of the teachers began reading the list of students for the first bus.

The four of them were assigned to the second bus. Will went to load his suitcase, and Morgan took his girlfriend's suitcase as well.

Before they boarded the bus to save seats, Megan stopped Taylor and told him that Will is feeling a bit under the weather.

He frowned.

He did not think she had the right to say that to him after everything she had put him through.

She did not have the right to worry about his 'boyfriend'. no matter their fake relationship.

When Will and Morgan got on the bus and sat in the seats Megan and Taylor had saved for them,

luckily, Taylor had left him the window seat, so he could lean on it—

because judging by Taylor's expression, small talk did not seem to be part of the ride.

So he rested his head against the window and closed his eyes,

trying to push past the longing for his friends from his old town.

He had tried to reach out to them that morning, but it seemed they were busy.

He did not realize he had fallen asleep until the bus stopped and the teacher told them to get off the bus in an orderly manner.

When he got out, he noticed that there were a lot more buses than he had seen on the way.

The teachers told them to stick together and not get lost.

At that moment, a blur tackled Will to the ground.