Ashley organises the hike

Once dinner was finished and everyone had eaten their fill, Ashley called for everyone to join her in the living area. They gathered up on the sofas and chairs much as they had done earlier, except this time it was Ashley doing the announcing rather than Heather.

"Ok, so I've already spoken to most of you about this, but I'm planning a hike for tomorrow." Ashley clasped her hands in front of her as she looked around at the faces of her friends staring back at her. "A lot has happened over the past few days and so I think we just need a day where we can be carefree. Heather's right, this trip was meant to be fun, and it hasn't been."

"No thanks to you," Chloe called out.

No thanks to you either Victoria thought but couldn't say it aloud. Not after she had fucked Zack in the dark just before dinner. The only difference between them was that Victoria hadn't got caught.

"I'll take my share of the blame," Ashley admitted. "Which is why I thought of this and why I'm trying to do right by everyone who's still around. Now, Heather says there's a waterfall and some caves up there, so I'm thinking that we can hike up the trail and then split off into two groups if some people want to go to the caves and others want to go to the waterfall."

"I think it sounds amazing," Zack said, trying to be supportive, but instead Ashley only frowned at him.

"Oh, Zack, I don't know if you'll be able to come. You're still recovering and it might be a long walk to either one," Ashley reached over and stroked his shoulder in sympathy.

Across the room, Chloe's eyes narrowed as she listened to Ashley try to convince her own boyfriend to stay behind. The redhead thought back to her conversation with Ashley and Heather earlier and how adamant Ashley seemed to be that Zack would have to stay behind. It was almost like the blonde cheerleader didn't want Zack to come along. But that didn't make any sense. Why wouldn’t she want her new boyfriend by her side on the hike?

"I can confirm that it is a very long walk," Heather assured them. "But it's worth it. Especially the waterfall. It's so majestic."

"I'm feeling a bit better now though," Zack protested. "And you can't expect me to stay behind by myself?"

Ashley glanced towards Lisa whose arm shot up seconds later, the small Latina bouncing in her seat beside Zack, beaming as she volunteered.

"I'll stay behind," she offered.

"Wait," Chloe cut in. "Why you and not Ashley?"

"Well, this was Ashley's idea. It's only fair that she gets to go," Lisa lied as she matched Chloe's gaze. Chloe frowned, unable to refute the point but still not quite convinced.

Unfortunately, Gavin interjected before Chloe's inquiry could go any further.

"I think I'll stay behind too." Gavin said. "Those caves sound cool, but I'm not so much in favour of the walking."

"Yes, you are," Kurt told him.

"I...am?" Gavin said, unsure if this was part of his training.

"Kurt, he doesn't have to go if he doesn't want to," Zack said, thinking that it might be useful to have a buffer between himself and Lisa at the cabin.

"Sure, but I just know he'll want to go. He should trust me," Kurt said pointedly towards Gavin. The whole group looked to the nerdy, dark haired boy, wondering if he understood any of this cryptic conversation that none of the rest did.

"Uh, ok then," Gavin relented. "Count me in."

"Excellent," said Ashley, clapping her hands and bringing her meeting to an end. "I suggest we leave first thing after breakfast tomorrow. That should give us plenty of time to enjoy ourselves."

Everyone agreed. As soon as it was clear that Ashley was finished speaking, Kurt jumped up and grabbed Gavin. He pulled him out of the living area and out on to the wooden decking, closing the glass doors behind him so that they could talk privately.