"Hey, don’t go near the edge of the river, it might be deep," her older brother warned.
"Yeah, yeah, tsk," she muttered irritably, settling herself down a bit too close for comfort by the side of the river. 
The cool, slight wet of earth beneath her hands seemed to mirror the storm brewing inside her.
Dylan’s eyes followed her every move, catching the way her shoulders tensed, her frown deepening as she sat alone, away from the group.
"Ivy!" Dylan called out, urging her to join them.
Nearby, her brother tended to the sizzling pork barbecue, the smoky aroma filling the air as Lila helped with the preparations. But Ivy wasn’t interested in food or company. She just shook her head in disapproval, her stubbornness as unwavering as the current before her.
Dylan’s smile faltered, a pang of disappointment flashing across his face. Aria, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in his mood. Without a second thought, Dylan left the water, droplets glistening on his skin as he walked over to where Ivy sat.
"Come on, let’s swim," he offered his hand.
She sighed heavily, the weight of her own fears pulling her down. "I-I don’t know how to swim."
Dylan chuckled, "Pft, the water there isn’t even deep. And besides, you can hold on to me if you're nervous about stepping in."
His smile was so reassuring, so genuine, that Ivy found herself wavering. The edge of fear she clung to began to soften, melting away under the warmth of his gaze. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
As they made their way toward Sadie and Aria, Dylan led Ivy deeper into the river, the cool water lapping against their legs.
Ivy suddenly clung to him upon realizing the water was a bit deeper than expected. She nervously glanced at her older brother and felt relieved when she saw he was busy barbecuing with Lila.
"My gosh, should it suppose to be by fairs?" Sadie chuckled.
"N-No! It’s just that the water is a bit deep," Ivy stammered.
Aria cast her a reassuring smile that didn’t go unnoticed by Aria, though her attention quickly shifted back to Ivy. "Then why did you even come here if the water’s deep?" she challenged, a teasing lilt in her voice.
"What are you trying to say, Aria?" Dylan asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.
Aria flashed a fake smile, "You should’ve told us, Ivy, so we could’ve taught you first. Do you want us to teach you?"
"Really?" Ivy's eyes sparkled with excitement, hope blooming in her chest.
With a nod from Aria and Sadie, they took Ivy under their wings, guiding her through the basics of swimming while Dylan stayed close, a steady presence she relied on.
Minutes slipped by, and Ivy struggled but soon found her rhythm, learning how to float, a skill that made her heart soar, even if she hadn’t mastered any strokes yet.
"Wow! You’re a fast learner," Dylan praised, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
Ivy beamed, her shyness melting away. "Thank you for teaching me."
"Come on up and eat!" Lila shouted from the side of the river while Ethan prepared the food for everyone.
As they began to walk toward the shore, Dylan and Sadie walked ahead, leaving Aria to linger behind, her eyes glinting with mischief as she executed her plan.
Just as Ivy was about to take another step, Aria subtly blocked her foot, sending Ivy stumbling into the water. Panic surged through her as she flailed, struggling against the depths she had only just begun to conquer.
"Ivy!" Sadie screamed, horror etched on her face as she turned around.
Dylan dashed toward her, adrenaline pumping through his veins, while Ethan, spotting the chaos from a distance, leaped into the river, his instincts kicking in to save Ivy. Aria feigned concern, her expression a mask of fake worry.
"I told you, didn't I? Don't go into the middle or the deep part!" Ethan scolded, his voice a mix of frustration and worry.
"I told you, didn’t I? Don’t go into the middle or the deep part!" Ethan scolded, his voice thick with frustration and fear as he hoisted Ivy out of the water and onto solid ground, where Lila and the others awaited anxiously.
"Aria, what happened? You were right behind her, weren’t you?" Sadie asked.
Ivy sputtered, coughing as river water surged down her throat, the shock of the fall still pulsing through her.
"Huh? I-I don’t know," she gasped, her heart racing.
Ethan shot a suspicious glare at Aria while gently patting Ivy's back, his protective instincts on high alert. "Are you sure?" he pressed, doubt lingering in his voice.
"I don’t know, she just suddenly fell while walking," Aria reasoned. "Maybe she stepped on a slippery rock."
But Ethan wasn’t buying it. His eyes narrowed as he studied her, still unconvinced.
"Brother, I’m okay," Ivy insisted, breathing heavily, the fear fading away but leaving behind an uneasy feeling.
"Okay? If we hadn’t noticed you right away, do you think you'd still be okay? Tell me, Ivy, what happened when you were coming out of the water?" Ethan demanded, his voice a mix of concern and frustration.
Lila sat down beside Ivy, her hand soothingly resting on her shoulder. She met Ethan’s gaze and subtly shook her head, urging him to calm down.
"Brother, I’m really okay. Please, let’s not make a big deal out of this," Ivy pleaded, her eyes wide and earnest.
Ignoring her plea, Ethan stood up, the tension in his posture revealing his need to regain control of the situation as he returned to preparing the food.
"It’s okay," Lila replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes when she turned to Aria. "Let’s eat. It’s almost evening, and we need to reach the campsite before it gets dark."
"Are you afraid of the dark?" Aria shot back, a slight teasing grin plastered on her face.
Lila walked over, lowering her voice as she whispered, "Why? Afraid of being outshined? Do you even have the right?"
Aria was too taken aback to respond. Lila, however, maintained her facade, her smile radiant enough to mask any tension from the others.
"I'm not afraid of the dark, but I am afraid of something you can’t see," Lila chuckled lightly, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Just kidding!"
She turned away from Aria, rejoining the group to help prepare their lunch.
Ivy watched the exchange, her heart sinking as she caught the flicker of anger in Aria’s eyes. It was a side of her that felt strange, as if she were someone entirely different from the person Ivy thought she knew.