Cheering and moving forward

It is a small lake surrounding a few miles. The spread-out green lawn stretched around the edges allowing the kids to carry on unobstructedly with their activity.

Everyone circled the lake freely choosing their spot to either stand or sit down and tossed their baits onto the still water, making ripples along the way trying to catch a fish.

Carmel is teamed up with her friend and roommate, Sara. They positioned in front of a willow tree giving them the shade, and cool breeze. As soon as the students got presented with their fishing gears, they hit the lake and started throwing the lures to test their luck.

Sara helped Carmel to bait a hook with a worm. However, when she was about to pick a hookworm, Carmel hissed and gestured.

Carmel handed Sara stacked tissues huddled together into a cone. Sara received and felt something mushy inside; she uncovered it and noticed tiny meat pieces within.

"What the hell is this?" Sara exclaimed.

"It's chicken liver I got it from the kitchen staff. We'll use this it to lure in the fishes. Maybe we can catch some bass or mackerel if we're lucky."

"Woah, I never thought of it. Awesome Carmel, let's try it. Maybe we could get lucky and catch the biggest lake water fish," Sara replied furiously.

She took a piece of the chicken liver and used it as the bait to lure the fish. Carmel was casting the rod and controlled the reel.

The first try failed.

The second try failed with the fish snatching away the meat as Carmel lost control to the reel.

The third try went smooth with another fresh piece of meat acting as the bait, but it failed to seduce any fish.

Carmel withdrew the rod, relaxed the reel, and took a short break before going to their fourth try.

The fourth try started as Carmel properly set the drag on the fishing reel.

She maintained the 45-degree angle perfectly, aiming it straight towards the fish and waited.

Within a few minutes, the fish got lured in by the meat. The size of the fish appeared to be medium-sized but a thick one as it put a significant bend on their fishing rod. Carmel struggled initially with the reeling, but her hands kept applying even pressure as she lowered the rod tip back down to 45 degrees.

After a while of struggling, the fish slowed down and stopped taking the line off the reel.

Work began as Carmel started pulling out the fish without letting it take command. She pumped, lifted, and reeled while checking the tension applied to the rod at the same time. With finesse and absolute control, soon the fish came soaring out the water.

The girls screamed in joy as they saw it was black crappie. Carmel was able to identify it due to her previous experience. Her family used to take a vacation on islands where the girl tried fishing a few times. Those experiences gave her a lot of courage and confidence in today's performance.

Sara prepared the bucket filled with lake water immediately to store the fish. As soon as Carmel pulled out, the fish started to struggle, battling for its life. The guides nearby noticed their team and immediately rushed to help them. Under their guidance, the girls were able to succeed.

Carmel and Sara worked together and became the first pair to catch a fish, a solid one. Despite the failures, they did it after a long wait. The nearby teenagers gathered and applauded for them. Josh, who was a little far away also, came to congratulate Carmel.

Seeing Josh and Carmel together, Josh's friends roared and supported receiving attention from all.

...

"Woah, look at them together," one of the girls mentioned.

"I'm jealous, Josh Ryder, is taken now," another girl joined.

"Carmel is a lucky girl."

"Who confessed first?" one of the girls asked curiously.

"I heard Josh did it."

"I heard that it was Carmel," the other girl blurted.

"No way, I heard it from one of the guys that it was Josh Ryder. He took her out for a walk and then confessed. You have seen those two recently, right. They were so close; I kind off expected it already. I mean, its Carmel, who would even compete with her."

When one of the girls ended spilling the secrets, the other listened to it attentively.

Josh Ryder, the captain of school basketball team dating Carmel, it was like breaking news to their classmates and friends.

When both returned together from Yesterday, Josh's friends cheered for him. A few of the girls who were present nearby heard the celebration and started sharing it. Within a single night, the entire crowd was aware of Carmel and Josh's news.

Hence, when Josh came to wish Carmel on her first catch, the others gave space and shouted for the two. Carmel blushed silently while Josh gently hugged her from the sides.

From far stood Bridgette, watching the two together, her heart ached.

Josh did tell her that he was planning to confess, but she never thought that he would do it on the same day. Bridgette didn't expect it. So when she heard it, it broke her spirit.

After talking with Josh, Bridgette returned to her room and cried for a long time. Ivy woke up and saw the scene. When she dared, Bridgette told her everything that has happened so far. That day, Ivy didn't leave Bridgette's side and made sure that she was not feeling lonely. Also, when Ivy heard that Josh had confessed to Carmel and that succeeded Ivy didn't get angry. Instead, she remained with Bridgette, silently watching her from breaking out.

…

Bridgette's broken heart was still recovering, and so, it throbbed in pain when she saw everyone cheering for Josh and Carmel.

"It's alright, Bri" Ivy patted her shoulders from behind.

"It's Carmel, our Carmel."

"Leave, if it is not meant, for you, then you don't need it. You will find an even more attractive guy in the future. Just relax and help me catch one of those bastards. I will grill them for you like how they do in movies."

Ivy's words brought a slight smile to Bridgette as she let out a little chuckle. She sensed the truth behind those words. Ivy didn't mean to hurt Bridgette but had only said it to reassure her friend. Ivy's voice was sturdy and meant every word she uttered.

Bridgette quietly acknowledged. All of these, strained her health, she appeared pale and weak. If not for Ivy, she would have passed on eating too. Ivy had to be stubborn and strict with Bridgette to get her to eat every meal.

Ivy and Bridgette were a team, and so, Ivy took Bridgette and steered away from the scene. They landed next to Mindy who was alone and still, struggling herself to catch a fish.

***

Lillian sneakily exited the fishing area and hunted for a nearby washroom to fresh up. The early morning atmosphere made her lazy and fishing didn't help, she wanted to wash her face, and then return to assist her teammate.

Lillian took an arching trail, exiting the lake and got surrounded by the giant sequoia trees. It was a vast and rocky path. Lillian went far away from the lake while following the tracks. Regardless, she kept wandering, enjoying the landscape. On her way, she spotted a public lavatory and that someone is coming out.

'Thank you, Lord, for guiding me to the restroom.' – Lillian praised god.

Her strides were now longer and faster. As she approached closer, she could see the person coming out was a familiar face. After a few more wide steps, she could guess the nearing figure.

Mike.

Seeing Mike, all of her blood boiled. A sense of vengeance glistens her eyes, her fingers forming a fist.

'This is the guy who assaulted Giselle!'

'This Bastard!!!'

All of her nerves spiked to its maximum rage while watching the approaching guy.

'He's not going to escape today.'

She kept walking, her steps harder and stronger as she began to close the distance between the two.