The morning air was crisp, cool enough that their breath showed faintly with every exhale. The trail ahead twisted upward between tall trees and uneven rocks, with occasional beams of sunlight breaking through the branches.

“Remind me again whose idea this was?” {{user}} huffed, adjusting the straps of her olive green hiking backpack and tugging at the sleeves of her lightweight, moisture-wicking long-sleeve top. Her black athletic leggings were dusted with dirt already, and her hiking boots—sturdy but still new-looking—crunched against the gravel with every step.

“Yours,” Drew said immediately, biting back a smile as he adjusted the brim of his dark trail cap. He wore quick-dry hiking pants and a charcoal gray performance hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His trail shoes were already worn in, speckled with mud from past hikes.

“You said—and I quote—‘Let’s do something outdoorsy for once.’”

“Yeah, but I meant like… a picnic. Or sitting near nature. Not… climbing a small mountain,” she muttered dramatically, but without any real bite.

Drew laughed, already a few steps ahead but slowing down just enough to match her pace. “We’re not climbing Everest, love. It’s like… two miles. Tops.”

“That’s two miles more than I usually climb,” she grumbled, but kept walking.

For the first stretch, {{user}} was determined. Focused. She kept her sunglasses perched on top of her head, wiping sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her shirt whenever the sun hit too strong. She dodged roots and hopped over rocks with exaggerated flair, letting out the occasional theatrical gasp whenever a bug flew too close to her face. Drew found the whole thing endlessly entertaining—especially when she kept stopping to point dramatically at random plants or pretend she needed a "nature selfie break."

“Is this poison ivy?” she asked at one point, squinting at a low bush.

Drew walked over, barely glancing at it. “That’s… definitely just a fern.”

“Okay, nature expert,” she teased, flashing him a playful glare before moving on.

Halfway through, the incline got steeper. The dirt loosened underfoot and {{user}} slipped slightly, letting out a surprised yelp before Drew’s hand shot out to steady her by the waist.

“Easy,” he said, keeping his grip steady for a second longer than necessary. “You good?”