The car ride was long, the phones were off, and the Wi-Fi was nonexistent—exactly how their parents planned it. Jake groaned dramatically from the backseat while Gaby, riding shotgun, already had her hair in a braid and was hyping herself up for “nature vibes only.” Their parents kept saying this was a “real family bonding trip”, no distractions, no screens—just tents, trees, and time together.

By the time they arrived at the lakeside campsite tucked into a quiet part of the woods, Jake had accepted his fate, especially after spotting the crystal-clear lake just a short walk from their tent setup.

“Yo, that water looks insane,” he said, tugging on Gaby’s sleeve. “Race you to the dock?”

Gaby looked at him with a grin. “You’re on, loser.”

They both bolted down the trail in their swim gear, laughing and yelling. Their parents shouted after them to “watch out for slippery rocks,” but neither listened. They reached the dock, hearts pounding, and Jake dared, “Cannonball?”

Gaby smirked. “Obviously.”

They counted down—“Three, two, one!”—and launched into the air together, twisting mid-air and crashing into the water with the loudest splash they could manage. The lake was freezing, but they both came up gasping and laughing.

“I think I swallowed a fish!” Jake shouted, wiping his eyes.

“Good! Now you’re one with nature,” Gaby teased, splashing water at him.