C10 The Dump..

Alex carefully helped Sierra back to her tent.

She was still asleep, barely stirring as he lowered her onto her sleeping bag. He pulled the blanket over her and stood there for a moment, making sure she was comfortable.

Then he quietly stepped outside and zipped the tent closed.

The campsite was silent.

Alex walked a little farther away from the tents before taking out his phone.

He made a call.

Someone answered.

Alex listened quietly.

At first, his expression remained calm.

Then slowly, the faint smile disappeared from his face.

His eyes lowered, and his jaw tightened slightly as he listened.

He said nothing.

After a few moments, the call ended.

Alex lowered the phone and stared at it.

His eyes moved toward Sierra's tent.

The warmth that had been there moments ago was gone.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and walked back toward his tent.

---

The next morning, everyone packed up and headed back to Elizabeth's house.

Sierra remembered the night before almost immediately.

Sitting beside Alex.

Talking with him.

And then falling asleep against his shoulder.

She caught herself smiling before quickly looking away.

Alex, however, seemed quieter.

He still helped everyone pack. He still spoke to Peter and Chris. But whenever Sierra tried to talk to him, his answers were shorter than usual.

She noticed.

She just didn't understand why.

By the time they arrived at Elizabeth's house, everyone was tired from the trip.

They carried their things inside while Elizabeth and Samantha started sorting through everything.

Sierra took a few things upstairs to put away.

Downstairs, Alex picked up his bag.

"I'm heading home."

Peter looked at him.

"Already?"

"Yeah."

Peter understood.

He knew why Alex didn't want to stay.

Still, he tried once.

"You could stay tonight."

Alex shook his head.

"I'd rather go today."

Peter watched him for a moment.

He knew better than to push.

"Alright."

After a short pause, Peter picked up his own bag.

"I'll come with you."

Alex looked at him.

"You don't have to."

"I know. I live close anyway."

Alex gave a small nod.

"Okay."

They stood near the door, waiting.

A few minutes later, Sierra came back downstairs.

She stopped when she saw Alex with his bag.

Her expression immediately changed.

"You're leaving?"

Alex looked at her.

"Yeah."

"Today?"

He nodded.

Sierra stared at him for a moment, genuinely caught off guard.

"But… why?"

Alex didn't answer.

She looked at Peter, then back at Alex.

"I thought you'd stay for a while."

"I can't."

Sierra frowned slightly.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah."

"Then why are you leaving so suddenly?"

Alex remained quiet.

Sierra waited, but he didn't answer.

She looked at him for a few seconds.

"Can we talk for a minute?"

Alex glanced toward the door.

There wasn't really anything he wanted to discuss.

As far as he was concerned, there was nothing to explain.

But Sierra was standing there waiting for him.

And because it was her, he couldn't simply walk away.

He nodded.

"Okay."

Peter looked between them.

He understood.

"I'll wait outside."

He stepped out of the house.

Sierra led Alex toward the quieter side of the room.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Sierra looked at him.

"I thought we could work."

Alex's expression changed slightly.

Sierra continued.

"I don't know. I just thought… maybe we could."

She looked at him, waiting for something.

Alex knew exactly what she was hoping to hear.

But he couldn't give it to her.

"I don't think we should."

Sierra blinked.

For a moment, she didn't seem to understand.

"What?"

"I don't think this should go any further."

She stared at him.

"But why?"

Alex looked away.

"It's just better that way."

"I don't understand."

"I know."

"You don't even want to try?"

Alex was silent.

That silence hurt more than she expected.

Sierra looked down, trying to make sense of it.

She had thought they had been getting closer.

She had thought maybe, somehow, this could actually become something.

And now he was standing in front of her, telling her he didn't want it.

"I really thought we could work," she said again, her voice quieter.

Alex swallowed.

He wanted to tell her that he had thought about it too.

That he had enjoyed being around her.

That walking away was the last thing he wanted to do.

But he couldn't.

"I don't think we can."

Sierra looked at him.

She didn't say she was fine.

She couldn't.

For a moment, she simply stood there, trying to believe what she had just heard.

Her eyes filled with disappointment.

"I really thought…" She stopped.

Alex's chest tightened.

He was devastated too.

But seeing Sierra hurt made it worse.

Still, he forced himself to remain calm.

Sierra looked away.

"I guess I was wrong."

Alex didn't know what to say.

He wanted to take everything back.

But he knew he couldn't.

Outside, Peter had been waiting.

After a moment, he called toward the house.

"Alex."

Alex looked toward the doorway.

Peter stood there.

"Let's go."

Alex hesitated.

His eyes moved back to Sierra.

She didn't look at him.

Alex picked up his bag.

Peter waited.

Neither of them said anything else.

They quietly walked out of the house.

Elizabeth, Samantha, and Chris had noticed the tension from where they were, but none of them interrupted.

They had overheard enough to understand that something had happened.

Sierra remained where she was.

She stared down at the floor, trying to process everything.

Just hours ago, she had been happy.

Now she wasn't even sure what had changed.

Outside, Peter walked beside Alex in silence.

He didn't ask questions.

He already knew enough.

Alex looked back at the house one last time.

Then he turned away and kept walking.