The bus finally came to a stop, and I stretched my arms, relieved to be away from home—even if it was only for a few days. This school trip was supposed to be a breath of fresh air. A break from everything. Especially Edward and Cole.

Three days of peace. No fake smiles. No walking on eggshells. Just me, my classmates, and a regular school trip.

I slung my backpack and hand-carry over my shoulder, following the rest of the students as we stepped off the bus. I didn’t bring a lot of clothes or stuff—this was just a short getaway for me. We’d arrived at some nature retreat, the...