Learning Together

Day 3 - Monday

Carla stood at the stove, cooking breakfast as she flipped another egg in the pan. She had also set out a small bowl of cut fruit that sat between plates on the counter. It was as if her morning routine followed her from home and she simply couldn't help herself.

Stephanie walked into the kitchen in loose shorts and a tank top, with her hair piled atop her head in a messy knot. She leaned on the counter and picked out a piece of cantaloupe from the bowl, popping it into her mouth.

"Morning, sweetheart," her mom said, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. "Sleep okay?"

Stephanie nodded, eyeing the bowl for another piece. "Yeah. Better than I expected, actually."

Jeff came down from the loft behind her, rubbing the back of his neck, and pulled open the fridge. He grabbed the orange juice and poured himself a glass, glancing toward the fruit on the counter.

"You're always the first one stealing the fruit," he said. "Last week you wiped out all the strawberries before I even got one."

Stephanie turned, giving him a smug grin. "They were going bad. I was saving you from eating sour strawberries."

He took a sip of his juice, resisting grinning back at her. "Right. You're a real hero."

Their mom shook her head with a smile as she slid some eggs onto a plate. "You two never change," she said, setting a plate of toast down in the middle of the table.

That earned her a look from Stephanie, and their mom quickly ducked back to the stove. Meanwhile, Jeff took another sip and smiled in Stephanie's direction.

Frank came in last, pulling out a chair and lowering himself with a groan. "Didn't sleep worth a damn," he muttered. "The mattress in that room's harder than it looks. I don't know if I've got a hike in me today."

Mom slid a plate in front of him. "Well, you don't have to come, but it would be nice if we all went together."

Dad shook his head, taking a bite of the eggs. "Nah, you and the kids can go. I want to get some fishing in anyway."

Jeff sat down across from him, with his own fork in hand. "I'll go with you, Dad. We can check out some of those spots from yesterday."

Stephanie made a face and bit into another piece of melon. "Translation being that you just don't want to sweat."

Jeff shot a look her way. "Please, you know you only bought those shoes to show them off. I'll bet you stop halfway up the trail and spend more time taking pictures than you did walking."

Mom tried to hide her smile. "Ok then, that's enough. The boys will go fishing, and us girls will go hit the trail. Done deal."

She reached for her coffee, glancing toward Frank and Jeff. "If you're gonna be out there a while, I'll plan on lunch around one. Do you want me to pack you some sandwiches, or do you think you'll be back?"

Dad buttered a piece of toast. "We should be back by then. We'll spend a couple hours on the water, then come back here to eat."

"Works for me," Jeff said. "I don't need much more than that."

Mom gave a satisfied nod and started gathering up the empty plates. "Alright then. Why don't you boys grab the rods and cooler while I finish cleaning up? Steph and I can head out once the dishes are done."

"I'll get the tackle box. I've already got a couple drinks in the cooler, so we're pretty much set," Dad said, and pushed his chair back.

Jeff stood as well, stacking his plate on top of his dad's for his mom to take. "I'll grab the rods from the closet then."

Stephanie lingered at the table, eating the last bite of melon from the bowl before standing. "Guess I should find my shoes then."

Mom smiled, wiping her hands off on a towel. "I'll be ready in ten minutes. Please don't make me wait."

Stephanie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint grin as she disappeared down the hall. Jeff followed his dad out the door, leaving the screen creaking shut behind them as the house split into their separate plans for the morning.

Dad led the way down the dock, carrying the tackle box in one hand, and the cooler swinging in the other. Jeff trailed behind, carrying the rods. Dad stepped into the boat first, setting the cooler by the console before offering Jeff a hand to steady him as he climbed in. Jeff ignored it, stepping in easily and resting the rods along the side bench.

"You sure you remember how to use one of those, after all your video games?" Dad asked, nodding at the rods.

Jeff adjusted his grip as he set them down. "What's the matter? Been too long and you need me to remind you how? 'Cause I'm pretty sure one of us will remember how to fish."

Dad chuckled, untying the rope and looping it back into the cleat. "Well as long as one of us does, we'll be in good shape."

He started the motor, sending a low hum vibrating through the hull as the boat drifted off the dock. Jeff leaned back, watching the shoreline slowly slide past as they set out on the calm and glassy lake.

"Not a bad way to spend a morning," Dad said after a minute, lightly resting his hand on the throttle. "It's better than sitting at a desk, I'll tell you that much."

Jeff shrugged. "I guess so."

His dad glanced over at him, then back at the water. "You'll see what I mean once school starts. I promise, it'll feel like you don't have enough hours in the day. Classes, deadlines, keeping track of everything... You think high school kept you busy? College won't give you a chance to breathe."

Jeff shook his head faintly, stretching his legs out. "That's encouraging."

"I don't mean it like that," Dad said, easing the throttle back as they reached a spot near the tree line. "It's a good kind of busy. You're gonna be learning, moving forward in life, and starting to figure out who you're going to be. But it's different. You're not going to have anyone standing over your shoulder telling you to do the work. You either figure it out or you fall behind."

Jeff picked up one of the rods, checking the lure and line. "I don't know, it sounds like you're saying I'm doomed."

His dad smiled, pulling a lure new from the tackle box for himself. "I'm just saying you'll have to keep your head straight. There's always something else fighting for your attention, like parties, girls, whatever. It's easy to get distracted if you don't stay focused."

Jeff looked out toward the water, casting his line with a clean snap. "Yeah, well, those types of issues aren't generally my problem."

"You'd be surprised," Dad said, glancing over at him. He cast his own line, watching the bobber until it plunked against the surface. "At your age, trouble has a way of finding you whether you're looking for it or not."

Jeff reeled in slightly, fighting the twitch in his lips from wanting to smile. "Good pep talk, Dad. You're really selling me on this whole college thing."

"Fair enough," his dad chuckled. "But I'll tell you something else, don't spend all your time just chasing grades or chasing fun. You've got to find a balance. You only get to do this once." He gestured out toward the lake. "Mornings like this. The friends you'll make. It all goes by faster than you think."

The bobber drifted on the still surface, and for a moment, Jeff thought about saying something sarcastic. Instead, he gave a small nod.

"I'll keep that in mind," he said quietly.

Stephanie's mom finished tying her shoes and stepped onto the porch, calling back inside, "Steph, get your shoes on. You've got about thirty seconds before I leave without you."

"I'm coming!" her voice carried from down the hall. A second later, she jogged out with her sneakers half-laced, and tugging a hair tie from her wrist as she joined her mom on the steps.

Mom looked her over with a faint shake of her head. "You're twenty-one years old and you still run out the door like you're trying to catch the school bus half the time."

Stephanie grinned and finished off the knots in her laces. "Some things never change, I guess."

They started toward the trail that wound up from the edge of the property. It was early enough that the grass was still damp from the morning dew. For a while, the only sound was their shoes brushing the path and the buzz of the insects in the trees.

Mom was the first to break the silence. "It feels good to stretch our legs. I always forget how quiet it is out here until we come back."

Stephanie took a deep breath, reaching up and adjusting her ponytail. "It's nice. Way better than campus, for sure."

"Speaking of campus..." Mom gave her a sidelong glance. "You've been so focused on school and gymnastics, I barely hear about anything else. You're not hiding someone from me, are you?"

Stephanie laughed, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, Mom?"

"What? I'm just asking." Her mom's tone was playful, but her eyes softened. "You're young, smart, beautiful... I just thought maybe there'd be someone special by now."

Stephanie ducked her head, focusing on the trail as it started to climb. "No Mom, I'm not hiding anyone. I've got classes, gym, homework... it doesn't exactly leave a lot of time for relationships."

Mom smiled knowingly. "That's what you always say."

"Because it's true," Stephanie replied, her voice firm but not defensive.

They walked in silence for a while longer, and her mom slowed down a little as the hill steepened. Stephanie pressed ahead, the developed muscles in her calves flexing to drive her up the climb. She could hear her mom's breathing growing heavier behind her.

"You go on," Mom said finally, stopping with her hands braced on her hips. "I'll catch up. These trails feel steeper every year."

Stephanie paused, then gave a small shrug. "Are you sure? I can stay with you."

Mom laughed lightly, waving her on. "I think I can manage."

Stephanie pressed further up the trail, feeling her shoes slipping slightly on the loose dirt before finding better footing. She could still hear her mom behind her from the sound of her steady but slower steps, but with every turn of the path she got a little further. The air felt cooler amongst the trees, and her lungs worked with the climb. However, it wasn't just from the hill, but from the thoughts her mom's question had stirred.

Someone special.

She'd brushed it off like she always did, but the words stuck now unlike they would've a month ago. If her mom only knew the truth, she wouldn't have said it so lightly. She wouldn't smile at her the way she did, or look at her so proudly and trusting.

Stephanie fidgeted and pulled her hair tighter into its tie, sending a sting through her scalp for a second. She didn't want to think about her relationship with her brother, or about the wrongness of it. She knew how careful they had to be, yet they seemed unable to stop. But she couldn't deny it anymore either. She loved him. Not in the daydream way she used to imagine falling for someone, but in the real, undeniable way that made her restless when they were apart, and also reckless when they were together.

Her breathing worked harder as the incline steepened, but she didn't slow down. In a couple of months, she'd be starting college as a senior. Another year and it would all be different after graduation. She'd be having to find a job, or whatever came next in life. She had no idea where she'd be living, what kind of job she even wanted, or what her life was supposed to look like. The only thing she was sure of, the only thing that made her feel better no matter how much she tried to shake it, was her brother.

The certainty of her feelings for him should have scared her, and maybe it even did in a way. But more than fear, it made her determined. She wasn't ready to let go of what they felt, not now, and if she had a choice, not ever.

She wiped the sweat from her temple with the back of her hand and slowed down just enough to glance over her shoulder. Her mom was still there, a little smaller in the distance down the hill, taking her time.

Stephanie turned back around and kept going, taking long and sure strides.

Dad reeled in slowly, cutting a thin ripple across the glassy water with the line. He hadn't had so much as a nibble for the last twenty minutes, but he didn't seem to be in any hurry. He shifted on the bench, squinting against the sun.

"You know," he said with a casual but pointed tone, "college shouldn't be just about books and grades. You're gonna meet all kinds of people. Especially girls."

Jeff kept his eyes on his bobber. "Yup, that's what everyone says. I don't know... I'm not exactly the guy people line up to talk to."

Dad gave a short laugh. "That's what you think. Half the time you don't notice the ones who are paying attention."

Jeff fiddled with his reel, shoulders lifting in a half-shrug. "I usually don't even know how to start. I'll try to say something and it sounds dumb, so I just... don't."

"It's normal to feel that way at first," Dad said leaning back on the bench, "but college is different. Nobody knows your history. No one's expecting you to play the same part you've always played. You can walk in there and decide how you want people to see you."

Jeff glanced down at his hands, picking at the reel. "So what, just fake it till you make it, sort of thing?"

"I'm not saying you have to fake it," his dad corrected him. "Confidence isn't about having all the answers all the time. It's about not being afraid to speak up, even when you don't. You'd be surprised how far that alone can get you."

Jeff let out a quiet laugh. "Easier said than done. Most of the time I feel like people just pass me over. I don't stand out."

Dad cast back out with a snap of his wrist. "Standing out isn't the goal, son. Showing up is. Just be present, and look people in the eye. You'll find plenty of people who respond to that if you give them the chance."

Jeff nodded then, shrugged. "And if they don't?"

"Then you learn and move on. That's the whole point of so many things at your age. It's all trial and error. Nobody's expecting perfection."

Jeff nodded slowly, then leaned back against the seat. "I guess I've always thought it'd be easier to just keep my head down. Feels safer."

Dad shook his head. "Of course it does, but safe doesn't get you anywhere. You'll miss opportunities before you even know they were there."

Jeff stayed quiet for a stretch, listening to the sound of the water lapping at the hull. "Alright, so let's say I figure out the whole college thing. What about after that? What if I still don't know what I'm doing?" he finally asked.

Dad gave a low grunt. "That's why you start now. You set a direction, even if the details change. You don't want to drift into your thirties with nothing but stories about how you could've done more."

Jeff reeled in, narrowing his eyes against the glare off the water. "Plans sound good until something knocks them sideways. Seems like it always happens."

"That's life," Dad admitted. "There's so many quotes around that exact concept, but if you know where you're aiming, you'll still land closer to your goal than if you never tried. Floating through life sounds easy, but it never takes you anywhere worth being."

Jeff cast again with more force than he needed. "Ok, but what if I don't care about landing anywhere yet? What if tomorrow's enough for me right now?"

Dad studied him for a long moment. "Then make sure tomorrow doesn't cost you more than you're willing to pay in the long run."

The words sat heavy in Jeff's mind. He could see his dad shift in his peripheral vision, keeping his eyes on the lake.

"And Jeff," he added after a moment, "don't shut yourself off from people. Especially girls at your age. You've gotta remember that that's part of it too. If you find the right one, she'll keep you focused and push you in the right direction. You don't want to waste that chance."

Jeff smirked faintly, keeping his eyes focused straight ahead. "If you say so."

"I do," his dad said firmly, but not unkind. "There are plenty of women out there. Don't get yourself tangled up with someone you shouldn't be. You're too young to let one wrong choice throw your entire life off track already."

Jeff flicked his line again, reeling and casting more out of discomfort of the direction of the conversation than anything else. The bobber barely settled before a quick tug bent the tip of his rod.

"Hey!" Jeff jerked back, fumbling with the reel. A flash of silver broke the surface, no bigger than his hand, revealing a fish wriggling on the hook.

Dad laughed. "Careful there, don't let it get away."

Jeff managed to haul the small fish over the side, awkwardly wrestling it free of the hook. It flopped on the deck frantically, before he was able to get it free and back into the water.

"Not bad," Dad said. "It was probably the smallest fish in the lake, but it's a fish nonetheless."

Jeff shook his head, grinning despite himself. "At least it's more than you've caught."

Dad barked out a laugh, leaning back in his seat. "Give me time, kid. I'll show you how it's done. All our yapping has just been scaring them away."

By the time the boat nosed up to the dock again, the sun was high and the warmth of the day had started to settle in. Jeff carried the rods back while Dad hauled the cooler. Both of them were moving a little slower than when they left.

Stephanie and their mom were already back and had kicked their shoes off near the porch. Mom sat at the table on the deck with a glass of water sweating beside her, while Stephanie was leaning on the railing, watching them walk up toward the cabin.

"Good timing," Mom said as the two of them came up the steps. "I was just about to head inside and make lunch."

Dad set the cooler down with a groan. "Perfect. I worked up a serious appetite watching Jeff wrestle minnows," he joked.

Stephanie smirked, looking over at Jeff. "That sounds about right."

Jeff rolled his eyes and dropped into a chair. "Hey, at least I caught something."

Mom shook her head in amusement. "Alright, that's enough. Sit down, both of you. I'll have lunch ready in a few minutes."

Lunch was a quick and simple affair. After the table had been cleared, Mom was rinsing dishes while Dad settled into the armchair with a beer. Jeff dug through a drawer and came back with a deck of cards. He dropped down on the floor across the coffee table from the couch, fanning the cards out and thumbing the edges before shuffling them. Stephanie tucked her legs under herself on the other end, watching him shuffle the deck with exaggerated care.

"You're not gonna start trying to do tricks like some magician, are you?" she asked.

He grinned. "Depends on whether you want the full show or not."

"Just deal, dork."

"You know any games that aren't Go Fish?" he asked, shuffling lazily.

She took the cards from him, quickly cutting them and then pushing them back in his direction. "Please. You'd lose at Go Fish too."

"That's not even possible," he replied.

Taking the cards back, he dealt them out, and they both settled in, flipping through their hands. For a while, the game carried on with the quiet taps of cards on the coffee table, and the small pile building in the middle.

Stephanie was the first to start really talking, glancing at him over her cards. "So... you're really going to be on campus in the fall. Does it feel weird to you? Or are you excited?"

Jeff shrugged, eyes looking down at his cards as he rearranged his hand. "Sorta both. I mean, I know the place a little bit, but I've only ever been there for your meets or stuff like that. It feels different knowing I'll actually be going there every day."

"Yeah, but you like school," she said, laying a card down. "You'll like it. I think the first year's always a mess, but it's fun. Everyone's trying to figure themselves out, so you won't be the only one feeling lost or anything."

He considered what she said, chewing the inside of his cheek. "Yeah, but you already knew what you were doing when you started because of gymnastics. Plus, you've got friends, a routine. I'll just be the awkward freshman hanging around."