Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Professor Layton franchise

Chapter 6 The hike part 1

Emmy had slept well. The mulling around from the previous night seemed like a distant bad dream. After her conversation with the professor at the back of the roller coaster, she accepted the fact that she had to let go of her feelings.

''You're in love with him right?''

The sentence that had plagued her. Somewhere it felt crude. To realise you're in love with someone and accept that they will never think of you in the same way, all in one day. The only thing she could tell herself right now, was to move on and keep on smiling. It was for the better. They couldn't start a relationship as coworkers in the first place and how would they even explain it to everyone?

Emmy waved off the intruding thoughts. She tried very hard to enjoy her shower, but kept slipping back to the professor in her mind. She really wanted to just forget all about it. Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself. She turned off the shower and stared at the droplets of water on the wall that slowly made their way down the drain. She felt envious of the water. She wanted to just leave the hotel and flow somewhere else. But what good would avoiding do. It would only make him suspicious. A soft knock shook Emmy out of her rigid stare.

''Emmy? Are you almost done? I'd like to go downstairs for breakfast.'' Flora called.

Emmy quickly grabbed a towel and pressed it against her body.

''Yes, almost done love. You can go down if you want. I'll be there in a jiffy.''

''Alright, hurry though. Breakfast is almost finished.''

Emmy wrapped her hair in a towel and grabbed another one to dry off her body. She liked to take her time showering, although she didn't plan to stay in there for 50 minutes. She forgot that she was making Flora wait. She thought about missing breakfast. About how she didn't really want to see anyone today. Somewhere she wished the vacation was over and she could just go home and hide under her bed. But that would be selfish. She was the one to suggest today's activity after all.

She smiled at herself in the mirror. Behaving like an absolute child wasn't something Emmy usually liked to do, but today her heart longed for the simpler times that were her childhood. No responsibilities, no worries, no unrequited love, just living from day to day. She finished drying herself and started getting ready properly. She looked at the clock back in the room which read 09:43. She still had 17 minutes before breakfast would be over. She quickly tied up her hair and opened the door.

''Ah Emmy my dear, i'm glad to see you're awake.''

Emmy had to stop herself from crashing into the person waiting in front of her door. She finished tying up her hair and looked up to find no one other than the professor. Her heart leapt into her throat. Why did he of all people show up?

''I was afraid you were feeling unwell again, so I thought...I'd check up on you.'' The professor scratched the back of his head.

Emmy steadied her breathing and smiled at the professor.

''Oh...no, I feel fine. Thanks professor, now let's hurry before breakfast ends.''

She rushed passed him towards the stairs. She really didn't feel like talking to him. The professor quickly followed her hurried pace. He could feel her distancing herself from him but he didn't quite understand why. They made their way down with a solid 10 minutes left before breakfast would end. The professor had already eaten and made his way to the table where the others had already gathered. Emmy grabbed the remaining sandwiches from the breakfast table and joined the rest.

''I'm just saying, a guide would be helpful.'' Angela said.

''What are you guys talking about?'' Emmy asked curiously.

''Oh we were talking about the hike we planned this afternoon. Clark was so kind to map out a route for us to climb to the top of the mountain, but Angela is keen on getting us a guide.'' Randall explained.

Emmy swallowed a big bite from her sandwich and thought about the discussion.

''Maybe we could just ask around and see if the hike is dangerous. If it isn't we might as well try it ourselves.'' She suggested.

''That's a splendid idea my dear. I'll go ask the receptionist right away.'' The professor immediately stood up from his chair and walked over to the lobby.

Emmy kept on watching him walk away until he had completely vanished from her line of sight. She continued eating the last bit of her bread and listened to the chatter of the rest of the group. Clark had placed a map on the middle of the table. On the map, a red line was drawn, indicating the path they were going to hike on. Randall had gone out in the mean time to get some supplies ready as well. He put together a list with Emmy of things they were definitely going to need, like plenty of water. Brenda had looked through the window and declared the weather to be perfect, not a cloud in sight. They just had to hope that wouldn't change. After some time the professor returned.

''Good news everyone, the hike we are planning to take is perfectly safe. The man behind the counter says he walked up there as a child all the time. As long as we pack the essentials just in case, we should be alright.''

''That's great news Hershel. Randall should be back with the supplies any moment.'' Brenda responded.

She was right. Randall returned soon after they were finished talking. He was carrying multiple bottles of water, something that looked like a compass, an oversized bag of beef jerky, a torch and a few small, yellow, packed up rolls which were yet to be identified.

''Gee Randall, what you got there.'' Emmy asked with a smirk.

Randalls head popped out from behind the mountain of items with a big smile.

''Supplies, what else silly.''

He put down the items on the table, dropping most of the water bottles onto the floor. After he had retrieved the last one, he began handing everything out.

''What will we need a torch for exactly?'' Angela asked and poked Randall with the torch.

''In case we might need to cross a really dark cave.''

''What's this thing?'' Flora asked while holding up the yellow roll.

''That my dear is a sleeping bag.'' Randall said with a wink.

''What do we need those for? We're taking a day hike Randall. We are not planning on staying on top of the mountain are we?'' The professor asked.

''You never know what will happen Hersh.'' Randall gave a big thumbs up to his friend and a sneaky wink to Clark.

''Profeeeessoooor, how much further is it?'' Luke whined.

''Come now my boy, nothing wrong with a little exercise.'' The professor tried to be convincing.

He was actually trying to control his heaving as well, so he wasn't sure how the boy would be convinced. They had been walking for about two hours now and were all ready for a break. The mountain top had been in view for a while, but it didn't seem like it was getting any closer. In front of the group was Emmy with the map in her hands. She had been leading the group for this trip. Clark insisted on being the replacement guide for the day, but was soon overthrown when Emmy showed her unrelenting stamina. She had barely broken a sweat. She looked back at the group and was amused to see everyone struggling just a little bit.

''Why don't we take a little break.'' She suggested.

Everyone slunk to the ground faster than she expected. She might have been a little too quick to assume they would be able to manage this hike. She didn't have much experience either, but at least she was incredibly fit. She joined them in their circle of exhaustion, where they had started unpacking their lunch. Brenda had prepared small sandwiches for everyone. They thought they would have reached the summit by now, which is what they were saving their lunch for. Unfortunately, the trip had been longer than they expected.

''I don't know if I can make it to be honest.'' Angela sighed while waving a slice of bread towards her face to try and cool off.

''It really is quite the hike.'' The professor agreed and wiped the sweat of his brow.

The intense summer heat certainly wasn't helping and there was little to no shade in the area they were in. Emmy could sense the mood turning sour.

''Just imagine how beautiful it will be up there. Plus all the hard work will have some form of payoff.''

''You're right Emmy!.'' Luke was quick to turn around once he had some food in his belly. ''We can't just give up after we climbed this high up.''

''I suppose...but Luke wouldn't you rather jump into the pool right about now.'' Randall retorted.

Luke hadn't thought of that.

''Well…''

Emmy looked around at everyone's faces. She felt a little selfish for pushing them this far just for her. Suddenly something dawned on her. She could easily finish this hike alone and it would get her some private time away from the professor.

''If you guys want to head back I don't mind.''

Everyone turned their heads back to Emmy.

''I'm just saying, you are all obviously tired and I don't want to drag you all the way up there just so I can take some nice pictures. It seems unfair don't you think?'' She continued.

''But Emmy…'' Angela started.

''No I think she's right hunny bun.'' Randall interrupted.

''Yep totally.'' Clark said.

Brenda and Angela looked at their husbands with multiple questions in their eyes.

''It's settled then. Me, Angela, Flora, Luke, Clark and Brenda will head back down.'' Randall said and started packing his stuff.

''Yeah sure….wait.'' Emmy had a strange feeling about this.

Randall grabbed the professor by his shoulders and pushed him towards Emmy.

''Well certainly a gentleman wouldn't let a lady climb a giant mountain alone now would he?''

A mischievous glint could be spotted in Randall's eyes.

''That would be unprofessional even, leaving your assistant like that.'' Clark shared this glint.

''Well...ehm...If Emmy doesn't mind.'' The professor felt very flustered being this close to her.

The small stone inside of his inner pocket started feeling heavier again.

''Well...sure, if you don't mind.'' Emmy didn't know what to do.

She could hardly just ask everyone to stop ditching them and it was obvious Randall and Clark were working together on this. She should've told Randall that she didn't want to do anything with these feelings anymore. That she had given up. And now she was going to have to do an entire hike with the professor. Alone.

''Alright everyone, let's go!'' Randall shouted and started heading down the path.

After a few protests from Luke, the rest followed quietly. Emmy and the professor watched as they disappeared behind the bushes they had passed earlier. The silence felt thick between them. The professor started grabbing the remainder of their things. Emmy watched him without saying a word. Should she just start being bubbly again? Should she talk things out and confess? No definitely not that last one. That would make this hike the most awkward experience of her life. Assuming he would reject her of course.

''Sorry professor. It feels like they pushed you onto me.'' Emmy said with a blush.

''No problem my dear. After you talked about the hike during our planning session earlier this week, I was really looking forward to seeing the view from the top.'' He said while looking back up to her.

The professor was also unsure how to behave at the moment. He wanted to confirm the feelings he discovered the previous day, but the ''how'' was still unknown to the man. Certainly a puzzle he would have to solve.

''Well that's everything. Let's go to the top then!'' Emmy strutted on with fake enthusiasm.

The professor chuckled and followed her swiftly. Of all the people from the group, the professor had been second to Emmy concerning stamina. Luke and Flora had their youthful stamina to support them for most of the way, but dropped out close to two hours. Luke had then started whining. Clark had been keeping up pretty well together with Brenda, but they had been slacking off on their work-outs just before vacation had started. Randall had been a disaster from the get go and Angela never had any stamina to begin with. It was probably better for the remaining party that their extra ''luggage'' had decided to turn back.

After another hour they started getting close to the top. Emmy had been focused on the task at hand and barely even thought about her precarious situation with the professor. She climbed a rather steep part of the mountain and turned around to give the professor a hand. He gladly accepted and hoisted himself up on the ledge. The hoisting didn't go too smoothly however and he tumbled over his own two feet, right on top of his lovely assistant. They both screamed out but luckily fell onto some soft grass.

''Are you okay?'' The professor asked hurriedly and moved up to check if he hadn't injured her.

''I'm fine professor.'' She pushed herself up on her elbows and looked him in the eyes. ''Really.''

He was close. Very close. Too close for comfort. But for some reason, it wasn't bothering her as much as she thought it would. She started laughing. Why was she laughing? It wasn't necessarily a funny situation, but she couldn't help herself. He quickly joined her.

After they finished their giggle fit, they helped each other back up and continued to walk up the mountain. The air between them felt more comfortable now. Like it used to be. Emmy was glad she felt better around him. Maybe this was just what she needed. The professor was also happy. He had a feeling this was a good moment to confirm if she had any feelings for him as well.

He touched his licht green jacket in the place where he was keeping the stone. He wanted to give it to her. He was sure she would like it and her reaction might help him figure things out. A low rumble could be heard not too far from their position. The professor looked around to find the source of the noise and was surprised to find dark clouds rolling in from behind the mountain. The one place where they couldn't have seen it coming. Not soon after the entire sky started to darken from the clouds.

''This is bad.'' Emmy mumbled.

They still had to walk the entire way back and they certainly didn't prepare for rain. The summit was fairly close however and they decided to at least make it worth their trip, even if it meant getting wet. Hopefully for them, the storm would stay away a little while longer for Emmy to take her pictures.

''Are you sure about this Emmy? We could turn back.'' The professor inquired.

''I'm definitely unsure.'' she smiled at him. ''But I'd love to have just one picture.''

''Let's hurry then shall we.''

They started moving faster as the wind picked up. The clouds had completely engulfed the sky. After 5 more minutes they finally reached the top. They both breathed hard since they had been running, but the view was worth it. The ocean stretched out over the horizon and the town looked quiet. The view might have been more beautiful with the sun out, but the brooding storm somehow made it into a spectacle as well. Emmy quickly grabbed her camera from her pouch and started taking pictures. The professor dropped down on a rock close to her and admired the different poses she took on as she shot her photographs. A few seconds later the first drops started to fall down upon them.

''Blast.'' Emmy grunted.

She leaned forward over the ledge to take one final picture. She was just about to push down when a large flash appeared in her lens, blinding her temporarily.

Lightning.

The flash startled her. The next few seconds felt like they were happening in slow motion. She heard someone call out her name. She could feel the rain drops fall hard on her skin. She felt light, like she was flying. She didn't have time to process any of it, when she suddenly felt the cold earth hit her hard.

This chapter was also not supposed to be a two parter but I guess I can't help myself :') when it comes down to these two I just write too much. A literal cliffhanger at the end there! Let me know what you thought.