I head out and quickly jog down the path to avoid getting too soaked. I jump up the steps to the boys' cabin and knock a couple of times. I glance at my reflection in the window, taking note of my wet hair and clothes.

It takes a moment too long for any response, but my shoulders relax when the door swings open. Aiden stands with his hand on the doorknob and the other in the pocket of his sweats. His hair is a bit roughed up, but it's hardly ever maintained anyway.

His eyes go wide at the sight of me. He clears his throat and straightens his posture, giving me the most convincing smile he could manage.

"Y/N, hey!"

"Don't do that."

His smile drops, "...Do what?"

"I only like it when it's genuine."

"What are you talking about—"

"Your smile."

He dips his head low, tapping his foot against the doorframe. He doesn't seem like he has much to say to me, but I know there is so much he needs to let out.

"Want to tell me what's going on? I got myself soaked for you. That has to count for something."

His long gaze from my head to my shoes triggers a shiver to run up my spine. He chuckles, but it's missing its usual warmth.

"I can see that..." He steps aside, "Come in, you're shivering."

For more reasons than one...

I follow him inside and am not surprised to see that their layout is identical to ours. Though, theirs was definitely messier than ours has ever been. Only one bed was made, and that was the one that was not occupied.

I feel his eyes burn into the back of my head as I sit down on the bed closest to me. Something dark flashes in his eyes and he is quick to shake his head and say, "That's Tyler's."

"Okay...?" I reply, unsure of why he felt like pointing that out.

"Sit on mine. He, uh—he probably wouldn't want anyone in his."

I chuckle, finding the request odd, but I still move over to the bed in front of me. He leans against the windowsill, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Do you need a blanket? A towel?"

"Aiden."

"I can turn the heater on. It's kind of jacked up, but a few good kicks will get it going—"

"Aiden!"

"Yeah, sunshine?"

"Talk to me." I plead with him, not wanting him to beat around the bush anymore.

He clicks his tongue, tossing his head back to stare up at the ceiling, "I already told you...it's just family stuff."

I raise my brow, knowing there's more to that than he's willing to give me.

"It's my dad..." He sighs in defeat, finally giving in, "I didn't exactly ask for permission to come here this summer. I just did. And...he wasn't the happiest when he found out where I ran off to."

"How come? It isn't like you fled the country. It's just a summer camp."

"He had plans for me to join his publication company he and my mom co-own. I was supposed to start interning the moment I graduated, but..."

"...That's not what you want to do?"

"Yeah...But they just couldn't accept that. My mom's always been more open-minded. Dad, on the other hand, was hard to convince otherwise. He's been calling and texting non-stop the past couple of weeks, but I don't have the guts to face him. I guess he's just ruined my mood lately."

"You didn't have to deal with it alone, you know..." I don't bother to disguise the hint of hurt in my tone.

His expression dims and he pushes himself away from the windowsill to sit beside me. He takes one of my hands.

"Shit, I didn't realize I was being distant. I guess...After I opened up to you, I sort of panicked afterward? I mean, I can only imagine what you think of me after I complain about my rich parents not giving me enough attention. People have it worse than me and here I am, sounding like some ungrateful, spoiled brat."

"Hey, don't downplay your emotions like that. We all have problems to deal with—problems that are important to us."

When he turns away, I squeeze his hand to bring him back to me, "Aiden...You are not ungrateful or selfish for wanting to feel seen. You need to hash this out with your dad, or else you'll never feel good about going home."

"What if I don't want to go back?"

"Then..." I pause, trying to come with something even if it means tossing my rationality out the window, "You can crash at my place for a while. It'll be a piece of work convincing my parents but they'll warm up to the idea. I can't do much, but this I can do—"

"Y/N, you sound crazy. And that's coming from me of all people."

I turn my body to face him and hear my voice grow desperate, "Let me help you. I hate seeing you like this. We all do. I...I miss you, and it's only been a day."

"You miss me?" I'm surprised to see a smirk appear on his lips.

I lightly nudge his arm, "You're missing the point here—"

THUN!

The thunder catches me off guard and I leap toward him, latching onto his arm. His hand finds the dip of my waist, preventing us from falling off the bed.

"Easy, sunshine. It's just the storm." His voice drops to a whisper now that our faces were a lot closer than they should be, "And hey...You've done more for me than anyone else."

"What? I haven't done a thing..."

His thumb brushes over the fabric of my shirt, making me freeze up, "You make me forget about my problems. You keep me sane—"

"I don't know if that's possible." I laugh, earning me a narrowed glare.

"Shut up, I'm trying to be thoughtful here," He scolds me, pinching my side. I jolt and can't help but giggle when he pushes me down on my back.

His hands interlock with my own, bringing them up to the side of my head. The action is so intimate, that my whole face feels like it's on fire. "I told you why I came here. I wanted an escape, and I found it. Now, you tell me, Y/N. Why'd you come?"

"I..." I look at him with a soft gaze, watching him watch me expectantly, "I needed an escape too. But I also wanted to better myself."

"And did you?" His voice sounds heavenly when mixed with the pattering of rain on the windows.

"Well, I already broke a rule."

"You set rules for yourself? That's lame," He grins down at me, "What rule did you break?"

"The one that told me to protect my heart."

His brows knit together in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"I promised myself I'd stay away from romance," I shyly tear my eyes away from his, "But then you came along..."

His hands tighten around mine and he lets out a groan, "Oh God...oh man."

"What the hell is that reaction?"

"I just..." He brings his hand up to brush my cheek, "I really want to kiss you right now."

He reads my shocked expression and immediately says, "Ah shit- I should have kept that to myself, huh? That's why you're looking at me like that. Right? I read the situation so wrong, didn't I? Fuck. Great, I fumbled so bad—"

I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and pull him down until he was flush against my damp clothes. I close my eyes and allow our lips to meet in a kiss I had never thought would happen. But even if I did think about it, I know that my imagination wouldn't even compare to the real thing. To this feeling.

He relaxes against me and does not hesitate to move his hands to my back, pulling me impossibly closer. A million words are spoken through our kiss, yet nothing is said. I want to lock this moment away and burn it into my memory.

All of my worries and doubts are long gone for now, because all that matters is what's in front of me. Or rather, on top of me.

"Damn..." His teeth bite gently on my bottom lip before he rears his head back to look at me, "You ruin me, sunshine."

He lowers himself to capture my lips once more, savoring every ounce of me I'm willing to offer him. I'm putty in his hands, and I think he knows it. He tastes strangely sweet, which I will not complain about.

His hair is crazy soft, despite how tangled it looks. I comb my fingers through his waves, getting a strong whiff of his scent that sends me into a spiral.

This was bad...

One kiss and I was already a goner.

BZZ!

My phone in my back pocket vibrates and I reach for it without breaking away from his lips. But his hand catches my wrist and plucks my phone out of my hand.

"Nah-uh," He smiles as he stops kissing me to say, "Remember? Who was it that said she missed a time where people could stay off their phone for a few hours? Let alone a few minutes?"

I'm unimpressed with his use of my own words to get back at me, "Ha ha, well played."

My screen automatically turns on when another notification comes in. Because my phone was facing me, the Face ID feature unlocks it, and I feel my heart drop when I catch a glimpse of who the messages were from.

"Who's Barron?" He asks, a flash of distaste appearing in his eyes as he hands me back my phone.

I stare at the message that seemed to have upset him almost immediately.

Barron

Ur mom told me U were out of town for the summer but we need to talk

Baby I miss U