"...and that is pretty much why I chose to go blonde instead of jet-black." Aiden wraps up the one-sided conversation, resting his hands behind his head as we walk down the trail.

His surprisingly toned biceps flex as he stretches his arms out like a restless child. What I've noticed in the last five minutes of us walking together was that this man can't stand doing nothing. He always has to be doing something. Whether that's listening to himself talk or fidgeting with his hands.

The blazing sun already put me in a sour mood, but the fact that he didn't know when to shut up was only adding to it.

But I refrain from snapping at him, for I have learned the art of patience thanks to my little sister—

"Heads!"

A masculine voice shouts, and when I lift my head from where I had been staring at the ground, I flinch when a frisbee comes soaring straight for me.

I feel a hand find my arm, pulling me aside. I hardly process Aiden's touch, too focused on his quick reflexes and the way he catches the frisbee before it gets a chance to knock me out cold.

He laughs a full, joyous laugh as he spins the frisbee in his hand, "That was close."

A tall brunette with beautiful brown skin jogs over to us, waving a hand at Aiden and pointing at the disk in his hand, "Hey, sorry about that. My sister's aim is lethal."

Aiden's hand falls from my arm as he tosses him the frisbee, leaving an oddly cold sensation behind. He looks over at the new guy with a beaming smile, "Ah, no worries."

I scan the boy from head-to-toe, slightly intimidated by his lean build. He was an athlete; you can tell just by looking at the guy. His hair was thick, yet healthy despite the frizz caused by the summer heat.

On the left side of his chest was a name tag sticker plastered onto his T-shirt.

"Tyler...Hernandez." Aiden read, leaning close to see it better.

The boy shot him a judgmental look, awkwardly taking a step back to create a comfortable distance between them, "Yeah...uh, you guys counselors too? You look way too old to be campers."

"Mhm," I respond, seeing as Aiden was distracted, "We just got here not too long ago. Emery told us to come find the rest of you."

He nods, still keeping a wary eye on the blonde, "I see...you two together or something?"

That causes Aiden to shoot his head up like a puppy. He is quick to answer, a sly tone behind his words, "Why? Do we look like it?"

I shoot him a glare and then look back at Tyler, "Absolutely not. We just met."

"No need to be harsh about it." Aiden pouts in a mockingly hurt tone.

Tyler is about to speak again, but our conversation is cut short when a girl approaches the three of us from behind him. She was like a spitting image of him, just a lot prettier and softer-looking.

"Hey there! Sorry about the frisbee. I swear I was aiming the other way but it went in the opposite direction! So weird..." Her bubbly nature nearly throws me off.

"I hate when that happens," Aiden shakes his head, "Especially when I'm axe throwing."

We all shoot him a concerned look and I say, "How do you even manage—yeah, I'm not even going to ask."

"I'm Taylor!" She says cheerfully, extending her hand out for me to shake.

If she had given me a moment to take her in, I would've learned her name, since it's written in bubble letters on her nametag.

But she really was effortlessly beautiful. Her brown hair was tied into loose French braids, complimenting her natural features. Her eyes were wide and warm, just like Tyler's.

"Y/N." I respond politely, shaking her hand. It felt oddly formal to do so, since she was my age.

"Oh shit! You're twins!" Aiden exclaims, strangely proud at his obvious discovery.

"Wow, I wonder what gave that away." Tyler says in a flat tone, rolling his eyes and walking away.

Taylor glances back at her brother before returning her focus to us, "Sorry about Ty, he can be a bit of a grump sometimes. I swear he's a sweetheart once you get to know him! Now, come on. We were just discussing rooming situations.

My eyes widen when she unexpectedly takes my hand and drags me along with her. Aiden, happy to just be here, follows right behind without question.

Taylor leads us to the center of the campgrounds, leaving my side to sit in between Tyler and this quiet redhead. There were small cabins stationed all around us, looking practically the same since I was last here. Of course, the place has undergone mandatory renovations and improvements to keep it running.

Up ahead is an unlit bonfire with log benches surrounding it in a circle. The rest of this year's counselors are huddled around it, engaging in light conversation. It seems that everyone has already grown comfortable with each other.

I'm starting to wonder how late I showed up compared to everybody else. Hopefully, it won't be too difficult to fit right in.

As I pull myself out of my own thoughts, Aiden brushes past me and heads straight for the other counselors. I watch from afar as he quickly gets comfortable with them all, already exchanging jokes and smiles in a matter of minutes.

How? How does he do it? I wish it came that easily to me.

"Y/N," Aiden waves me over, making me stiffen in surprise, "C'mere!"

I hesitantly approach the group and take a seat in the spot Aiden was patting beside him. I nervously smile at the others watching me curiously. Aiden must've noticed the way I was freezing up and decided to take the initiative.

"This is Y/N," I feel his hand find my back, and I don't move a single inch, "She's a fun one. At least, I think. She didn't say much on the way here."

It was almost frustrating how he didn't seem at all affected by the physical contact. I could almost feel his hand burning through my shirt and warming my skin. It sure as hell was hot out here.

My first-day jitters were making me antsy, so that must be why every little thing is triggering my senses more than they should today.

I sit up straighter, causing Aiden to retract his hand.

"Nice to meet the rest of you," The dark-complected boy sitting on the other side of the fire pit smiles at us. It had to be the cleanest, most perfect smile I've ever seen. He must have been sculpted by the gods himself, with the way he carried himself.

His nametag spelled out Devon, which was too-basic of a name for a guy who looked like that.

I snapped out of my thoughts before I got caught staring. Everyone else introduced themselves too, and I slowly eased into their presence. I was usually a very sociable person, but everyone here just seemed so laidback and easy-going, it was hard to accept that that's all there really was to it.

Taylor, who was sitting to our left by her brother, happily claps her hands, "Okay, Emery didn't tell me much about our sleeping situation. But what she did share was that there are two counselor's cabins. They are separated by gender and have more than enough space for us. So, Y/N, Maya, Ashlyn, and I will all room together. You boys have the other cabin."

Everyone nods in understanding and begin to gather their belongings. I stand up, coincidentally as Aiden did so as well. We both turn and accidentally bump into each other clumsily. He holds me steady when he sees I'm about to topple over.

"How many more times am I gonna have to save your ass today?" He chuckles, unintentionally brushing his thumb over my hip before dropping his hands down to his side.

I get that strange feeling again, but ignore it and say, "I don't remember asking you to."

As I walk away from the firepit, he is hot on my tail, "But if I don't, who will?"

I scoff, "I don't need saving."

"Tch, now that's a lie if I've ever heard one. Everyone needs saving from something."

I glance over my shoulder, a little taken aback by his deep response, "...Well, don't bother."

"Ugh, kiss and make up or something." Tyler groans as he walks past us, "I've only known you for less than an hour and already want to bash my head against a wall."