"I call dibs on this one!" Taylor shrieks as she launches herself onto the single bed by the window.

Her energy is astonishing, and I can feel it almost rubbing off on me too. I chuckle and watch her toss her bag onto the floor at the foot of her newly acclaimed bed.

There were four single beds in the cabin, two on each side of the room. They were very plain looking, with nothing but simple grey bedding for the mattress and pillows.

But to my surprise, they were as soft as clouds—or what I imagine clouds to feel like if you could sleep on them.

"Is this one taken...?" The redhead, whose name I believe is Ashlyn, asks with her finger pointed at the bed beside Taylor's.

I watch curiously as the brunette snaps her head in her direction, nearly stuttering as she responds, "Oh—um, yes! Wait—No!! It isn't. All yours."

I have to turn away so I don't get caught cheesing over the way her cheeks evidently flush. It's ironic how quiet she goes the moment Ashlyn sits herself down. All of that bubbly energy quickly washed away now that her full attention was on the silent girl.

I claim the bed across from Taylor's and begin to unpack the minute my bag hits the mattress. I know that if I don't do it now, those clothes will never make it to the drawers provided for us. I neatly fold the numerous outfits I brought with me. Dahlia insisted that she helped pack, and the more items I dug out, the more I began to regret ever letting her go near my closet.

There were some shirts in here I didn't even know I owned. And don't even get me started on the swimwear. I immediately shove the blue two-piece in the bottom of my drawer, planning to never wear it while I'm here.

I turn around to find Taylor's eyes locked on me, "Uh...yes?"

"What was your name again?" She asks, crossing her leg over the other as she leans against her headboard.

"...Y/N."

She snaps her fingers with a smile, "Oh, yes. Y/N! Listen, since we're going to be sharing a room together, shouldn't we get to know each other?"

I found the idea unnecessary at the moment, but figured I'd have to do just that eventually. Taylor seemed sweet too, so I couldn't turn her away, "Alright."

I sit myself down at the foot of my bed, imitating her sitting position. She seems to get a bit excited at my compliance and straightens her posture. Not wanting to exclude anyone, she turns to Ashlyn.

"Ashlyn, want to join in?" She asks in that gentle tone of hers. She only earns a curt shake of the head. Ashlyn puts on her matte black headphones and turns on her side to kick us out of the bubble she had just formed around herself.

I press my lips into a thin line, feeling bad when I see Taylor's face fall in disappointment. She quickly fixes her expression when her eyes return to me.

"Well then, Y/N, it's just you and I—"

"Holy shit, I'm late!"

A new voice sounds, a hint of a Japanese accent hidden deep within it. It is followed by a figure rushing through the cabin's door. She has the softest, finest black hair I've ever seen. She tucks some of it behind her ear, scanning the three of us sheepishly due to her lack of punctuality.

Taylor's smile only widens now that the last of the girls has arrived, "Hey! Come in, come in! We were just about to start our get-to-know each other debrief."

The ravenette doesn't seem at all weirded out by this and instead dives right onto the bed beside mine, "Sweet! Who's going first?"

"I guess I can," I offer, crossing my arms over my chest, "I'm Y/N L/N, and this is my first year counseling."

Taylor claps at my engagement in this, "Oh, exciting! Why'd you suddenly decide to do it?"

The question pierces a metaphorical hole through my chest, leaving me speechless. I know why, but why was I suddenly doubting my own reasoning?

I came here for myself. For me. I'm not running away.

I feel a pair of almond eyes studying me discreetly. The newcomer chimes in, saving my ass gracefully, "Obviously to have the best fucking summer ever! Right, Y/N?" She smiles over at me, and behind those deep brown eyes, I sense empathy.

"R-Right. I just thought it'd be good to spend time away from home and actually do something productive, you know?"

"Totally!" The girl beams, "Alright, my turn. I'm Maya Hino. I've been a camp counselor here for about two years? I know all the best spots, if you and your flings ever want somewhere to escape to."

Her suggestive tone makes both Taylor and I laugh a bit. Maya seemed very free-spirited, which was like a breath of fresh air for some reason. She wasn't overly energetic to the point where it felt draining just being near her. It seemed she was the type to just match the other person's energy right off the bat.

"Oh, Y/N will definitely be asking you about that later. Won't you?" Taylor teases, but I don't quite catch what of me there is to tease.

"I will?" I ask, raising a confused brow.

"You and blondie are definitely going to happen. I'm calling it right now." She says, and it shocks me how she didn't even have to say his name for my brain to instantly conjure an image of Aiden in my head.

I furrow my brows, feeling like the mere thought was stupid, "Nothing is going to happen."

"Who's blondie?" Maya asks with a sly grin. The question was for Taylor, since she figured I wouldn't bother to feed into whatever strange fantasy Taylor was brewing.

"Aiden." Ashlyn's voice appears out of thin air.

The three of us snap our heads in her direction, but her back is to us as she's still lying in the exact same position we saw her in last, headphones in and all. Maya's smile only grows, and whatever is on my face gives something away that only fuels her curiosity.

"Damn, camp hasn't even started and you've already got eyes on one?" Maya sounds impressed.

"I don't have eyes on him. Or anyone. That's not what I came here for." I say a little more coldly than I had intended.

But it was true. I have no intention of hooking up with someone or starting some ridiculous summer fling. It would only get in the way of what I truly came to Solstice Summit for.

Peace, relaxation, and not a single bit of drama—

"You girls almost done unpacking?" A smooth voice rings through my ears, making the hairs on my skin involuntarily shoot straight up.

My eyes immediately lock on a pair of red ones belonging to a tall figure leaning against the wooden doorframe.

The way he looks so at peace, yet full of life, was a sight that was hard to turn away from. I couldn't help but stare shamelessly at the way his biceps struggle to escape the confines of his t-shirt's sleeves. He had changed into a counselor's shirt, which was obviously one size too small. He could have sized down on purpose though.

I felt like a bloodthirsty vampire with the way I was eyeing him up and down without a care in the world. I mean, could anyone blame me? He was practically showcasing his body for all pairs of wandering eyes to see. Everything about him felt scandalous to witness, yet I couldn't turn away.

It was not until his eyes, which I hadn't realized were on me the entire time, tear away from me to gaze at the rest of the girls in the room. Right, I wasn't the only one here.

I quickly snap out of the questionable thoughts storming my mind and look anywhere else but where he stands in the doorway.

"I haven't even unzipped my bag." Maya says carelessly, falling flat on her back on her bed.

Aiden grins, "Same. I don't even know why I bothered asking. But we're all going on a hike before lights out later on. Open invite if you're in."

"Is Ty going?" Taylor asks.

"Ty?" Aiden's face scrunches up, but he is quick to connect the dots, "Oh, Tyler? Yeah, he's coming."

"Then I'm down!"

"Hell yeah, I'm in." Maya answers without hesitation.

I'm only half listening, still focusing on quieting my thoughts that are triggering the burning warmth in my chest.

But all it takes is this stupid idiot's voice to float me back up to the surface.

"Y/N?"

"Hm? What?" My eyes snap up to him, specifically his face. I wasn't even going to risk allowing my eyes to drift to any other part of him, knowing I'd likely get lost in him somehow. He's watching me closely, a hint of a smile forming on his lips as he takes me in.

"The hike. You in?"

"Oh, for sure." The words come out of my mouth before my brain can register them at all.

Aiden nods, the smile now fully plastered on his lips. He taps the doorframe once before dashing back out. My eyes stay locked on where he just was a second ago.

A pillow suddenly hits me on the side of my head, "That was the cutest shit I've ever seen!"

Maya's ecstatic voice makes me wince. I shoot her an unamused look and chuck the pillow back to her, "Shut up."

"She's blushing!" Taylor comments, and I mentally scold her for putting me on the spot.

"Am not!"

"Are too." Ashlyn adds, walking right past my bed with her eyes glued to her phone.