We return to Solstice Summit just as the sun was setting right over the sparkling lake. Everyone's exhausted, even Tyler. We all retreat to our cabins to freshen up and clock out for the night.

Tomorrow was when the campers arrive, and I think we all needed a mental break before the storm. I love kids, don't get me wrong, but everyone knows that they can be a bit much sometimes.

As I'm heading back to the girls' cabin, I spot Maya talking with someone by an oak tree in the distance. I angle my head to see who she's speaking with and that's when I spot Tyler. Just by their body language, it was hard to decipher if they were arguing or aggressively flirting.

Either way, I was here for whatever was brewing between them. The entire hike they were on each other's asses about literally everything. They were insulting the way the other walked, talked, breathed. It was getting annoying, so I was grateful when Ashlyn told them both to, and I quote, "Shut the fuck up before I jump off this cliff."

I let them have their privacy and enter the cabin. Ashlyn is out like a light and Taylor is just fresh out of the shower in her pajamas, drying her hair with a towel.

"How're you liking camp so far?" She asks me the moment I close the door behind me.

I slide my pack under my bed and kick off my shoes, "Honestly, I really like it. I've been here before, but it's different when you're no longer a kid."

"That's how I felt my first year too. It only gets better once you are assigned your group of kids."

I hop in the shower and immediately feel my muscles relax under the warm water. I knew my feet would be killing me tomorrow, but that was not a problem for tonight.

When I exit the bathroom, I am met face-to-face with an elated Taylor staring at me with wide eyes, "Someone's at the door."

I raise a brow, clutching the towel in my hands, "Then answer it?"

She shakes her head and pushes me toward the cabin door, "It's not for me. Go, go."

"What—Taylor! I just got out of the shower. You open it."

"It's Aiden!"

"So what?!"

"So, he isn't here for me!"

"Taylor, my hair is dripping wet and you can barely call this a shirt. Do you have any idea how weird it'd be for me to open the door looking like—Hey, Aiden!"

I change my entire demeanor the moment she swings the door open without a warning. It only takes one second of him scanning me from head-to-toe with his lips parted for my legs to go weak and my face to go warm.

He stands there with his damp blonde waves, in a plain white tee and sweats, "Hey, Y/N!"

He reveals some sort of white package in his hand and offers it to me, "Here's an icepack. I'm sure your legs are killing you after today."

I stand frozen like a complete, blushing idiot. I feel like I've been swept off my feet and I have no idea what to say.

No, stop it! You're interpreting this so wrong!

"Oh, that's...sweet of you," I take the icepack and I have to muster all of my strength to not look him in the eye.

"No problem. I figured it'd help." He's so calm about this, so I should also be calm about this too. He was just being polite. This was just a friendly gesture between two almost-friends.

A strange silence falls between us as we struggle to keep up the conversation. But someone creeps up from behind him and slaps his back playfully.

"OW!" He grunts, rubbing his back and looking over his shoulder to find a wide-smiled Maya.

"Is he bothering you?" She asks me, throwing an arm around his shoulder as best she could due to the height difference.

"What—no, he was just—we were."

"I just came to say goodnight." He answers for me with a teasing grin, his eyes never leaving mine as he speaks. Shivers. Shivers everywhere.

I have to break the eye contact first, feeling it intensify with every second that passes.

"Well shit, where's my goodnight, asshole?" Maya asks, feigning offense.

"Was one from Tyler not enough for you?" He smirks, finally tearing his eyes away from me to look at the annoyed girl beside him.

Her eyes widen and her jaw nearly drops to the floor, "WHAT?! What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!," Aiden shrugs his shoulders and walks off the porch, "Hey!! Wait, come back! AIDEN! What does that mean—!"

I laugh and watch Maya run off the porch to hunt him down for answers. I stare down at the icepack in my hand and can't help but accept the warm feeling growing in my chest.

My stupid smile doesn't leave my face, even as Taylor grills me for answers when I step back inside. I feel like I'm on cloud nine, and it's frustrating me as much as it's exciting me.

But I am reminded why I came here in the first place when I receive multiple texts from Dahlia, asking me how my first day was.

Dilly Dally 🤍

Did you have fun?

ngl, yeah i did

Did you make any friends?

i think?

Are there any hot guys?

why does that matter? 😭

Please tell me you're over Barron now

um

work in progress?😄