It was nearing the end of the day and my campers were finally starting to grow tired. After escorting them to their cabins, I head down to the nearest water station to refill my bottle before it gets dark. I walk over to one not far from the counselors' cabins.

The sky was a gorgeous array of oranges and pinks. Personally, I've always been a sunrise person, but the sunsets out here were unlike any I've ever seen before.

I uncap my bottle and set it down to fill it up. I hum quietly to myself and take in the silence that I won't have the pleasure of relishing very often now that the campers are here.

But in the distance, I hear a faint voice. It is followed by a series of scoffs and swears. I grab my bottle from the stand and head toward the noise. It leads me to the back of the boys' cabin, where I spot Aiden frustratingly running his fingers through his blonde waves.

His phone was pressed to his ear and he looked anything but content with the person on the other end. I stop several feet away, feeling as if this was a personal matter I shouldn't intrude on.

I turn on my heels to give him some privacy, but just as I do that is when he stops talking. I look over my shoulder to see him tap a few times on his phone before angrily shoving it into the pocket of his shorts.

He looks up and our eyes lock, and I feel like I've just been caught doing something illegal.

"Y/N." He acknowledges me, making his best attempt at fixing his tense face.

"Hey..." I say a little cautiously, considering making a run for it whilst I still have the chance.

"Did you—How much of that did you—"

"None of it. I swear," I answer quickly, not wanting to make him think I was purposefully eavesdropping, "I was just passing by."

He nods a few times before speaking again, "Okay...Uhm. Where are you headed?"

Even though his smile has returned to his face, it doesn't match his tone. I'm concerned with how quick he is to change the topic, but we aren't close enough for me to pry for details.

"Back to my cabin. I needed to refill my water bottle."

"I'll walk with you." He offers, doesn't even ask.

The two of us walk side-by-side down the dirt path to the girls' cabin. Even though I've complained about Aiden's inability to shut up, I think I preferred that version of him over this silent one.

I tap my fingers against the stainless steel of my bottle, itching to make conversation with him.

"So...do you know what we're doing tomorrow?"

He looks ahead with his hands in his pockets, "Emery said it's an arts and crafts day."

My eyes light up, "Really? I love crafts!"

He turns his head to look at me for the first time today, and I get a glimpse of his normal self again, "Seriously?"

"You don't?"

"What, love them? No, I don't think I enjoy them enough to love them." He chuckles, and the sound does something that makes me feel embarrassed to admit.

"But you do like them?"

"Yeah. I've only ever done that sort of stuff in school, though."

"You don't make stuff for fun at home."

He laughs, but it sounds slightly off, "I think my parents would go into cardiac arrest if I brought any of that shit home."

I raise a brow, attempting to decipher what he meant by that. But I find this as an opportunity to figure out his sore mood today, "Is that who you were on the phone with? Your parents?"

He stiffens and almost comes to a complete stop for a second too. He tries to hide it, but I can see the muscles on his arms tense.

We make it to the front of the cabin, and he finds it as a perfect way to opt out of answering my question, "Here we are!"

I look over my shoulder at the cabin door and then back at him, "Aiden, did I say something—"

"I like your hair like this," He cuts me off, taking one of my braids in his hand and running his finger down the weaved strands.

The action causes my cheeks to flush a shameless shade of pink. But part of me is irritated that he completely shifted the conversation in the blink of an eye.

"T-Thanks..."

He drops his hand before things get awkward and nods his head at me with his signature grin that's missing its usual spark.

"Wear it like that more often."

I cross my arms, "Are you seriously telling me how to wear my hair, Aiden?"

"You're considering it. I can hear the gears turning in that pretty head of yours." He takes a step forward, disregarding my personal bubble as if it doesn't even exist to him.

I hold my breath when he leans forward and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, "Goodnight, Y/N."

Don't react. Please don't react. Stand on business, Y/N.

His finger brushes over my ear, causing the hairs on my skin to shoot up instantly.

My mouth falls open in shock at his sudden boldness. He's overly amused by my reaction and takes a few steps back.

He casually turns his back to me and heads back the way he came. I am left dumbfounded, the same way he always leaves me feeling after every interaction.

Once the blush burning my skin has died down, I realize that his method of distracting me from the question he never answered worked. I feel stupid for not thinking about that and letting him play me like putty in his hands.

I scoff and mutter under my breath, "Sly ass bastard."