"Tell me everything!" Dahlia squeals from the other end of the call, making Ashlyn's ears perk up from the bed on the other side of the cabin.

I squeeze the towel around my damp hair and set my phone down in front of me, "There's not much to tell, D. It's only been a week."

She groans, unsatisfied with my answer, "Y/N, come on! You're supposed to be putting yourself out there, remember? That's what you promised."

"Seriously, I have nothing to tell—"

"She's lying out of her ass right now, by the way." Maya sings as she strolls past my bed, not even in the frame.

Dahlia shoots a deadly look and crosses her arms over her chest, "Spill it."

"Maya doesn't know what she's talking about." I laugh nervously.

I didn't want to mention Aiden with my sister because I knew she'd immediately jump to conclusions and start planning our future together on the spot. He and I aren't going to happen, and there is nothing there to begin with.

"Humor me, please." She begs.

Maya throws herself on my bed right beside me and plucks my phone from where I had propped it up, "Alright, Dahlia, listen up. Your sister here's got eyes on a guy and she is so deep in denial right now, it makes me want to rip my hair out."

"Oh, fuck off." I say jokingly, though deep down I meant every syllable.

"Ugh, Maya, I am so happy my sister met you. She desperately needs someone like you in her life."

"You make my life sound so pathetic."

"Because it is." Dahlia and Ashlyn say at the same time.

I roll my eyes and walk over to Ashlyn's bed. She sits up and scoots so I could sit down in front of her on the mattress. Just like our usual nightly routine, Ashlyn begins to gently brush my hair with a comb she packed with her. I don't know how this unspoken tradition began, but I love it when she combs my hair.

I watch Maya lying down on her stomach begin an entire gossip session with my sister about me and my nonexistent love life.

"...They are inseparable, it's almost gross to watch." I tune in on part of Maya's ramble.

Ashlyn takes and sections my wet hair as she speaks to me, "What's holding you back?"

"What?" My voice raises an octave higher. I wasn't quite sure what she was implying.

"It's obvious that you find him attractive, at the very least. But why do you keep pretending like there's nothing there at all?"

I bite my inner cheek at her words. Ashlyn was not one to speak too often, but she always knew the right thing to say. Despite not having much experience in this department, I felt like I could trust her with what's been bugging me all week long.

"I don't know, Ashlyn..." I sigh and lower my head. But she tilts it back to where it was, not wanting me to ruin the braid she was forming, "I think I'm just confused."

"When aren't we? There's always something to be confused about. But wanting to figure that out is up to you. Do you want to?"

"I guess...? But I promised myself no romance this summer. And the thing is, if I do try to explore whatever the hell this is, I feel like I'll be moving on too fast."

"Moving on from...what was his name?"

"Barron." The name rolls off my tongue roughly, leaving an acidic taste behind.

"Right. But he was a dick." She comments without hesitation, making me smile a bit at her lack of a filter.

"Ash..."

"Shut up, I'm right. But what I'm saying is, fuck it, honestly. I mean, the worst that can happen is that it was a harmless summer fling."

"Yeah..." I nod and allow her words to slowly convince me, "You're right. What do I have to lose?"

"Your virginity?" Maya adds from where she was still talking with my sister.

My eyes widen in embarrassment and I chuck a pillow at her. She lets out an 'umph' when it hits her face, falling off the bed with a soft thud.

We both end up laughing and I'm almost shocked to hear Ashlyn join too. Maya pokes her head out from the side of my bed, her black hair tussled in all sorts of ways. She pulls up her middle finger, earning an even louder laugh from me.

The bathroom door swings open, followed by a concerned Taylor rushing out in a towel, "What the hell was that sound?!"

I wipe away a tear threatening to roll down as I point at my bed, "Maya ate shit."

Taylor's jaw drops before she bursts into a fit of laughter. Everyone's completely lost it now. I feel Ashlyn's grip on a strand of my hair tighten, nearly yanking my head back.

I look over my shoulder and catch her flushed cheeks as she ogles at Taylor in all of her post-shower glory. I grin, but keep all of my teasing comments to myself. I subtly nudge her before she gets caught staring. She snaps out of the trance the brunette unintentionally put her in.

The main cabin door then flies open, we all quickly stop our laughter when we see Emery staring us all down.

"Next time you plan on staying up past curfew, at least pretend you are all asleep. I swear, the whole ass forest can hear your cackling!"

She walks back out and shuts the door behind her. The room falls silent for just a few seconds before we all lock eyes and laugh at what just happened.