After glow of morning sunlight filtered through the trees as buses rolled to a stop near the camp resort. Students spilled out, loud and restless, dragging luggage across gravel.
Shane stood apart near the faculty, clipboard in hand, giving short, precise instructions.
His tone was cold measured and detached.
"Line up by section. Don't wander off until you're assigned your rooms."
The quiet authority in his voice made even the most careless students obey.
Then his gaze lifted, almost absently, and landed on Flora.
In an instant, the frost cracked. His lips curved with that familiar teasing glint. He mouthed something, "Try not to get lost again."
Flora's eyes widened; a blush crept up her neck.
But just as quickly, his expression reset. The nerd vice president was back: composed, unreadable. Students nearby exchanged startled looks.
"Did he just…smile?" one whispered.
"To her?" another added.
Flora bit back a smile and turned away, pretending to check her bag.
---
Inside the resort, chaos reigned as groups rushed to find their assigned rooms. Flora shared hers with the class representative, Mia, and three other girls from Section B. They dropped their backpacks onto beds, laughter bouncing off the walls. Flora's bond with her classmates become normal neither close nor hostile.
"Flora, you and the vice president looked pretty friendly back there," one of them teased.
"What? No, we're just friends," Flora said quickly.
"Just friends don't make the ice-king smile," Mia added, grinning.
"He wasn't smiling he was probably just being polite."
"Polite? He mouthed something to you," another said dramatically.
Flora covered her smile. "Can we please unpack instead of interrogating me?"
Their laughter filled the room. For a moment, everything felt normal, light and easy.
---
Later that afternoon, groups gathered near the lake. The air smelled of pine and water; sunlight shimmered on the surface. Flora wandered a little ahead, camera in hand, tracing the reflections rippling across the water.
"You'll fall in if you keep leaning like that."
She turned. Shane stood behind her, hands in his pockets, the corner of his mouth tilted in amusement.
"You're supposed to be supervising," she said.
"I am. You're the trouble I supervise."
"Very funny."
"It made you smile."
Her laugh escaped before she could stop it. The sound softened him; for a moment, the chill in his expression faded entirely. He looked at her like the world had gone quiet.
Flora's heart skipped. Was it always like this with him?
Her laugh was short, breathless. The sound seemed to catch in the air between them.
The wind carried the scent of pine and lakewater. Somewhere behind them, the rest of the group had disappeared into the dining hall. Here, there was no noise, only the rhythm of their breaths.
Shane's hand brushed hers: accidental at first, then deliberate. Her fingers trembled slightly as his touch lingered.
"You shouldn't look at me like that," he murmured.
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to run… or stay."
Flora tried to speak, but the words tangled. His gaze dropped to her lips, slow, unhurried.
The world seemed to narrow, the air, the light, the space between their faces. He leaned in, close enough for her to feel his breath against her cheek.
Heartbeats quicken. She looks at his lips; he hesitates, thumb brushing her cheek.
Then a branch snaps somewhere, the sound breaks the spell. They step back, flustered but smiling.
Persistent timing," he said.
"Maybe it's the universe saving me from embarrassment."
"Or saving me from losing control," he murmured, voice low enough that she almost didn't hear it.
Their eyes met again. A heartbeat stretched into something more.
For a moment, the silence was perfect.
---
Footsteps crunched on the path. Liam appeared, casual as ever, her phone in his hand.
"Flora," he greeted. "You left this near the bench."
"Thanks," she said, taking it.
He glanced between them. "Friend of yours?"
Flora hesitated. "Oh,Shane. He's…my friend from Section C."
To Shane: "This is Liam. He's staying at my place for a while, younger brother of my brother' friend."
Shane's jaw tightened, just slightly.
"Convenient," he said coolly.
Liam smiled faintly. "Guess so."
The air shifted quiet, tense. Flora sensed the change and forced a small laugh. "Anyway, we should head back before it gets dark."
As they walked, she caught Shane's expression from the corner of her eye the faint edge of jealousy he was trying not to show. It made her chest warm in a way she couldn't quite explain.
He's jealous. That's…actually kind of cute.
---
Night settled over the resort, wrapping the lake in silver and shadow. Inside the building, laughter and muffled chatter drifted from the hallways as students settled in.
Outside, beyond the fence, the woods stood silent.
A figure lingered among the trees, eyes fixed on the row of lit windows.
One light glowed brighter than the rest Flora's room.
The watcher's voice was barely a whisper, swallowed by the wind.
" Nobody should come so close to you."
"You're mine."
A faint click followed, soft as a heartbeat the sound of a camera shutter.