We had just finished unpacking and blown up our air mattresses when we were finally allowed to roam the campground. The late afternoon sun dipped low, casting a golden haze across the trees. I had only made one friend so far, a dorky-looking blonde with big brown eyes, the kind that sparkled when she smiled. Her name was Gabriella, and her energy was contagious.
We were giggling at something she'd said when two boys walked past us. I gave her a look, the look giving away I found a target to fuel out next part of entertainment, before I turned and poked one of them between the ribs.
A high-pitched scream escaped him as he spun around, startled and ready to retaliate. But the second our eyes met, I burst out laughing. I didn't know him or his friend, but the way he melted in confusion when he saw me? Priceless. From that moment, everything changed.
Gabriella raised her brows at me, like she already knew what I hadn't figured out yet.
His name was Mason. And he was handsome. Dark, wavy hair fell just below his ears, a few stubborn pimples dotted his otherwise perfect skin, and his smile? It could ruin hearts.
Soon, his friend and Gabriella made excuses to leave, which brought us to continue talking alone as we walked around. He was easy to talk to, and warm in that effortless kind of way. We talked until dinner was called.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, James annoyed me just by breathing, dinner tasted like cardboard, just the usual.
I played checkers with Micah while waiting for my turn to walk the haunted trail. When he was called away, I wandered off. Part of being an outcast, I was used to being alone and entertaining myself. Quickly after I was called out, then, I saw who I was paired off with...
The two best friends of James, I couldn't stand them. They always kissed James' butt, as if him being rich made him even a halfway decent person. He was just a bully in overpriced packaging.
But something funny happened. Maybe it was the moonlight, or maybe I was just done. Tonight instead of screaming... I started scaring them. And somehow, they started treating me like a human being. Then, just as I was about to make another joke, something grabbed my ankle. I smiled, unphased, hitting the leafy ground with a soft thud.
"You could've just asked for a hug," I laughed, brushing off my sleeves. "No need to tackle me."
Julien and Nico stood frozen, staring at the figure crouched beside me.
"That might've worked," a deep, familiar voice said by my ear. "But judging by their faces, this was way more fun."
Lucien.
He helped me up, brushing leaves and dirt from my clothes with a strange gentleness. He was older, taller, with a quiet intensity. We barely spoke at school, aside from greeting in passing while I was jealous he was able to get his hands on amazing band merch, but there was always something there. A mutual recognition.
As we walked back, Lucien offered to walk with us, joking and talking as if we were friends. His big fingers brushed through my hair, plucking out a stray leaf like it was nothing. Then, under the dim glow of the outdoor lights, I saw him.
Mason.
He sat alone on one of the picnic tables, his expression unreadable. When the others headed inside, he looked up and called out softly, "Hey, Scarlett."
I hesitated. Then I joined him.
Up close, Mason seemed different, less polished, more unsure. He didn't speak much and seemed okay with the silence instead of trying to start a conversation. I couldn't understand it, it felt like there was something unspoken, almost as if he had waited here for me...
But of course that wouldn't be the truth, he probably just wanted to be alone, or to cool down outside.
When I started to shiver, he wordlessly offered his coat. I slipped it on, overwhelmed by the warmth and the scent that clung to it. But something about the moment felt different. As if he wasn't my complete opposite. Me as the outcast, the alternative girl, and him? He was the king of the school, with all the girls hanging on to his presence.
Before I could ask him why he was here all alone, we were called inside. We sat apart, and I couldn't shake the feeling of eyes following me, curious, envious, whispering.
Later, in the chaos of getting ready for bed, I bumped into Gabriella again.
"Perfect timing," she said, cheeks flushed. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," I said, pulling her aside.
"Do you... have a crush on anyone right now?" she asked, looking like she might explode from anticipation.
I blinked. "No. Why?"
Her eyes sparkled. "So, you wouldn't mind if I asked out Andy?"
Andy. My friend with the energy of a caffeinated squirrel and the grace of a monkey on roller skates.
I laughed. "He's all yours, girl."
We parted ways, and I greeted Mason in passing, just a casual wave as I handed him his own jacket. When I got to my tent, I was grateful to be alone. The girls I was paired with were loud, catty, and already gossiping.
I was just about to start undressing with my clothes for the night laid out on my space to sleep when I heard shouting. Mason's voice, arguing with a teacher. Something about needing to give someone something. Before I could process it, the tent flap rustled, and there he was. I didn't look at him while I still looked through my bag. "It's just me," I said quickly. "The others aren't back yet."
"I came here for you," he said with a crooked smile.
"Oh. Did something happen to your coat? I didn't ruin it, did I?"
I finally directed my attention to him, worried I had stained it or something was missing from his pockets.
"No, it's fine. I just..." He paused. "I wanted to say goodnight."
I stared at him. He could've done that anywhere.
But before he could leave, I blurted out, "You said you wanted to give someone something. Was that meant for me?"
He froze. Just for a second. Then he pulled off his zip-up hoodie.
"I heard your air mattress wouldn't blow up properly. So take this, okay? Stay warm."
He hesitated again. Then shrugged out of the thick hoodie he wore underneath and handed that to me too.
"And this one. The ground's going to be cold and hard. I just... didn't want you to be uncomfortable."
Then, without waiting for a response, he left.
I stood there in stunned silence, clutching two layers of warmth that weren't mine, my heart racing in a way I didn't understand.
I got ready, curled into my sleeping bag, and feigned sleep when the girls returned, loud and obnoxious as ever.
Someone tried to ask me gently if I was awake. When I didn't respond, they gave up and started gossiping.
About Mason. About me. About how maybe, just maybe, something romantic was going on.
I stayed quiet, wrapped in his scent, pretending their words didn't affect me.
Because even if they were right… a guy like him could never fall for a girl like me.
…Right?