The bonfire glowed brighter as the night deepened, and the counselors began handing out neon glow sticks in every color. Students rushed around Naya and Nora, laughing and snapping the sticks until they glowed like small pieces of magic.
Naya tried to slip into the crowd unnoticed.
But she felt Lucien's eyes follow her every step.
She pretended not to notice.
She pretended she didn't feel her body react every time he got close.
She pretended she wasn't still hearing his voice in her head—
"I don't want to lose you."
Nora tied two glow sticks together and hung them around Naya's neck.
Nora: "Okay, you're glowing. You can't hide anymore."
Naya rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help smiling a little.
That's when he appeared.
Kelvin.
He jogged toward them with a handful of glow sticks, breathless.
Kelvin: "Naya! I got you the blue ones—you said you liked blue, right?"
Naya blinked. She actually hadn't said that. But he must've guessed.
Nora gave Naya a side-eye like: oh this is interesting.
Kelvin held out the glow sticks, grinning.
Kelvin: "Here. Thought you'd want them."
Naya hesitated. She didn't want to lead him on. But refusing would make it awkward—again.
So she reached out slowly.
And the moment Kelvin's fingers brushed hers—
Lucien appeared out of nowhere.
He stepped between them, not rude, but firm enough to send a message.
Lucien's voice was calm—but it had a dangerous edge.
Lucien: "She already has glow sticks."
Kelvin frowned. "Dude, it's just glow sticks."
Lucien didn't even look at the ones in Naya's hands.
Lucien: "She doesn't need any from you."
Naya's breath caught.
Kelvin blinked, taken aback. "Why do you care?"
Lucien's jaw tightened.
Lucien: "Why do you?"
The tension hit like a slap.
Students nearby turned their heads.
Naya felt her face heat. This was exactly what she didn't want.
Naya stepped between them quickly.
Naya: "Okay, stop. Both of you."
Kelvin's shoulders dropped.
Kelvin: "I was just trying to be nice."
Lucien scoffed, barely holding back.
Lucien: "Nice? You confessed to her while she was dealing with stuff and then kept pushing. That's not nice."
Kelvin went stiff.
Kelvin: "At least I'm not confusing her."
Naya froze.
Lucien's expression changed instantly—like Kelvin had stabbed something inside him.
Lucien: "What did you say?"
Kelvin didn't back down.
Kelvin: "You heard me. She almost drowned because of your mess—because Jessica was too busy trying to get your attention to care. And you? You pretend like you're protecting her, but you're just making it worse."
Lucien stepped forward, eyes burning.
Naya grabbed his arm fast.
Naya: "Lucien, stop."
Her voice cracked.
Lucien stopped.
But slowly… his gaze shifted to her hand on his arm.
Realization hit him.
He softened.
But Kelvin wasn't done.
Kelvin: "If she were mine—"
Naya snapped her head toward him.
Naya: "Kelvin, don't."
Kelvin swallowed, but his voice lowered.
Kelvin: "—I wouldn't let her walk around hurting like this."
The words stung in the air.
Lucien's jaw tightened so hard it looked painful.
Lucien: "She's not yours."
Kelvin: "But she's not yours either."
Silence.
Naya suddenly felt trapped between them, heat crawling up her neck, her heart pounding too fast.
This was too much.
Naya stepped back from both of them.
Her voice was small, but sharp:
Naya: "I'm not something to fight over."
They both froze.
Naya took another step back.
Naya: "I'm tired. I'm going back to my cabin."
She turned quickly before either of them could follow.
---
Lucien Watching Her Walk Away
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
He just watched her disappear into the shadows of the camp path.
Matteo appeared beside him, arms crossed.
Matteo: "Bro. That was… a lot."
Lucien didn't answer.
Matteo whistled.
Matteo: "You're jealous."
Lucien turned his head sharply.
Lucien: "I'm not—"
Matteo raised a brow. "You just acted like Kelvin tried to steal your oxygen tank."
Lucien glared at the ground.
Lucien: "…He thinks he knows her. He doesn't."
Matteo smirked.
Matteo: "And you do?"
Lucien flinched slightly.
Matteo sighed, softer now.
Matteo: "Let me give you some advice… Before Kelvin gets brave again, you better figure out what you want."
Lucien didn't respond.
Because he already knew the answer.
He just didn't know if he was allowed to want it.
---
Meanwhile: Naya
Back at the cabin, Naya closed the door behind her and pressed her back to it.
Her chest hurt.
Not from the drowning—not from the wound—
But from Lucien saying he didn't want to lose her
And then acting like she was something he had to protect.
To guard.
To keep close.
And Kelvin so sure he could take care of her better.
She covered her face with her hands.
Naya: "Why is everything so complicated…"
She didn't know who to be angry at.
Who to trust.
Who to believe.
Who to let in.
Only one thing was certain:
Lucien had looked jealous.
Very jealous.
And that scared her more than almost drowning.