Sarah

for a second, everyone just stood there “…okay,” sophia said, breaking the silence. “this is nice.”

they carried everything further up the beach until they found an empty spot with enough room to spread out.

sophia immediately started unloading the cooler, lining water bottles along one side before tucking it into the shade of the bags.

“snacks stay here.” she set the speaker beside it “sunscreen stays here.” then the beach bag.

lara and manon shook the sand from their towels before laying them out side by side, overlapping the corners slightly so there was one long space to lie across. daniela spread hers beside theirs, smoothing the edges with her foot before dropping her bag at the top to stop it blowing away.

y/n wandered over, looking at the little setup “looks official.”

“that’s because sophia likes pretending she’s running a military operation,” lara replied.

manon dropped herself backwards onto her towel with a satisfied sigh “right.” she pulled her sunglasses down onto her face.

lara rolled her eyes, laughing quietly to herself before turning towards the water “i’m going in.” sophia was already halfway there, sandals abandoned beside the towels.

the water reached her ankles and she let out a quiet breath, closing her eyes for a second as another wave rolled in.

lara caught up beside her “cold?”

“…little bit.”

“worth it though.”

“definitely.”

back on the sand, y/n and megan were already standing with their buckets hanging from one hand and little plastic shovels from the other.

they exchanged a look. megan raised an eyebrow and y/n nodded once. without saying a word, they both started walking towards the untouched stretch of sand further down the beach.

they’d made it about six steps.

“put sunscreen on first!” sophia called without even turning around.

both of them stopped, megan let out a long sigh. y/n dropped her head back dramatically “…yes, mom.”

megan looked sideways at y/n “she actually has eyes in the back of her head.”

“it’s terrifying.”

they turned around and walked back towards the towels, already reaching for the bottle of sunscreen.

they wandered back over to where all the bags had been left.

the sunscreen bottles were already sitting beside the cooler exactly where sophia had put them.

daniela was there, cross-legged on her towel, squeezing some into her palm before rubbing it slowly over her shoulders. the oversized linen shirt she’d thrown on earlier was open now, sleeves pushed up to her elbows to stop them getting in the way.

she looked up as y/n and megan approached “hey.”

“hey,” y/n smiled back.

daniela rubbed the last of the sunscreen down one arm before nodding towards the empty towel beside hers.

“you should lay out with us.” she glanced between the three towels.

“especially if you wanna tan-“

“girl, i’m not tryna tan.” megan cut in immediately, not even looking up as she took the bottle from y/n’s hand and squeezed a generous amount into her palm. she started rubbing it onto her arms with absolutely no care.

daniela gave a small laugh “…okay.”

megan finished as quickly as she’d started, shoved the bottle back into y/n’s hands and wandered off towards the open stretch of sand, bucket swinging from one hand.

“don’t take too long,” she called over her shoulder “our castle isn’t gonna build itself.”

y/n laughed quietly “i’ll be there in a minute.”

megan lifted a hand in acknowledgement without turning around. daniela watched her disappear before looking over towards the towels “…how is she already asleep?”

y/n followed her gaze.

manon was sprawled across her towel, one arm thrown over her face, sunglasses still on, looking as though she’d been asleep for hours instead of barely thirty seconds.

“…that’s actually impressive.”

“i’ve never met anyone who can fall asleep that fast.”

they both laughed softly.

y/n let her eyes drift around the beach.

further down, sophia and lara were waist-deep in the water, talking about something as lara absentmindedly splashed at the waves with her foot.

megan had already claimed a patch of untouched sand several metres away, kneeling down with complete concentration as she tipped her bucket upside down.

manon hadn’t moved an inch, the rhythmic sound of waves filled the quiet between them.

y/n looked back, daniela was just finishing rubbing sunscreen over one of her legs, carefully smoothing it in from her knee down to her ankle before switching to the other.

the sunlight caught against her skin as she moved, and a loose strand of hair kept falling across her face, only for her to tuck it behind her ear again without thinking.

y/n’s gaze lingered just for a second then another. she forgot entirely that she was still holding the bottle of sunscreen in her hand.

y/n’s lips twitched, a small smile threatening to appear. she wasn’t entirely sure where the sudden confidence had come from.

maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the fact she’d smacked her head climbing through a window earlier and something had permanently shifted or maybe…it was only fair that daniela got a little payback too.

before she could think herself out of it-

“hey, dani?”

daniela looked up. the movement made y/n step a little closer, standing over the edge of her towel.nfor a split second, daniela forgot what she’d been doing “…y-yeah?”

y/n held the bottle of sunscreen out towards her. “get my back for me?” she smiled completely innocent.

daniela’s breath caught “…oh.” she looked from the bottle…to y/n…then back to the bottle again.

“yeah.” she reached out, taking it from her hand “s-sure.” before daniela had a chance to recover, y/n turned around and lowered herself onto the front of her towel, sitting cross-legged with her back to daniela.

“…thanks.”

“mhm.” it came out much quieter than she’d intended, daniela stared for a second.

pull yourself together.

she flipped open the bottle and squeezed some sunscreen into her palm far too much.

“…oops.” she laughed awkwardly to herself before rubbing her hands together.

y/n glanced over her shoulder “everything okay?”

“yeah.” daniela answered a little too quickly.

she took a steadying breath before gently placing her hands against y/n’s shoulders.

the contact made both of them freeze for the briefest moment. daniela slowly worked the sunscreen across the tops of her shoulders first, careful, almost hesitant, before smoothing it further down her back in slow, even strokes.

she was trying very hard to focus on the task.

it’s sunscreen. that’s all.

it should have been easy. instead she was suddenly hyperaware of everything. the warmth of the afternoon sun, the sound of the waves breaking behind them.

the scent of coconut sunscreen mixed with salt in the air. the loose wisps of hair escaping the claw clip at the back of y/n’s neck, dancing every time the breeze picked up

“…you missed a bit.” y/n said softly.

“huh?”

“left side.”

“…right.” daniela swallowed, shifting slightly before smoothing the lotion over the spot y/n had nodded towards.

another small silence settled between them.

daniela’s hands moved a little lower before working their way back up, making sure she’d covered everywhere the sun would hit.

she’d applied sunscreen hundreds of times before, it had never required this much concentration.

y/n smiled to herself, she couldn’t see daniela’s face but judging by the way she’d started stuttering…the payback seemed to be working.

daniela finished rubbing the last of the sunscreen into y/n’s back, smoothing the lotion over her shoulders until there wasn’t a trace of white left.

she sat back for a second, looking at her work “…there.” her eyes lingered on y/n for a moment before a thought crossed her mind.

she’d caught on…the innocent smile…asking her specifically….the way y/n had sat just a little too close.

this hadn’t just been about sunscreen. y/n had been trying to fluster her, a smile tugged at daniela’s lips.

oh…two can play that game.

“your shoulders are so tense.” her voice came softer this time, closer. y/n felt daniela lean in just enough for her words to reach her clearly over the sound of the waves.

before she could answer, daniela’s fingers found a tight knot near the top of her shoulder. she gently worked the muscle with her thumb.

the unexpected pressure pulled a quiet, surprised sound from y/n before she could stop it.

daniela smiled to herself. she continued for another few seconds, her touch careful and unhurried “you should relax a bit.”

y/n swallowed. her eyes fixed on the ocean in front of her, watching the waves roll onto the shore as though they were suddenly the most interesting thing she’d ever seen.

“…i’m trying.” despite herself…she found herself leaning back ever so slightly into daniela’s hands “…thanks,” she whispered.

daniela only hummed in response, the corner of her mouth lifted.

she gave y/n’s shoulder one last gentle squeeze before letting her fingertips trail lightly across the top of her shoulder as she pulled away.

the movement was brief but enough to make y/n shiver. daniela noticed, of course she noticed.

got you.

she bit back a smile. glancing around the beach, she made sure everyone else was distracted.

daniela looked back at y/n “…you should go build your sandcastle.” she nodded subtly towards megan.

y/n blinked “…huh?” she was still trying to remember what they’d been talking about.

daniela laughed quietly “your teammate’s waiting.”

y/n turned to look. sure enough, megan was already looking over every few seconds, shovel in hand “…oh.” she still didn’t stand.

daniela tilted her head, amusement written all over her face.

“unless…” she paused just long enough “you wanna stay here with me?”

y/n’s brain promptly stopped working “…i…”

daniela watched the unmistakable buffering happening right in front of her and couldn’t help smiling “thought so.”

she stood, brushing the sand from her legs with an amused shake of her head before starting towards the shoreline, leaving y/n sitting there for another moment, cheeks warm and thoughts completely scrambled.

~~~~~

the afternoon settled into an easy rhythm.

the beach seemed to slow around them, the heat growing heavier as the sun climbed higher overhead. waves rolled lazily onto the shore in a constant rhythm, the occasional breeze just enough to stop the air from becoming stifling.

while the others drifted between the sea and their towels, y/n and megan became completely absorbed in the sandcastle they’d decided deserved far more effort than it probably warranted.

what had started as a couple of upside-down buckets slowly became something much bigger.

they dug a moat first then another. megan insisted every castle needed defences, so they built uneven walls around the outside before decorating them with shells and smooth stones they’d scavenged from further down the beach.

y/n spent several minutes carefully pressing tiny bits of seaweed into the sand as little trees while megan carved windows into the towers with the end of her shovel.

they rarely spoke only the odd suggestion or quiet laugh whenever another wave crept dangerously close to undoing all their work.

further down the beach, sophia, lara and daniela stayed in the water. the cold didn’t seem to bother them anymore.

they floated aimlessly between conversations, letting the tide carry them a little before swimming back in again, occasionally diving beneath the surface whenever a larger wave rolled through.

from the shore they were little more than silhouettes against the glittering water, their laughter carried back only every so often by the wind.

manon remained asleep longer than anyone expected. she hadn’t moved from where she’d collapsed onto her towel, one arm shielding her face from the sun, completely oblivious to everything happening around her.

when she eventually stirred, she blinked against the light for a moment before sitting up slowly, brushing sand from her arms. after a long stretch she wandered towards the sea, joining the others without much more than a sleepy smile.

they stayed in the water for another while before drifting back onto the beach together.

their towels had become warm beneath the afternoon sun. one after another they lay down, sunglasses pulled over their eyes, content to let the heat dry the saltwater from their skin. conversation faded in and out, never lasting particularly long before someone fell comfortably quiet again.

eventually the castle was declared finished.

y/n and megan admired it for all of ten seconds before deciding swimming sounded like a better idea.

they abandoned their buckets where they were and jogged towards the shoreline, the sand growing cooler beneath their feet the closer they got to the water.

the first wave hit just below their knees, they both hesitated then ran straight through it.

the shock of the cold disappeared almost as quickly as it came, replaced by the relief of escaping the heat. they stayed there for a while, drifting between the shallows and slightly deeper water before wandering back onto the beach dripping wet, leaving dark footprints across the sand as it clung stubbornly to their ankles.

by early afternoon, the cooler had finally been opened.

everyone gradually found their way back towards the blankets, drying off enough to sit comfortably before helping themselves to whatever had been packed that morning.

sandwiches disappeared first. fruit was passed between towels, water bottles traded around absentmindedly as conversations picked up again before fading just as easily.

around them, the beach carried on exactly as it had all day. children shrieked somewhere further along the shoreline, a dog chased a tennis ball into the surf.

time seemed to stretch beneath the afternoon sun, and for the first time since arriving at camp, there wasn’t a schedule to keep, cabins to clean or campers calling their names.

there was only the sound of the sea, warm sand beneath them, and the feeling that, for a few hours at least, the rest of the world had been left somewhere beyond the dunes.

after a while, lara pushed herself up onto her elbows, brushing a few grains of sand from the front of her cover-up as she looked down the stretch of beach.

“we should collect seashells.” the others looked over “they’d make such cute friendship bracelets.”

daniela glanced towards the shoreline where the tide had left a ribbon of shells scattered amongst the wet sand “…that’s actually a good idea.”

megan nodded in agreement.

lara was already climbing to her feet. she dusted the sand from her legs before turning towards the others still lounging on the towels “you coming?” she asked, looking between sophia and manon.

manon barely lifted her sunglasses “not now, sweetie.” she tilted her head towards sophia beside her “the adults are talking.”

lara rolled her eyes so dramatically that even sophia couldn’t hide her laugh “we’ll catch up,” she said, giving lara an apologetic smile.

with that, the four of them wandered away from the towels, following the curve of the shoreline where the tide had only recently pulled back.

the sand beneath their feet became firmer the closer they walked to the water, each wave washing over their ankles before slipping away again. sunlight caught on hundreds of tiny shells scattered, some still half buried beneath the wet sand, others glistening where the sea had left them behind.

they spread out naturally, never straying too far from one another.

every so often someone would crouch down, brush sand away with their fingertips, then hold up a shell for the others to inspect before either slipping it into a pocket or deciding it wasn’t quite pretty enough.

there wasn’t much conversation. only the occasional, “look at this one,” or a laugh when megan proudly presented what turned out to be nothing more than a chipped pebble she’d mistaken for a shell.

the further they wandered, the quieter the beach became. their footprints stretched behind them in uneven lines before the tide slowly reached up to erase them, leaving only smooth sand as if they’d never been there at all.

they wandered further down the shoreline than anyone else seemed to be walking.

the chatter from the busier part of the beach gradually faded behind them, replaced by little more than the waves rolling against the rocks and the crunch of damp sand beneath their feet.

every few steps someone would stop to inspect a shell before carrying on again.

“this one’s pretty.” lara held up a tiny white shell.

they followed the shoreline until the beach narrowed between towering cliffs, the sound of the waves echoing differently against the rock.

half-hidden around the bend was an opening carved into the cliffside.

lara stopped first “guys…” beyond the entrance, the cave opened into a secluded little cove. smooth black rocks dotted the sand where the tide reached in, the ceiling arched high overhead, framing a perfect view back out towards the ocean. sunlight poured through the opening, reflecting off the water and painting moving patterns across the stone walls.

it felt like stumbling across somewhere no one else knew existed.

daniela wandered inside almost immediately, slowly turning in a circle as she took everything in “…woah.” her voice echoed softly around the cave “this is so cool.”

y/n had already crouched near one of the rocks where the tide had just receded “there’s loads of shells in here.” she brushed her fingers through the wet sand, uncovering another tiny white shell wedged between two stones “they’re all washed in.”

daniela smiled, wandering further inside, her hand absentmindedly trailing along the cool rock wall.

behind them, lara started towards the entrance. before she could step inside, megan caught her wrist.

“wait.”

lara looked over.

megan nodded back down the beach “i swear i saw loads of shells over there.” she called into the cave “we’re gonna go back and have a look!”

“okay!” daniela answered, her voice bouncing gently off the stone, she didn’t even glance back still completely distracted by the cave.

lara frowned “…what?”

megan looked at her in disbelief. she pointed towards y/n then towards daniela then back at y/n then daniela again.

lara only blinked “…what are you doing?”

megan let out the quietest groan. she repeated the motions, this time making an exaggerated heart shape with her hands between pointing at the pair.

lara stared for another second then her eyes widened “…oh.” megan nodded furiously.

“ohhh,” lara whispered, finally catching on, she looked back towards the cave.

inside, neither of them had noticed.

daniela was still admiring the view out towards the sea while y/n remained crouched by the shoreline, completely focused on picking through the shells scattered in the sand. they hadn’t looked up once.

“we’ll be back in a bit!” lara called.

“okay!” daniela replied absentmindedly.

megan gave lara’s arm a little tug “come on.” the two of them disappeared back around the rocks, their laughter only starting once they were out of sight.

inside the cave, all that remained was the sound of the tide rolling gently over the sand. neither y/n nor daniela had realised they were now completely alone.

for a few minutes, neither of them said much. the cave seemed to invite silence.

y/n wandered slowly along the edge where the tide reached the sand, crouching every so often to sift through tiny shells caught between the rocks. daniela lingered nearby, taking in every corner of the hidden cove, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls.

after a while, y/n finally straightened up. she looked away from the shells in her hands, really seeing where they’d ended up for the first time “…this is insane.” her voice came out barely above a whisper, swallowed by the sound of the waves.

the cove felt like a world of its own, the dark rock ceiling stretched high above them, framing the bright blue sky beyond the entrance like a painting. smooth black boulders sat scattered throughout the cave, worn down by years of tides. little pools of seawater shimmered between them, perfectly still until another wave crept in.

outside, the beach carried on as normal. inside…it was quiet, peaceful and hidden away from everyone else.

daniela wandered over until she was standing beside her, looking out at the view.“…i know,” she breathed, almost to herself.

they stood there for a moment, neither feeling the need to fill the silence then daniela glanced down at y/n’s hands “any good ones?”

y/n’s face brightened immediately “actually, yeah.” she opened her palm “look at this one.” she carefully picked out a tiny spiral shell, no bigger than her thumbnail “and then i found this one under that rock.”

another “i think this one’s my favourite though.” she held up a smooth pale shell with faint pink lines running through it “it’s almost completely intact.”

daniela smiled “that’s pretty.”

y/n continued sorting through them, completely absorbed “i’ve got enough for one bracelet already, i think. lara’s gonna steal this one though.” she laughed softly to herself, still comparing the different shapes.

daniela hummed along, but her attention had drifted. her eyes moved from the shells…to y/n.

to the way a few loose strands of hair had escaped her claw clip in the sea breeze. the sunlight catching the red of her bikini, the concentration on her face as she talked.

then, almost absentmindedly, daniela looked past her shoulder towards the entrance. empty.

her gaze lingered there for a second she frowned slightly. where had…

she looked back towards the stretch of beach they’d come from. no megan. no lara.

just the gentle curve of the shoreline disappearing around the rocks.

her head tilted ever so slightly then she looked back at y/n, who was still happily explaining the differences between two nearly identical shells without noticing she’d lost her audience.

a slow smile tugged at the corners of daniela’s mouth.

…oh.

they’d left. they were alone.

she glanced once more towards the entrance before looking back at y/n, who was still completely oblivious, turning another shell over in her fingers with a quiet smile.

daniela couldn’t help the amused smile that spread across her face.

those two are unbelievable.

she leaned in slightly, her attention returning to the collection of shells resting in y/n’s open palm.

she reached out, her fingertips brushing lightly against one of the smaller ones nestled near the top “i like that one.”

y/n looked down to where daniela’s finger rested “yeah, that one is…” she lifted her head instinctively the rest of the sentence caught in her throat.

daniela was already looking at her, they’d drifted closer without either of them noticing.

close enough that y/n could see the tiny flecks of amber scattered through daniela’s brown eyes, the afternoon sun spilling through the cave entrance behind her and catching them every time she moved. they seemed lighter here, almost honey-coloured against the shade of the rock around them.

“…really pretty,” y/n finished quietly. she wasn’t looking at the shell anymore.

daniela’s lips curved into the faintest smile, she didn’t say anything. her hand was still resting lightly over the pile of shells in y/n’s palm, her fingertips barely touching the smooth edges of them.

the cave had fallen impossibly quiet around them. it felt as though the rest of the beach had slipped out of existence.

y/n became suddenly aware of just how close they were standing. daniela searched her face for a moment, her expression softening almost imperceptibly.

y/n forgot entirely about the shells in her hand, forgot about why they’d come into the cave in the first place.

for a few suspended seconds, neither of them looked away. there wasn’t any urgency to it just a quiet moment where the rest of the afternoon seemed to slow, leaving only the two of them standing in the cool shade of the hidden cove, sharing a silence that somehow said far more than either of them could have managed aloud.

daniela’s fingers shifted absentmindedly through the little pile of shells resting in y/n’s hands. they clicked softly against one another.

a quiet, delicate clink… clink…

she nudged one over with her thumb, studying it for a second, though her attention didn’t seem to be fully on the shells.

“when you…” y/n’s voice came out quieter than she’d intended. she stopped and swallowed.

daniela looked back up at her immediately her hand stilled.

“the truth or dare…” y/n continued, her eyes flicking between daniela’s before forcing herself to hold her gaze again.

“if manon was there…” she hesitated “…would it have been her?” another pause “would you have…” her words almost disappeared beneath the sound of another wave rolling into the cave.

“…is she your favourite?” the question hung between them.

y/n immediately wished she’d phrased it differently or maybe not asked it at all. her eyes searched daniela’s face anyway, waiting for something, anything, to tell her she’d misunderstood.

for a moment, daniela simply looked at her.

the corners of her mouth lifted not because she found the question ridiculous or because she was laughing at her but because it was so unexpectedly, unmistakably… y/n.

she took a second just to look at her. the nervous expression, the way y/n was still unconsciously clutching the handful of shells between them, the tiny crease that had appeared between her eyebrows while she waited for an answer.

daniela couldn’t help smiling a little wider.

she didn’t answer straight away. instead, she simply let herself take the moment in, her thumb idly brushing another shell, the soft clink echoing quietly around the cave as she held y/n’s gaze.

daniela let the silence sit between them., she didn’t rush to answer. she simply looked at y/n, the smallest smile still resting on her lips, her hand unmoving where it rested lightly over the shells.

the waves rolled in behind them. another quiet clink as one shell shifted beneath her fingertips after what felt like forever, daniela finally exhaled.

“…no.” it was only one word, soft and certain but it stole every bit of air from y/n’s lungs.

daniela’s smile softened “it was only going to be you.”

the words were barely above a whisper. her fingers stopped absentmindedly moving the shells altogether, though her hand remained resting gently over y/n’s.

y/n’s heart stumbled. she swallowed hard, suddenly aware of every inch between them, of the cool air inside the cave, of the warmth radiating from where their hands almost touched, of the way daniela was looking at her.

it made her chest flutter in a way she couldn’t explain. daniela watched the reaction unfold across y/n’s face with quiet amusement before tilting her head slightly.

“what about you?”

y/n blinked “…what about me?” she breathed.

daniela took the smallest step closer not enough to be obvious just enough that the space between them shrank a little more.

“if that was your dare…” her voice trailed off “…who would you have…” she smiled to herself “…who’d be your favourite?” she asked it exactly the way y/n had, the same hesitant phrasing, the same little pause except this time there was the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

y/n looked at her, her eyes wandered for a second from daniela’s eyes, to the curve of her smile, before darting away again almost immediately.

her lips twitched as if she wanted to say something. anything but nothing came out.

daniela’s gaze dropped. slowly, she lifted one hand from the shells. instead of pulling away completely, her fingertips settled lightly around y/n’s wrist.

just beneath her palm, right where her pulse beat. the same place she’d held in the canoe.

gentle, barely any pressure at all yet she felt it instantly.

thump.

thump.

the corner of daniela’s mouth lifted. y/n felt every thought leave her head all the air seemed to disappear from her lungs at once.

she looked down at daniela’s hand for the briefest moment before lifting her eyes back to hers.

“…you.”

the answer came so quietly she almost wasn’t sure she’d said it aloud. she cleared her throat, trying again. this time there wasn’t any hesitation.

“…i’d choose you.”

for the first time since they’d wandered into the cave, it was daniela’s turn to forget how to breathe. the smile she’d been wearing softened into something smaller and more genuine “…you would?” she whispered.

y/n gave the smallest nod “yeah.” her eyes dipped without thinking just for a heartbeat to daniela’s lips.

her tongue caught her own bottom lip for the briefest moment before she looked back up, meeting daniela’s eyes again.

she didn’t notice the way daniela’s expression shifted, the way her pupils widened slightly, the way the teasing confidence she’d carried so effortlessly all afternoon faltered for just a second.

“…yeah,” y/n repeated, her voice quieter now, a little lower than before “…i would.”

the words settled between them. daniela let out the faintest breath through her nose, trying and failing to hide the smile threatening to appear.

“you’d kiss me on the cheek?” she asked, her tone light, teasing, almost as if she was giving y/n an easy way out.

“no.” the answer came so quickly it interrupted her.

daniela blinked, her eyebrows lifted ever so slightly “…no?” she swallowed, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing.

y/n took one small step forward not enough to close the distance completely but enough that the gap between them became almost impossible to ignore.

the sound of the sea echoed softly around the cave. outside, another wave rolled onto the shore. inside, neither of them seemed capable of looking anywhere but at each other.

“no,” y/n said again, her eyes never leaving daniela’s.

“…what would you do then?” daniela whispered. her gaze dropped to y/n’s lips, lingering there for just a moment before lifting again. her own lips had parted without her realising.

the air inside the cave suddenly felt warmer.

y/n’s breath caught in her throat, she could hear it now. her own breathing, daniela’s, the waves rolling softly against the rocks outside.

nothing else.

the shells rested forgotten between them, daniela’s hand still lightly covering y/n’s, her fingertips barely grazing the back of her hand.

y/n’s eyes darted over daniela’s face, her eyes, the tiny freckles scattered across her nose, the strand of hair the sea breeze had loosened from behind her ear.

her lips.

she swallowed, daniela watched the movement in her throat.

another breath, slower this time, they both shifted only slightly. barely enough for either of them to notice. the space between them closed by another inch, their breathing picked up without either of them meaning it to.

the anticipation settled around them, thick enough that neither seemed willing to break it.

their eyes kept falling to each other’s lips before finding their way back again, again and again.

y/n could feel her heartbeat in every part of her body now. daniela’s fingers remained where they were, warm against her hand, neither pulling away nor moving any closer.

another tiny step, another breath. their faces were close enough now that neither had to raise their voice above a whisper.

the rest of the beach felt impossibly far away, there was only the cave, the sea and the quiet space between them that seemed to grow smaller every second.

“dani…” y/n’s voice barely existed. it was little more than a breath, lost beneath the gentle crash of another wave outside the cave.

her eyes finally dragged themselves away from daniela’s lips, finding her eyes again.

daniela was already watching her, already searching her face. slowly, almost reluctantly, her gaze lifted from y/n’s mouth until their eyes met once more.

“…well?” she whispered her voice was just as quiet, just as unsteady “what would you do?” she asked again.

the words settled between them before dissolving into the silence. there was only the sound of the tide breathing in and out against the rocks, only the warmth between them, only the inches that neither of them seemed brave enough to close.

y/n’s chest rose with a slow breath and daniela’s did the same. their eyes wandered again to each other’s lips, back to their eyes, to their lips again.

they were so close now that y/n could feel daniela’s breath brush softly across her skin every time she exhaled.

daniela’s fingers remained resting over y/n’s hand, still covering the handful of shells.

y/n searched daniela’s face one last time, looking for hesitation, for doubt, for anything that might tell her to stop. there was none. only the same quiet hope reflected back at her.

clink.

the first shell slipped from y/n’s hand, neither of them reacted.

clink.

another followed, bouncing softly against the damp stone before settling in the sand then the rest. the tiny shells scattered around their feet, forgotten completely.

y/n’s now-empty hand rose slowly between them. her fingertips brushed against daniela’s jaw, feather-light, as if giving her every chance to pull away.

she didn’t. instead, daniela leaned into the touch almost without thinking.nher eyes fluttered closed for the briefest second before opening again, finding y/n’s immediately.

“this,” y/n whispered, her thumb stroked gently across daniela’s cheek then she closed the final inch between them.

their lips met so gently that, for a moment, neither of them was sure it had actually happened. it was hesitant, careful.

weeks of wondering, of stolen glances, lingering touches and almosts all colliding into something impossibly soft.

y/n barely moved, she simply let her lips rest against daniela’s, afraid that if she pushed any further the moment might disappear.

daniela didn’t move either, her breath caught somewhere deep in her chest as the reality of it settled over her.

this is happening.

the world beyond the cave ceased to exist.

the crashing waves, the voices somewhere down the beach, the gulls overhead. it all faded until there was only the warmth of y/n’s hand against her cheek and the impossibly gentle press of her lips.

daniela’s fingers slowly slid until they found y/n’s wrist. they wrapped around it carefully, almost reverently, as if grounding herself. her thumb brushed across the inside of y/n’s wrist.

the same pulse she’d teased her about only moments before was racing even faster now. it made something in daniela’s chest ache.

their kiss stayed soft and y/n tilted her head ever so slightly. daniela answered without thinking, their lips brushed together again.

every movement carried the nervous excitement of two people who had imagined this moment a hundred different ways but had never known what it would actually feel like.

y/n smiled into it, it was tiny but daniela felt it. and it made her smile too. they lingered there for one impossible second longer before they slowly pulled apart.

only enough for their foreheads to remain almost touching, their eyes opened and they looked at each other.

daniela searched y/n’s face as if trying to convince herself this wasn’t another almost. another moment that would disappear the second she reached for it.

y/n was already looking back at her, her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly parted.

she looked just as breathless and just as overwhelmed.

something shifted. something neither of them could name, it wasn’t planned or conscious it simply…

snapped.

daniela let out the smallest, shakiest breath then she closed the distance again.

this time there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation left. she surged forward, capturing y/n’s lips again with a quiet urgency that surprised even herself.

the kiss was deeper, hungrier for the moments they’d spent denying themselves.

every almost, every interruption, every moment they’d stopped themselves.

it all came rushing back at once.

y/n made the softest sound of surprise before immediately melting into her. her hand slipped from daniela’s face, fingers trailing gently along her jaw before settling against her waist.

she held her there instinctively, closing what little space still remained between them.

daniela’s hands left y/n’s wrist, one slid carefully around the back of her neck then the other.

her fingers disappeared into the soft hair at the nape of y/n’s neck as she held her close, not tightly, but with the unmistakable certainty that she had no intention of letting this moment end.

their foreheads brushed for only an instant before their lips found each other again, again and again.

y/n’s thumb traced absentminded circles against daniela’s side through the fabric of her shirt.

daniela smiled against her lips, she’d wanted this, she’d wanted her. and now that the distance between them had finally disappeared, it felt impossible to remember why they’d ever tried to keep it there.

for the first time since camp had begun, there were no lingering glances. no interrupted moments. no wondering what the other was thinking. only the quiet certainty that after everything it had taken to get here…

they were finally kissing.

daniela smiled against y/n’s lips, her chest rising with an unsteady breath. she still couldn’t believe she was kissing her.

slowly, almost absentmindedly, her hands slid higher until her fingers found the claw clip holding y/n’s hair in place. she paused for the briefest moment then gently unclipped it.

the clip slipped from her fingers.

thud.

it landed in the sand beside the scattered shells. instantly, y/n’s hair spilled free around her shoulders, the sea breeze catching the loose strands as they framed her face.

daniela pulled back just enough to look at her, her heart almost stopped “god…” she breathed with the softest smile.

y/n flushed under the intensity of her gaze, suddenly feeling exposed.

she laughed nervously, instinctively beginning to pull away. she barely moved and daniela’s fingers were already buried in her hair.

they threaded gently through the soft strands, scratching lightly against her scalp as her hands settled at the back of her head.

it sent a shiver through y/n and their eyes met again.

daniela smiled then, without breaking eye contact, she guided y/n back towards her.

their lips found each other again.

they kissed like they finally had permission.

y/n’s hand slid around daniela’s waist, pulling her impossibly close until there wasn’t even an inch left between them.

daniela smiled into the kiss, her fingers still tangled gently in y/n’s hair, her thumb stroking lightly behind her ear before disappearing back into the loose waves.

every kiss naturally led into another, they’d separate by the smallest fraction, smiling breathlessly at one another, only to lean straight back in again.

they had waited far too long for this.

eventually, the kisses slowed. their foreheads rested together for a second before they finally pulled apart.

both of them wearing the same slightly dazed, unbelievably happy smile. their cheeks were flushed, their breathing uneven.

daniela let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head in disbelief before running her tongue lightly across her lips “fuck… finally.”

y/n burst into laughter, the sound bounced gently around the cave “oh my god,” she groaned, still laughing as she let herself fall forward, resting her forehead against daniela’s shoulder.

without thinking, she wrapped her arms around daniela and pulled her flush against her.

daniela laughed too, the sound warm and almost giddy. she immediately wrapped both arms around y/n’s neck, holding her as close as she could.

she buried her face against the side of y/n’s head, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt “wanted to do that for so long,” she admitted quietly.

y/n laughed again, tightening her arms around her “me too.”

they stayed like that, wrapped around each other in the middle of the hidden cove, smiling into each other’s shoulders while the waves rolled in and out beyond them, neither of them in any rush to let go.

“so that means i’m your favourite counsellor?” daniela beamed she looked far too pleased with herself.

y/n couldn’t help smiling instead of answering, she leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to daniela’s shoulder before pulling back just enough to meet her eyes.

“no.” she kept a perfectly straight face “megan is.”

daniela’s smile vanished “…what?”

“megan.” she said it with complete sincerity.

daniela stared at her for a beat before letting out the most offended scoff “you’re unbelievable.” she gave y/n’s shoulder a playful shove.

y/n immediately broke “i’m kidding-“ she laughed, reaching for daniela before she could move away.

“i’m kidding.” she leaned back in “yes.” a soft kiss “you’re my favourite.” another “definitely.” one more “only you.”

daniela’s expression melted instantly “good.”

she smiled, sliding both hands back into y/n’s hair. her fingers disappeared through the loose waves before giving the gentlest tug, earning another laugh from y/n as she closed the distance between them again.

they kissed once mor, slower now without the uncertainty that had filled the first one.

when they finally pulled away, neither of them bothered creating any real distance.

their foreheads hovered close enough to almost touch.

y/n’s thumbs traced absent-minded circles against daniela’s hips beneath her hands.

“you know counsellors aren’t supposed to date each other.”

“mhmmm.” daniela’s fingers scratched lightly against y/n’s scalp, smiling as she watched y/n’s eyes flutter for the briefest second.

“well…” she tilted her head “…we’re not dating.” a grin spread across her face “…yet.” y/n laughed quietly.

“so technically…” daniela leaned in until there was barely any space left between them “…we’re not breaking a rule.”

her lips brushed the corner of y/n’s mouth as she smiled “loophole,” she whispered.

y/n couldn’t stop smiling “sophia will kill us.”

“she doesn’t have to know.” daniela stepped closer until there wasn’t an inch left between them, her hands settling comfortably around y/n as though they’d always belonged there.

“she’s so gonna know.”

they both laughed, their noses bumped together “i literally don’t care about any of that right now,” daniela murmured her voice had softened again.

“i’ve wanted to kiss you since…” she shook her head with a quiet laugh. “honestly, i don’t even know anymore.”

y/n’s smile only grew “me too.”

daniela looked at her for a long second then smiled in that way that always made y/n’s stomach flip.

she closed the distance once more, the kiss was effortless now.neverything that had felt impossible only minutes before suddenly felt like the most natural thing in the world.

outside, the tide continued its steady rhythm against the rocks, the sound rolling into the hidden cove before fading into quiet again.

sunlight shimmered across the water, sending dancing reflections over the stone walls around them. the shells still lay scattered where they’d fallen, y/n’s claw clip rested forgotten beside them.

weeks of lingering glances across campfires, of brushing hands under the guise of passing things, of canoe rides, of finding excuses to be paired together.

of almost saying something, almost reaching out, all of it had finally broken.

the tension that had followed them through every conversation had disappeared into the quiet of the cove, replaced by something neither of them had to question anymore.

whatever happened when they walked back onto that beach, whatever excuses they’d have to make, whatever suspicious looks they’d get from sophia, whatever impossible balancing act the rest of the summer became-

that was a problem for later.

for now, hidden away from the rest of camp, with the waves echoing softly around them and each other in their arms, there was nowhere else either of them would rather be

a/n - AAAAAAAH finally. now you can all stop being mad at me for slow burn. i hope it was worth the wait <3