CHAPTER 2

Emiliana woke up early the next morning, feeling restless. She had dreamt of Jace and this time, the dream was more vivid than ever. In the dream, they had been walking through the forest, hand in hand, with the sun setting behind them.

She had felt happy, content, and safe with him. But then, as they reached a clearing, he suddenly pulled away from her and disappeared into the darkness.

She woke startled. “What was that even about?” she thought to herself a bit angry.

She shook her head, trying to clear the image from her mind. She couldn't let herself get distracted by her feelings for Jace. She was at camp to have fun, make friends, learn new skills, and put the past behind her.

She took a nice cool shower and creamed her body with her nice set of body lotion, she takes good care of her skin and it’s no wonder she has such even completion smooth, glowing skin.

She got dressed in a mini skirt and tank top with a pair of sandals and headed to the communal area where breakfast was being served. As she walked towards the campfire, she saw Jace sitting alone on a log, staring off into the distance.

She hesitated for a moment before walking over to him. "Hey," she said, trying to keep her voice casual.

"Hey," he replied, looking up at her.

They sat in silence for a moment, each unsure of what to say. Emiliana glanced around nervously, looking for something to break the tension. She noticed a guitar leaning against a nearby tree and pointed to it. "Do you play?" she asked.

Jace shook his head. "Not really. I just brought it along for fun."

Emiliana smiled. "I play a little," she said. "Do you mind if I try?"

Jace handed her the guitar, and she strummed a few chords experimentally. It had been a while since she had played, but the music came back to her quickly. She began to sing softly, a song she had written after her breakup.

Jace listened intently, his eyes fixed on her. When she finished, he clapped softly. "That was beautiful," he said.

Emiliana blushed, feeling a warmth spread through her. She couldn't remember the last time someone had complimented her like that. "Thanks," she said, handing the guitar back to him.

They didn’t want to talk much about the lyrics of the song because they both knew what made her write it then.

As the day went on, Emiliana found herself drawn to Jace more and more. She couldn't explain it, but there was something about him that made her feel safe and happy once again. They spent the day hiking through the forest, swimming in the lake, and roasting marshmallows around the campfire.

As night drew closer, Emiliana and Jace found themselves sitting alone by the lake. They talked about their families, their dreams, and their fears. Emiliana felt like she could tell him anything so that he would understand her in a way that no one else could.

Suddenly, Jace leaned in and kissed her. Emiliana was surprised but didn't pull away. Instead, she kissed him back, feeling a rush of desire she had never felt before.

They pulled away from each other, breathing heavily. "I'm sorry," Jace said, looking down at his hands. "I shouldn't have done that."

Emiliana shook her head, placing a hand on his arm. "It's okay," she said softly. "I wanted it too."

They kissed again, this time with more urgency. Emiliana felt her body respond to his touch, and she knew that she was falling for him.

But as they lay in each other's arms under the stars, a nagging thought crept into Emiliana's mind. What if this was all just a summer fling? What would happen when camp was over, and they had to go back to their real lives? Could they make it work outside of the camp environment?

Emiliana pushed the thought aside, determined to enjoy the moment. She closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the sensation of Jace's touch. For now, that was all that mattered.

“And hey, Emiliana,” Jace said, “no one beats your beauty, you look like an Angel, you always do.”

Emiliana couldn't help but blush at the compliment. "Thanks, Jace. You don't look too bad yourself," she replied, feeling a bit more at ease now.

The conversation continued, and before they knew it, the fire had died down to a smolder. Emiliana checked her watch and was surprised to see that it was already past midnight.

"We should probably get some rest," she said, stifling a yawn.

Jace nodded in agreement, and they both got up from their spots by the fire. As they walked back to their respective cabins, Emiliana couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for Jace. She wanted to be close to him, to feel his arms around her, but she knew that was impossible. They were just friends...or were they?

The next morning, Emiliana woke up feeling more conflicted than ever.

It was all a dream! The whole scenario was just a dream!

Good gracious! She couldn't shake the dream she just woke from, where she and Jace were alone in the forest, wrapped in each other's arms. It felt so real, and it scared her.

Throughout the day, Emiliana tried to avoid Jace as much as possible, but he seemed to be everywhere she went. Every time she turned a corner, there he was, laughing and joking with his friends. She couldn't escape him, and it was driving her crazy.

That night, Emiliana found herself back at the campfire, sitting across from Jace once again. They were both quiet at first, unsure of what to say, but then Jace spoke up.

"Emiliana, I need to tell you something," he said, his voice serious.

Emiliana felt her heart skip a beat. "What is it?" she asked, feeling a sense of foreboding.

"I know we've been friends for a long time, but...I can't deny the way I feel about you. I think I'm falling in love with you, Emiliana."

Emiliana's eyes widened in shock. She had never expected this. She had always thought that Jace only saw her as a friend, nothing more. But now...now she wasn't so sure.

"Jace, I don't know what to say," she said softly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I understand if you don't feel the same way," he said, looking down at his hands. "I just needed to tell you how I feel. I couldn't keep it inside anymore."

Emiliana reached out and touched his arm. "Jace, I...I think I might feel the same way," she said, barely above a whisper. Not even believing she just said that herself.

Jace's head snapped up, and he looked at her in disbelief. "Really?" he asked, his eyes glittering with hope.

Emiliana nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Really."

Without another word, Jace leaned in and kissed her softly. It was a gentle kiss, but it was filled with so much emotion that Emiliana felt like she was floating.

As they broke apart, Emiliana knew that things would never be the same between them. They had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed, but she didn't care. All she knew was that she was falling in love with Jace again, and she didn't want it to end.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of laughter and whispered conversations, but Emiliana knew that this was only the beginning. She and Jace had a lot to talk about, a lot to figure out, but for now, they were content to just be together.

As Emiliana walked back to her cabin that night, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like everything was going to be okay.

At least, for now.