Chapter 43

The morning started innocently enough. Sort of. I was helping Caitlyn with the CIT’s at the ropes course when I caught Quinn watching me a little too intently from across the yard. Not that it bothered me… at first.

But then I noticed her eyes flick to Milo, laughing just a little too close to me. And my smirk? Yeah, I didn’t hide it.

“…Oh no,” I muttered under my breath, letting my laugh linger a little longer, brushing my hand accidentally-on-purpose against Milo’s arm. “…This is going to be fun.”

Quinn’s glare could have cut through steel when I finally walked past her. “…You’re unbelievable,” she said, voice low, dark, trembling with frustration. “…Do you do this on purpose?”

“…Do what?” I asked, smirking, leaning in slightly so our shoulders brushed. “…Flirt with everyone and make you insane? Totally.”

“…I swear, Kennedy,” she hissed, hands clenching, “…you’re going to ruin me.”

“…Mm-hmm,” I teased, deliberately letting my fingers brush her’s as I passed. “…Maybe that’s the point.”

By the end of the day, the tension had reached critical mass. Quinn cornered me near a empty cabin, voice low, sharp.

“…I can’t,” she growled, fists on her hips. “…I just… I can’t do this anymore.”

“…Do what?” I asked, voice innocently playful, grinning as I leaned against the cabin door. “…You mean, deal with me?”

“…Yes!” she shouted, throwing her hands up, hoodie slipping off one shoulder, tank top clinging just right. “…You’re driving me insane! Every look, every touch, every little thing you do—I can’t take it! I hate this… I hate feeling like this!”

“…Oh?” I said softly, letting my eyes flick to hers, “…You hate it… or you hate me?”

She froze, jaw tightening. “…Don’t—don’t push me,” she muttered, voice catching. “…I can’t—ugh…”

A beat

“…You think you can just toy with me and get away with it?” Quinn shouted, stepping closer, hand brushing my cheek briefly, dangerously. “…You think I don’t notice every little thing?”

“…Maybe I want you to notice,” I countered, smirk tugging at my lips, “…maybe I like watching you squirm.”

“…God, Kennedy!” She yelled, eyes dark, chest heaving. “…I can’t—I can’t take this anymore!”

And then… silence.

We both froze. Breath heavy. Heat radiating between us. The tension that had been simmering for weeks boiled over.

“…What are we doing?” Quinn whispered finally, voice raw. “…Why are we even fighting? Because I… because I…”

“…Because we don’t want to admit we… want this,” I finished for her, voice low, urgent, heart hammering. “…Yeah. That’s it.”

She  swallowed, eyes dark, mouth parting, and the moment stretched—long, heavy, impossible. Then, without another word… she pulled me close.

The first kiss was violent, desperate, slow, messy, and perfect. Hands tangled in my hair, fingers tracing down my back under my tank top, pulling me flush against her. Lips crushed against mine, tongue teasing, teeth grazing, hearts pounding so fast it felt like it could shatter.

“…Kennedy…” Quinn murmured against my lips, voice rough, “…fuck… you drive me insane.”

“…Quinn…” I gasped, letting my hands roam her sides, feeling the heat through her hoodie, “…I need you too…”

Every touch, every gasp, was pure fire. I pressed against her, letting my body respond, letting every ounce of frustration, desire, and teasing energy finally spill over into something physical.

She pulled me closer, lips moving over mine again and again, slow, intense, messy. One hand slipped under my hoodie, tracing along my sides, fingers dipping dangerously close to the small of my back. My hands wandered freely, gripping, exploring, pressing, daring her to pull me even closer.

“…God,” she groaned, breaking the kiss just enough to press foreheads together, eyes dark, smirk tugging at lips. “…You’re so.. you.”

“…And you love it,” I whispered back, voice shaking, letting my fingers curl into the waistband of her shorts, teasing, holding. 

She groaned, leaning back for just a second, eyes half-lidded, voice low and rough. “…Yeah. I… I do. God, I can’t—ugh… Kennedy, stop making me talk like this.”

“…Don’t stop me,” I whispered, smirk curling. “…Not tonight.”

And we didn’t.

There was nowhere I needed to be tonight, I could just be here. The world faded around us. Cabin walls, distant campers, the sounds of the lake… nothing mattered except us, pressed together, desperate, messy, finally crossing every line we’d been tiptoeing toward for weeks.