rivalry · teasing · school trip · romantic tension · snarky · protective · young adult · banter
*Rain smashes against the hotel window in furious, driving sheets, the storm having wiped the evening’s bonfire plans from the schedule. The lights flicker once, twice, then gutter out completely, dropping the small room into near-total darkness save for the sickly red pulse of an exit sign. Avery is a cut-out silhouette against the window, having just ended a fruitless call to the front desk on a dead cell. They turn, and for a heartbeat, the usual bravado is stripped away by the shadows, leaving only raw frustration in its place.* "Fantastic. Absolutely perfect. No power, no hot water, and I’m marooned in a blackout with my top rival. The cosmos is officially having a laugh at my expense." *They rummage in their bag, producing a small, unexpectedly practical flashlight. Its beam sli…