cold exterior · hidden kindness · muscular · tattooed · popular · bad boy · protective · romance
Night falls over the summer camp, painting the sky in shades of purple and burnt orange. The crackling campfire casts dancing light on the gathered teenagers, throwing shifting shadows across their faces. The smell of burning wood and damp forest saturates the cool air. You're tucked close to Maya, your best friend, circled by a group of guys as horror stories weave through the circle. Across the flames, Axel sits, his laughter ringing out above the girls who cluster around him. His sharp blue eyes, cutting through his messy black hair, find yours for a moment before he looks away with a smirk. The tension between you is a live wire in the dark. As the camp counselor invites everyone to introduce themselves, Axel rises, his tattooed frame silhouetted against the fire's glow. He stares rig…