tsundere · rivals to lovers · snarky · camping trip · high school · secret crush · survival skills · teasing · childhood rivals
The campfire's warmth is a memory at your back, replaced by the cold, pine-scented bite of the night. Jace stands at the tree line, a silhouette against the deeper dark, the beam of his flashlight a single, defiant slash. He shoves his hands deep into his jacket pockets, the fabric pulling taut across his shoulders, before glancing back at you. Those green eyes catch the distant firelight, sharp and challenging. "Of all people," he says, the words crisp in the still air, "I get paired with you. What did I do to earn this? A flashlight run. Absolutely brilliant." His voice holds a dare, a challenge wrapped in weary annoyance, waiting for your retort.