The moon hung low, casting silver light over the trees and damp grass. Most of the students were still on the beach or huddled around the campfire, laughter and music faint in the distance.
Lucien walked slowly through the path that led toward the cabins, hands deep in his pockets, his hoodie unzipped despite the chill. He wasn't even sure what he was doing—just that he couldn't sit around pretending everything was fine when it wasn't.
He didn't want to wait.
Not anymore.
He saw her.
Naya was sitting alone outside her cabin, arms wrapped around her knees, chin resting on them. Her leg was bandaged now—probably with Nora's help. She didn't hear him approach at first, or maybe she did and chose not to react.
He hesitated.
Then stepped closer.
"Naya."
She tensed at the sound of his voice but didn't look up. "If you're here to make excuses, don't."
"I'm not," he said quietly. "I just… I needed to see you."
She let out a breath. "Well. You've seen me. Congratulations."
Lucien winced.
He stepped in front of her, careful to keep space between them. "What you saw—what happened with Jessica—it wasn't what it looked like."
Naya looked up now, and the pain in her eyes hit him harder than he expected.
"She kissed you," she said flatly. "You didn't stop her."
"I didn't kiss her back."
"But you didn't pull away either."
"I froze," he admitted. "It was like… everything hit at once. And I was too slow. But the second I saw you—"
"You didn't see me," Naya snapped. "You didn't know I was there."
Lucien paused. "You're right."
The honesty in his voice made her falter.
"I didn't know," he said, softer now. "But I wish I had. I wish I had the chance to explain before that moment became something it wasn't."
She shook her head, standing up slowly, arms folded tight around her ribs. "I don't need explanations, Lucien. I need peace. And space."
Lucien's heart squeezed. "So that's it?"
"For now," she said, voice breaking slightly. "I can't be around you and pretend nothing hurts."
He took a small step back, swallowing hard. "Okay."
Silence stretched between them.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he said finally.
Naya's eyes shimmered in the moonlight, unshed tears catching the glow. "I know."
And then she turned, walking back into her cabin, closing the door behind her with a soft, final click.
Lucien stood outside for a long moment, staring at the door.
Then he whispered into the empty night, "I wish knowing that was enough."