The beach bonfire was loud.
Music blasted from portable speakers while groups of students gathered around the fire, laughing and passing around drinks.
The ocean roared softly behind them.
Autumn stood near the edge of the crowd, barefoot in the cool sand.
She wasn't really a party person.
But her friend had dragged her along.
She wrapped her arms around herself slightly as the night breeze picked up.
"Cold?"
Her heart jumped.
Luca stood beside her.
"How do you keep appearing like that?" she asked.
"Talent."
She snorted quietly.
He glanced toward the fire.
"You're not really enjoying this, are you?"
"It's… fine."
"That bad, huh?"
She shrugged.
"It's loud."
"Come on."
Before she could ask what he meant, Luca gently took her hand.
Her breath caught.
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere quieter."
They walked down the beach, away from the crowd.
The firelight faded behind them until only moonlight and ocean waves remained.
Finally Luca stopped.
Autumn looked at him.
The wind moved his hair slightly, shadows falling across his eyes.
"You're different tonight," she said softly.
"How?"
"Quieter."
He hesitated.
Then said,
"I saw you with that guy earlier."
"Evan?"
"Yeah. Evan."
Her brow lifted.
"You were watching?"
"Not intentionally."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Autumn asked carefully,
"Why did it bother you?"
Luca stepped a little closer.
Close enough that her heart began pounding.
"I don't know," he admitted.
She studied his face.
"I think you do."
The waves crashed softly behind them.
Luca looked down at her.
His voice was rougher now.
"Maybe I just don't like the idea of someone else making you laugh."
Her breath caught.
"Why?"
He didn't answer right away.
Instead he reached out and gently tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.
His fingers lingered there for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"I'm still figuring that out."
And suddenly the air between them felt charged.
Like something inevitable was slowly pulling them together.