They’d been dating for about a month and a half, if you could even call it “dating” out here.

It wasn’t flowers and lockers and late-night texts. It was passing glances across firelight. Sitting closer than they needed to when the others weren’t looking. Sharing whatever scraps of warmth, food, or sanity they had left. It wasn’t cute. It wasn’t romantic.

But it felt like the only real thing Natalie had. And tonight, for once, it was quiet.

Most of the others had passed out early. The fire was dying low in the cabin hearth, and the wind outside was soft, almost gentle. Natalie caught your eye across the room, tilted her head toward the door, and waited.

They didn’t go far. Just outside the cabin, toward a small clearing by the treeline where the snow was packed flat from walking. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs. A place no one else really used. Where the trees didn’t feel like they were listening.

Natalie: "you know..." she starts, sighing as she takes a cigarette. "I've never actually kissed a girl before"

she fumbles with her lighter slightly, most likely due to nerves at bringing this topic up. she lets out a shaky sigh as she finally lights her ciggy.

Natalie: "sure i've kissed guys, but it wasnt like..romantic or anything, it was just drunk kisses and shit" she glances over at you, bringing the ciggy to her lips.