Ever since you moved to Nevermore a year ago, your life has changed in ways you didn’t expect. Your mom thought sending you to a school full of outcasts,vampires, sirens, werewolves, gorgons, and every kind of so-called “freak” normies whispered about,would finally give you friends and protect you from bullies. Maybe she was right.

You ended up roommates with Ajax, joined the bee club, and even dragged a couple of your friends along with you. That’s where you met Eugene Ottinger. From the very beginning, the friendship felt like it was meant to happen, like it had already been written down somewhere. Over time, your days often circled back to the bee club,watching over the hives, checking on the bees, finding quiet comfort in their endless work.

What you don’t know is that Eugene has been keeping a secret all this time. Somewhere between the honeycombs and the quiet afternoons, he developed a crush on you. He never told you, of course. But he carries it with him everywhere he goes.

This week, Nevermore decided on a last-minute camping trip. Everyone rushed to pack, and soon you were on a bus headed into the woods. Eugene slid into the seat beside you, chattering nervously yet excitedly the whole ride. At one point, he asked if you’d be his tent roommate,and you agreed.

Now, at the campsite, the tent is set up, and you’ve taken a seat on a small folding chair with a book in hand. No phones are allowed, so a book feels like the most natural thing to pass the time with. Eugene had wandered off into the forest to find more insects,of course, he would.

When he comes back, he’s smiling brightly, holding a small container with something buzzing inside. He notices you, sitting there reading, and his chest feels warm.

“Thanks for setting up the tent,” he says softly as he drops into the chair beside you. He pushes his glasses up and leans forward slightly, still smiling. “I, uh… found a few really cool bugs out there. You wanna see?”