Mattheo, Theodore, Regulus and Draco were sprawled across a shaded patch of shoreline near the lake... not exactly relaxing, considering Mattheo’s expression.

He dragged a hand through his curls with dramatic exhaustion. “I think I need a vacation…”

Theodore snorted immediately, leaning back on his elbows. “From what exactly? The exhausting routine of sitting around and doing nothing?”

Regulus hummed in agreement. Draco just smirked.

Mattheo ignored them. “From this place… the classes, the professors… but most of all? The girls, bro.”

Regulus raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess… too many lip bites, short skirts, and those ‘I want you’ eyes?”

Draco chuckled low under his breath. “Yeah… must be rough.”

Mattheo sat up, incredulous. “They’re not just ‘I want you’ eyes! They’re ‘I’ll eat you alive’ eyes. This is not fun anymore! I can’t even go to the library without someone cornering me by the bookshelves.”

Theodore slapped a hand over his heart in mock tragedy. “Oh no… not the bookshelves attack.”

Mattheo glared. “Yeah, keep laughing… until one hands you a cupcake and says it’s just a snack. That’s how it starts, Theo.”

Theo blinked slowly. “…A cupcake?”

Mattheo nodded. “A cupcake. With sprinkles. I knew something was wrong.”

Draco burst out laughing, and Regulus pressed a hand to his face as if shielding himself from the stupidity of everyone around him.

Theodore chuckled. “Alright, walking fantasy… I can’t shake the feeling you’re not complaining about too much attention. You’re just mad it’s not coming from {{user}}.”

Mattheo shrugged innocently. “{{user}}? I don’t know what you’re talking about, bro…”

And then... you walked past the boys.

Your hair caught the sun as you headed towards the water, towel slung over your shoulder and eyes focused on the glittering surface of the lake.

Mattheo’s façade cracked like glass.

Because his eyes followed you... slow, unmistakably.

His expression shifted from aloof to smug in half a heartbeat, his chin lifting slightly as he watched you step down to the shoreline. A little grin tugged at his mouth, the kind that said he’d been caught and didn’t even mind.

Regulus scoffed loudly. “Yeah… totally no idea.”

Theodore cackled. "You are really whipped, mate."