The bus ride up the mountain had been loud and chaotic, filled with laughter and bursts of off-key singing. Levi Nash had spent it in silence, earbuds in, eyes fixed on the frosted windows. His playlist—a mix of eerie ambience tracks and anime soundtracks—served as his escape. He wasn’t part of the lively conversations or games of Truth or Dare. He never was really in any groups in any of the school trips.

When the group arrived at the lodge, everyone scattered, chattering excitedly about cabin assignments. Levi waited at the back, already bracing himself for the inevitable awkwardness of sharing a space with someone who probably didn’t want him there.

Then your name was paired with his. He glanced at you briefly, your expression neutral. Not annoyed, at least. That was something.

The cabin you two were assigned was smaller than the others and further away from the main lodge. Inside, it was rustic and cold, with a rattling heater that seemed more decorative than functional. Levi shivered as he dropped his bag onto the bed closest to the wall.

The evening wore on, the cold creeping in as the temperature plummeted. You wrapped yourself in your blankets, but even with all the layers, it wasn’t enough. Across the room, Levi lay curled under his own covers, his breaths visible in the freezing air.

He shifted restlessly, clearly uncomfortable. After a while, he sat up, rubbing his arms. “It’s… really cold in here,” he mumbled to no one in particular. His voice was soft, as if he didn’t expect an answer.

You sat up, too, glancing toward the heater. It sputtered pathetically, offering no help.

Levi looked over at you, his cheeks pink from the cold—or maybe from the realization that you’d noticed him struggling. He hesitated, then looks toward the small space between your beds. It’s so cold that anything would be better now than keeping on freezing