CHAPTER SIXTY

CHAPTER SIXTY
Chapter Sixty – Canoeing and Swimming

The camp instructors’ voices carried over the water. “Pairs, grab your canoes. Stay close to your partner, and don’t drift too far.”

The air was filled with noise shouts, splashes, and laughter. Students rushed toward the shore where the canoes had been pulled onto the sand.

Some were already tugging their partners forward, while others argued about who should sit in front and who should paddle at the back.

Aurelia hung back. She had never been good at these types of things.

Being in a crowd always made her feel like she was out of place. She adjusted the straps of her life jacket and stared at the ground, hoping no one noticed how stiff her hands were.

Clara, of course, noticed. She always did. “Don’t even think about it,” she said, grabbing Aurelia’s arm and pulling her along. “You’re not hiding behind the trees this time.”

“I wasn’t hiding,” Aurelia muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.

Clara grinned. “Sure you weren’t.”

The two of them reached the water’s edge. Caelum was already there, standing near their canoe.

He didn’t call her over. He didn’t wave. He just stood still, his arms folded as though the noise around him had nothing to do with him.

Aurelia’s stomach tightened. Why did she always end up paired with him? She glanced at Clara, who gave her a little nod, silently telling her to be brave. With a deep breath, Aurelia stepped forward.

Caelum didn’t speak, but when she climbed into the canoe, his hand moved quickly to steady the boat.

The wood rocked under her weight, but he kept it firm, not letting it tip. She froze for a second, surprised at the gesture, then sat down slowly.

He didn’t look at her, didn’t even acknowledge what he’d done. He just climbed in after her, taking his seat at the back with quiet ease.

“Alright, pairs, push off!” the instructor shouted.

Canoes began sliding into the water one after the other. Clara waved from her boat with her partner, her face bright. Aurelia lifted her paddle awkwardly, glancing at the others to see how they were doing it.

“Left,” Caelum said suddenly, his voice deep and calm.

She blinked, startled by the sound of it. He had barely spoken all day, and the fact that he chose now to break his silence made her tense.

She dipped her paddle into the left side of the water, following his lead.

The canoe moved smoothly. They fell into rhythm without talking, each stroke steady and even. The sun shone on the water, and the lake rippled under the paddles.

Around them, students were less disciplined. Laughter echoed as two boys splashed each other instead of rowing.

Mandy shrieked when her canoe almost tipped, and her partner yelled at her to sit still. Chloe’s loud laugh carried over the lake as she waved her paddle like a weapon.

Aurelia tried to stay invisible, focusing on her strokes. She didn’t want to call attention to herself. But attention never stayed away for long.

The first splash came out of nowhere. Cold water hit her shoulder, soaking through her shirt. She gasped, jerking back in surprise.

When she turned, Chloe was watching with a sly smile. “Oops! Sorry, Aurelia!” she called out, her tone dripping with false innocence.

Liz, sitting in the canoe with Chloe, snorted with laughter.

Aurelia’s chest tightened. She hated water on her skin it was a deep discomfort. She pressed her lips together, her grip on the paddle shaking.

The canoe wobbled under her unsteady hands.

Panic prickled at the edges of her mind. She felt the boat tilt slightly, and her breath hitched.

Then Caelum moved. His hand pressed against the side of the canoe, holding it firm. His movements were precise, almost effortless, as if the water didn’t dare fight against him.

Aurelia steadied herself, her heartbeat racing.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t look at her. But his presence anchored her. Slowly, she caught her breath and adjusted her paddle again.

Across the lake, Chloe’s smirk faltered. She had splashed Aurelia to embarrass her, maybe even to make her panic.

But instead, Caelum’s quiet action had shifted everything. Students in nearby canoes had noticed.

Clara glanced between them with raised brows. Even Mandy whispered something to her partner, eyes darting toward Caelum and Aurelia.

The whispers started.

“Did you see that?”

“He helped her.”

“Maybe they’re close?”

Aurelia’s cheeks burned. She wanted to shrink into the canoe, disappear before the rumors grew louder.

Chloe clenched her jaw, forcing a laugh. “She’s so dramatic,” she muttered to Liz, but her eyes were locked on Caelum.

They paddled back to shore in silence. Aurelia kept her head down, her clothes still damp and clinging uncomfortably.

The cool breeze off the lake sent shivers running through her arms. She rubbed them quickly, trying not to show how cold she was.

But Caelum noticed. Without hesitation, he grabbed a towel from the pile left on the sand and held it out.

She blinked, staring at it like she wasn’t sure it was meant for her. He didn’t explain he just placed it on her lap and turned as if it was nothing.

Still shivering, she wrapped the towel around her shoulders. It wasn’t enough. The cold sank deeper. Her teeth almost chattered.

Caelum looked at her again. This time, he unzipped his jacket and set it over her shoulders

. She froze. The warmth from the fabric was immediate, swallowing the chill.

Her eyes widened, but before she could say anything, he had already turned away.

He stood in only a fitted gym shirt now, his muscles obvious under the thin fabric. A couple of girls nearby whispered louder, nudging each other as they stared.

Aurelia felt heat rise to her face not from the jacket, but from the way people were looking. She tugged the fabric closer, wishing she could vanish into the sand.

Clara rushed to her side. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Aurelia whispered quickly, not daring to lift her eyes.

But not everyone believed it. The murmurs spread faster.

“Why her?”

“Maybe he likes her.”

“They’re always paired. Makes sense.”

Chloe stood a little apart, her nails digging into her palm.

She had wanted Aurelia to look weak, to be laughed at. Instead, Caelum had given her his jacket, and now the entire camp was whispering.

Piper, sitting quietly on the edge of the group, watched everything with growing frustration. She wasn’t Chloe’s ally anymore, but the jealousy in her chest burned just as strong.

“Why Aurelia?” she muttered under her breath. “This is getting out of hand. He rejected Chloe, but that doesn’t mean he’d reject me. I know he stares sometimes. I know it.”

Her hands clenched into fists in her lap. She wouldn’t let Aurelia take the one person she wanted, even if Aurelia never
asked for it.

Meanwhile, Aurelia sat frozen in Caelum’s jacket, her heart pounding. She hadn’t asked for his help, hadn’t wanted the attention. But it was too late.

The moment was already sealed in everyone’s minds. And she couldn’t stop the whispers from following her into the night.