The following day, the group decides to explore a nearby forest. The weather is unpredictable, with dark clouds looming overhead. As they walk, Ash and Drew find themselves trailing behind May, Brock, and Max, the atmosphere tense and charged after their conversation by the lake.
---
Ash (trying to lighten the mood):
"Hey, Drew, remember that time we got lost in a forest like this? We thought we were gonna have to sleep in a tree!"
Drew (deadpan, not amused):
"Yeah, and it was your fault we got lost in the first place."
Ash (grinning):
"Exactly! It makes for a great story, right?"
Drew rolls his eyes, but there’s a flicker of amusement in his expression that Ash catches. Just as Ash is about to press further, a rumble of thunder echoes in the distance. The wind picks up, rustling the trees ominously.
Brock (looking up at the sky, concerned):
"We should find shelter soon. This doesn’t look good."
Max (nervously):
"Can we hurry? I don’t want to be out here when it starts pouring!"
---
As they quicken their pace, the first drops of rain begin to fall. Ash, ever the optimist, laughs as he dodges a raindrop.
Ash (cheerful):
"Come on, it’s just a little rain! We can handle it!"
Drew (grumbling):
"Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’ll end up soaked."
Suddenly, a loud crack of lightning strikes nearby, followed by an intense downpour. The group scrambles for cover, but there’s nowhere to go. Ash spots a large tree with thick branches and gestures toward it.
Ash (pointing):
"There! We can take shelter under that tree!"
They all rush toward the tree, squeezing in close to stay dry. The rain pours heavily, and the wind howls around them, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
---
May (shivering slightly, laughing nervously):
"This is not how I imagined today going!"
Brock (trying to reassure her):
"Just hang tight. We’ll wait it out here."
As they huddle together, Ash and Drew find themselves pressed close to each other under the tree, their shoulders brushing. The proximity sends an unfamiliar jolt through both of them, but neither acknowledges it. Drew’s irritation grows at the closeness, while Ash feels a strange thrill.
Drew (annoyed, trying to maintain some distance):
"Could you not lean on me? It’s just rain, Ash."
Ash (playfully):
"What? Scared of a little water?"
Drew’s expression hardens, but inside, he feels conflicted. The banter is familiar, but beneath it lies a tension he can’t shake.
---
Max (looking up at Ash and Drew, mischief in his eyes):
"You two look cozy over there! Maybe you should share a blanket!"
Ash bursts out laughing, and Drew shoots Max a glare, the heat rising in his cheeks.
Drew (snapping back):
"Shut up, Max. This isn’t funny."
Ash (grinning, teasing):
"Aw, come on! Lighten up, Drew. It’s just a storm."
Drew (his voice low, slightly frustrated):
"It’s not about the storm, Ash."
Ash’s teasing falters, and he looks at Drew, confusion mixing with concern.
Ash (sincerely):
"Then what is it about?"
Drew’s heart races as he opens his mouth to respond, but just then, a gust of wind sends rain splattering into their makeshift shelter, soaking them further.
---
Brock (wiping water from his brow):
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Let’s focus on staying dry for now."
As the rain continues to fall, the group falls into an uneasy silence, the sound of the storm surrounding them. Drew glances at Ash, who is trying to stay positive despite the situation.
Drew (his voice quieter):
"You really think everything can be fixed with a smile, don’t you?"
Ash (thoughtful):
"Sometimes it’s all you can do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about what’s bothering you, Drew."
Drew looks away, conflicted. Ash’s sincerity cuts through his frustration, and he feels the familiar urge to push him away, but instead, he holds on.
Drew (his voice barely above a whisper):
"I… I don’t know how to explain it."
---
Ash (softening, leaning in slightly):
"Try. I’m right here."
Drew’s heart pounds as he meets Ash’s gaze, the sincerity reflected back at him. For a moment, the noise of the storm fades, and it feels like it’s just the two of them.
Drew (struggling to find the right words):
"It’s… I guess it’s hard to let anyone in. I’m used to being on my own."
Ash nods, understanding dawning in his eyes.
Ash (quietly):
"I get that. But you don’t have to be alone. I’m here, Drew."
Drew’s chest tightens. The raw honesty in Ash’s voice shakes him, and for the first time, he feels like he might actually let someone in—if only just a little.
---
Drew (barely meeting Ash’s eyes):
"But what if I mess things up?"
Ash (determined):
"Then we’ll figure it out together. That’s what friends do."
Drew swallows hard, feeling a rush of emotions he’s not ready to confront. The storm outside rages on, but within the shelter of the tree, a different kind of storm brews—a shift in their relationship that neither of them fully understands yet.
Drew (whispering, almost to himself):
"I don’t want to lose you."
Ash’s heart skips a beat at the admission, but before he can respond, a sudden flash of lightning illuminates the clearing, and Drew instinctively flinches, drawing closer to Ash.
---
Ash (surprised, then smiling gently):
"Hey, it’s just a storm. You’re safe here."
Drew, caught off guard by the comfort of Ash’s presence, doesn’t pull away this time. Instead, he relaxes just slightly, allowing himself to feel the warmth radiating from Ash.
Drew (softly):
"Yeah, I guess I am"
---
