Lessons In Butterflies ｡ ｡ ｡ (StudentxTeacher Romance)

Chapter 52: Stay . . .

Shella's POV:

The cold air bit at my skin, sharp and relentless. We had finally reached the next checkpoint, right where the snowline began, and every breath I took felt like ice slipping down my throat. My legs ached from the climb, my fingers numb even through my gloves.

And yet, as I stood there, staring at the lake, all I could think about was the water.

People were already stripping down, their laughter echoing through the crisp air as they ran in. The surface rippled as bodies plunged beneath, splashes catching the fading light. It looked freezing—but also liberating.

I wanted to join them.

I wanted to feel weightless, to let the water wrap around me, to forget about how my legs burned, how my breath hitched every time Elias looked at me.

But I couldn't.

Because joining them meant stripping down. And stripping down meant showing.

I crossed my arms, hugging the fabric of his sweater closer to my body, pressing my face into the worn cotton. It still smelled like him—clean, warm, safe.

"Not going in?" Juliet's voice was light, but I knew her. Knew she was watching me too closely.

I forced a shrug. "It's too cold."

Dani scoffed. "That hasn't stopped you before."

"I'm just tired."

She didn't buy it. Neither did Juliet. But thankfully, they didn't push.

I turned toward our tent, forcing myself to focus on unpacking instead. My fingers fumbled with the zipper of my bag, and I blinked hard, trying to shove down the lump rising in my throat.

Because the truth was—I wanted to feel the water.

I just didn't want anyone to see me.

_____

The fire crackled softly, its warmth flickering over the circle of students sitting on logs, eating and laughing. Plates clinked, conversations overlapped, but I wasn't listening.

I was watching him.

Elias sat across from me, his back straight, hands wrapped around a tin mug. The firelight cast sharp shadows over his face, highlighting the firm set of his jaw, the slight crease between his brows. But not once—not even once—had he looked at me.

I swallowed hard, pushing around the food on my plate.

He was ignoring me.

After everything that had happened. After the way he had touched me, the way he had held me.

I felt so stupid.

My chest tightened painfully as I glanced down, blinking fast. I couldn't cry. Not here. Not with Dani and Juliet beside me, not with everyone around. I forced a breath through my nose, shoving my plate away.

"I'm not hungry," I murmured.

Juliet looked over, concerned, but I was already standing. I mumbled something about being tired before slipping away, my legs unsteady as I made my way toward the tent.

I barely made it inside before the first tear slipped down my cheek.

Why was I such an idiot?

I pressed my hands over my face, my breath coming fast and uneven. Of course he was ignoring me. Of course he was acting like nothing had happened. I was just a mistake to him—something that should've never happened in the first place.