The car kept moving steadily down the road.
Ray and Kate were still sitting close—
their hands still together.
Neither of them had let go.
Kate's eyes stayed forward, but her fingers shifted slightly in his, like she was aware of it now.
Ray glanced down at their hands for a second—
then back up.
Didn't say anything.
Julia watched them, quieter than usual, her eyes moving between them as she looked through the rearview mirror.
"…So," she said after a moment, breaking it lightly.
Suddenly, as if Ray decided to test the waters—
he shifted a little closer.
His fingers slipped under the edge of her shirt just slightly—
and he started tickling her stomach.
Kate jerked immediately.
"…RAY—" she snapped, grabbing his wrist, but a laugh slipped out before she could stop it.
She tried to pull away, shoulders tensing, but he didn't stop right away.
"Stop—stop—" she said, half laughing now, squirming in her seat.
Ray grinned, clearly satisfied with himself.
Kate pushed his hand away, still catching her breath, her face warm again.
"…You're actually impossible," she said, but there was a small smile she couldn't fully hide.
Ray leaned back slightly, like he'd learned something.
"…Noted."
And then—
like it was the most natural thing in the world—
he shifted again and lowered himself,
resting his head on her lap.
Kate froze instantly.
Her whole body went stiff.
Her face went red in a second.
"…What are you doing?" she said, looking down at him, completely caught off guard.
Ray just adjusted slightly, getting comfortable like that was his spot now.
"Sleeping," he muttered.
Kate stayed still for a second longer—
then her hand hovered awkwardly above his head.
Not sure what to do.
"…You're unbelievable," she muttered.
But she didn't move him away.
And that's when—
he moved.
Quick, but not rough.
He pushed himself up from her lap and grabbed her waist, pulling her slightly toward him.
Kate let out a small breath, caught off guard as her back met the door.
She wasn't fully lying—
half sitting against the window, legs shifting as she tried to adjust—
and then she just… stopped.
Because his face was right there.
Close.
Too close.
Her breath hitched slightly.
"…Ray," she said quietly.
Not pushing him away.
Not moving closer either.
Just—there.
Ray hesitated for a split second, like even he realized how close he'd gotten.
Julia went completely still, watching without saying a word.
And this time—
he couldn't resist.
He closed the distance.
Kissed her.
Not as quick as before.
Slower.
Kate's breath caught—
her hand instinctively gripping his shirt for a second.
She didn't pull away.
Didn't move at all, actually—
just stayed there, frozen in it.
Then—
after a moment—
she turned her head slightly, breaking it.
Her forehead rested against his for a second, eyes not quite meeting his.
"…You're such an idiot," she whispered.
But her hand was still holding onto him.
Julia smiled, seeing how red Kate's cheeks were, not interrupting. As if it was an invitation—
he leaned in again.
More careful this time.
His lips met hers softly, slower than before.
His hand moved lightly along her back, not pulling, just there—
steady.
Kate didn't freeze this time.
Her fingers tightened slightly in his shirt, holding onto it.
Her eyes stayed closed for a second longer—
then she pulled back just a little, her breath uneven.
She didn't move away.
Didn't let go either.
"…Ray," she murmured quietly.
Not a warning this time.
Just… his name.
And then—
like something in him settled—
he just pulled her in.
Gently.
His arms wrapped around her, not tight, just enough to keep her close—
and he rested his head against her shoulder.
Kate stayed still for a second.
Then slowly—
her hand moved.
Resting lightly against his back.
Her fingers curled into his shirt just a little.
No words.
No jokes.
Just quiet.
After another minute, Ray slowly pulled away from her.
Careful, like he didn't want to make it weird.
He sat back in his seat, adjusting slightly, his hands dropping to his lap.
He didn't look at her.
Kate stayed like that for a second longer—
then shifted back too, fixing her position against the door.
Her fingers brushed her shirt lightly.
She didn't look at him either.
The car kept moving in silence.
And as if he already missed her—
he leaned in again.
Closing the small space between them.
He kissed her.
Quick at first—
then softer.
Kate's breath caught, but she didn't pull away this time.
Her hand moved up again, gripping his shirt lightly.
She leaned into it just a little—
like she forgot to stop herself.
Julia shifted slightly in the front, watching quietly, not interrupting.
He continued the kiss—
a little deeper this time.
Slower.
More certain.
Kate's fingers tightened in his shirt, pulling him just slightly closer without thinking.
Her breath shifted, uneven for a second—
but she didn't stop him.
Didn't move away.
Julia looked out the window trying to give them space, a faint smile still there.
And Ray, being who he is—
he suddenly pulled back.
Kate barely had time to react—
before he leaned down and pressed his face against her chest again.
Kate froze.
"…RAY—" she snapped instantly, shoving his head back with both hands, her face going red all over again.
"What is WRONG with you?" she added, pushing him away.
Ray blinked, slightly dazed. "I thought—"
"No," she cut him off immediately.
Julia turned her head away, trying not to laugh. "…He really doesn't learn," she muttered.
Kate crossed her arms tightly, still glaring at him.
"Stop doing that."
Ray raised his hands slightly. "Okay—okay—"
"…Worth a try," he added under his breath.
Kate hit him again.
"But I'm not gonna let you run away that easily," Ray said, like he was justifying himself, leaning a bit closer again.
Kate froze.
Her eyes flicked up to him—
then away almost instantly, her fingers tightening slightly in her shirt.
"…I wasn't running," she muttered quietly.
Ray tilted his head, watching her.
"Yeah, you were."
Kate shook her head a little, still not meeting his eyes. "…No," she said, softer.
Julia raised an eyebrow from the front seat, following the shift. "…That's cute," she muttered.
Ray leaned just a bit closer again, testing it—
this time slower.
Kate didn't move away.
Just stayed there, a bit tense—
but not stopping him.
And then—
before she could fully react—
he leaned down slightly.
His lips brushed just above the edge of her top.
Soft.
Quick.
Then he pulled back immediately.
Kate's heart skipped for a second.
Her whole body went still again, her breath catching.
Her face turned red instantly.
"…Ray," she whispered, not even looking at him now.
Ray watched her for a second—
like even he realized that crossed a line.
"I'm sorry," Ray said quickly, pulling back a bit more, hands lifting slightly. "Only in the cabin. Understood."
Kate gasped.
Then her eyes snapped to him, wide.
"…What?" she said, completely caught off guard.
Her face went red all over again.
Julia blinked once, clearly amused, then let out a quiet breath through her nose.
Ray shrugged a little, like what he just said made total sense.
"I'm setting boundaries."
Kate just stared at him.
Then hit his arm again.
"STOP TALKING."
"She assaulted me," Ray muttered, like he was the victim—
and before she could react—
he leaned in, closer to her neck.
His lips brushed lightly against her skin.
Kate's eyes widened a bit.
Her breath hitched slightly, her hand instinctively gripping his shirt again.
"…Ray," she said quietly—
not pushing him away.
And like Julia wasn't even there—
he didn't stop.
His lips stayed at her neck, slower now, lingering just enough to make it hard to ignore.
Kate's hand tightened in his shirt.
Her breathing shifted—
uneven.
She tried to stay still—
tried to keep control—
but it slipped.
A soft sound escaped her before she could stop it.
She froze right after.
Completely.
"Stop it, you idiot!" she said, her voice breaking slightly as another soft sound slipped out before she could stop it.
She pushed his head away, a bit harder this time.
Ray leaned back, blinking at her.
Kate turned her face away immediately, breathing uneven, one hand coming up to her neck like she needed a second.
"…I told you to stop," she muttered, but it didn't sound as sharp.
"Fine," he said, crossing his arms, leaning back into his seat like he was actually offended.
Kate glanced at him for a second—
then looked away again, still a bit flustered.
"…Good," she muttered, adjusting her shirt slightly, not meeting his eyes.
Ray stayed like that, staring forward, clearly sulking.
Kate huffed softly under her breath.
"…He started it." she said, looking at Julia, who didn't react.
"I'm gonna make you my bitch," Ray said, glancing at Kate for a second before turning his gaze away again, like he didn't want to make it a big deal.
Kate froze.
Then slowly turned her head toward him.
"…You're so embarrassing," she muttered, but her face was red again.
Ray stayed leaned back, arms still crossed, pretending he didn't care.
Julia raised an eyebrow. "…He's cocky, alright," she said, smirking.
Kate shook her head, looking away again, but there was a small smile she couldn't fully hide.
As an hour passed, they were getting closer to the camp.
The road became more familiar, the turns slower, quieter.
Julia glanced up at the mirror—
and paused.
Both of them had fallen asleep.
Ray was slightly leaned toward Kate, his head resting against her shoulder.
Kate's head tilted lightly against his, her hand still loosely holding onto his shirt.
Julia watched them for a second—
then looked back at the road, a small, knowing smile forming.
After a few more minutes, Julia saw the camp's entrance.
She smiled slightly.
The trip was finally over.
She slowed the car, pulling up next to the gate and parking carefully.
The engine went quiet.
Ray and Kate didn't wake up.
Julia glanced at them once more—
then leaned back in her seat, letting the moment sit.