The crowd thinned a little as some students began leaving.
The fire burned lower.
Autumn sat back on the driftwood log.
"You survived," Luca said.
"Barely."
"You even danced."
"That will never happen again."
"Sure."
She looked out toward the ocean.
"Thanks for dragging me down the beach earlier."
"Anytime."
Silence settled again.
Comfortable this time.
Then Luca leaned closer.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Depends."
"Are you always this hard to read?"
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
His eyes moved to her lips briefly.
Then back to her eyes.
And suddenly the air felt electric again.