At dinner, your eyes met for just a little longer than they did last night.
On the way back to the cabin, you walked a little closer to each other than you did before.
Through it all, you could feel the weight of what you weren't saying to Pearl, and the even heavier weight of just how much you wanted to say it. It felt like every one of those hours took a thousand years to pass.
But now, after lights out, you're finally alone with Pearl, sitting on the front steps of Cabin 12 under the stars, with the sounds of crickets and soft faraway voices murmuring all around you. The steps are so narrow that her broad shoulders nearly brush against yours and your feet line up side by side. Just as you felt the expansion of every hour, you can feel the contraction of every bit of space, as if you were being pulled closer together.
Pearl is the first to speak, taking the risk of diving into the silence of things unsaid. "So," she says quietly. "Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
Okay—this is it.
"I'm really glad I've gotten to know you. Spending so much time with someone lets you see what kind of person they really are, and I've seen that you're an amazing person, Pearl. You're brave and honest, you're dedicated, you're caring. And I think you're gorgeous, too. I really like you, and I would love it if you would be my girlfriend."
"I thought so." Pearl's grin goes wide with happy triumph. "I hoped so, too. Being around you every day, seeing how great you are with the kids, how much you care about doing the right thing, what a great team we are, how well we go together—I hoped it meant we'd go well together in other ways, too. I'm so glad you feel the same way. Can I kiss you? I've seriously wanted to kiss you for a long time."