Anna felt a sense of accomplishment as she looked at their work. It was their first task together, and they had done it well. She couldn't help but feel a little thrill at having collaborated with him. "Should we move on to the next plant?" Evan nodded and started the next description. When Evan was done with the descriptions for the bee balm and the Echinacea purpurea, and Anna was done with the sketches, they both just sat there waiting, while the other groups were still busy. Anna looked around the room, noticing that their group was one of the first to finish. She felt a sense of pride, both for herself and for Evan. They made a good team. She turned to him, a small smile on her face. "Looks like we are done early," she commented, tapping her pencil against the table. Evan stretched his arms above his head, his shirt riding up to reveal a sliver of toned stomach. Anna quickly looked away, her heart fluttering in her chest. She had never been this close to a guy like him before. "So," she began, trying to keep her voice steady, "What do you want to do now?" The other groups were still deep in conversation, leaving them with some unexpected free time. Anna fiddled with the corner of her notebook, suddenly feeling shy again. She hoped Evan wouldn't think she was being too forward by asking. Evan shifted closer to her and put his hand on her thigh. "I don't know. Any suggestions?" Anna's breath hitched as Evan's warm hand rested on her thigh. She could feel the heat of his palm through the thin fabric of her shorts. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and she struggled to think straight. "Oh, um," she stammered, her mind racing. She looked around the room, but no ideas came to mind. All she could focus on was the touch of his hand and the way he was looking at her with those intense eyes. Before she could say anything else, Evan leaned in closer. His voice was low and husky when he spoke, "Maybe we could get to know each other better." His thumb began to trace small circles on her thigh, sending shivers up her spine. Anna's mouth went dry. She knew she should say something, but all rational thought had fled. She nodded slowly, unable to form words. Getting to know each other better sounded like a very good idea to her. "Alright, I will start," he muttered. "Why are you at this camp? Extra credit or something?" he asked, still seeming bored and uninterested, but still he waited for her response.
Anna swallowed hard, trying to focus on Evan's question. His touch was distracting, but she wanted to answer him properly. "Um, not exactly," she began, her voice soft. "I just...I really like plants. And learning about nature." She paused, feeling a little self-conscious. "It's kind of my escape from everything else." Evan's thumb continued its gentle motion on her thigh, and Anna found herself relaxing into his touch. She looked at him, wondering if he would laugh at her or think she was weird. "I know it sounds dorky, but there's something peaceful about being surrounded by greenery and fresh air," she added quickly, a blush rising to her cheeks. To her surprise, Evan didn't laugh. He just nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on her face. "Yeah, I get that," he said quietly. His response caught Anna off guard. "I mean, plants... What is not to like," he said, clearing his throat. "I am mostly here to get away from my parents," he muttered. Anna felt a pang of sympathy for Evan. She couldn't imagine having parents that were so difficult to deal with that he needed to escape to a botany camp. "Oh," she said softly, her eyes widening with understanding. "That must be tough." She instinctively placed her hand over his on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. "My parents are pretty cool, so I can't really relate, but... I'm sorry you have to deal with that." Evan looked down at her hands, his expression unreadable. He didn't pull away from her touch. After a moment, he let out a short laugh that sounded more bitter than amused. "It's fine," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "At least here there aren't any lectures about my grader of my future."
He looked at Anna, his gaze intense. "What is your family like?" Anna shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, I have a big family." she shifted slightly in her seat, her hand still resting on top of Evan's. "My parents are pretty hands-off, actually. They trust me to do my own thing." A wistful expression crossed her face. "It's both good and bad, I guess." Evan listened to her then asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "So, you are the responsible typed, huh? No wild parties or sneaking out?" Anna laughed softly, shaking her head. "Not really. I mean, I have been to a few parties, but usually I am the one making sure everyone gets home safely." She felt a little embarrassed for admitting it, but there was something about Evan that made her want to be honest. "And sneaking out?" she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "My parents would ground me for life if they caught me." She bit her lip, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Not that I have actually done it." Evan's lips curved into a slow smile. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Maybe you need someone to show you how," he murmured. Anna's heart skipped a beat at his words. The idea of sneaking out with Evan was both thrilling and terrifying. She had always played by the rules, but something about him made her want to break them just a little. "Yeah, someone to show you how to loosen up a bit. Have some fun," he said seductively. His hand moving up her thigh.