You'd do anything for a quiet rock and a ton of ice

“Jorrel helped me arrange it. Carried a bunch of it in his pack.” Mute explains. Out of the corner of your eye, he seems to attempt to relax. He’s failing. Even you can see that.

Base camp is anything but base. There’s a blanket laid out on the floor along with a bunch of fluffy pillows. Right now, you’re sitting cross-legged on it. Mute is lying to your left, trying to look suave and resting his elbow on a pillow. In front of you, Mute has made an arrangement of glowsticks, shaped like a camp fire. Not the usual green ones either. Red, yellow, and pink. The whole room a soft hue of all combined, gently wrapping itself around both of you. He prepared all of this for you and you’re just a weirdo with no underwear on.

Mute sits up too and says, “I had the Idea when one of the red ones popped out one day. I don’t know why I didn’t tell any of you guys about it… Like, I think I was afraid you’d read my mind and catch on.” He throws himself on his stomach and reaches for his backpack. “Brought these too,” Mute extends you a roll of tissues, “I know you tend to cry. Uh, not that you cry a lot. You do. But not that it’s a bad thing. I don’t mean that like you’re a cheesy character from one of Jorrels plays. Okay, I mentioned Jorrel twice now before even talking about you and that’s about the least romantic thing ever.”

At some point you stopped crying and ended up just staring at Mute. Something growing inside of you, like the light of a candle dying, leaving all but his face in darkness. There's new things, too, you notice. The way his lips move as he speaks. Whatever you're feeling, it won't stop growing.

Uninterrupted, he continues, “When I had this idea, it seemed much better and a lot less, you’re stuck here with me and can’t escape. Does it seem creepier when I tell you that they won’t be back before tomorrow morning? I swear, I didn’t intend to trap you, I just… hadn’t really thought it through. I guess that’s the extend of romantic planning a nine-teen year old is capable of. Great, and now you know I’ve been thinking about this for three years and too nervous to do it. Must se-”

You kiss Mute.