The Night

As the lake breeze swirled around them, the two groups eased into an evening that felt oddly magical. Kyle was deep in conversation with Zara, the beautiful girl from the other group, her wild, carefree energy matching his own.

"You know," Zara said with a playful smirk, "I didn't expect a guy like you to play guitar. You look more like the 'football player' type."

Kyle chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Guess I'm full of surprises. Just because I can tackle a dude doesn't mean I can't serenade a girl."

Zara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? So you serenade all the girls, huh?"

"Only the interesting ones," he replied, flashing a charming smile. "Like you."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she laughed, a light and musical sound that made him want to hear it again. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you know."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, leaning in slightly. "What's your favorite kind of music?"

"Honestly? Anything that makes me feel something," she said, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. "But I'm a sucker for a good love song. What about you?"

"Same here," Kyle replied, his gaze steady on her. "There's something about music that just… connects people, you know? It's like we're all on the same wavelength."

Zara nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "Exactly! It's like a universal language. But, like, what if you had to choose? What's your go-to song?"

Kyle smirked, then said, "I'd have to go with 'Thinking Out Loud' by Ed Sheeran. It's just so romantic and relatable."

"Wow, going for the classics, huh?" she teased. "What are you, a hopeless romantic?"

"Guilty as charged," he said, laughing. "But hey, it's better than being a cynic, right?"

"Touché," Zara replied, her playful demeanor never faltering. "Okay, I'll let you have that one."

Just then, Derek's voice broke through their moment. "Alright, Kyle! Time for that song!"

Zara's eyes lit up. "You're a singer? This I have to see!"

Kyle grinned, pulling out a small guitar he had brought along. "Let's see if I still remember how to do this."

As he began strumming a gentle, romantic melody, his voice filled the air. It was a song about fleeting moments and first loves, and he found himself pouring every bit of feeling he had into it. Emily and Tyler exchanged smiles, leaning into each other, while Chloe and Gavin swayed along.

Zara's cheeks flushed again as she listened, her gaze fixed on Kyle. "You're really good," she said softly, almost as if she were afraid to break the spell.

"Thanks! This song is for you," he said, giving her a playful wink.

"Smooth talker, aren't you?" she replied, her eyes twinkling. "I like it."

As the song ended, the group burst into applause, but Kyle's attention remained on Zara, who looked both impressed and shy.

"Damn, Kyle!" Derek laughed. "Didn't know you could be that smooth!"

"Smooth, my ass," Jake teased, giving Kyle a friendly punch on the shoulder.

Derek, not missing a beat, tugged Jake to his feet. "Let's dance, man!"

Jake groaned but was pulled up anyway. "You know I can't dance!"

Liam, the muscular guy from the other group, snickered. "You two look real cozy there. Didn't know you were into each other like that."

Without missing a beat, Derek shrugged, grinning. "You're just jealous."

Then he reached for Liam's hand. "C'mon, join us!"

The group erupted with laughter as Liam found himself pulled into the trio, reluctantly breaking into a goofy dance.

Meanwhile, back at the motel, the old lady managing the reception was closing up for the night when a sudden chill crawled up her spine. She felt a presence and looked down the hallway. There, a shadowy figure moved around the area where the teenagers' rooms were. She squinted, her cloudy eyes barely making out the figure's silhouette, and for a moment, it seemed as though he was watching her.

The strange man tilted his head slightly, and a cold smile glinted across his face. But as soon as he realized she was watching, he vanished into the shadows, leaving nothing behind.

The old lady's expression barely shifted. She'd seen plenty of odd things in her years, and yet… something about this man was different, and a faint shiver lingered as she closed the blinds, locking the door with a trembling hand.