I hear the rustling of footsteps on the long grass outside my tent and lift my head up from my inflatable pillow and peak my ears towards the noise.
It's the third day of a college trip to the woods outside the city, where me and a few other teachers are guiding some of the better students through some wilderness task as part of some award thing I'm not remotely interested in. It's too close to the city to be a true challenge, but it's a nice change of pace from the usual grind of life. And as much as I love my wife and children, getting to sleep alone and even getting to sleep in for once is appreciated.
The noise outside of the tent stops and then I hear a timid voice speak up.
"Knock-knock?"
Emma. Of all the people that were taking part in the field trip, she was perhaps the most timid. She was bookish, with long dark hair and black-rimmed glasses. She was cute in her own way, and he'd not been the only one to notice her impressive rack. It was very well hidden though - she never wore anything provocative.
"What is it Emma?" I ask, staying on my inflatable double bed and hoping she'll go back to bed soon enough so I can get some rest - I've definitely not come all the way out here to have whatever sleep I can get ruined by a meek woman.
"I can't sleep. Can... can I come in?" she asks and I audibly groan, hopefully loud enough that she gets the point. Yet I don't hear any footsteps and after another groan I lean up and turn on the small light I have, which Emma takes as me admitting entry, beginning to open the zipper to the outer tent and then the inner one.
"Hurry in then," I hiss, and notice she's wearing a dark green vest top and light blue cotton shorts. And no bra. It's the most skin I've ever seen on the nineteen year old, her pale skin glowing against the small light in the middle of my tent. "And shut the zips behind you."
I know the risks of having her in here. If any of the other teachers knew she was here my career would be done. Yet knowing the risks I don't move and wait for her explanation.
"I'm sorry Matt" she says, sitting on her knees and looking suitably embarrassed. "I just couldn't sleep and... I miss home. And my boyfriend. I've never been this far away from them all for so long."
She sniffs and I roll my eyes at all this show. "And what do you want me to do Emma? I mean... what can I honestly offer? Do you want me to drive you back? Because if you do it will have to wait until the morning."
Her brown eyes glance up then, for once not framed by her glasses. Perhaps she had been expecting more sympathy from him. He held that gaze for a moment until she sadly shook her head.
"No. I don't want to go. I like it here. But... can I stay with you? Please? I'll sleep on the edge of your bed, you won't even know I'm here."
I do lean up then, exposing more of my bare chest to her. "Emma, do you know how risky that is? I could lose my job! I have a wife and kids that depend on me. No, you cannot stay."
Those brown eyes flutter slightly and I'm slightly taken aback - is she more than she seems? "Please" she whispers pathetically and I sigh, leaning up to turn out the light in the tent and then settling back down.
"You're gone before dawn." I tell her, and then close my eyes as I feel the bed bulge with the slight weight of her getting onto it and moving to the other side of him. That should be the end of it I think as she settles down away from me somewhere.