The Summer at Pine Lake

Ryan Beck 1 story

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Summary

Twenty‑one‑year‑old Ethan Verba, an environmental science major desperate for hands‑on experience, is running out of options. After a long string of rejections and the sinking fear that he'll never catch a break, he finally lands an internship at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. It feels like the fresh start he's been waiting for: a chance to learn, to grow, and to prove himself. But everything shifts the moment he meets his cabin mate, Andrew: a red‑haired, easygoing, very straight twenty‑one‑year‑old who quickly becomes the center of Ethan's attention. What begins as a harmless crush turns into something heavier, harder to hide, and impossible to ignore. As the Summer unfolds, Ethan's unspoken feelings collide with the pressures of the internship and the weight of his own mental health. What was supposed to be a dream opportunity becomes a season of longing, self‑discovery, and unraveling. One way or another, this will be a Summer Ethan will never forget. Disclaimer: This story delves into some really heavy topics such as mental health, depression, and un-aliving. It also contains graphic sexual content and distressing scenes. All characters are 18 or over. This story is only for readers 18+ The story is complete, but if I catch any more typos or errors, I'll fix them.