Catching Fireflies

Twenty Three

C

It was the next night and were all right back at the campfires. I stayed inside the entire day. Faith tried to get me out and walk with her and possibly meet up with Maria and Isaac, but I passed on her offer. Later I found out that Maria and Isaac disappeared again and Faith hung around another group of friends she had a few classes with.

I felt bad, but knowing Faith, she was fine.

I sat with the girl's basketball team along with some of the guys. Ashley sat across from me at the firepit and Isaac right next to him.

"Is there any reason why Coach postponed practices?" One of the girls, Annie, asked.

"Rumor was that he got engaged," Isaac mentioned as he cracked open a soda can. "I could be wrong though. Maybe he's got someone intense planned."

"I guess there really is something to distract him from basketball." Channa pitched in with a mocking tone and everyone shared a small laugh.

"Alright, let's made things a little more exciting." Noel got up from her seat and grabbed an empty glass bottle of root beer that was left by the pit. She set it on the ledge of the stone pit.

"What are you planning?" I asked her. I crossed my arms as I stared at the bottle and then glanced at Ashley. He was already looking at me.

"Spin the bottle but seven minutes in heaven," Noel starts and spins the bottle for dramatic effect. "First two people the bottle lands on are chosen to be locked in the supply closet over there," Noel pointed and everyone turns their heads to look. "For seven minutes."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ashley asked.

"It's up to you if you do anything or not." Mitch shrugged.

"Alright, then it's settled. Everyone plays." Noel spins the bottle and we all watch as it spins and slowly comes to a stop. The nozzle lands on me first.

My heart falls into my stomach.

"Cris..." Noel mumbled as she spins the bottle once more and it lands on Isaac. "And Isaac."

We both looked at each other passed the fire. He seemed unbothered and bored as he got up from his seat. I looked at Ashley and he was frozen. His knuckles turned white as they gripped his chair.

"Let's get this over with," Isaac said and he looked at me as he jerked his head towards the supply closet. I slowly got up from my chair and looked at Ashley one more ut he wasn't looking at either of us, instead, he just stared at the fire. Damion took Isaac's seat next to him.

Isaac held the door open as I walked into the closet and he stepped in and closed it shut. It was pitch black and I couldn't see a thing. My mind started racing. The space was small and cramped. I could feel Isaac's body heat radiating.

He was too close.

"How much longer?" I asked timidly.

"We still have six minutes." I let out a shaky breath and tried my best to scoot away as far as I could until I hit a shelf. It still wasn't far enough. I was losing my breath and things were beginning to spin.

Too close.

Too close.

Too close.

Isaac shifted and his arm brushed against mine. "Don't touch me," I said quickly without thinking.

"I didn't touch you, chill out." He scoffed. I shrunk into myself. I wrapped my arms around my body and sealed my eyes shut. I counted the seconds as they went by slowly. I tried to focus on other things, like how any minute now the door will open and I can go right back to the fire pit and relax.