Fireworks

27

"Look who finally made it!"

Edwardo sweeps Isa up into a big hug and they start passionately making out. I awkwardly stand to the side and look around at the house.

It's obvious that Javi-or whoever owns this house-comes from wealth, it's large and modern and bustling with kids, some of whom I recognize from school. There's a pool that a bunch of people are playing water nuocome in, and there are fold-out tables that people are playing beer pong and flip cup on. There's a good amount of people here, but like Isa said, it wasn't a rager or anything.

Isa immediately had led us through the house and to the backyard, where everyone from work was situated around a mellow bonfire. There are a few people I don't recognize, but for the most part, it's all the people that work at the firework stand.

And that includes Arlo.

He's sitting on a log sipping something in a bottle, Monse hugging his arm for dear life. She's giggling at something, and I can't help but note how pretty she looks tonight.

"Hey, Hadlee!" Cecily calls, waving from where she's perched on some guy's lap.

I wave back, and a few other people call out greetings. I catch Ryan checking me out, but I look away before he can see I noticed. I try to band my arms around the strip of my exposed stomach.

"Here, want a drink?" Ryan offers me a red solo cup of what I assume is beer, but I politely decline. "Well, here, sit down, at least," he says, shoving someone's coat off of the spot next to him on a log. Of course it's the log next to Arlo's, and so once again I find myself situated between Ryan and Arlo.

Arlo gives me an easy wave and half-smile as I sit down, and I return it. I see his eyes flit over me, but he looks away before I see any kind of emotion on his face.

"Has anyone seen Javi yet?" Isa calls, finally breaking away from her embrace with Edwardo.

"I did when I got here, last time I saw him was in the kitchen," Diego responds.

She sighs and plops down on the log across from me, dragging Edwardo down next to her. "I'll see him later, I guess. Anyone have an extra beer?"

The conversation is easy and light in the circle, and every so often people flit in and out of the group. A group of guys comes over to say hi to Arlo, and they have their own conversation for a bit.

I'm listening to Johan recount the time he was in a huge skiing accident in Colorado when I feel a light tug on the end of my hair. I look over to see Ryan grinning at me. "You look really pretty tonight, you know."

I feel myself blush, and I quickly look away again. "Thanks, Ryan."

He nods and says, "You don't drink?"

I shrug. "Um, not really. I'm driving Isa home, so..."

He nods, his eyes trained on my face. "That's nice, you're a nice person." His eyes flit down to my lips for a second and I get very nervous.

I discreetly shift away from him a bit and nod. "Thank you. Um, I'm going to find the bathroom."

I stand before he can respond and walk past the pool and into the house. I can feel him watching me as I go, but I try not to let it show. The house is just as nice on the inside as it is the out, and people mill around, drinking and listening to music, just having a good time.

I find the bathroom quickly, and am surprised to find it open and not smelling of vomit. I fix a couple strands of my hair and put on some chapstick. I haven't been here long enough for my appearance to become disheveled in any way, so I just wash my hands and leave again. I walk around the house, exploring for a bit. The entire wall facing the back yard is glass, and the kitchen is really nice and even has one of those pot filler things above the stove that I find really cool.