The Reunion

Ch-3

It wouldn't take a genius to see the glares Vanessa was throwing Chris who only seemed to give her one uncomfortable smile. Doesn't Vanessa get it? She needs to win over Miya but who's telling that dumb Barbie that?

The girls beside me are very kind and invite me to a bonfire that I happy agree to go to. It wasn't a tough decision. If I want to talk to people other than just Chris, Trev, Kriti, Sarah, Rick and Ryan I had to make new friends and what better than this.

I could barely enjoy myself amongst the strangers, the cold breeze overcome by the warmth of the fire, song by a guy for the girl he loves because who would've thought this attempt would go to trash as I am standing near the beer stand and in front of me is Sarah?

She is either very happy or very drunk as she begins, "Lilly, you should come join us. You missed all reunions at least come for this one!", she slurs and pulls my arm. DEFINITLY DRUNK.

 And before I can object her, I find myself in a smaller clearing of the forest than the previous one.

"Koalas, look who's here!", Sarah uses the reference of our childhood and brings everyone's attention to me by hollering at the top of her lungs. I am shocked to find Chris, Trev and Miya here. I thought only commoners came here. The shock on my face after seeing them is enough a question and they answer, "Oh dear, This is our choice to go or not. Ancestors didn't come doesn't mean they have any power over us.", their open declaration of no social gap between royals and commoners takes me by surprise. 

I settle with them. But I think there is more to their statement as if anger towards their parents who also played a major role on the abandon-everyone-we-care-for day

To my further astonishment, I notice it is just the bride-to-be and us. OMG! Almost like the old times when sometimes at night or during some special parties we would hang out together and some people they were dating would join too.

I go ahead and hug everyone, congratulate Trev and Miya once again but when I stand before Chris, I choose not to hug him and instead bring my hand forward for handshake.

"aww, no hugs for me?" 'he teases but quickly resorts to just a hand shake after meeting my scowl and stare that could pierce through his soul.

"She is the one, isn't she? The one you are still mad after? Your high school sweet-", a tipsy Miya says who is stopped by the hand of Trev on her mouth who gives me another smile.

Ahem. Ahem fucking ahem. What did she just say? 'still mad after' omg. This is not happening, not after it has been so long. I know it shouldn't matter anymore. It shouldn't affect me anymore but then there for a minute I let my eyes wonder to Chris who is blushing and my heart flutters.

The breeze continues to blow but this time instead of being comfortable, it is one that represents anything but that. It is like in the movies when two ex-lovers look at each other and try to contemplate their next move. To remove the unwanted symbolism, Chris opens his mouth to utter a sentence that carries his famous sarcasm but before he can actually get something out Kriti beats him to it.

"Sarah and I are together.", she says as they both get lost in a deep kiss.

But it doesn't take long for stupid King-to-be to address me and Chris, "I won the bet. And now since marriage is out of question, pay up."

"What bet?" both Chris and I say together. It is also then I realize I have been standing next to Chris since the handshake incident so I quickly take the only empty place available. Is it some twisted joke for the universe to make my life miserable by providing the seat beside Chris?