𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫, 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫 | 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

14. hugs are the new sex.

F O U R T E E N
hugs are the new sex.

I think I heard in some class at some point that, without fire, we wouldn't be where we are today with technological advancements. But sometimes I daydream and make stuff up by accident.

As you get closer to a fire you get the cold warm, the nice warm, the toasty warm, the getting a little painful warm, and the setting on fire warm. Personally, the 'getting a little painful warm' is my favourite, don't know what that says about me.

I shuffle toward the fire started, Pope throws dry sticks onto it. My hands extend out, I get toward almost a little painful warm before someone grabs my shoulder. I turn around, very offended.

"You're going to set yourself on fire, you were perfectly fine here." He tells me.

"I am capable of making my own decisions, and if I want to set myself accidentally on fire then I can," I turn back to the fire.

"You're way too drunk, you breathe in the direction and you'll go up I'm flames." He insists.

Rolling my eyes I go back to the spot next to him, mumbling about how awful he is.

"Hey, guys, so my Dad is already going to kill me. So, what's this mandatory meeting about?" Pope asks, sitting himself down beside me. He glances over to me and I shrug, I barely know my own name. John B and JJ look at each other, John B gestures for JJ to start talking about the reason we all sit here being banned from getting close to the fire.

JJ leans back, "Might as well tell him, man, before we're gaffed."

Kie looks worried, and if I wasn't tipsy I would be too. John B looks between the three of us who have no clue what's happening. "You ready for this?" He asks excitedly. Really going for the suspense.

"Yeah," Kie nods tentatively.

This better live up to the dramatic effect. "So," John B begins. "The gold never went down on the Royal Merchant." I can hear Pope grumble something I can't understand but it still makes me laugh.

Seeing John B is losing people's interest, JJ goes into defence mode. "No. All right, wait. Hear him out, all right." He looks at me, not pleased I started to laugh at unintelligible mumblings.

"It's been here the whole time," John B gets back on with his story. "It's on the island." He looks around for yet more dramatic effect.

Kie can't help but laugh, "Are you serious?" She asks, prompting John B to nod in confirmation. "Oh my God." She smiles in disbelief.

"I'd like to voice my scepticism," Pope announces the shocking news as he leans forward a little.

"Now that's unlike you, Pope," I grin at him.

John B stands up, "I'm sure you would, Pope." No one is surprised. "But can I please present you with my evidence, sir?" John B asks, waiting for Pope to answer.

"Proceed," Pope waves him all. This is feeling very much like a court. I hope JJ doesn't have any PTSD flashbacks. He is a convict, after all.

John B picks up his backpack, "All right. So, in my backpack, I have a letter from Denmark Tanny." He pulls out a folded piece of paper. For something that holds so much alleged importance, you'd expect it to look grand, but it just looks like a normal piece of paper. Old and worn. I wanted some golden borders, maybe some washi tape, or some shit.

"Am I meant to know who that is?" I ask, tipping my head to the side, racking my brain for something I've missed.

"Denmark Tanny was a slave that survived the Royal Merchant wreck, check this out." He walks over to me and hands the yellowed paper over. I cannot explain how badly I want to throw it in the fire, but I refrain.