the Devil and the Sea

21| BBQ: Flirting

"Vic, wait!" I hear Phil's voice behind me. I hesitate for a few seconds, but still I stop and turn to him. I bite my lip in annoyance, because I foolishly hoped that it would be Vincent who would run after me.

"Where are you going? Don't tell me you're already going home." I can sense disappointment in Phil's voice.

I glance at the company behind Phil. Vincent has moved away from the table and seems to be looking at Phil and me with concern. I glance at the others: Ricky is also looking at us, and Marina is boring me with a gloomy look. She then looks at Vincent.

My nerves are on edge, not because of a fight with Ricky, but because of Vincent. I want to be with Vincent, I want him to talk to me.

Why do I want this?

"I ..." my voice fails me, I don't know what to answer and look back at Ricky's gaze.

"You shouldn't leave just because you had a fight with Ricky." Phil says following my gaze. "Forget it, don't let anyone ruin this evening. Stay and have fun. You didn't bring your ass in here to leave the party sad."

My heart skips a beat when Phil says the last sentence like he knows something.

I clench my jaw in thought: how can I get back if I was just about to leave? Apparently Phil notices my doubts, throws his arm around my shoulders and leads me back to the table.

"Even if you are in a quarrel with Ricky, this is not a reason to leave. There are people here who are happy to see you, and I am one of them."

Phil smiles and his smile is transferred to me. I even giggle, relieved that he stopped me.

We come back to the table and Phil sits down, but I do not have time to follow his example: Marina immediately grabs my arm and takes me aside.

"What's between you and Vincent?" she asks bluntly, taking me by surprise.

"What?" I say, while Marina burns me with her eyes, "there is nothing between us," I don't know what caused the impulse to make excuses to her, "we just talk, and that's only because we have mutual friends and we are forced to be in the same company."

Marina sighs in frustration, lets go of my hand and looks down. Then he looks back at me and says seriously:

"Vincent rushed after you when you were leaving, he wanted to catch up with you," she watches my reaction, and I successfully suppress a smile that breaks out, "but Ricky stopped him," she continues.

I playfully widen my eyes, showing that I myself am surprised. Although, it is true. I am.

Vincent wanted me back.

But Phil caught up with me.

Marina looks away again, and I get the feeling she doesn't feel comfortable admitting it.

"I'm sorry if I'm doing something wrong, I don't want to..." Damn, I don't even know what words to choose. "I don't want to get in your way." I tell her, certain that this is what she would like to hear from me.

"Everything is fine." Marina smiles at me, but I feel that this smile is forced.

"It's good to chat there!" Phil screams. "Let's drink to celebrate we are all here together!"

Marina and I return to the table and Ricky invites her to sit next to him and at the same time does not pay any attention to me.

Is he trying to punish me this way? Why did he stand up for Marina? "The answer is simple" - the demon whispers from my shoulder, - "you are a bad person".

I sit between Phil and Joan, and Vincent sits to his left. Phil lets out a yell of joy, the guys echo him, and they all drink alcohol at the same time. I suddenly feel superfluous, not only here, but in the lives of everyone around me. I suppress my self-pity and after draining my glass I get up and walk over to Ricky.