He's Just a Skater Boy (boyxboyxboy)

Chapter 142: Part I: Hanging with Emily

[A/N] Updating on the right day for once... I count the time from 6 AM to 6 AM as one day, so for me this is still Tuesday.... That sounds like a joke but it isn't, I haven't slept yet and it's not bright out yet. I updated on time.... ৻( •̀ ᗜ •́ ৻) ✧

Also... double update!

I was still drying my hair by the time I joined them in front of the campfire, sitting beside Jacob who was dutifully looking over the printed schedule while Atlas helped Miss Westfield put together the bonfire along with a few others.

It was beginning to get dark, still light in the sky but the ground was beginning to get fuzzy with darkness. The damp crisp air of the surrounding farm and woodland drifted through, tired students either sleeping in their tents to be woken up by the bell that would let everyone know the bonfire was being lit, or lounging around the bonfire, waiting for some proper heat.

Jacob didn't acknowledge me as I sat down near him on one of the benches that was closest to the bonfire, propped in a cone shape in the middle. His elegant sharp features facing downwards toward the stapled pieces of paper.

The wind that swept through was freezing, and my hair that was getting too long, was taking too long to dry. I shivered and rubbed my head more vigorously, unconsciously moving closer.

I might have inched closer a couple times, it took me a moment until I was brushing up against him, the small relief of comforting touch and warmth feeling so natural for a full second before I realised what I was doing and blinked wide, looking around us, and immediately moved away again.

I looked up at him, saw his lips part only just, he knew I was there for sure, but although he looked like he was about to say something he closed his mouth against, took a breath and continued reading the schedule.

I looked down at it, what on earth was he trying to memorise on that sheet.

I raised a brow at him for a moment, frowned and looked up, watching Atlas help out, but caught the tail end of the job as they finally put the fire accelerant block inside the tinder and pushed the long match inside. 

For one magical moment the flames flickered into life just parallel from Atlas's face, and the flames reflected in his eyes, the light dancing onto his face. 

He pulled back up to full height from the crouch and looked our way, a slight easy smile on his face.

I was so tired and cold, it was hard not to relax, even if parts of me were naturally tense, and when I was relaxed I couldn't help but watch the two of them like a dream. There was something comfortable about them, something that felt right and natural between us.

Nevertheless Atlas glanced between us, seemed to stop and think for a moment, and then sat on Gift's side, and not on mine. Which obviously wasn't a problem, but it was odd, somehow, they were both acting weird, I was sure of it.

"You filled up your water?" Jacob asked Atlas. Atlas reached back, his backpack apparently sitting with Jacob, and raised his bottle.

Jacob nodded.

"I hope she knows we're waiting on the hot dogs. If she brought carrots they're gonna revolt." Atlas hummed, taking a sip from his drink as we watched the flames slowly lick their way up the branches, some of them old and dry, some of them a little more resilient.

Jacob finally glanced down at me, and I looked up at him, I didn't know what was going on, but he just looked forward after a long moment.

Then after a deep exhale he glanced back at me. "Your hair is wet." He said slowly.