What Happens on the Fourth

SUNDAY

The night had gotten extremely cold. Up until now, we had been lucky with the weather- but tonight was turning the tables, and even with a blanket wrapped around me and my lawn chair situated only a few feet from the fire, I still shivered. Alcohol might have helped to warm me, but I wasn't in the mood after consuming as much as I had last night.

Kate sat only a few feet to my right, roasting marshmallows for s'mores. I had teased her for brining such a large bag of the squishy sweet upon seeing it, but it was already half almost half empty, with all the people gorging themselves on them. The gooey treat had never been my forte, though- so I didn't find myself compelled to join them in that.

"I've never been a huge fan of them either," a voice to my left had me shifting my attention to Alex, who sat himself in the chair next to me. He motioned to Daniel, who passed him one of the sticks that was being used to toast the marshmallows.

"Thought you weren't a fan," I mumbled, but he reached into the plastic bag that I hadn't noticed he set at his feet and pulled out a package of hotdogs.

"I'm not, but I can eat an absurd amount of these," he winked. "Want one?"

"I actually do," I said, watching as he continued to pull buns and a bottle of ketchup out of the bag. "Where have you been keeping that?"

"Max's camper," he skewered two hot dogs on the metal prongs of the stick and stretched to hold them over the fire. "I did swing by the tent for this, though," he showed me his bottle of Jack, "and I turned the blanket on."

"Oh my God, thank you," I huffed- I hadn't even thought to do that.

"I've got to sleep under it, too," he chuckled and flipped the hotdogs.

"So," I saw him glance at me briefly out of the corner of his eye before redirecting his attention back to his current task, "are you and Max...?"
 "Are me and Max what?" I asked, spotting the dirty blonde talking to Claire, Matt, and Amanda across the fire.

"Are you two ... a thing? You seem pretty close."

I couldn't stop the laugh that fell from my mouth. Alex glanced at me again- awaiting an answer- I realized.

"No," I replied. "No, just friends. Why do you ask?"

He shrugged, "you two just seem close is all." He pulled the hotdogs from the fire, their skin darkened and bubbling, and placed them on the buns before topping them with ketchup. He handed one to me, and I pulled my hands from their warm cocoon to gratefully accept it.

"I guess we are," I replied before taking a big bite. "Just not like that," I said through my food, not really caring that it wasn't exactly 'lady-like'. Alex seemed amused by it and responded by taking a large bite of his own. Delta chose that moment to walk up to his side, watching him intently as he ate. I lightly laughed and threw her the last bite of mine, which had her running back to Amanda. I quickly tucked my hands back into my blanket.

"Speaking of Max," I glanced around us to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. The closest were Kate and Daniel, who were a good five feet away, but I still lowered my voice. "He told me what happened- between you and Ava, I mean."

"Of course, he did," Alex pursed his lips.

"I don't mean to stick my nose where it doesn't belong- and Max had assumed you already told me, or he probably wouldn't have said anything- but you really didn't deserve that, Alex. I mean, of course no one deserves to get cheated on, but... especially not you. And I don't think you should feel guilty about moving on- if that's what you want to do."