What Happens on the Fourth

FRIDAY THE FOURTH

A shriek from the fire had us slowly pulling our gazes from each other and I looked up to see that Kate and Daniel had returned. Amanda was holding Kate's hand in her own. Alex shot me a look before standing up. He again offered me a hand and I took it. He pulled me to my feet before wordlessly tucking his hands in his pockets and following me back over to the fire.

"Congratulations!" I smiled at my best friend as we fluidly rejoined the group. No one had even noticed we wandered off- and I wondered if I had been a bit excessively paranoid when it came to anyone finding out about Alex and me this whole time.

"I can't believe you didn't let it slip!" Kate wrapped me in a hug.

"That would ruin the whole surprise," I laughed. I heard the guys congratulating Daniel nearby as well. "I'm so happy for you! You two are perfect for each other."

"Let me see the ring!" Camila came up from behind me and Kate stuck out her hand, showcasing an oversized oval cut diamond on a white gold band. Camila loosed a low whistle. "Daniel has good taste."

"More like he knows how to follow instructions," Kate laughed. "I swear I sent him hundreds of pictures of what I wanted. It's bigger than I expected, though."
 "But who can complain about that?" Amanda joked with a wink and we all lightly laughed.

"Anything to drink, ladies?" I heard Matt ask as he approached, Alex on his tail. "Alex and I are going to mix a few to celebrate."

"Yea- I, also uh... lost a bet with Brooks and have to make her drinks the rest of the night," Alex mumbled.

"I almost forgot about that!"

Matt chuckled at my enthusiasm. "What was the bet?"

"I challenged her to a race back to camp. She was smart enough to get me stuck in a mud pit so she'd win," he did his best to look

defeated.

"Goliath- to be more specific," Amanda added, sealing Alex's lie without knowing it. "He rode the side of it."

"Everyone knows you ride Goliath right through the middle," Matt joked, and Alex shot him a glare.

"Clearly not everyone knows that."

"Anyways- I lost. So now I have to mix her drinks the rest of the night."

"What would you have gotten if you won?" Matt asked.

"She'd be mixing mine," Alex- once again- flawlessly lied. I was beginning to wonder if his effortless lying was something I should be worried about.

The guys wandered off after taking everyone's drink orders, leaving us girls to gush over Kate's ring as she told us exactly how Daniel had proposed. He had led her down to the beach, telling her the fireworks would look the best reflecting off the lake, and right after the first one had blown, he got down on one knee, not able to wait another second. She said he was shaking so bad he almost dropped the ring in the sand, and I couldn't help but laugh knowing how nervous he had been just buying the ring.

"I can't believe you didn't let anything slip," Kate said again. I shrugged.

"Little do you know, I can be good at keeping secrets," I joked, right as Alex and Matt finally returned with all of our drinks. Alex presented me my tumbler with a mocking bow.

"Your drink, Princess," he teased with a wink, and I took it with a small smile, fighting my blush when I remembered how he had growled that nick name only a few hours ago.