𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚊𝚖𝚙

Chapter 3

"DAY 1. 9:52 p.m."

The sun had already set when dinner was ready. The menu didn't vary too much from today's lunch. The only thing that some of us changed was soda for a beer. I had the feeling that it was going to be a long night, so I would need that beer to digest it all.

"Do you sense it too?" I looked at the man beside me, not expecting at all for him to initiate conversation "what do you mean?" My eyebrows furrowed as my beer stayed halfway from my lips "Tyler and Alexis" he simply said. His tone had lowered so I could be the only one to hear him. He had also taken a step nearer, but still keeping his distance. "I don't know about that, but Emma has been in a bad mood almost since we arrived" I looked at the blonde sitting in a corner of the sofa, talking with Noah, who was sitting on a chair right beside her. "What are you thinking?" I asked, looking at his neutral expression. He had his arms crossed, his muscles popping with the gesture below his T-shirt, while he discreetly looked at his best friend, who was animatedly chatting with Kai and Alexis.

"I think that I know him, and it wouldn't be so strange" I looked at the three and then back to Nathaniel, trying to mask as much as possible my surprise "Do you think he's capable of doing so?" He took a moment to think about my question, his eyes focused on some random spot, carefully thinking about his answer "I think" he started, making a pause, in which he thought if he should go into detail or not "I think so, yeah" choosing the last option.

I looked back at Emma, who was still talking to Noah and Willow, who had just joined the two, and I couldn't help but notice how the blonde couldn't stop steeling fleeting glances at his boyfriend, at the far end of the living room.

"What should we do?" I asked, focusing now on his dark eyes, certain resolve floating between us two, but wavering nonetheless "Tyler is..." he elongated the -s, trying to come up with an adjective that could describe his friend "a bit stubborn. He doesn't like to be told what to do" I nodded my head, knowing where this was going "I can talk to Em, tell her that if something is bothering her she should talk about it with the right person" I offered, winning an appreciative nod from the brunette.

We gave our conversation for finished as I made a beeline towards my friend, who, as if sensing something, looked at me with expectation. I made a sign with my head and, excusing herself from the other two, she followed my lead to the kitchen.

"You okay?" She asked, a worried expression on her face "Yeah, yeah, don't worry" I started, making her slightly relax "in fact, I should be the one asking you that, M&M's" a look of realization crossed her eyes, as they widened for a second, "I'm not going to step into something I haven't been asked to, but, Em" I paused for a moment "I think that whatever is bugging you, you should talk about it with the right person" I recalled the same words of my previous conversation with Nathaniel, as they were perfect for my friend to hear. As well as her boyfriend, she didn't like to be told what to do, yet she had always been open to any advice, asked or not.

"Do you think I should be worried?" I looked at her, she's always looked so brave, I admired that from her, it was like she was capable of facing any obstacle and end up winning, overcoming it; but now, all I could see behind that wall of hers, was fear: fear of maybe losing the man she's loved and cared for so long.

We both first met in our first year of college, and since then we've always stuck to each other's side. A little bit later came Violet and Willow, and then Alex, who was a bit... shy at first, as she hadn't have a good experience with past friendships, but she ended up opening to all of us nevertheless.

Emma met Tyler at a party and we all knew since then that he was the perfect person for her, they both complemented each other in a way that I wouldn't know how to put into words. Since then, they've been inseparable.

But now I couldn't help but recall the way I caught Alex looking at the man from time to time. The way her face lighted up every time he stepped into a room she was in or the way she always seemed so free and relaxed around him.

I seriously hoped it was only my imagination, though.

"I think that it should be him the one you ask that question, Em" I finished, as it was what I really thought.

It doesn't matter what I say or what anyone says, if there's someone who knows the answer to her questions, it's none other than Tyler.

As we returned to the living room, she went directly towards her boyfriend, who greeted her with a welcoming smile and a peck on the lips. I didn't stop walking, though, as I needed some fresh air, so opening the front door, I stepped out into the chilly night.

Nathaniel was already there, sitting on the stairs of the porch with a thoughtful expression; his elbows resting on his knees and his eyes reflecting the ghost of the waxing gibbous on the clear waters of the lake, announcing next day's full moon.

"They must be talking already" I announced my presence, sitting beside him afterwards. He just nodded his head and we both were then drowned in a surprisingly comfortable silence. It was soothing, his presence alone was soothing. The stairs were not that spacious, so we sat almost touching, we could feel each other's body heat, which was very welcomed as it was starting to get cold by the minute. The crickets' stridulation, the relaxing sound of the water plus the whistling of the wind, it all made a cacophony of perfect white noise, it was almost magical; the laughter and conversation inside the cabin adding to it.

My knees were pressed together, elbows on them while my chin rested on both my fists; my hair was recently cut, so it didn't warm me as much as it did, but I felt good nonetheless. I found myself enjoying the silence that usually surrounded him.

"We've never talked that much" I pointed out all of a sudden, "I don't talk that much" he said, as a matter of fact. I couldn't help but smile, because it was true. "You're right" I started "I enjoy your company, though" he looked at me and I did the same, our eyes met for what seemed like the first time ever.

And he smiled.

It was a sincere smile.

And I loved it.

End of chapter 3.