Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 43

Julian

When the both of us get inside, we find the others talking amongst themselves. When they see us emerging, the conversation drops, and instead they focus their attention on us. I walk over to them, giving them a side glance at their past conversation dropping so abruptly, and I wash my hands. After washing my hands, I head over to grab myself some oozza. Isla takes a seat next to me at the table, and I push the pizza box toward her. She gives me a small smile in gratitude, and I only smile back.

Afterward, the boys start talking about how their summer has been going and how they attended a party on the fourth. Cameron gives an enthusiastic smile as he says, "Yes. The party turned out to be good. You guys should've been there."

"I'm not a party person," I reply back. And I have never been. I think I only attended one party back last year when I went with Jayden, my ex-girlfriend, but never found the interest to go again. Cameron gives a nod of understanding, knowing me all too well, and says, "Well yeah. But I met a girl, and the others had an opportunity to meet her as well. You just didn't."

"Oh," I say, looking up from my pizza and finding that he has a sincere smile on his face. I've never seen Cameron so into a person before, so this was a shock. "Yeah," he says, biting his bottom lip and then glancing at the others. "I liked her, and I think the others liked her as well."

"Yeah, she was cool," Zach says, shaking his head. "But Cameron was all into her at the party, though, so we didn't see much of her."

"Hey, I liked her," Cameron says and then stops talking. I only nodded, giving him a warm smile and saying, "Glad you found someone, bro."

Cameron hums and then, after a while, says, "I, uh, I want you to meet her."

"Is it that serious?" I asked, shocked laughter pouring out of me. Cameron nods, looking sheepish, and says, "I don't know. She seemed interested in our friend group the other day."

"I guess I can meet her," I say after chewing on the last bit of my bite as well as pondering on it. Cameron smiles and then drags a hand through his hair. "Actually, I plan on asking her out, but I don't think she wants to fully go on a date, so if I bring a friend, that might ease the pressure of the outing, right?"

I nod. "I guess so." But then I notice how she is still looking at me and shaking my head. "Oh, but no way. I cannot be a third wheel as you guys go on a "date." That's not—I cannot do it.".

Mark says, "Maybe we all can accompany the date."

"Then it will be as if we are ambushing her," Cameron says with a sigh. He sneaks a look at Isla, who was silently watching this conversation with her head next to my arm. She wants to rest her head on my arm, but she was close. I think she is tired and resting now after the day out. Isla catches his eyes and clears her throat. She says, "Yeah, no, I wouldn't want a bunch of my friends on our first outing either."

"Yeah, no," Cameron agrees again. I watch as an idea makes itself through Isla's head, and she blurts out, "Do a double date."

"Double date?" Cameron asks, and Isla nods.

"It's the first route to not seeming like a big date but also not too causal," she says with another nkd, this time enthusiastic about her idea. "Take two others with you." She then sits up further in her seat and looks up at the other boys. "Any of you have a significant other?"

They all shook their heads, which was true enough. Isla shakes her head and makes a disappointed noise. "Seriously? None of you have a girlfriend."

Zach places a hand on his heart and says, "Oh wow, Isla. We aren't exactly the most known kids, but geez, you're making us sound like losers."