Kismet's Game

Chapter 3

Olivia

The sun has dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a trail of pink and orange that fades into a dark night ahead. The beach, now lit in the soft glow of the bonfire, is a scene straight out of a movie. Flickering flames cast shadows, and the scent of salt and woodsmoke fills the air. Our laughter and chatter blend seamlessly with the gentle splashing of the ocean waves.

El and Chase return, their arms weighed down with bags of snacks, drinks, and enough ingredients for s'mores to feed a small army. As expected, Chase carries most of it with ease, an amused expression on his face as El continues to boss him around.

"Alright, everyone, gather 'round!" El calls out, her voice full of excitement. "It's time to get this bonfire party started!"

We all settle around the fire, a mix of beach chairs and towels forming a cozy circle. El starts handing out marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars with the precision of a drill sergeant. Chase, ever the dutiful companion, helps with the distribution, his eyes occasionally lingering on El with an expression that's far too soft for his reputation.

"Okay, who wants to be the first to toast a marshmallow?" El asks, holding up a skewer.

"Me!" Ally shouts, jumping up and grabbing the skewer. "I need to make sure I get the perfect golden brown."

"Not too burnt, not too raw," I add.

As Ally toasts her marshmallow, I feel her tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Max and Tom approaching, a third figure trailing behind them. He's tall, with dark hair and a casual yet confident air about him.

"Hey, guys," Max says, motioning to the newcomer. "This is Nathan, our friend from New York. He's here for the summer too."

"Hey, everyone," Nathan says, his voice smooth and deep. There's a slight awkwardness in his stance, as if he's not quite sure where he fits into our tight-knit group.

I take a step forward, offering my hand. "Olivia. Nice to meet you."

"Nathan," he replies, shaking my hand with a firm grip. His eyes linger on mine for a moment longer than necessary, and I feel a strange flutter in my stomach.

"Welcome to the madhouse," Ally says, grinning. "We promise not to bite. Much."

Nathan chuckles, relaxing a bit. "Good to know."

Everyone takes their seat just as Nathan decides to sit next to me.

"So you're the infamous friend they've been talking about."

Nathan laughs, a sound that's surprisingly genuine. "Infamous, huh? I hope they've been saying good things."

"Mostly," I tease, shooting a glance at Max and Tom. "But I'll reserve judgment." 

He chuckles and El and Chase give him his set of ingredients for smores.

I can't help but notice the way he effortlessly blends into our group. He's charming and quick-witted, and it doesn't take long for him to win everyone over with his easy banter and stories from New York.

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Nathan asks, leaning back and stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"Besides consuming a disgusting amount of s'mores?" Ally says, popping a perfectly toasted marshmallow into her mouth. "We're going to tell ghost stories and maybe even have a little sing-along if anyone brought a guitar."

Everyone tells their scary ghosts stories, also stories that are not really scary. We kind of just fell into an easy conversation full of laughter and banter. After some time, I notice Nathan's blue eyes land on me.

"So, Olivia," he says, "What's your story?"

"Depends on which version you want," I reply, smirking. "The short and sweet one, or the long and complicated?"

"Let's start with the short and sweet. We can work our way up to complicated."

"Alright," I say, leaning back and gazing up at the dark sky. "I will be a Freshman English Lit major after this summer, also an aspiring artist, and long time beach enthusiast. That's the gist of it."

"Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"Hardly," I laugh. "What about you, Nathan? What's the story behind the mysterious new guy?"

"Same major, actually," he says. "Though I suspect our approach to it is a bit different."

"Oh really? How so?" I challenge.

"Well, I'm more of a 'let's see how much trouble we can get into' kind of student," he admits. "Keeps things interesting."

"Interesting is one word for it," I reply. "Dangerous is another."

"Only if you're not careful," he counters. "But where's the fun in being careful all the time?"

I shake my head but I can't deny that there's a part of me that's a little intrigued. "You're a bit of an enigma, aren't you?"

"I prefer to think of myself as a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma," he says with a grin.

"That's Churchill, right?" I ask, clearly impressed.

"Indeed. I'm full of surprises."

"Let's hope they're the good kind," I reply, tilt my head and gave him a knowing smile. I raised my drink and said "Well, welcome to the adventure. Here's to unexpected twists and turns."

"Cheers to that," he says, clinking his soda can against mine, his eyes not leaving mine as he sips from his drink.

The banter continues, easy and effortless. And in that moment, under the starry sky and the laughter of our friends, I can't help but feel that kismet has indeed decided to play a game with us. And for once, I'm ready to play along.

Whatever the case, I'm ready to see where this summer takes us. With friends by my side and new adventures on the horizon, I have a feeling it's going to be unforgettable. Around the fire, our friends' laughter mingles with the crackling of the flames. There's a sense of magic in the air, as if anything is possible.