Dainty and Dauntless

The first crack:

A heart is beautiful when whole and a heart is whole when filled. Mine was hoping for some love and yet, you fill it to the brim with pain.

                                             🥀🥀🥀

The high school bonfire, an eagerly anticipated event etched into the annual calendar, unfolded with a sense of ritualistic anticipation. As dusk settled over the campus grounds, students began to trickle towards the designated area, guided by the faint glow of flickering flames against the encroaching darkness. Excitement buzzed through the air like an electric current, palpable in the animated chatter and nervous laughter that echoed across the gathering crowd.

The atmosphere crackled with youthful energy and a sense of community spirit. Friends clustered together, clad in hoodies and beanies against the chill of the evening, their faces illuminated by the warm, dancing glow of the fire. Conversations flowed freely, ranging from light-hearted banter about school escapades to wistful musings about future plans and dreams.

Around the bonfire, students engaged in age-old traditions intertwined with modern sensibilities. Marshmallow roasting became an art form, as individuals armed with long sticks carefully charred the fluffy confections to golden perfection over the crackling embers. The sweet scent of toasted marshmallows mingled with the aromatic tang of wood smoke, a sensory experience that added depth to the evening's allure.

As the fire blazed higher, its flames licking the starry sky, Natalie and Elise crackled at the humorous stories that were being narrated round their fire.
It was nice gathering round and listening to people speak their minds and what they thought about different things. Round the fire was Natalie and Elise giggling, Sera and Riley yammering on and Garf quipping in once in a while as he came and went to the boy's fires.

"Hey quit that, will you?" Natalie suggested to Garf who was now standing up to exit again.

"C'mon, I will be back quick"

"That's not the point", Natalie hurried to add. "Are you some middleman or something, you're getting suspicious."

Garf raised his hands to show his innocence. "I just need to talk to my boys too, ok"

"Well, why not bring your boys over here, cool boy." Elise smirked at Garf.
He kept silent for a moment, arms at the back and stayed in thought, then looked at the group of boys ahead and back to the girls. He did it again and shot Natalie a sly smile after.

Natalie looked at him puzzled and she mouthed a "what's up" to him, and Garf pointed to a boy's group, nodding on.
Natalie stood up and squinted her eyes towards the direction Garf was pointing at and leaned in.
When she recognized one of the guys standing in the circle, her eyes bulged and mouth flew open. She shook her head and turned swiftly to face Garf's smiley face,

"No, no... Garf! No!" Natalie huffed.

"Am doing it"
Garf was excited, almost jumping.

"Please, Garf" Natalie moved her hands to her lips,
now realizing how vulnerable she was at the moment.

Garf looked at Elise, "this is the best moment for it, what do you think Elise?"
Elise was completely lost at first, then she looked at both of them and squealed.

"Oh my God, is it about the cute nerd?" She squeezed Natalie's shoulders and jumped on, excited. "Where is he, Natalie?"

Natalie was feeling a headache ensuing from the nervousness. Elise was excited now and Garf wasn't going to let his 'smart' idea go, the situation was almost tiring her heart from beating too fast.

Sera and Riley then did the honors of showing Elise what Ethan Valer looked like and Elise's excitement got doubled.

"Ahh! Natalie!"and she turned to Garf, "I think you should go for it"