Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 54~

~Raelyn~

~July 9th~

The living room was buzzing with the usual chatter and laughter, a symphony of friendship that filled the space with warmth. The couch, a witness to countless memories, now cradled the roommates in a comfortable embrace.

We had just gotten back in from London yesterday, the trip to see my mom was incredible. It felt amazing to show Colby my childhood home since he got the opportunity to show me his.

As the laughter rose and dipped, a sudden silence fell upon us, my eyes widened, a mix of surprise and wonder dancing within them. It was a powerful kick, an assertive hello from the little life growing inside me.

Colby, ever the joker, glanced over with a hint of confusion, his words playfully teasing, "Constipated, babe?"

Rolling my eyes, I shot back, "No, bloke. I just felt her kick. Really hard."

The room's energy shifted, everyone's attention now laser-focused on the unfolding moment. Colby's expression transformed from playful to awestruck as he placed his hand on my belly, feeling the tiny kicks that spoke volumes of the life we had created together.

"What's going on?" Corey asked, curiosity piqued by the couple's interaction.

"The baby's kicking, a lot." Colby announced, his voice tinged with pride. I thought I wouldn't be able to feel bean kick for a while because I unfortunately had an anterior placenta.

It doesn't affect the heath of the baby, the placenta just sits on the wall closest to my abdomen. Sam, ever the enthusiast, scooted closer, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Can I feel it too?" he asked, tentative yet eager. I nodded, and as Sam's hand met my belly, the baby seemed to acknowledge the new presence, delivering a series of spirited kicks. Sam's chuckle resonated through the room.

"This one's gonna be a feisty one," he joked, and the tension broke, laughter spilling out like a shared secret.

With the excitement of the baby's kicks still lingering in the air, Katrina, who was always up for organizing fun, clapped my hands together.

"You know what this calls for? A celebration! Pizza and charades, anyone?" Heads nodded and a chorus of agreement filled the room.

"I'm in! Let's get the works on those pizzas," Jake chimed in, already grabbing his phone to place the order. "Extra veggies, please!" Tara added, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

~

As the smell of pizza soon wafted through the room, the charades game was set up. Laughter and playful banter continued as everyone settled down with a slice in hand.

"Okay, okay, Colby and Raelyn, you're up first!" Devyn announced, handing us a slip of paper with our challenge. I peeked at the note and a mischievous smile crossed her face.

"Oh, this is going to be good," I said, handing the paper to Colby. Colby's eyes lit up with recognition.

"Oh, we've got this," he said confidently. The room hushed as we stood up, facing our friends, clearing his throat dramatically,

Colby began, "I'm the king of the world!" I burst into laughter before composing myself to play her part.

"I'm flying, Jack!" I exclaimed, arms outstretched as Colby stood behind me, both of us reenacting the iconic scene from Titanic.

Sam was the first to shout, "Titanic! It's Titanic!"

"Spot on!" Isa cheered, clapping her hands. "You two are quite the actors!" The room erupted into applause and laughter, the energy infectious and spirits high.

"Who's next? Can you top that performance?" Corey teased, looking around at the eager faces.

After our triumphant scene, it was Jake and Tara's turn. They stood up, exchanging a look of conspiracy before diving into their performance.

Jake threw an imaginary cape over his shoulders and struck a dramatic pose, his face stern.

"I am the night," he declared in a gravelly voice, pretending to peer over Gotham City. Tara pretended to shine a light into the sky, her hands forming the outline of a bat. "Look, it's the signal!" she exclaimed, pointing upwards.

"Batman!" several friends guessed at once, erupting into cheers and laughter. Next up were Corey and Devyn, who bounced up eagerly. Corey donned an imaginary cap and mustache, while Devyn pretended to hold a game controller, hopping from side to side.

"It's-a me, Mario!" Corey announced with a thick, exaggerated Italian accent, pretending to jump, and hit invisible blocks above his head.

"Luigi, let's go!" Devyn joined in, mimicking driving a kart around the room. The room filled with the sound of the iconic Mario theme tune as everyone hummed along, guessing the act right away.

Finally, it was Sam and Katrina's turn. They grinned at each other, ready to bring their A-game.

Sam started by pretending to throw a ball, while Katrina mimicked the actions of different creatures, from flying to spitting fire.

"Got to catch 'me all, Pokémon!" Sam yelled, as Katrina ended her performance by striking a pose like Pikachu, complete with imaginary sparks.

"Pokémon! Pikachu, I choose you!" the room shouted, laughing, and clapping for the creative portrayal.
~
As the stars peppered the night sky, we were still buzzing with energy from our game of charades.

Isa, with a mischievous glint in her eye, piped up, "Guys, let's crank this party up a notch—night swimming, anyone?"

I was barely able to catch my breath from laughing but still managed to say, "Yes! That's brilliant! Let's do it!"

we scattered to change, and soon the backyard was a runway of swimsuit fashion.

Me, Isa, Katrina, Devyn, and Tara emerged in our bikinis, while Sam, Jake, Corey, and Colby rocked their trunks with varying degrees of swagger.

We reconvened by the pool, where the air was suddenly filled with splashes and shrieks.

"No, no, no! Not the hair!" Tara protested, just before Jake gave her a playful shove, sending her tumbling into the water.

Jake, ever the showman, announced, "Cannonball king, coming through!" before launching himself into the pool, water jetting up like fireworks.

Corey, with a dancer's grace, executed a perfect swan dive, drawing impressed whistles from the crew.

"Show-off," Colby teased, right before he hoisted me into his arms and leaped into the pool, both erupting into laughter as they surfaced.

"Hey, no fair!" Devyn yelled as she got splashed by the boys. Katrina, not one to be outdone, rallied us. "Ladies, it's payback time!" What ensued was an all-out water war, with everyone ducking, diving, and plotting their splashy revenge.

The night air was filled with laughter, playful taunts, and the sounds of a summer night we'd never forget. Corey, with a cheeky grin, gathered a massive wave in his hands and sent it crashing towards Devyn and Tara.

"Prepare for the tsunami!" he crowed. Tara, quick on her feet, retaliated with a fierce splash back at Jake. "Take that, pool pusher!"

Meanwhile, Colby, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, turned to me and said, "Hope you don't mind looking like a wet dog!" before dousing me with water.

I sputtered and laughed as I shot back, "Oh, you're gonna pay for that!"

I then joined forces with Isa, and together we aimed a deluge at Colby. "Team soggy bread attack!" Isa declared, laughing as Colby tried to shield himself.

Just then, Sam made his move, leaping into the pool with a splash that sent waves cascading over everyone. "Surf's up, dudes!" he exclaimed, as the water settled, and laughter echoed under the moonlit sky. Dripping and shivering, we made our way back into the house as the clock struck three.

We grabbed towels, dried off, and huddled together on the couch, our energy still high from the exhilarating swim.

"Movie marathon, anyone?" I suggested, as I rummaged through a stack of DVDs.

"Yes! Let's start with a classic—how about 'The Breakfast Club'?" offered Katrina, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of the late night.

With unanimous nods, we settled in, the room illuminated by the soft glow of the TV screen. As the opening credits rolled, Tara nestled deeper into the couch, pulling a blanket over her and Devyn.

One movie turned into two, then three, as we watched, laughed, and occasionally dozed off. The night turned into a cozy blur of cinematic adventures, shared looks, and the comforting presence of friends. Eventually, we all fell asleep on top of each other piled onto the couch.