Beaches & Bonfires

Riiiiing! I cracked one eye open and immediately regretted it. The sun was shining fiercely and I could feel that it was much too early to be awake. 

Riiing!  "No," I groaned softly so I wouldn't wake Lane. "No, no, no, no, no!" I grabbed my cell from the bedside table next to me and hurriedly answered it. "Whoever it is, you had better be dying. If not, I will hunt you down and kill you with a dull spoon." Seconds later, I heard a deep and very familiar laugh on the other end. 

"Is that any way to speak to your best and oldest friend?" Daryll's voice resonated on the other and I jolted upright in bed. 

"Oh my gosh! Bruh, as my best friend, you should know that it isn't acceptable to call before twelve on a Saturday. Especially on my off day. But how have you been? Where are you?" I climbed out of bed and wrapped up in my robe, tiptoe-ing from the room. Daryll had a huge crisis when his mom had passed our senior year and after graduation, he'd skipped out on college, gotten various certifications, and was traveling the world. He said he needed to find himself and I respected that, though we couldn't speak much because of the usual time differences.

"I'm in Australia. But actually, I'll be back soon and I'm arranging a little seniors reunion at Myrtle Beach if you're down? Everyone else is basically sure they'll make it and I know you have Israel to worry about but he can come too. Ashley's bringing her son and Damien's bringing his boyfriend. We'd all love for you and Lane to be there." I was shocked by what I was hearing. Daryll would be back soon? Ashley had a kid? And oh my fucking God. Damien was... gay? 

"Wow. Lane is sleeping and he's been working so hard. We're both off the hook for the morning, my classes and his job. I'll definitely speak to him when he gets up though. What have you been up to?"

"I, actually, kind of found a girl. Don't freak out. Her name is Peyton and if you go to Myrtle Beach, you'll meet her. I'm about to board the plane so I have to go, but I'll call you as soon as I land, okay?" I could hear faint sounds of a female voice out of all the noise of the airport. 

"Okay, definitely. Love you, though." 

"Love you too, Dawn." He hung up and I was met by warm arms. 

"Who was that?" Lane said, greeting me with soft kisses on my neck and cheek.  I leaned back into his touch and just sat there for a minute before answering him.

"Daryll. He's in Australia and he's coming back soon... he says he's arranging a senior's reunion at Myrtle Beach and he really wants us to be there." Lane gently rubbed his nose down my jawline, placed a few kisses there. 

"Well, do you wanna go? I think it sounds fun," Lane smiled and turned me around to face him. He gave me a quick peck on the lips before going to the fridge and grabbing some items. 

"I mean, sure, but I just got Israel back. That's a fourteen hour drive." Lane started cracking eggs in a bowl for omelettes. 

"We can fly?" He looked up at me and smiled.