Magnet Love

4. The Bonfire

LILY POV:
Ana's house was stunning, like something you would see in a catalogue. The garden was perfect for a bonfire, with a large pit in the centre and log benches surrounding the edge, enough space for the nine expected guests if they squashed together.

"Can I get you guys a drink or anything? The boys should be arriving in about twenty minutes, Max called to say that they're currently caught up in a game of Fifa at Blake's house and lord knows none of them will back down at Fifa" giggled Ana, whilst opening her fridge to reveal a huge selection of cans and alcoholic beverages.
"Ca can I have something warm, I'll make it - tea or something?" I stuttered. I hated alcohol and never drank, I didn't think badly of people who did, but I had enough anxiety in most social situations without adding a drink that would make me lose control of myself.
"Sure Lily, what can I get you? Hot chocolate, coffee, tea?" Responded Ana politely.
"Hot chocolate would be lovely thank you" I replied as Ana boiled the kettle and retrieved a cute mug from the cupboard.
"Hot chocolate at a bonfire - Lily you are the cutest person in the world" chucked Maddie as she cracked open a can.

Ana made a pretty fabulous hot chocolate, with squirty cream, marshmallows and a flake - I really didn't feel like I was missing out without the alcohol, if anything, the others were! I mean who doesn't want chocolate, cream and marshmallows combined in a drink?

Eleanor arrived and Maddie, El, Ana and I all stood in the kitchen chatting. I was lucky to have a group of friends like them, normally someone as quiet as myself wouldn't have that, but Maddie took me under her wing on the first day of school and the rest is history.

Noise erupted as the five guys pushed each other through the door, laughing at the shorter guy who fell over and was trampled like a doormat.
"Ana-bear hey!" Called one of the guys as he embraced Ana in a hug, with the other guys following behind. My eyes found the boy from the cafeteria immediately, but he didn't notice me yet, looking down and listening to something Max was whispering in his ear.

"Girls, these are my friends, all like annoying brothers really, but I'm sure you'll all get along great. Aaron couldn't make it tonight but I'm sure you'll meet him soon enough" began Ana as she put her arm around the tall blond boy who was hugging her seconds before. "This is Blake McFall, teachers hate him and girls love him" introduced Ana. "This is Ben Martin, the funniest person you will probably ever meet, although we are usually laughing at him rather than with him" continued Ana as she pointed next to the guy who was previously trampled. "This bumbling idiot is my Tamworth twin as you already know" she continued, slapping Max on the cheek. "And finally, this muscle man is Alex Harper. The best person ever to have on your side, and let's just say you wouldn't want to be on his bad side, ay Alex?" Ana said, ruffling the hair of the stunning boy at the back. He chuckled and shook his head, glancing round at the room of girls before his eyes locked on mine.

Alex looked me up and down, starting from my brown ankle boots, right back up to my eyes, but not before noticing the mug of steaming hot chocolate in my grasp, and raising his eyebrow with a mischievous smirk on his face. "I'm sure you will all talk and introduce yourselves, but to avoid the awkward name-asking on your behalf boys, this is Maddie, Eleanor and Lily" said Ana as she pointed at us individually. "Are we going to sit around this bonfire or just watch it from the kitchen window then?" Chucked Ana as she opened the door to lead us all outside.

Naturally, Maddie and Eleanor were immediately in deep conversation with two guys - Blake and Ben, meaning that when they sat down together I was left alone. I panicked for a moment before Ana linked her arm with mine and pulled me on to the seat next to her. I smiled at her thankfully as she had just saved me from an awkward situation, and everyone else took their seats.

The order of seats went Ana, myself, Eleanor, Ben, Alex, Max, Maddie and Blake. Meaning that Alex was sat directly opposite me. Maddie demanded to chose my outfit earlier, my navy skinny jeans, and a grey jumper with white and yellow flowers over my collared white top, it was cute and very me, and I was thankful for it when I curled my fingers into the jumper sleeves to keep them warm.

"Okay, as an icebreaker, we'll go around the fire and everyone has to say something weird, embarrassing or funny about themselves that the others probably won't know. I'll start, I am afraid of Helena Bonham Carter" began Ana, creating a chuckle among the group. This went on around the circle, thankfully going clockwise so I would speak last. Random facts from the group included Ben's favourite food being crispy seaweed, Eleanor's impressive list of famous people that she has met and Alex, who revealed that had he been a girl, his mother wanted to name him Berry. I was shocked to hear Alex had a raspy British accent. His voice was deep and clear, he had a manner that demanded the attention of others but was polite and authoritative - very sexy if you ask me.

Finally it was my turn, I coughed to clear my throat and spoke in my normal, hushed voice, but loud enough to be heard "I won Junior Miss Dance when I was nine, but in the awards ceremony, I tripped and fell off the stage and broke my wrist and ankle". The others erupted in a fit of laughter, causing me to blush and look down at the empty mug gripped in my hands.
"Oh my god Lily, that sounds bloody painful but hilarious" cackled Ana.

The rest of the conversation flowed fluently, I made little input, but listened attentively to the others. At one point, Maddie mouthed 'which one?' to me across the fire, referring back to our conversation in my bedroom, to which I shook my head and mouthed back 'I'll tell you later'. Alex and I made eye contact numerous times, until he suddenly contorted his face into a ridiculous grin, causing me to burst out laughing unexpectedly, then suddenly coughing to try and cover it up as the others looked at me in confusion and Alex looked down chuckling to himself.
"Everything okay there Lily?" Asked Eleanor inquisitively.
"I'm fine, just need a drink. I'm going to get some water, will just be a minute" I hastily replied before standing up, brushing the log bark off my legs and scurrying inside to the kitchen.

I poured myself a glass of cold water and took a sip, before a hand grasped my shoulder, causing me to whip around, only to be met with the emerald green eyes of Alex. "Was something funny back there Lily?" He asked with a beautiful smirk on his face.