Between Two Worlds

CHAPTER 21- Ghost Stories and Unspoken Truths

The crackling fire made for a cozy atmosphere, wrapping us in warmth as Jess leaned back, enjoying the moment. "Okay, let's hear it, Ava," she challenged, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "What's your best ghost story?"

Ava would have sidled forward, hesitating for a moment, her competitiveness versus shyness locked in a secret battle. "Fine," she said finally, "but you guys have to promise to be serious." She looked at all of us. "No laughing!

"Cross my heart," Jake declared, dramatically raising his hand. "Let's hear it!" he exclaimed.

Ava took a deep breath, settling into the moment. "So, there's this story about a house not far from here, said to be haunted by a girl who lived there long ago. She was an artist, just like me," she added, shooting a pointed look at Jess.

"Perfect," Jess replied with a smirk. "Let's see how this turns out!"

Ava continued her voice low, a story mysterious. "Legend has it she would paint every night, her spirit forever locked in her art. But one night, she vanished without any trace of herself. Some say you can still hear the brush strokes of her sound echoing through the night, and if you're lucky, you might even see her.".

The fire was snapping, and the shadows danced around us in perfect harmony with what she said. I could feel Jess leaning in closer, entranced, and it made a flicker of jealousy in Ava's eyes.

We sat silently in stillness for a moment after Ava finished her tale, allowing the weight of her words to settle in the air. But a while later, Jess spoke up. "That was actually pretty good! I didn't know you had it in you, Ava."

"That's alright," Ava said with a somewhat lighter tone. "I didn't think you'd take it seriously."

Jess smiled at her. "Well, you should know by now that I'm always game for a good ghost story.".

"Your turn, Jess!" Jake encouraged, wanting the excitement to continue. "What have you got for us?" the others demanded with impatience.

Jess told a ghost stealing books from students at the local library. In a fine storyteller's style, she colored her description with much humor and flair, exaggerating the ghost's antics so that everybody laughed.

Ava rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile rising to her lips. "You and your ghost stories," she teased.

The night was still young, but so far, it was a night that filled stories that would have to go on and on forever. And by now the ambiance had begun to change with the passing of the night. Tension had started melting down with every air of laughter, though the light-heartedness would not eliminate the feeling that Jess was surely getting her way through subtle points-the tease remained directed at me, and drawing Ava into a competitive energy.

"Alright, Mia, your turn!" Jess exclaimed with sparkling in her eyes.

I stopped dead, surprised. "Me? I've got no ghost story!"

"Sure you do, everyone has one! Even if it's just something lame," Jess teased with a playful nudge.

"Whatever," I said rolling my eyes but couldn't help but crack into a grin. "Okay, well there was this one time I thought I saw a ghost in my old house. Of course, it was just my cat."

"Boring!" Jess giggled. It was impossible not to end up laughing right along with her.

More stories and laughter continued into the evening, but I remained aware of Ava's glances at intervals, a little curiosity in her that perhaps wouldn't be expressed. As night grew darker and the flames crackled lower, an unspoken tension began to mount.

And finally, one evening, Jess demanded we play Truth or Dare, and a shiver of excitement passed over me. "Let's see who is bold enough to spill some secrets," she declared, her playful facade slipping back.
Ava smirked. "I'm in."

As we played, we both started revealing shamefully embarrassing secrets and completing dares that would make us cry from laughter. To keep the fun energy going, Jess tipped into a sort of competitive mode, often daring Ava to do something that made her squirm.

"Okay, Ava," Jess said, her voice teasing. "I dare you to give Jake a complimentsomething really sweet!

"Ugh, fine!" Ava groaned, but there was a small hint of a smile on her lips. "Jake, you're... well, you're really great at making s'mores. There, happy?"

Wow, that's high praise!" Jake laughed, feigning shock.

Ava rolled her eyes but laughed along with us, clearly enjoying the moment.

When it was Jess's turn, she looked at me with a mischievous grin. "Mia, truth or dare?"

Truth, I replied, already feeling a flutter of nerves.

All right, what's the most mortifying thing you've ever done in front of someone you wanted to impress?" Jess asked, a light laugh in her voice, her eyes probing mine as if searching for an honest answer.

I went a little pink. "Ugh, that's a tough one!" I began hesitantly, memories flooding back. "Once I spilled coffee all over myself just as I was trying to impress someone... it was awful!"

Jess shook her head with laughter. "Classic! But you survived, right?

Yeah, eventually," I admitted, relieved that the attention again shifted to a light-hearted vein.

As the night wore on, I was stealing glances at Ava. For one long moment, our eyes met once more. There was just something in the room, something unspoken: nostalgia and longing, coupled with the knowledge that this would never work. And before my thoughts were completed, Jess leaned in towards me, resting her hand casually on my knee, and the heat was on.

And in that moment, the perimeters of our friendships were changing, and I was far from certain how to wade through it all. Around us danced the warm glow of the fire, and the complex web of relationships were lit up against the laughter filled the air, ghosts of our past lurking in the shadows.

I was staring at Ava, though, as the night wore on, and for that brief moment, our eyes met. And we exchanged something between nostalgia and wanting; my heart skipped a beat. But by the time I was ready to take it any farther, Jess came in and rested her hand over my knee nonchalantly, then the heat of that combined connection.

Just when I was about to open my mouth, Jess suggested another round of Truth or Dare. "Let's raise the stakes a little bit. How about we add a twist? The person who refuses a dare has to share something embarrassing!"
The mood shifted; it is as if the stakes were suddenly upped. I could feel that restless elated nervous excitement buzzing in the air.

Alright, Ava," Jess began, her voice playful. "I dare you to go outside and yell something embarrassing to the moon."

Ava scowled. "Fine. But only if you go with me."

Jess grinned at this, seemingly thrilled by the challenge. "Deal!"

As we went outside, Jake turned to me. "Do you think they'll actually do it?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Probably.".

It wasn't long after that we could hear Ava's voice carrying through the woods, "I love pineapple on pizza!" then Jess's laughter.

When they came back, Ava had this look on her face like she was a little embarrassed but still she looked amused by this all. "Okay, that was fun. Now it's your turn, Mia."

"Truth," I said, hoping for an easy question.

"Who is the biggest crush you have?" Jess asked while her eyes sort of gleamed with mischief.

I pause, looking at Ava then at Jess. "Uh, yeah, I guess. I think Jess was always pretty cool?" I say, going off on a tangent. "Pretty cool, huh? I'll take that," Jess responds with an amused raise of an eyebrow, a sly smile crossing her face

The game continued to play out with each round filling up tension in between Ava and Jess. Every jest seemed laced with unspoken truths and heaved out, squeezing Ava with discomfort.

The fire extinguished low and Jess turned to Ava. "Let's go for a walk outside, just the two of us," she suggested, light with a hint of intensity.

Ava hesitated and glanced toward me. "Um, okay.".

As we came out, Jake turned to me with a look of concern. "Is it all right?"

I shrugged. But my heart was racing, after all. I would not have her force too hard. The night seemed dark around us, echoing the deep complications in all our relationships.

Lone moment, I let the fire embrace me, and at that moment, felt the shadows of our pasts in the room. I knew things had started to change, but whether I was ready for that remained unascertained.

I could almost see the night, that night, as one long-filled laughter, secrets, and unspoken truths that danced just beyond my reach in the light of the glowing embers. How much longer could we possibly ignore what came floating between us?.