𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘 || RAFE CAMERON

029

Ah, the bonfire. Good ol' Outer Banks tradition, where Pogues and Kooks unite together to drink cheep beer and smoke sketchy weed.

Gianna loved it.

Being out in the open again since her isolation, she had spent most of her days unexpectedly reminiscing old places and events she hadn't been to last year. Huddled up around the fire, feeling the bark of a tree log pricking into her legs, she felt the warmth of the fire a few feet ahead of her, cozying her body that was once met with a cool breeze.

Marisa, who sat to her right, slapped her bare legs and arms every few seconds, frowning at the multiple fly insects that buzzed around them. Meanwhile, the rest of the people in their group circled around and about, Gianna occasionally spotting one or the other around the fire.

But the two people Gianna surely wasn't expecting to show up, was Topper alongside Sarah Cameron. The two walked over to a random cooler, grabbing two cans of what seemed to be the mai tais people were sipping on.
Gianna nudged Marisa, who stopped smacking her legs to see what her best friend has looking at.

"What're you looking at— oh my God." The raven sucked in a breath. "What is Sarah doing here, out of all places?"

Gianna shrugged, furrowing her brows as she strained her neck to keep her eyes on the blonde Cameron, who drank mai tais with Topper. At one point, Sarah and Gianna locked eye contact, making the honey blonde whip her head in the opposite direction.

Though, the familiar scent of Sarah Cameron's perfume made itself more and more prominent, as did her presence when she appeared in front of the two girls.

"Hey..." the Cameron girl drawled, rocking awkwardly on her heels.

Gianna and Marisa swapped glances.

The honey blonde scratched her head. "Hey." She only managed to get one word out.

The silence between the three was at the least deafening, and the awkwardness flowed like water down a river.

Marisa cleared her throat. "Back with Top?" She asked.

Sarah huffed out a laugh. "It's... complicated." She slowly turned her head to the side, viewing John B Routledge flirting with some black haired Pogue Gianna didn't recognize.

The honey blonde noticed the Cameron girls sudden frowned expression.

"Hey, you okay?" She questioned.

Sarah stuttered, forcing a small laugh and smile. "Yeah, I'm fine— all good." She began heavily drinking the mai tai in her hand, before placing the empty can on the ground.

Topper appeared beside her, snaking his hand around Sarah's waist and pulling her towards him.

"Everything alright?" He asked.

The three girls all hummed and nodded, but the blonde spoke up before Gianna and Marisa could.

"Actually, I need another drink." She looked around for a cooler.

Marisa raised her brows, knowing how Sarah had never been much of a drinker. "That kind of night?"

Sarah hummed, pulling away from the group in search of a cooler with more alcohol without saying so much as a "see you".

Topper shrugged, waving his hand in the direction she had gone. "I'll see you two around."

Gianna called out for the boy before he left. "Hey, Top? Take care of her, okay?"

The Thornton boy paused before nodding, turning on his heel and speeding off after Sarah.

Feeling the back of her legs go numb, Gianna got up, patting off any dirt on her jeans.