Meant to Collide

30. Caught in the Tides

As the twilight descended, Sky found himself staring intently at Jules, an unspoken question lingering in the air. "Where did you go?" he asked, a hint of confusion woven into his tone. The air crackled with tension as Tee, ever the instigator, jumped in with a mischievous grin. "Eh? Didn't Mon tell you? We went to eat river prawn," he said, excitement bubbling over. The playful banter quickly ignited, the flames of camaraderie and competition stoking the fires in Sky's heart.

Karaoke? Sky exclaimed, a mix of surprise and intrigue flashing across his face as he handed a small bag to Jules. "I bought this for you," he said, a moment of softness piercing through his earlier annoyance. 

Tee, trying to stoke the embers of playful rivalry, chimed in, "Hey, didn't I just tell you I took her to have river prawns? She's going to turn into a prawn eating more prawns!" He reached for the bag, but Sky's hand shot up to block him. "I bought them for Mon," he stated firmly, his eyes narrowing.

Tee stepped back, momentarily chastened by Sky's fierce glare. "Oops, okay," he relented, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "Anyway... how did you get here?" he attempted to redirect the energy, a feeble olive branch extended. "I drove. Use your damn eyes, fool," Sky shot back, irritation creeping back into his voice.

Tee pressed on, "Oops, then where the hell have you been? Don't tell me you went to eat river prawns too!" "Yeah, with Mia," Sky replied, anticipating the surge of jealousy that flickered in Jules's eyes.

"Well... then, isn't your fiancée Mia here as well?" Tee probed, a teasing smirk dancing on his lips. The question hung in the air, heavy and fraught. Sky's expression shifted from annoyance to disbelief. "What fiancée? Do not put that word into my mouth," he warned, his voice low and sharp.

Jules remained silent, her gaze shifting between the two men, fear evident in her wide eyes. "Hey, chill! We've been calling her that for ages. You seem quite stressed today, right?" Tee added, attempting to lighten the mood. Sky shrugged him off, refusing to engage, his tension palpable.

"I'm your buddy, remember?" Tee ventured, reaching out for a hug. But Sky stepped back, his posture rigid. "Was it just the two of you?" he directed the question at Jules, his eyes narrowing.

"Hm? Who said it was just me and Mon?" Tee laughed, the atmosphere still teetering on a precipice. "I'm sending both Jules and Dianne home," he added, trying to shift the focus. Just then, Dianne emerged from Tee's car, greeting Sky with a friendly smile.

"Huh! I knew the plan to send the photos of us would work," Tee declared comically, chuckling at the turn of events. "I knew you would show up, but I never thought you'd come straight to Mon's house!" He laughed, his teasing tone amplifying Sky's growing agitation.

"So, all of you are making fun of me, right?" Sky stared pointedly at Jules, his eyes searching hers for the truth. "No, we're not! Don't take it too seriously," Tee interjected, his laughter fading slightly as he tried to rein in the situation.

"Well, I think I should excuse myself," Tee finally said, sensing the atmosphere was becoming too charged. He turned to leave, and Dianne followed her path inside home. "Mon!" Sky called out after everyone had left, his voice echoing in the empty space.

"Yes?" Jules replied, anxiety threading through her voice. "I'm not talking to you anymore," he declared childishly, turning on his heel and striding away, leaving Jules in stunned silence. She stood there, caught in a moment that felt oddly like a clash between childhood and adulthood, unsure whether she was engaging with a man or a boy.

As night wrapped the world in its embrace, time slipped by unnoticed, each moment thick with unspoken words and unresolved tensions, the air heavy with the weight of what had been said and what remained unaddressed.