The Convict

Family Fire

"Mel, don't be a party pooper," Lesly begs as I sip on my drink in the corner of her family's backyard.

Dani, aka Dakota, is trying her best to blend in and seem normal. She's currently making me a burger to eat, fresh off the grill.

I glare at Lesly, telling her without words I am not amused by the stunt Bernida pulled on me earlier. She sighs and glances over to BB who is laughing it up with her parents and brother.

"I didn't know she was gonna do that," Lesly defends herself.

"Whatever," I turn away from her and sip my drink.

She sighs.

"Look," Lesly sits next to me. "I agree with you, what she did was fucked up. I gave her a stern talking to, promise. I'm sorry you had to go through that." She grabs my hand in her own.

I glance at her through the corner of my eye.

"Come on, come have fun with me, please. We can ignore Bernida. Promise." She pleas.

I sigh and let my guard down.

"I miss my bff," Lesly playfully bumps shoulders with me.

I smile and bump shoulders back.

"You remember this spot?" Lesly pokes me in the side.

"Shut up," I laugh and smack her hand away.

"This is where you bribed me to kiss you," she teases.

"I didn't bribe you, I convinced you."

"With a sleepover, snacks, and a free movie ticket if I remember correctly." She giggles.

"For the record, you are a terrible kisser," I playfully shove her.

"I was barely hitting puberty, give me a break. I'm way better now."

"Sure," I roll my eyes.

"Here you are my queen," Dani hands me a plate full of food.

"Thank you, my love," I take it from her.

Lesly eyes Dani, an unreadable expression on her face.

"So, I was thinking after lunch you'd join me on that trampoline over there," Dani inserts herself between me and Lesly.

"Oh my god, that thing is so old it will probably break the moment we jump. Not to mention jumping after eating will make me puke," I laugh.

"Oh my god remember when we puked after chugging that sprite," Lesly says.

"You made me!" I laugh.

"I wanted to see if it was true," she shrugs.

"So you were a contributor to the spite challenge huh," Dani teases me.

"And the cinnamon challenge, that one was worse." I make a face.

Lesly laughs.

"I learn new things about you every day," Dani flirts before pecking me on the lips.

I smile and peck her again, before giving her a full-on kiss.

Lesly clears her throat and I pull back.

"Humor me, please," Dani pleads.

"Fine, I'll jump on the trampoline. Let me eat first. Did you make yourself a plate?" I ask.

"I was about to, where do you want to sit?"

I glance at the table and see Bernida leaning against it, almost suggestively as she talks to Lesly's parents. I glare at her.