bonfire - bbangsaz

Prologue

ᯓ★ December 22 2019 ·········

Sanchez had a knack for turning the ordinary into something unforgettable. Normally, I wouldn't heap praise on my older brother—I wasn't that kind of sister—but I had to hand it to him this time. He'd transformed our backyard into the kind of place you'd want to spend a summer night: warm string lights draped like a soft glowing canopy, mismatched but comfortable seating scattered across the lawn, and a playlist that made you want to sway your shoulders without meaning to. It was the kind of night where you could let loose, laugh a little too loudly, and do the kind of silly teenage things you'd reminisce about later.

Surprisingly, this wasn't one of Sanchez's rule-breaking escapades; our parents had encouraged us to host this party—him more than me—but I couldn't resist getting involved. I took charge of the decorations and, most importantly, the playlist. After all, the music makes the mood, and the mood tonight was perfect.

Our parents called it a "celebration" after the marathon that was the school year, insisting we invite close friends to unwind. Truthfully, I wasn't sure how I was still standing, let alone hosting, dressed in my usual white socks embroidered with tiny otters and my scuffed-up Converse.

I'd only invited a couple of friends—Claire and Jia, who, true to form, were running late. Meanwhile, Sanchez's friends poured in like a herd of broad-shouldered rugby boys, their laughter and booming voices filling the space. Some made a beeline for the backyard snack table, others sprawled on the lawn chairs, and one greeted me on his way out with a jovial, "Evening, little Sanchez!"

Little Sanchez. That nickname would haunt me forever.

I offered a weak smile, raising my arms in what I hoped was a friendly "go ahead and enjoy" motion, then quickly retreated to the snack table, overwhelmed by their presence. My fingers hovered indecisively over the spread before settling on a lamington. One bite, and the rich chocolate coating and coconut flakes melted the stress off my shoulders. A sigh escaped me, followed by a blissful smile I didn't even try to hide.

"That good, huh?"

The voice came from beside me, startling me mid-bite. I turned to find a much taller girl standing there, dressed effortlessly in a crisp white tee tucked into tailored dress pants, a belt cinched neatly around her waist. Rings glinted on several of her fingers, and thick, black-rimmed glasses framed a face that seemed both mischievous and curious.

I swallowed quickly, nearly choking. "Huh?"

She smirked, adjusting her glasses with one finger. "The lamington," she said, nodding toward the plate. "You look like you've found heaven in dessert form. I've never had one before."

My jaw nearly dropped. "Wait—you've never had a lamington?" I frowned, searching her face for signs of deceit. "You're kidding, right? That's practically a crime."

She tilted her head, crossing her arms. "I have no reason to lie to you. We just met, remember?"

Her calm, amused tone had my heart doing flips I couldn't explain. Who was this girl, and why was I suddenly short of breath?

"Well," I stammered, turning back to the table, "you have to try one. Here—" My hand reached for the plate at the same time hers did, and her fingers brushed mine.

Electricity zipped through me, cliché and all.

"Alex, you made it!" Sanchez's voice cut through the moment, jolting me back to reality. I turned to see him grinning as he approached us, his focus entirely on the girl beside me.

She smiled back, arms still crossed. "Wouldn't miss it."

"You know each other?" I asked, looking between them.