Candles

18 | B O M B S H E L L

I SOMETIMES WONDERED WHY I always got myself in sticky situations. It was not that I was a fool or had bad luck. I was just too curious and curious people were usually the first to sink. I had grown up observing every little thing around me, sometimes finding ways to make them special to me. One simply saw a rainbow. I saw a colorful road leading to adventure. Along the way; however, I took a wrong turn. My rainbow road turned black and I had to run. I ended up in Seattle, hoping to be free. I only got myself in another sticky situation. My curious mind was just not going to let me have any peace. It had become dear friends with my heart and they were both out to get me now. They were tearing me apart piece by piece.

I was simply falling in love with the wrong person.

I refused to be the whore in every cliché movie or romance novel. I refused to take Harry away from Jillian. I was too impatient to wait, though. What was I even waiting for? Who said Harry's relationship with Jillian was even going to end? I had my hopes up for a lost cause. I was only setting myself up to get hurt. Greysen was right when he confronted me. I was confusing Harry and we both knew it. But Harry was confusing me, too. I knew the compliment was not meant for Jillian. A part of me had wished it was but I was too smart. Harry had meant for that compliment to be for me but I was oblivious as to what was going on at the time. After Greysen confronted me and I rushed outside, I had at least five minutes to think. I refused to let myself stay outside for more than five minutes. I did not want anyone to think I suddenly left.

My teeth had to sink into a nice, juicy burger.

I sat on the edge of the pool with a burger firmly in my hands. A plate of chips sat beside me along with a beer. I moved my feet around in the pool water and watched the water deform the image of my feet. I chewed slowly and listened to what was going on around me. Olivia and Amelia were discussing something and I nodded every now and then to make them believe I was listening. I was, in fact, listening to the conversation going on by the grill. I did not digest the words being shared but I digested the sound. Harry's voice stuck out like a sore thumb and I smiled as I chewed. I enjoyed the sound of his voice and I liked it very much.

"Hey, Syd," I looked at Travis as he sat down beside me. "Can I call you that?"

I held up a finger, swallowed my food, and said, "I don't see why not."

"You don't get out much, do you?"

"That obvious, eh?"

"You're very antisocial."

"Not entirely," I shrugged.

"We've barely spoken to each other."

"Maybe I don't want to exchange words with you."

"Harsh, yet cute," he nodded. "I guess I can accept that."

"Move along, buddy boy," I grinned. "I think your sister might get jealous."

"Megan?" he laughed. "She's just a clingy, overprotective, hormonal teenager. She won't bite."

"Anything with teeth can bite."

"Huh," he seemed surprised by my response.

"You two are close."

"I suppose. What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Got any siblings?"

I opened my mouth to tell him about Jett but I immediately closed it back. I was supposed to be forgetting about my family for the time being. I could not forget about them if I was constantly bringing them up. However, Harry already saw the picture of Jett and what if he told his friends about him when mentioning me? I highly doubted it but Harry was very social and he could have accidentally mentioned my brother. I did not want to lie and have Travis tell me otherwise.