It's Quite Complicated

Chapter 6

I grabbed the smores supplies that I bought for the Unshadowed event at Kylie's parent's house and brought them over to an empty picnic table that was splayed out in the yard of their house. I could hear distant chatter and pop music blasting in the background as I locked my car doors and noticed the packed driveway in the front of their house. I had parked my car at the side of the house at a clearing since the street was lined with cars as well as the driveway. I pick the supplies back up into my arms and I round the corner of the house and see a big pile of wood with a fire lighten surrounded by sitting logs and lawn chairs. It was almost 7:00 and the sun was setting. It didn't become dark until 8:00 and these events usually ended at around 9:00. I see the figures of people and hear chattering amongst them.

I dropped off the supplies at a packed picnic food table and look around to find a single person that I can talk with. I spot Kylie, Shaylee, and Sarah talking with a few other people. I walk over and greet them.

"Glad you made it. We were about to sit down around the fire and munch on food while my parents talk." I nod my head in agreement.

Shaylee looks to me with a mischievous smile on her face and says, "Julian is over there with Shane." She jabs her thumb to the side of where we were standing. I glance to the direction she has her thumb pointed to. Sure enough, I see the familiar two standing off to the side with cans of soda in their hands and talking to each other. I nod my head to Shaylee and tell the three of them that I was going to greet them. I walk away from them and they go back to chatting with each other.

I approach the two guys and greet them. Julian pulls me closer to him by the waist and I decide that I wouldn't stop him, because I didn't want to seem rude. He wraps his arm around my waist and keeps me to his side. I smile at him cheerily and give a smile to Shane, whom is scratching the back of his neck and shifting his weight on his feet. He returns the smile. Deciding that I didn't want to be held close to Julian anymore, I take a few steps away from him and he drops his arm. Before we could have a conversation, Kylie's parents emerge from the house and greet us.

"Welcome everybody, if you would kindly find seats around the fire and help yourselves to the dessert that we have for you, while we talk to you guys," Kylie's dad, Mr. Abbott, tells us. He motions to the direction of the bonfire and the logs and lawn chairs around it. The people that were diverted into groups chatting before, were now taking Mr. Abbott's instructions and either sitting down or grabbing desserts. Julian goes to my side and sits on a log. He pats the available space on the log beside him and beckons me to sit beside him. I don't refuse and walk over to it and sit. He puts an arm around me. I can't see behind the person's head in front of me from the angle I am in. If I went closer to Julian's side and cuddle with him, getting my head in a different angle I can perfectly see Mr. and Mrs. Abbott. It wouldn't be the worse thing in the world if I decided to cuddle with him, would it?

I had practically no other choice since other seats were filled in and I still couldn't see over the person in front of me. Ugh, being short has so many disadvantages. I lean into Julian and wrap my arms around him. He keeps his arm around me and I angle my head into a different position. I see Mr. and Mrs. Abbott greeting a few individuals. I see from across to the other side of the bonfire, Shane and Kylie talking to each other and laughing. They are seated in lawn chairs beside each other and they seem to be in deep conversation. I catch Shane's glance and his gaze lingers a few seconds in between Julian and I. Kylie sees that he looks over to me and I catch her glance to Julian and I whilst Shane looks away. Shane looks to his hands and Kylie turns her head to him and brings a hand to his shoulder and massages it gently. She says something to him and he seems to respond back to her.

I take the note that I am being a complete stalker, so I turn my head to Julian, whom is talking to somebody behind us whilst my arms are still wrapped around his and his arm is lingered around me. I sigh in slight annoyance, knowing that he isn't going to be done talking to the person any time soon.