Changing | SM

Part 97: bonfire

Shawn:

When everyone already arrived, I went my separate way with my friends to catch-up.
I occasionally glance over to Adriana, just to see if she's doing okay, holding up with all the people and simply just to see if she's happy. I noticed that Lauren kicked off a conversation with her even at the beginning of the night, and I'm really happy about that.
I see the two of them being good friends in time.

"Dude, Adriana seems really cool." Matt bumped my side, "And we're happy to have you back as part of the squad." I smiled at my friends, knowing that when I left, I left them all in wonder and confusion. But this is how I know they're real friends. That no matter what, they're still here and will always have my back.

"Thank you guys. And yeah, she's amazing. Can't explain it." I looked back over to her, seeing her eyes meeting mine and she smiled. God, I love her. "I'll be right back." I excused myself from the group and walked over to her.

"Hey."
"Hey there." She smiled as she stood up, taking my hand in hers. I pulled her a bit closer to me, kissing the top of her head. "I see you made some friends. I'm glad they're nice to you." She nodded, sitting down in the bench and scooting over to make a place for me.
"They are nice. But I have to say, I miss having you by my side, even though that sounds clingy." I laughed, "Does it? Oh god, I'm such a freak of a girlfriend." She rested her head in her hands as she laughed.

"You're not!" I wrapped my arm around her back, laughing along. "I feel a bit empty in conversations because my confidence isn't nearly where it is like when I have you with me."
"Oh! Trust me you're doing great." She kissed my cheek, and I took her hand in mine.

-

It's after dark, the bonfire never looked this good, and the air never felt more crisp. Friends and family laughing along to stories and jokes, seeing my people all in one place, being happy and enjoying the presence of one another.
It's a warming feeling to the heart.

"Penny for your thoughts." I smiled as I looked up at Adriana walking closer to me. "Join me." She sat down on the log next to me, around this fire. I wrapped the blanket over her shoulders, taking her one leg and throwing it over mine. "You look happy to see them all again."
"It's great to see them. And to see them this happy..." I paused for a moment, taking it all in again. Making sure it's real. "It's like I never left." She wrapped her arms around me, resting her head on my shoulder as she watched the fire.

There was silence between us, but a comfortable silence. "Adriana..." she looked up at me as I whispered to her. "You know that getaway we talked about?" She smiled as she nodded, "Do you uh... do you still want to get away?"
"How long though?" I smiled, knowing she's considering it to get away with me, if only for a day. "I don't know, a week or just a simple few days." She cupped my cheek, her thumb caressing my skin as her eyes sparkled in the lighting of the fire, moon and stars.
"Nothing ever sounded more perfect." I pressed my lips to her, giving her a scorching kiss.

It turned in to a small make out, but she immediately pulled away with burning cheeks after both Matt and Brian yelled at us.
"Get some Shawn!"
"Yes man!"
She hid her face in my neck and I started playing with her fingers. "Let's get away." She mumbled in to my neck, pecking my cheek one mlre time before we then enjoyed the conversations of other people.

I'm excited.
I don't know where we'll go, but no matter where we head off to, I know it'll be the best as long as we're there together. Finally we'll have that alone alone time.
Nobody around us who knows who we are, what our names are or where we're from.
Just us.
Alone.

"What are you guys' plans for graduation vacation?" Ian laughed and smirked down at Adriana. "Shawn?" He raised his one eyebrow up at me with a deep, devilish smirk on his face. I felt my cheeks burning as I smiled down at the ground, realizing he saw the smirk I gave to Adriana.
"We might go away for a while.
Don't know where or when, but yeah." I told them, feeling her giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

This is probably the best family night yet, nothing ever felt this warming.