Crash

6: The Fire

Leia rolled up the driveway in her raggedy Subaru Outback, peering passed her steering wheel to get as close as she could to my own car. We were sat on the living room couch, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. It doesn't take a lot of effort to have long moments of peace and quiet, yet for James it seemed very hard. He was glancing out the window every few moments, and his hands were clenching the sides of his pants. After a long silence of scrolling on our phones, James stood up and clapped his hands together.
"Let's get this party started," was all he could say.

We all stepped outside to greet Leia, and Harry was the first one in her arms. She looked excited, yet something was wrong. I gave her a long stare that asked "what's wrong." From over Harry's shoulder her eyes looked at me, they were filling up with tears.
"It was hard to convince my grandparents to head out today, and... and..." She let out a sob.
Leia was always happy and everyone looked up to her. She was like my big sister and a bigger role model. Harry held her tightly, and rocked her tall body in a sway from side to side. James and I joined in on the hug, and I even felt Harry cry a little bit too.
Leia lived with her strict grandparents. Christian grandparents. I know that sometimes being in a Christian home is no big deal, but Leia had gotten in a heap trouble a few months back and it seemed like they never forgave her.
"They broke my picture frame," Leia finally spoke, pulling away from our huddle and wiping her tears.
"I tried to pick up the glass but..." she showed us her hands, wrapped up in bandages.
"Baby..." Harry let out, stroking Leia's back.
"I fell on it with my hands, wrapped them up, and came here," Leia sadly laughed.
"You're always always welcome," I said as I squeezed her arm.

My dad was watching us through the kitchen window, and I was unsure of how long he was standing there.

"Let's clean up these bandages before the rest get here," James reached out to Leia.
She took his arm with hers, and we all walked inside.

***

5:30pm.
I slid my phone back into my pocket and looked into the fire. The flames flickered high and the orange tinted everyone's faces. Leia was having a silent conversation with Harry, and James was laying on the grass next to me. Sam was in the woods gathering more logs as he arrived not too long ago. When Sam got here, he noticed everyone was upset and anxiously told us he would get more sticks and wood for the fire. He did not like it when everyone was sitting around, and Sam was always doing something. He started walking back to everyone with his arms filled with sticks and logs. I realized I had to make this better.
"April will be here soon," I finally pointed out.
James quickly shot up from his starfish pose on the ground.
"Dude," he said, "she's got it all wrong on how to make pb and j's."
"Oh my god, don't start," Sam said as he threw the wood to the ground.
"I actually think her method is incredible," Leia laughed.
"Thank you Leia," I pointed at her.
James reached over to grab a can of Mike's, "it's just impossible to make it that way without making a mess."
"You're a mess James," Harry laughed and grabbed a strawberry flavored can.
"OH SHIT!" James leaped up from the ground to his feet in one movement,"I NEED TO CALL MY MOM."
Everyone laughed as James started to walk away with his phone to his ear. He walked away far enough to hear a muffle of his side of the conversation.
"Cas, look," Sam pointed at the driveway. I turned my head to face it.
A Volkswagon turned into the side of the road and shifted into park.
I quickly look at my friends and stand up, setting down my drink. I brush through my hair with my fingers, and held one up in front of my mouth to check my breath. I blew out my mouth and in with my nose. Minty. I give them a thumbs up, and start to walk over.

April was leaning into the back of her car, fumbling around. Her dress was so short that I could not help but notice it. She wore small spandex underneath, so she was a modest girl. Unlike most of the girls at school, she was always covered in the places that count.
My feet slowly stop and I look away from her small body.
"Do you need any help?" I ask peering into the car full of sandwiches and water bottles.
"Oh my gosh! Yes!" She jumped up from her pose and peered into the backseat with hands on her hips.
"So the water bottles are the heaviest, and I brought them just in case people can't handle their alcohol and --" She started to say but I interrupted her.
"You look amazing," I blurted out.
She blushed and covered her face with her hands, "thank you Casper."
I shyly look away from her and lean into the car to grab the case of water.
Cas, what were you thinking?
I knew what I was thinking, and it was that she was beautiful. My crush on her only grew stronger, and it felt unhealthy now that I was around her.
"You got the rest of it?" I ask and break the silence.
"Oh yeah. These sandwiches are just in a tupperware I found at my house," she shut the door of her car, holding a very large tupperware box of sandwiches.
We start to walk over, but I notice that she's looking around. Her eyes peeled towards my house with my cat glaring out the window.
"Who is that handsome boy?" She cooed.
"That's Rudy," I laugh.
"I love him," She said sternly.

Everyone was now gathered around the fire, drinks in hand. The mood seemed to be lifted as April and I approached the group.
"April, sit by me!" Leia patted the chair next to her.
April's eyes seemed to notice the newly patched up hands that were guiding her to her seat. She didn't say anything.
She and I set down the food and water in between us, and I sat in the chair next to her. James' eyes jolted to the box of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and he immediately got up to grab one.
"I just need to know. If. These. Are. Good." He put the triangle sliced sandwich up to his mouth and looked down at April. She looked up at him with a grin on her face.
James bit into the sandwich making eye contact with her, and then suddenly looked around to me as he chewed. That must mean the sandwich is "James approved."