The Timing of Love

Chapter 7

We were seated around a bonfire, smoking marshmallows and eating chips. It was about seven in the evening and I was salty from swimming. My black hair danced in soft curls down my shoulders over my white bikini top. I had on a sweatpants to hide from the chill of the early night and a blanket was wrapped around me and Camilla. It was already dark, with stars twinkling. The beach was almost deserted, with a few families camping at the far side off. Skyler was playing a Maroon 5 song on guitar and we all sang along, out of tune.

And she will be loved.

And she will be loved.

And she will be loved.

And she will be loved.

I swayed to the gentle tune, eating a marshmallow. Julian was next to me again but this time, I did not mind it. In fact, we talked a little now and then and we managed to tone down the insults for our friends. We could be hardcore sometimes.

"Let's play the king!" Amelia suggested. She served us all some tequila and the bottle was put down beside a pack of cards.

"Seven to heaven," Annabeth said, pointing upwards.

I got two kings and laughed evilly as I filled the cup halfway, hoping I did not get the last king. By the end of the game, we were all tipsy. Skyler was drunk. Amateur. It was most probably because he got the last king. Did I feel guilty? Absolutely not. It was funny watching Annabeth trying to calm him down, getting all embarrassed by his giddy behavior.

"Let's play the wolf!" Austin said. "I shall be the narrator."

Checking my cards discretely, I was one of the wolves. Way to feed the serial killer inside me.

"The villagers fall to sleep," he began. A chill ran down my spine from excitement. I did not waste time to open my eyes when it was asked for the wolves to wake up. My gaze searched for my accomplice. It was Julian and he was looking back at me, a mischievous grin on his face. The soft wind was blowing his curls onto his face and I reached out to pull them back reflexively. They were soft against my hand. His eyes locked with mine and his lips parted. Maybe it was the eerie silence, the game even or the fact that I was tipsy but sitting there and facing him, my heart was pounding in my chest. So fast, so hard it was painful. I gulped as his eyes darkened and he leaned into my palm, eyes not stirring away from mine. Austin's voice brought me back, crashing hard into reality. I jumped a little and turned away, pointing at Annabeth to kill her. She was too smart.

The game ended with the villagers winning. My poker face was not so poker. We stayed until past nine before we moved to our cars. The boys were staying over tonight. I hugged Annabeth goodbye, making plans to meet soon. The ride home was silent, the three of us concentrated on the road. It was risky, but fortunately, Camilla did not drink much. Still, we were extra careful. I was the first one out of the car, happily skipping to the porch while Camilla went to park the car with Amelia. Inside, I dragged all the matrasses in the living room like usual and was on the way to preparing popcorn when the doorbell rang.

"You guys were quick," I said as Austin and Jeffrey went in. I was about to close the door but stopped short when I saw Julian. Oh, no. He wouldn't want to-

"Can I stay over too?" he asked. I turned around to see both of the boys pouting with puppy eyes.

"Wait a minute," I said and slammed the door in his face. "What the heck? Are you guys lacking wits?"

"Please, pretty please," Jeffrey said, rubbing his hand together in a pleading manner.

"No, why will I?"