Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight. I own the rest. No redistribution without my consent.
It's Friday night, which means that it's bonfire- slash-gossiping-slash-hanging out-slash-snacking-slash-drinking-slash making out time at First Beach with the buds.
Well, the last part only applies to Angela and Ben, who are now finally official.
Our group usually consists of Jake, Ang, Ben, Alice, Mike, Quil, Seth and myself. It's the Quileutes and the Pale Faces Combined, Jacob would always say. Sam, Jacob's cool, older cousin, hooks us up with the booze. He usually gets us nothing special- just beer and some wine coolers, but it serves its purpose.
It gets us tipsy. Relaxed. Loosened up. It's the perfect way to start our weekends.
From the corner of my eye, I see Angela sitting on Ben's lap. She's giggling over something he whispers in to her ear, and then nuzzles her neck, making her laugh even more.
The sight makes my heart melt. I tilt the corner of my lips up and smile.
Lately, I find myself wishing I had what they had found in one another.
Friendship. Companionship. Affection. Adoration. Love.
Key word: l.o.v.e.
"Hey, Bella."
"Ohh…hey, Mike. Take a seat."
He sits down on the same log as me, our knees touching.
"How ya doin'?"
"Hangin' in there," I chuckle. "You?"
"I'm doing great." Mike stares in to my eyes, and suddenly there's a tension between us.
And it's not the bad kind.
Shit. Jacob was right, after all.
"Wanna go for a walk?"
From across the bonfire, I can feel Jacob's eyes on us. I resist the urge to face him, because I know that if I do, I'll be faced with the smuggest expression on the planet.
Mike and I end up walking along the shore. The breeze makes my face feel numb, but I ignore it because I'm enjoying the privacy.
"I've been meaning to talk to you all week, but haven't really had the chance."
"I know. Lots of things have been going lately."
"Uh huh." He stops midstep, hands tucked in his pockets, and shifts his feet.
"Bella, I've been wanting to tell you…"
"Yes?"
"That I…that I like you. Like, like like you." He avoids my eyes; they're frozen on the rocks.
My heart thumps loudly in my chest.
"I like you, too."