I hesitated but let my flames catch the string on the stick and watched as it began climbing towards the grenade.
Quickly, he rushed away and stabbed the stick into the ground, before returning to us.
By the time he turned, the flames made the small ball shoot up into the sky, and it exploded into colorful rays of red and purple.
I gasped and looked over at Ashley, whose eyes had widened, her jaw hanging open. He finally made fireworks for her.
“Told you I’d learn!” Nate flashed her a grin and she struggled for words.
“That was actually kind of cool,” I heard Jaden and Eve mumble behind.
Ashley took a deep breath, and bowed deep. “I’m sorry for being a dimwit. I’m sorry for holding a grudge and reminding you of…the accident, Eve.”
“Uhm… why are you apologizing? It’s weird, stop.” Eve shifted uncomfortably on a log next to Lionel.
“Because it was a freak accident, and you clearly suffered from it too.” Ashley kept her head lowered, not witnessing how Eve stiffened at her words.
Nate took a few quick steps, until he was right in front of Ashley, his hands grabbing each side of her shoulders.
“Ash,” he whispered low.
“That’s all,” she raised her voice along with her head, her eyes meeting his. “That’sallI can offer, an apology.”
He furrowed his brows as he watched her for a moment, before his hands slowly let her go again.
“It’s okay,” he said, voice still low.
Ashley’s eyes slid to the campfire, avoiding Nate’s. I merely watched in silence, but still, my heart ached knowing how she felt and why she pushed him away.
The fear of losing and failing someone else besides yourself had us all wrapped in its grasp.
But there was nothing I could do, it was her choice, her battle.
Suddenly, Nate gritted his teeth, annoyance spreading across his features, before he swung his arms around her and pulled her against him in a tight embrace. Ashley’s eyes widened with shock, her hands flat against his chest, debating whether to stay or struggle. Nate lowered his head to hers, squeezing, refusing to let go.
“Stupid,” he muttered. “You’re utterly stupid.”
Ashley’s eyes slowly recovered, turning blank as she stayed in place and let him get the frustration out.
“Mmhm. I am.”
I patted Nate’s shoulder, and walked past them.
If only they could escape the weight of the past, break out of the prison that held them from living their lives to the fullest.
I glanced towards the campfire, and the four logs around it. Eve and Lionel rested on one, with Jaden sitting right next to Eve on the next log. Malakai was on the opposite side from Jaden, keeping his distance.
His scarlet eyes slid to mine, searching, waiting without uttering a single word.
I knew this would hurt my oldest friend, like the thorns of a rose prickling the one admiring it, but if there was one thing I knew we all deserved, it was honesty.
Before anyone could break the silence, I made my way to Malakai and sat down beside him, my heart hammering, fully aware that I was closing a door behind me for good.
My pulse was so loud, or was that just because of the silence echoing around me? I felt as if the space around me was shrinking, closing in on me, my breath quickening.
I didn’t dare look at Lionel.
“Ethalyn.” I swear I heard his voice… but surely I must’ve misheard? No?
