DELUGE // Paul Lahote

TWENTY SEVEN

SPARK  OF  TENSION

THE SKY HAD JUST started its slow fade into dusky pinks and purples as Sunday and Kim made their way down the familiar driveway to Emily's place. The low hum of voices and the distant crackle of a fire reached them before the warm scent of smoke did.

Sunny hugged her arms around her torso as a cool breeze passed. The mid-May evenings had been unpredictable—one day warm enough for t-shirts, the next demanding hoodies. She silently cursed her optimism. Kim, ever prepared, had a thin cardigan draped around her shoulders.

The two had spent most of their day at the Conweller residence. Catching up on Kim's family gossip, and whatever boy talk the girl demanded they discuss.
Needless to say, Sunny was glad to finally be free of her friend's incessant badgering.

The commotion was thriving when they arrived, a modest blaze casting golden hues over the back yard. The usual table of food and drinks sat off to the side, but most of the group was already settled on long logs and folding chairs arranged in a loose half-circle around the flames.

Another bonfire, something that should be considered a bi-weekly occurrence by now. But, this gathering was different. No outsiders.
Just the select members of the tribe who knew of the big secret. It was meant to be something educational, rather than social.

Emily spotted the girls first. "There you two are!" she called, wide grin already present. Left over from a humorous conversation she'd already been having with Harry Clearwater.

"Sorry we're late," Kim said with a sheepish smile. Allowing the woman to pull her into a tight embrace. "We got a little sidetracked." She sent Sunny a pointed glance.

As the Young woman greeted the girls, neither of the teenagers had the heart to admit that they'd just eaten an hour ago at Kim's. so instead, they grabbed a few graham crackers,  a chocolate bar, and some marshmallows to keep up appearances.

It was when Jared waved Kim over with a big grin and an open arm that Sunny registered where, exactly, he was sitting—and who was sitting right next to him.

Paul.
Who already had his eyes on her.

He wore a lazy, warm grin that didn't quite reach his eyes—there was a spark behind it, something unreadable.  Familiar. Warm.

Sunny didn't even hesitate. Already trailing behind Kim in the two boys direction. Completely oblivious to just how natural everything seemed.
It had only been a couple short weeks since they'd discussed everything. Only fourteen days since Sunny had accepted whatever odd, supernatural thing that drew her towards the boy.
They hadn't spoken about it since.
And Sunday Uley had stopped psychoanalyzing everything about Paul Lahote.

She slid onto the log beside him, so close their knees brushed, despite the extra space on the other end of the seat.

"Hey," he spoke, eyes traveling between hers, failing to suppress his soft smile.

"Hey," she parroted, grinning without thinking. It came easily these days. She didn't even notice.

But Paul did.
He noticed everything.
From her change in demeanor towards him, and how easily she was able to slip into conversation with him recently.
It was enough to ease his worry and hesitation when it came to the girl.

"How was your day?" he asked, like he always seemed to now.

Sunny poked a marshmallow onto the skewer Kim had handed her, not giving it a second thought.
"Fine. Just at Kim's mostly. We went into town for a bit, checked out the antique store near the pier."