Chapter 69: Chapter 69

"Hemple, put that stick under the pile! Not on top! You're going to kill the whole fire before it even starts!" Coach yelled.

"I'm not going to kill the fire. See it's starting..." Zaire replied with a grin as he pushed the stick into the pile again.

"Oh it's dead." He mumbled. The stick he had pushed in had snuffed out the fire that was just starting.

"Oh my God! And you were the one that made the suggestion!" Quinnel replied rolling his eyes.

They were trying to start the fire pit and Zaire was in no way skilled in doing it. He kept pushing the sticks, that the hotel had provided, in different directions that it snuffed out the fire the others were managing to start.

The night was dark and a thick blanket of darkness had enveloped the sky only lit up by stars that looked tiny. The moon was peeking out behind a dark cloud so the ground wasn't that bright but fortunately, the hotel had given them a torch light as well.

"You know what? Zaire, just step back. I'm about to kill myself just looking at you killing the poor fire!" Jake exclaimed as he moved towards them shoving the torchlight in Jake's hand while he took his place by the fire.

"Alright then. I'll hold the torchlight!"

"Please do!"

"Seems like that's the best thing you're good at!" Quinnel retorted with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh shut your mouth up!" Zaire replied pointing the torchlight at him making Quinnel shoot his hand up to shield his eyes from the direct torch that his stupid best friend was pointing at him.

"The light is affecting my eyesight." He mumbled and Zaire grumbled before he pointed the light back at the tall pile of sticks.

"Really, how the heck are you my best friend?" Quinnel asked sighing as he crouched down in front of the stick.

"Can't we just go get a stupid lighter?!" Zaire asked throwing his hand up in defeat.

"No. Where is the fun in that? We should work hard, you know... We can at least know and experience the fun in starting a fire by just striking two sticks together." Jake replied.

"Fun? I'm sorry, did you just say fun?" Zaire asked in utter disbelief.

"Of course-" he was cut off by the roaring of flame as it flamed bright orange the heat rapidly radiating to his body.

All eyes turned to the coach that hadn't interfered in their banter and in his hand was a white lighter which was recognized since there was a source of light and it was huge and orange.

"Hold on, Coach... Please tell me you didn't have that before." Quinnel said pointing at the lighter in his hand.

"Well, I didn't want to bring it out before... But I realized we are going to spend all night here of I didn't use it. So come on, let's go call the rest."

"You can't do that!" Zaire yelled throwing the torch light on the soft cold sand.

"Why not?"

"We were suffering Coach!" Quinnel exclaimed and Coach shrugged before he turned around.

"Stuffs happens." He replied with a wave.

"Can we take him down?" Quinnel asked suddenly and Zaire looked to him.

"You just spoke my mind." Zaire replied with a nod.

"Now, that's why we're best friends." Quinnel replied nodding as well.

"We can." Jake said suddenly and both eyes turned to him.

"I thought you wanted to have the fun?"

"What stupid fun is there in lighting a fire with two stupid sticks? Coach looked like he was trying and I didn't want to snuff out his fire just like how Zaire kept snuffing out the fire, so I said let's have the fun! My hand are aching me!"

"I like this dude." Quinnel said to Zaire pointing at Jake.

"Same here." Zaire replied with a chuckle.

"Great. So when do we take him out?" Jake asked again and the two friends looked at each other.

"When he's asleep." They said simultaneously and a smirk made its way to their faces.

Truth be told, Jake had no idea how they would get into the Coach's room but the smirk on their faces told him they knew exactly how.

Who exactly were this two?

"I'm sorry, there is an ocean behind this hotel? That's too dope!"

"Woah! That's a huge fire." They heard two familiar voices say from behind them and they turned around to see Ashley pointing at the fire the Coach made.

Navaeh was beside her as she stared at the three faces, Quinnel's most especially.

Since when was he friends with Jake?

She waved at all three of them and they waved back before she looked around.

"So, there is an ocean, a bonfire... And three very awkward friends."

"Everything is so weird today." Ashley mumbled agreeing with her friend.

"Wait wait, what's that supposed to mean?" Quinnel asked changing his stance as he crossed his arm in front of his chest.

"I don't know. The last time I checked, you didn't talk to Jake and now you're laughing together! Miracle, isn't it Neve?"

"A very huge one."

"Ha ha. Very funny." Quinnel replied with a roll of his eyes.

He plopped down on the sand where he was sat not too close to the fire that it could burn his clothes nor too far that he could feel the heat.

Chatters followed by closing of door was heard soon. Their classmates were there already.

Navaeh and Ashley walked and sat down beside Quinnel in his left since Jake and Zaire was on right.

People were seated soon and formed a huge circle around the fire and Connie waved at Ashley while she replied.

Connie greeted Zaire, Quinnel, Navaeh and Jake who replied awkwardly except Jake and Navaeh.

"What are we supposed to do around a bonfire anyways?" Someone asked when everyone was seated.

"We play games!" Zaire said and before anyone could opt out, he was on his feet with his index finger up to silence whoever was about to talk.

"And absolutely no one can opt out." He said and a few groans were heard.

The excitement chatters was more than the groans and he smirked.

"What type of game?" Someone asked.

"Let's start with 21 questions!" Zaire announced and everyone clapped.

"So, you reconciled with Jake?" Navaeh asked leaning in to Quinnel since he was sitting beside her while Jake explained the rules of 21 questions to the rest of his classmates.

"Huh. I thought you were doubting me just now." He replied with a slight chuckle.

"I wasn't. I was just... shocked. So are you guys cool now?" She asked excitedly.

Quinnel turned his head fully to see the reflection of the fire in the corner of her eyes.

"Yeah, well... I thought why not?" He replied with a smile and pursed her lips before she got too happy and threw her arm around his neck surprising him.

"Thanks." She mumbled.

"Woah! Who else do I need to reconcile with Next to get a free hug from the Navaeh Thatcher?" Quinnel joked as he hugged her back.

"Shut your mouth." She mumbled rolling her eyes.

Both were enjoying the hug oblivious that everyone had kept quiet since Zaire had finished explaining the rule of the game.

"Aww."

Everyone cooed suddenly and Navaeh looked up from Quinnel's shoulder to see everyone was now looking at them.

She immediately disentangled herself from the hug feeling warm all over. Her eyes darted everywhere but the eyes of her classmates which was practically impossible since she was surrounded by them.

"Alright then. Let's start the game!" Zaire yelled and immediately everyone drew their attention away from the two obviously embarrassed people to the cheerful Zaire who looked too happy being the coordinator.

At least while it lasted.

He took his original seat by Quinnel before the game started.

"Uhh, who is your celebrity Crush?" A girl asked pointing at the boy beside her.

"Tatiana." He replied with a blush and everyone did "ooh's."

He scratched the back of his neck and looked to the boy beside him.

"Someone you wish to date in our school."

"Easy, Navaeh." The boy replied with a shrug and everyone chuckled at his immediate response.

"Uhh, who was your first kiss?"

"Uhh, Daniel."

"What food would you choose for your last meal?"

"Definitely Pasta!"

"What makes you angry?"

Connie sighed before she thought and then opened her mouth to talk.

"Two faced bitches." She replied with a shrug.

"Whose death hit you hardest?" She asked turning to Ashley.

"Uh, my grandfather. I was close to that man." Ashley replied with a sigh.

"She was." Zaire said and everyone chuckled.

"May his soul rest in peace." Connie said into the night and everyone muttered an amen.

Ashley then turned to Navaeh.

"What is your most embarrassing story in the last two months?" She asked with a mischievous glint.

"Uhh, shit. Did you have to seriously remind me of that?" Navaeh groaned.

"Say it!" Ashley egged Navaeh on with a chuckle.

"Well, should be when my bra accidentally got into a guy's hand." She replied in a low voice as she bit her lower lip.

"Oh my Goodness! I totally wasn't expecting that!" Ashley replied with a laugh and everyone joined in.

"Laugh all you want." She mumbled to herself feeling warm all over. She wasn't sure if it was fire or the blush that was creeping around her whole body.

"That bra was cute by the way," Quinnel mumbled leaning in to her.

"Shut your mouth up!" She replied with a frown and a slight smile.

Everyone quieted down with low chuckles here and there... Until the question was popped.

"Hold on, is that guy by chance Quinnel?" A guy asked and all eyes turned to Navaeh in anticipation for her answer.

Her mouth fell agape as she stared helplessly as the guy.

Did he seriously have to ask that?