Page 62 of Playing with Fire

"Oh, fuck our trip!" Kylie stressed.

Elijah admits that he forgot about the trip.

"When do we leave again?" Hazel asked.

"Tomorrow. After their game." I say. Neha and Sabrina will be traveling there tonight to search for activities for us.

A group conversation started since everyone had forgotten their packing. The senior class selects their own destinations for their annual trip. Our class is based on Key West, Florida.

I was psyched. The beach holds my attention throughout the Savannah months as my preferred destination. While everyone secured a house or something nearby each person selected their own accommodation independently.

Through her father's network Neha managed to locate a beach-accessible house with space for our entire group.

The main bedroom was available to her and Sabrina on the condition that they agreed to it. Everyone agreed to follow this rule because it was straightforward.

"So, Em, you don't remember the closet?" Kylie mentioned.

My heart dropped. It plunged down into my stomach like a stone into a well.

"W-What closet?" I stutter.

You expected me to do something for those ten dollars you paid me? she complained.

"Ten dollars?" I asked about the payment with an expression of complete bewilderment. "And what closet?"

An intense heat surged through my entire body. I felt uncertain about my ability to sound credible when I attempted to fabricate my knowledge. The effectiveness of my story was evident from the expressions on their faces.

For fourteen minutes you and Jaxon were enclosed in a closet. You don't remember that?" Hazel asked.

"No." I move my head from side to side before looking toward Jaxon. I believed he looked equally confused while I pretended to be lost.

Kylie made a groaning noise while Jaxon remained silent. "Dammit. I want to know what happened."

My nervousness prevents me from answering so I stare at my drink while taking another long sip. "Wish I could remember..." I joke.

Sure, you do...

Shut up.

My focus on my drink helped me to stop feeling like everyone was watching me. It was clear to me that everyone was watching when they began to discuss Hazel and Felix's intimate moment.

However, all that stress made me sweat. The moisture inside our booth made the humidity rise and caused my hair to cling to my neck.

I pulled my hair back behind my head and moved it over my shoulder. By gathering my hair behind my head, I noticed my hair tie fastened to Jaxon's wrist which appeared red like usual.

The urge to tie up my hair runs strong right now. "Hazel? Can I borrow one of your hair ties, Hazel? I ask with a sigh.

She nods and reaches for her wrist to remove a hair tie. "You don't have your red one?" she asks, handing it to me.

"Must've left it somewhere." I tell a lie when I take the hair tie from her.

While this is happening, I notice Jaxon kicking my foot beneath the table. I instinctively focus on him which triggers an overwhelming sensation of impending death.

He smirks at me stupidly while I fasten my hair into a ponytail. The moment I caught his gaze my thoughts instantly returned to that time his tongue invaded my throat.

And that feeling exploded in my stomach.

Fuck Em. Just stop thinking about it.