Page 24 of A Twist in Fate
“Let me put it on you,” he says, softly.
“Okay.” I turn around, the necklace in his palm and sweeping my hair over my shoulder. He wraps the necklace around my neck, his fingers brushing my shoulder lightly when he goes to clasp it. The delicate feeling sends sparks across my skin. I can feel his body close to mine and my heart starts to beat faster in my chest. Once he clasps it, he moves the necklace so it's perfectly in the centre and his hands rests on my shoulders drawing circles lightly on it.
I close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath out. “Thank you for the necklace, Lucas.”
“You're welcome. Happy birthday, sunshine.”
Mattresses cover the floor of the hall along with blankets and pillows, which are mainly being used for people to hiteach other with. The six of us closely sit in a circle on two double mattresses that have been pushed together, as the movie ends. We assumed everyone would be asleep or at least someone would have fallen asleep during the movie, but they are all wide awake and loud. We ate pizza, ate too many snacks and it's getting late, but the sun still has not completely set. I have never spent a birthday with so many people. My necklace hangs from my neck, despite it being concealed by my pyjamas and throughout the day, Lucas would catch me playing with it and give me a kind smile. Currently, we are sitting in a circle playing uno and it is definitely getting a bit heated.
“Uno!” Bailey says happily, waving her last card in Alec's face, who is stuck between her and James who keeps making him pick up cards.
“I hate this,” he grumbles out, taking his turn, followed by Alec, Abby and Lucas. Then it is my turn, knowing Bailey only has one card left, I place down a green plus two but then she places a yellow one on top. Alec throws out his cards in front of him, huffing as he says, “So not only did I have to pick up about a million cards, if it wasn't her last card, I would have had to pick up more.” He throws his hands out, theatrically and we alllaugh.The loudest Alec ever is, is when he is being competitive.
I place my cards down and lean back on my hands, but when I do, my hands brush Lucas’ ever so slightly. He turns to me with that same smile on his face and I return it and as soon as I do. “So did you play these games with your dad?” I ask.
“Oh yeah, he was super competitive, just like Bailey. We used to play monopoly for hours because he refused to stop until he was the one who had won.” I turn around to Bailey and she ushers me to come closer.
“Can we talk quick?” she says abruptly, and I nod at her words. We walk over to a corner of the hall, quickly and she lets out a breath before saying, “I only have one question. What did Lucas say about our dad? It's just he said ‘used to’ and does that mean you knoweverything?” There is pain in her voice and I wonder if maybe she is not healed from his death as much as Lucas believes. “It's not that I don't want you to know. It's just difficult for me, for all of us.”
“Oh, um yeah. I think he told me most of what happened. I'm so sorry Bailey. We were just talking the day we went to the lake, and I think he just said it naturally. It must have been so difficult to go through thatat such a young age," I say, remembering that Bailey doesn't want me knowing that yet.
“Okay,” she says as if she is done but continues, suddenly, “sorry, one more thing. Do you have a thing for him? Are you together?” My eyes widen at her words.
“Lucas? No,” I say, probably too quickly.
“Are you sure? There's like major vibes between you.” She laughs, slightly, but it comes out more nervous than I’m guessing she intended.
“I'm sure. I promise nothing is going on. He's just my friend. You're still my favourite friend.”
“Okay good. Now let's go sit down quickly, we have one more thing to do tonight and it starts soon.” She swings her arm around me, pulling us back towards the mattress where everyone is sitting.
Not long after, everyone starts singing happy birthday and a huge chocolate cake is held out in front of me by Abby. Warmth spreads from the candles, across my skin and into my heart. I feel so accepted and so comfortable here, at this very moment. This is the first time I've truly felt at home. I love my parents, I really do but London was never truly a home for me, it was the place I dedicated to working for my academic accomplishments. I have never been away from that life.This is the longest I think it has been since I've even thought ofschool or studying.
As everyone stops singing, I blow out the long rows of candles and make one wish. I wish this summer would never end.
CHAPTER 12
Lucas
Song 12
Love me like you do – Ellie Goulding
07/20
“Let me take you out today?” Ivy's eyes shoot up at my words, her fork almost dropping right into her dinner. Unlike how she wore the necklace her grandmother bought her, the one I got her 2 days ago is hanging over her shirt, the stone in the middle reflecting the sun. Today she is wearing a light blue denim skirt and a yellow top that flows out around her stomach. Her hair is stunning today. The way her thick and long curls twist and fall over her shoulders to her waist is completely mesmerising. They look soft, as if my hands would effortlessly run through them. All of a sudden, my mind flashes to when I had kissed her three weeks ago. Her handshad instantly clung to my hair and I wish I had done the same. One loud word took away from continuing to space out, staring at her.
“What?” Bailey practically yells from beside Ivy, who is sitting opposite me with a dumbfounded expression on her face.
“Not like that,” I say, towards Ivy and then turn my attention to my sister who still does not look convinced, “definitely not like that.” Everyone at the table still has their eyes on me and I realise I definitely brought this up at the wrong time. “I just thought that because we both have the afternoon off, we could hang out or something.” Ivy smiles and nods at me but clearly looks uncomfortable by the attention of everyone at the table so I make a face at Alec to change the subject, who is eating a mouthful of granola, once again.
“Oh…” he says quickly while swallowing his food, “I added blueberries into my granola today!” He shoves his bowl out for the rest of us to see.
“Dude, no offence but that was so boring. It's dinner time, why are you having granola!” James counters, pushing his tight curls out of the front of his face and dramatically pushing the bowl back to Alec, as if he is disgusted.
“How can you say no offence to something clearly offensive?” Abby says, peeling an orange.
“Exactly! I am offended. Also, I have already finished my dinner. This is supper.” Alec crosses his arms over his chest, and I hear Ivy laugh under her breath. Her small smile still somehow stretches over her face and makes me have a warm feeling.
