The Bon Fire
Link: https://hyzr.app.link/author_summer_love
Or you can search up Summer Love or Evelyn Miller on the app to find :)
The dictionary says it’s an intense feeling of deep affection.
But I’ve never felt anything more than affection for anyone, or anything. I mean I love my mom and twin brother, Hayes. But that’s a different type of love. I’m talking about true love.
My parents said they were in love. They broke up when me and Hayes were six months old. We never seen our father again.
My best friends, Monica claimed she was in love every week. Each time with someone different. Every week she would have a broken heart.
My brother was the standard schools player. Slept with different girls and then he would simply ignore them. They all claimed to be in love with too.
So yeah, my feelings on love was that is was just something someone fabricated solely so they could keep whoever in their possession for the rest of their lives.
Now that summer vacation was about to start the plan was to spend every waking minute in the sunshine at the beach. Working on my tan and swimming. During the night it was party time.
The last day of school sucked. No one wanted to do anything, teacher included. The second the bell rang I run outside immediately and started walking home. No way I was going to hang around with all the dramatic people hugging their friends good bye as if they wouldn’t be seeing them ever again. Hayes included.
The walk home takes twenty minutes. By the time I reach home a thin layer of sweat has built up on my skin. Despite my parents being separated mom took great care of us growing up and thanks to her parents we live in a small cottage right on front of the beach.
The other houses around us are massive and filled with rich stuck up people. Every other day someone comes by wanting to buy our house to bulldoze it but mom always refuses. She says it’s because the only home we’ve known. But really it’s because she doesn’t like change.
Also if she ever did try sell the house both Hayes and I would throw fits. We love this home. In fact both of us have decided to go to a local college just to stay at home. Also because mom doesn’t have much time left.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She’s been in remission twice now but this time it’s come back more aggressive. The doctors are doing everything they can for her and she seems to be getting better.
“Mom! I’m home!” I yell dumping my bag by the door way which no doubt mom will yell at me about soon. “In here!” Her voice calls from the kitchen. I make my way in there to see her pulling out a jug of lemonade from the fridge.
“How was your last day?” She asks as I go over to place a kiss on her cheek. Normally I’m not an affectionate person but ever since she became sick I try show her how much she means to me.
“It was shit.” I grumble sitting down at the table as she brings the lemonade over. “Language.” She warns sitting next to me. “I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.” She continues as I pour two glasses. “It was. No one did anything and then all the girls were crying.” I roll my eyes.
“Even Monica?” She asks raising her eyebrows. “Of course.” I snort. She’d been crying since lunch time. “Mooommmm! Hazel didn’t wait for me!” Hayes groans slamming the door behind him. “We need some god damn air conditioning in this place.” He grumbles as he enters the kitchen.
“You’re a big boy. You can walk by yourself.” I snap. “You wound me dear sister.” He says dramatically clutching his heart before stealing my half drunk glass. “Give it back!” I scream jumping to my feet and trying to grab the glass out of his hands but he’s to quick. He slams the glass back onto the table and smirks down at me.
“Fuck you Hayes!”
“Fuck you Hazel!”
“You’re such a fucking pig!”
“And you’re a fucking bitch!”
“Kids!” Mom scolds us making us both stop yelling at each other. “Sorry.” We both mumble and sit down at the table, both pouting. Guilt overcomes me. Hayes and I are super close but we fight like cats and dogs.
When mom got sick we made a pact to stop fighting in front of her because she gets really upset. She’s always remind us we’re the only family we have and need to cherish it. I always rolled my eyes at her words but when she got sick I finally understood what she meant.
“Do they still do that bon fire?” Mom asks referring to the last day of school bon fire that is held on the beach every year. Everyone is welcome to come, freshmen included. It’s been going since my grandparents were in school.
Hayes and I share a look. Mom knows it still happens. We’ve gone for the last two years. “Yes mom.” Hayes confirms nudging my leg with his. “Oh. Are you going?” She asks clearing her throat, frowning slightly.
As I look at mom I notice the dark circles around moms sunken in eyes. She’s lost a lot of weight over the last month and is looking more and more frail by the day. “We go every year remember mom.” I whisper biting my lip. “Oh right of course. Silly me. Just being forgetful.” She laughs.
“We can stay home.” Hayes offers his voice wavering like he’s going to cry. “No. No. No. You kids go have fun. I’ll be fine.” She waves her hand in front of us. “Besides I’m going out with Kim.” She shrugs referring to our Aunt. “If you’re sure.” I drag out.
“Of course.”
“Hazel. You’re my best friend.” Monica slurs hanging off my shoulder. “I know.” I giggle helping her stand up, stumbling a bit myself. “I love you. More than I love Cameron.” She tells me. “I’m way cooler than Cameron!” I laugh as we sit down on one of the logs in front of the fire.
“Who’s Cameron?” A male voice from next me asks making both me and Monica jump and fall into a fit of laughter. “He’s the love of my life.” Monica slurs leaning over me to talk to the stranger. “This week.” I laugh looking at the boy.
I’ve never seen him around here before. And I’m not just saying that because I’m drunk. I mean this guy is hot as fuck! I’d remember seeing him. He’s got dark hair and light eyes but i can’t see the colour properly because of the bad lightening. His face looks so symmetrical and perfect.
“Ah young love.” He chuckles shaking his head slightly before sipping from the red cup in his hands. “Please tell me you believe in love coz this bitch is heartless.” She asks leaning even more and spilling some of her beer on my leg.
“I am not!” I exclaim wiping some of the sticky beer away. Not really caring about it. “You so are! Just asks Hayes!” She exclaims loudly making the stranger laugh. “I’m going to find him!” She states before stumbling off.
“Are you new?” I slur to the stranger. “I am.” He nods but not offering a name. “Sucks for you.” I snort. “Oh yeah?” He smirks. “Yup! This town is sooo boring!” I draw out. The town is tiny, like less than a thousand people live here. The only good thing is the beach.
“The beach is nice.” He comments nodding towards the ocean like he’s reading my mind and I gasp. “Hazel! Hazel!” Monica voice calls out as she and Hayes stumble towards us. “Tell her.” She demands pushing my brother down to sit between me and the hot stranger.
“You are h-heartless.” He hiccups resting his head on my shoulder before snapping it up and looking at the stranger. “Hayes.” He introduces with a slight growl in his voice that I know no one else would’ve picked up on.
“Asher.” He smiles shaking my brothers hand. “Where are your shoes?” Monica yells pointing at both mine and Hayes bare feet. I giggle and wriggle my toes into the soft sand. Who wears shoes to the beach?
“At home.” Hayes mumbles leaning his head back down on me. “You new?” He grunts towards Asher. “Yeah.” He nods not offering any more information. “Surf?” He asks. According Hayes if you either surf or play football you were okay in his book until proven other wise.
“Never done it.”
“Football?” He scoffs clearly unimpressed. “Running back.” Hayes nods. “Bayze.” I whine. “Bazel.” He whines back. “My drinks empty.” I pout shaking my empty cup in his face. Hayes rolls his eyes but takes my cup to go refill it. Good boy.
“I need me one of them.” Monica sighs sitting on my other side. “You can have him.” I snort rolling my eyes. “I need to kiss someone so badly right.” She groans throwing her head back nearly falling off the log. “There’s Cameron.” I nod towards the jock who’s standing on the other side of the fire.
“Love you!” She yells before she disappears for the rest of the night leaving me with alone with Asher. “Where are your shoes?” He laughs nodding at my feet. “Home. I mean who comes to the beach wearing shoes?” I ask pointing to his flip flops.
“So when you leave your feet are safe.” He chuckles moving down the log a little closer to me. “Not needed when you live on the beach.” I try to wink but fail and just blink awkwardly. “You live in one of those?” He whistles looking towards all the rich peoples houses.
“Oh no I’m not telling you where I live.” I laugh as Hayes comes back holding three cups expertly in his hands. “Here.” He grunts shoving one into my hands and squeezing himself between me and Asher. “Here.” He grunts again handing Asher the other cup.
“Thanks man.” He nods taking the cup. “What are we talking about?” He asks raising an eyebrow at the new guy. “Shoes.” I slur taking a large gulp of the beer. “Shoes man. Who needs them?” Hayes chuckles. “Where’s the tall one gone?” He mumbles noticing Monica is gone.
“Cameron.”
“Ha.” He snorts chugging half his beer down and we fall into an awkward silence. “Sooo.” Hayes draws out. “Running back huh?” He asks turning away from me to Asher. I tune out as the two boys fall into football talk.
After I finish my beer Hayes rests his head on my shoulder again mumbling about being sleepy. I sigh knowing it’s time to go home. Though to be fair I knew this was going to happen. Hayes can never handle his alcohol as well as I can and he never hooks up at the bomb fire.
“Come on then.” I mutter pushing him off me then standing up. I hold my hands out for him and he grabs them to pull himself up. “I love you.” He mumbles wrapping his arm around my shoulder and kissing the top of my head. “Yeah, yeah. Love you too.” I mutter trying to keep him up.
“Need some help?” Asher asks eyeing me holding up my brother. “Nah. I got this.” I giggle and stumble. “Done it before?” He asks raising an eyebrow. “Practically every weekend.” I laugh. “See ya later man!” Hayes calls out as if we actually have walked off. “See ya.” Asher laughs.
As I drag my stupid, drunk and heavy brother up the beach my mind wonders back to the new hot stranger on the beach. There’s something about him that has me intrigued.
Who is he?
