going back to the truck." But as I turned, a familiar voice called out, "Well, well, well. Jacey Brindle. It's about damn time!"
-Five-
Jamie McMann appeared from the shadows illuminated by the soft light of the fire. He was grinning widely, the dimple on his chin the only shadow on his face. His blond hair was pulled into a low ponytail. I noticed he wasn't wearing his glasses.
Smiling, I walked towards him. "Hey, Jamie." Besides Emma, Jamie was one of my closest friends. We didn't see each other much during the school year because we went to different schools. But during the past few summers, we spent a lot of time together fishing, biking, and running. I always felt comfortable with him. I imagined if I had a brother, I would care about him like I cared about Jamie.
Jamie opened his arms when I got close. I was grateful for his warm embrace. Jamie was a big guy, sturdy and strong; in fact, he was a linebacker on the varsity football team at his school. I wouldn't have been surprised if colleges were trying to recruit him as well. He squeezed me, easily lifting me off my feet.
"God, Jamie," I tried to get out. "I'm happy to see you too."
Jamie laughed in response, setting me down. "How the hell are you? I haven't seen you in so long." He lightly pushed me away so he could see me better.
"I'm good. Ya know, just gearing up for graduation. How about you?" I couldn't keep the happiness from my voice. I was relieved to see him. Maybe I really could have fun tonight.
"Yeah, me too. My ma is driving me crazy. Planning a big party and all." Jamie rolled his eyes at the last part. But he was still smiling.
"Oma is doing the same for me. I know exactly how you feel." And I did. If Oma talked about my graduation party one more time, I thought I would scream.
"You still running?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah, I went out this morning," I answered. My mind turned briefly to the memory of the morning and the memory of him.
"Me too. Although it's been awhile," Jamie said interrupting my thoughts, "It's great off season conditioning for football. The next time you run, give me a call. I'll go with you," he added. "God, I've missed you." His smile faded slightly.
"I've missed you too," I said, quietly. I looked down, realizing we were still holding hands. I looked back at Jamie and suddenly felt a little shy. The smile had completely faded from Jamie's face, and he was still looking at me. As I dropped my hands from his, I felt my cheeks grow hot and my eyes broke from his. I was grateful for the darkness to hide my blushing.
I tried to avoid the sudden awkwardness between us by looking around. "Where's Emma?"
"She's over there talking to those kids from your school." He pointed past me to where Emma was standing with Sara, Robby, CJ, and the Waldron twins.
I looked towards Emma and her group, ignoring my desire to turn towards Jamie. I had never felt shy or uncomfortable around him before. I was bothered that I felt so now.
"Jace...it is good to see you," Jamie began quietly. I slowly and reluctantly faced him.
"Yeah?" I replied warily.
"Really," Jamie answered in reply, although I don't think I asked him a question.
"Really," he repeated, and he started laughing again, throwing his head back.
Relief poured over me.
Why am I feeling so uncomfortable?
This was just Jamie; just warm, relaxing, easy-going, friendly Jamie. I playfully punched him in the shoulder. "Don't be going all mushy on me, tough guy."
"Ow," Jamie playfully grabbed his shoulder where I had punched him. He was so much bigger and stronger than me that I could never really hurt him. He gave me a fake pout, puffing his bottom lip out for me, playing along. "You thirsty?" he asked.
"Yes, as long as it's not beer."
Jamie frowned. "I know that. I have Coke in my cooler." Jamie knew how I felt about underage drinking. He'd seen the scene I caused at the last bonfire I attended. He turned from the fire and the groups of kids surrounding it. He walked into the shadows
-Five-
Jamie McMann appeared from the shadows illuminated by the soft light of the fire. He was grinning widely, the dimple on his chin the only shadow on his face. His blond hair was pulled into a low ponytail. I noticed he wasn't wearing his glasses.
Smiling, I walked towards him. "Hey, Jamie." Besides Emma, Jamie was one of my closest friends. We didn't see each other much during the school year because we went to different schools. But during the past few summers, we spent a lot of time together fishing, biking, and running. I always felt comfortable with him. I imagined if I had a brother, I would care about him like I cared about Jamie.
Jamie opened his arms when I got close. I was grateful for his warm embrace. Jamie was a big guy, sturdy and strong; in fact, he was a linebacker on the varsity football team at his school. I wouldn't have been surprised if colleges were trying to recruit him as well. He squeezed me, easily lifting me off my feet.
"God, Jamie," I tried to get out. "I'm happy to see you too."
Jamie laughed in response, setting me down. "How the hell are you? I haven't seen you in so long." He lightly pushed me away so he could see me better.
"I'm good. Ya know, just gearing up for graduation. How about you?" I couldn't keep the happiness from my voice. I was relieved to see him. Maybe I really could have fun tonight.
"Yeah, me too. My ma is driving me crazy. Planning a big party and all." Jamie rolled his eyes at the last part. But he was still smiling.
"Oma is doing the same for me. I know exactly how you feel." And I did. If Oma talked about my graduation party one more time, I thought I would scream.
"You still running?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah, I went out this morning," I answered. My mind turned briefly to the memory of the morning and the memory of him.
"Me too. Although it's been awhile," Jamie said interrupting my thoughts, "It's great off season conditioning for football. The next time you run, give me a call. I'll go with you," he added. "God, I've missed you." His smile faded slightly.
"I've missed you too," I said, quietly. I looked down, realizing we were still holding hands. I looked back at Jamie and suddenly felt a little shy. The smile had completely faded from Jamie's face, and he was still looking at me. As I dropped my hands from his, I felt my cheeks grow hot and my eyes broke from his. I was grateful for the darkness to hide my blushing.
I tried to avoid the sudden awkwardness between us by looking around. "Where's Emma?"
"She's over there talking to those kids from your school." He pointed past me to where Emma was standing with Sara, Robby, CJ, and the Waldron twins.
I looked towards Emma and her group, ignoring my desire to turn towards Jamie. I had never felt shy or uncomfortable around him before. I was bothered that I felt so now.
"Jace...it is good to see you," Jamie began quietly. I slowly and reluctantly faced him.
"Yeah?" I replied warily.
"Really," Jamie answered in reply, although I don't think I asked him a question.
"Really," he repeated, and he started laughing again, throwing his head back.
Relief poured over me.
Why am I feeling so uncomfortable?
This was just Jamie; just warm, relaxing, easy-going, friendly Jamie. I playfully punched him in the shoulder. "Don't be going all mushy on me, tough guy."
"Ow," Jamie playfully grabbed his shoulder where I had punched him. He was so much bigger and stronger than me that I could never really hurt him. He gave me a fake pout, puffing his bottom lip out for me, playing along. "You thirsty?" he asked.
"Yes, as long as it's not beer."
Jamie frowned. "I know that. I have Coke in my cooler." Jamie knew how I felt about underage drinking. He'd seen the scene I caused at the last bonfire I attended. He turned from the fire and the groups of kids surrounding it. He walked into the shadows
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