Remembering Me

Chapter 13: The Bonfire

I baked muffins and a few loaves of bread with my mom in the morning. Then, I helped my dad tend to our small herb garden in the backyard and the flower garden in the front of the house in the afternoon. Mom and I made a simple dinner of vegetable soup, fresh bread, and a salad. Dad set the table and said grace for us before we enjoyed dinner. I was going to help tidy up after dinner, but Dad said he would do it and for me to use the extra time to get ready and ensure I had everything needed for sleeping over at Raven's house tonight. He didn't want me leaving too late and driving in the dark to a new place in a rural area. Mom gathered some fresh flowers from the garden in the front for me to give to Mrs. Foster to thank her for their hospitality.

I had a shower, curled my hair, and put on a bit of makeup. I chose a simple smokey eye, mascara, and strawberry-flavored lip gloss. I wore my favorite pair of jeans that hugged my curves, a teal t-shirt, and my grey wool chunky cardigan. I put on my watch, gold hoop earrings, and my new bracelet from my parents. Mom brought up an overnight bag from storage for me so I could pack toiletries, PJs, underwear, a bra, socks, a pair of black leggings, a grey t-shirt, and a green oversized sweater. I put a book, a cell phone charger, and a hairbrush in. Mom looked at me and reminded me I also needed socks on. I laughed and put those on quickly. She told me that they were only a phone call away and that if I needed ANYTHING, I would not hesitate to call, no matter what time it was. We walked downstairs together, and my parents both hugged me. I put on my Doc-Martens and grabbed my purse and overnight bag. I hugged them again and told them I loved them, and they did the same. Mom called Mrs. Foster from her cell to let her know I was leaving and should arrive there by seven as planned. I promised to text once I arrived there as well.

It was a mild evening, so I rolled down the windows and turned up the radio to blast the song that had just come on as I drove to Raven's. It was "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet. I LOVED this song! I danced in my seat while it played and drove through town. I was enjoying the music and driving down the backroads, but I was still careful to pay attention to my surroundings and follow the directions given. Soon, I arrived at Raven's home without issue. After I'd parked the car in the large driveway without blocking anyone in, I texted my parents that I'd gotten there safely. They texted back to be safe and have fun. Mom asked me to keep my cell with my things in the room I was staying in. She didn't want me to lose it at the bonfire in the dark accidentally. Mom said she'd call Mrs. Foster if she needed me, but reminded me that if I needed them to call, regardless of the time.

I looked up at the Foster's home. It was HUGE! The property was vast, with many trees surrounding it and a small beach off to the side with numerous large logs set up for sitting. There were tables with sodas, juice, chips, popcorn, and marshmallows to roast. Large sticks to use for roasting, along with several large pails of water that would douse the flames when the party was done, were placed near the fire pit.

Raven and Willow came to the driveway to help me bring my things in. They both screamed in delight when they saw me.

"Girl, you look SO pretty! And you are wearing make-up!" Willow exclaimed.

"I love your outfit! Simple, classic, but inviting," Raven giggled. "Those boys don't stand a chance," she smiled.

I blushed furiously, my face bright red. "Um, I don't think so, but thanks..." I mumbled, quite embarrassed. I was flattered they thought I looked pretty; I felt I was average, so it was a nice compliment, although I didn't feel it was one I deserved.

"Tsk tsk, we've got to work on Sage's self-confidence," Raven chuckled.

I shook my head and hugged them both. I was glad to see them and excited to hang out with them tonight.

I grabbed my purse and the flowers for Mrs. Foster and locked my car. I followed the girls into the most prominent house I'd ever been in. It was beautifully decorated but had a very welcoming and cozy atmosphere. I introduced myself to Raven's mother and gave her the flowers, thanking her for her family's hospitality. Mrs. Foster smiled and thanked me for the flowers. She left the front foyer of the house to find a vase to put the flowers in. The girls brought me down the long hallway to show me where the guest rooms, the washroom, the living room, and the kitchen area were located. Raven said they would prepare now, giving me time to unpack my things. I carefully placed my stuff in the room, tucked my purse, cell phone, and toiletries, and put them on the dresser. Opening the first drawer of the dresser, I saw clean towels and facecloths available for use. There was also an ensuite bathroom with a small shower in the room. Wow, I thought to myself. This place must be even more significant than I realized to have guest rooms like this. I took out my change of clothes and pj's from my overnight bag and placed them in the empty drawer of the dresser. I put my book and cell phone charger on the bedside table beside the double bed. After thinking about it rationally, I removed my purse and cell phone from the table and put both in the drawer with my clothes. After all, who was going to come in here? Mr. and Mrs. Foster were present to supervise the party, and they would be watching a movie in the living room while we were all outside enjoying the bonfire. No one would be coming into the house, Raven had assured me earlier, because her parents would be sitting there. She was correct; I needed to relax and have some fun.

I went looking for Raven. Mrs. Foster saw me pop out of the guest room I was staying in and offered a quick tour of the large house. The twins each have a large room on the second floor with ensuite bathrooms. The third floor belonged to their parents, with a primary bedroom, ensuite bathroom, and a sitting area. There was a balcony with a table, two chairs, and a few plants. A small solar-powered lantern was on the table, too. It was lovely. Mrs. Foster noticed my admiration of the setting, and she said both Raven & River had balconies just outside of their rooms, too. Lucky! I thought wistfully. These kids lived in a luxurious dream house!

The basement was next on Mrs. Foster's tour. It had a storage area, a games room with a pool table, a sitting area with a sizeable big-screen television, the latest video game consoles, comfortable chairs, and a large leather sofa. Off to the side of the large room was a brick fireplace, with numerous photographs taken of River and Raven throughout the years placed on it. Seeing the photographs of my friend and her twin as they grew up was nice. Raven & River were always so happy in each photograph, especially those taken as small children. The strong bond between the twins was always visible, too.

The Foster's home was breathtaking and massive! You could fit five houses the size of my family's home inside this huge building! It was more of a mansion than just a big home for 4.

As I headed back up the stairs, something brushed against my leg. I saw two black cats nuzzling against me, seeking my attention. They purred loudly as I crouched down to pet them. I laughed as they continued nuzzling against me, a little bit more aggressively this time.

"That's interesting," Mrs. Foster mused. "They usually aren't this affectionate with someone they've just met. Sage, you really must have a gentle soul within you. I can see why both of my kids are so taken with you," she said softly.

I looked at Mrs. Foster curiously, slightly puzzled at her comments. I'd always been drawn to animals, and they showed no hesitation in coming to me either. I loved volunteering at my grandparents' veterinarian clinic when I visited. They lived further up North in an even smaller town, about an hour's drive from us. They were my mom's parents, and I had a close relationship with both of them.

My grandmother often said that I was especially helpful with the rescued animals that needed her care before they were placed for adoption. I'd often sit with them and read to them while they recovered from their surgeries. In the past, I would spend most of the summer vacation with my grandparents. But I had not this year because I'd been spending most of my time with Alan. In some ways, I regretted that. I still called my grandparents over the summer to chat, but it wasn't the same as being WITH them. I hadn't realized until that moment how much I'd missed them.

"It's hard to tell them apart. They are twins, too," Mrs. Foster chuckled, interrupting my thoughts. "This one with green eyes is Theo. He belongs to River. The one with the two different colored eyes is Clover. She has a heterochroma and belongs to Raven. They are usually quite shy among new people, which is why they are hiding in the basement right now, but Theo & Clover both seem very comfortable with you," she said with a smile.

I gave the cats one gentle pat each and followed Mrs. Foster upstairs. I headed back down the long hallway to find Willow and Raven. I knew they were in 1 of the two remaining guests' rooms. I just needed to figure out which one.

Willow was staying in the last guest room at the end of the hall, and I found both girls there. They were putting on make-up and styling their hair. We chatted for a bit, and I asked what time most people would start to arrive. Raven said most people would come by 9, and we'd have to kick everyone out by 12. Her parents would stay up until 12:30 and wanted everyone who wasn't staying over gone by then. River's friends arrived around 8 to help him get the bonfire going. As far as Raven knew, it was just Willow and I staying over. She told me not to worry, and there was a lock on the bedroom door I could use if I wanted to.

We headed out to the kitchen so I could meet Mr. Foster and thank him for his hospitality. Raven thought it was weird, but Willow said it was cute and respectful. Raven's parents were gorgeous, like their children, and very friendly. I instantly liked them and felt at ease with them. Mr. Foster shook my hand and said it was a pleasure to meet me. He had gentle grey eyes and reminded me of my dad. Gruff but with a good heart.

Raven wanted to show me around the property outside, so I knew where everything was before it got dark. It was just after 8, and the sun was starting to set. River and his friends were busy creating the fire and monitoring it. He didn't have his admirers all over him yet tonight, and somehow, that made River seem much more relaxed. There were about five guys in his group, all dressed in jeans and t-shirts with running shoes. They were putting out chairs and lanterns to make navigating the area in the dark easier. Raven introduced her brother's friends to me as Matthew, Ryan, Steve, Rob, and Chris. I noticed some guitars off to the side and asked who they belonged to.

"Oh girl, you are in for a treat. These boys can sing, and if we're lucky, we'll be around when they do later tonight," Willow gushed.

An outdoor building with three restroom units was available, so no one needed to go into the house to use the washroom. Each unit had a toilet that flushed and a sink to wash and dry your hands. There was a wall between each unit to give privacy, and the doors were also locked. This was quite the setup!

Raven, Willow, and I admired the view at the beach. The sun had set, and stars were slowly emerging in the night sky. The water was calm on the beach and crystal clear. The Foster's home was amazing, I thought to myself. I hoped to get another invite because I'd love to spend time with Raven and enjoy a swim at their private beach. I could see a dock with some small boats off to the side and a raft a short distance away in the water.

We heard more voices and realized people had started to arrive. Tristan and Vince were there with some girls from school they'd brought as dates. A large group of girls were fawning all over River and his friends. That was more of what we were used to seeing at school, and I laughed a bit too loud. Willow and Raven looked up in the same direction and laughed, too. River and his friends just smirked at us and enjoyed the attention.

Claire was with her college boyfriend, seated on one of the logs. Jason and Emily sat beside them, along with three guys I didn't recognize. These must be the football players. Jason got up and led us to where he'd sat with Em to introduce us to his friends.

Alex was tall and muscular, with hazel eyes and chestnut-colored hair. He was dressed in jeans and a light sweater. Alex was charming, polite, and friendly. He was also smoking hot, which did not go unnoticed by Raven. Her hungry eyes slowly trailed up his body until they rested on his amused eyes. She held his gaze with a smoldering look of pure lust until Alex looked away with a smirk. Damn, that girl was confident, I thought. And Alex appreciated it!

Jace was introduced to us next. He had blonde hair under a baseball cap worn backward and piercing blue eyes. He was wearing shorts, a sweatshirt, and running shoes. Jace was charming, confident, and assertive. Oh, I liked this one, I thought. I think he noticed, but I didn't meet his gaze because I'd looked away shyly from him with a slight blush.

Kyle was the other football player Jason had brought with him. The boy had thick, shoulder-length brown hair and dark brown eyes. He was pretty tall, with a muscular build and an accent. Kyle was an exchange student from Australia who was staying with Jason's family this school year. He was playful, engaging, and silly. One look at Willow, and you could tell she was mesmerized by him. She immediately plopped down beside him on the log and started chatting. Raven, Emily, Jason, and I looked at one another and chuckled. That certainly took little time.

Alex was trying to check out Raven discreetly, but we all noticed him doing it, especially Raven. He casually asked if she could show him where the sodas were and followed when she led the way to show him. Somehow, I knew that they wouldn't be back for a while.

I sat down in the space Raven had vacated between Emily and Jace. I leaned into Emily and whispered, "Well, played my friend," to her. She turned to me with a grin and nodded enthusiastically before snuggling into Jason beside her. Jason put an arm around her and kissed her gently. It was charming. To my surprise, Jace leaned in and whispered huskily in my ear, "Yes, indeed." I did not expect that and jumped up so much that I almost fell into his lap. He pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. Emily laughed and scolded Jace, who smirked and snuggled into me. I did not mind.

Now that he had my undivided attention, Jace and I talked most of the night. He was pretty interesting to talk to. We stretched our legs after sitting on the log with our friends for so long. Holding hands, we walked over to the beach area to admire the view. When River and his friends started playing their guitars and singing, Jace stood behind me, holding me gently in his arms. He slowly turned me towards him and kissed me softly until I deepened the kiss. I could feel him smiling against my lips.

Jace was an excellent kisser. I wondered what other talents he had with his tongue and blushed furiously at the thought. Jace noticed as he kissed my neck and asked huskily, "What's going on in that gorgeous head of yours, beautiful? " I didn't answer and just turned into him again to kiss him passionately. Jace looked down at me with eyes dark with lust. "Well then," he said before kissing me back with just as much desire. His hands slowly moved down my back and onto my ass. I could feel him getting hard as he kissed me. I moaned quietly, and he gripped me more firmly on my ass and moved me closer to lean against one of the trees just out of sight from the other partygoers. He kept one hand on my ass but moved the other to the waistband of my jeans and reached down to graze my covered p***y. It felt so good, and I moaned while he kissed me. Slowly, he pushed aside my underwear and thrust a finger inside me. My knees went weak, and I kissed him harder, my desire very clear to both of us. He pulled away and looked at me with awe, appreciation, and absolute lust. Jace gently held me in his arms and kissed my hair softly.

It was midnight too soon, and it was time for everyone to go home. Jace promised to get my number from Emily to call me tomorrow night. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and kissed me passionately one last time before leaving with Alex, Kyle, Jason, and Emily.

River and his friends put out the fire with the buckets of water. Willow, Raven, and I brought the food into the kitchen and tidied up the area outside, picking up any trash and debris left behind by the guests. River's friends gathered their things and went for the night as well.

Raven, Willow, and I went downstairs to the basement to hang out in the games room for a bit because we were all too wired to sleep from the night's events. Raven went into the storage area and returned with some sodas and a bottle of alcohol. We added a bit to our sodas and sat on the sofa when River joined us. Raven passed him a soda and nudged the bottle of alcohol towards him. He gratefully grabbed it, acknowledging his twin with a nod of thanks. We all sat together on the sofa, playing video games and drinking until we were too tired to keep our eyes open. It was a lot of fun hanging out with River, too. I got to see a different side of him and liked it. Maybe we'd end up becoming friends, too, I thought.