Xander stood proudly,
stuck his chest out, and spoke in his manliest voice. “Why thank you. What do
we have to roast over this magnificent campfire that was created with such
masculine hands of skillfulness?”
They all laughed and Greer
rolled her eyes. “We have weenies, oh marvelous campfire maker.”
Xander stood with fists on
his hips, flexing his chest muscles and biceps. “Well then, go thither for
yonder stick, fair maiden, and then come forth so that I may roast thine weenie
to a golden brown.”
They were all laughing
heartily now. It felt so good to escape the seriousness of their new, and
sometimes scary world for a few moments of silliness.
Greer grabbed a nearby
stick and handed it to Xander. He brushed off the dirt and burned the end of it
over the fire. Smiling down at her mischievously, he skewered the hot dog. She
grinned up at him, trying not to be hypnotized by the dancing firelight in his
eyes.
Sloane loaded up four more
sticks he had found with hot dogs, and passed them around.
Xander continued with his
shenanigans. “Would thou likest mustard on thine seared frankfurter? Verily we
have no baked rolls to wrap about this peculiar animal flesh.”
Caris shook her head and
chuckled as she watched Xander’s antics. When had he become so likable?
Thoughts of high school flooded her mind as she recalled how they had been at
many of the same social functions, and back then she had always held him in
high regard—but for the wrong reasons. For the past couple months she had
loathed him, but now, she had definitely gained a new and healthy brotherly
affection for him, as he had grown leaps and bounds; but then, so had she.
Maybe that’s why high school seemed like a hundred years ago even though it had
been only days behind them.
Caris glanced at Greer.
She knew her new friend was hopelessly in love with Xander, and hoped that
Xander would recognize the spectacular woman Greer was, and snatch her up
before someone else did. She studied Xander again. Mara had been correct, of
course—Xander was exceptionally, and almost unfairly handsome. If Greer won
him, there was a good chance she’d have to spend the rest of her days battling
other girls to the death for his affection.
Caris’s eyes wandered over
to Sloane. It was weird to see him without his glasses—but nice. She still
could not believe that he hadn’t defended Delilah. And she had felt so much
relief when he had told her that he hadn’t gone out with that awful girl, and
that she wasn’t his type. And now Delilah was gone and she was still here! It
comforted Caris to be near Sloane, although she couldn’t figure out why. She’d
had crushes on guys before, but none of them had made her feel comforted when
they were near.
As she stared at him, the
lovely fog had rolled in again. How come she couldn’t see how wonderful he was
before? Caris suddenly had a revelation: When she was in the darkness, she was
blind to all the truly beautiful things around her, and all the ugly things
looked beautiful; but now that she was in the Light, she could see the beauty
she had missed, and the ugly things for what they really were. How had she been
blind for so long? A tear trickled down her face, and she wiped it away before
anyone would notice, but the gesture hadn’t escaped Dr. Shyla, who sat next to
her.
He smiled at her, and
patted her hand. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
The statement could have
been taken a number of ways, but Caris knew what he’d meant. He was glad that
she had come into the Light. So was she.
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