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Chapter 5: The Bonfire
Soft footsteps thundered down the staircase. Three sets padded along until they met the threshold of the kitchen and Feyre finally caught sight of the noisy intruders.
“We’re going out,” Cassian announced. Feyre’s face must have shown her confusion as Cassian came over, ruffling her hair. “Archeron don't tell me you forgot what tonight is.”
“What's tonight?” She squeaked.
Azriel looked her over with raised brows as he grabbed a jug of cold water from the fridge. “Two Sundays until Christmas?”
She racked her brain for answers. Anniversaries? Celebrations? Birthdays? Feyre's birthday was the 21st but she couldn't think of any others coming up. She shrugged her shoulders, her mind a blank space.
“Bonfire?” Rhys prompted.
Oh. Oh.
The bonfire that occurred annually, two Sundays before Christmas. The very exclusive party on the beach. She had completely lost track of her time at the summer house. Over a week had already passed yet it felt like a blink. It felt like just yesterday she was sitting in class, waiting for the bell to ring and the summer to begin.
“That's tonight?”
“I'm surprised you forgot. After all, it is the girl's movie marathon night.” It was like cold water had been dunked on her head. She also forgot that. forgot that she had these girls' nights because she was never invited to the bonfire. not that she couldn’t go, She was on the list after all, but rather, the boys never invited her, never wanted her to come.
“Ah yeah, of course, how could I forget,” she plastered a smile on her face, she was sure it wouldn't fool anyone but as long as they didn't look too close everything would be fine.
“Have fun,” she said over her shoulder as she rushed to the lounge. She sat on the lounge until she heard footfalls walk up the hall, the front door open and close before she rushed up to her room.
She picked up her phone and messaged Mor immediately.
7:34 pm Feyre: U free?
7:34 pm Mor: Y am I hearing from u on movie-marathon night?! Everything ok?
7:35 pm Feyre: No marathon tonight, going to the bonfire.
Mor’s face illuminated her screen. Feyre pressed the green button, Mor's bubbly voice coming through immediately.
“You’re going to the bonfire? Since when?” Mor's screen blurred as she placed her phone somewhere, allowing Feyre to see the fluffy red dressing gown she gifted Mor for her birthday.
“Since right now,” Mor opened her mouth but Feyre cut her off. “I need you to help me pick an outfit. I know I'm majoring in a Fashion Arts degree but I still need my best friend's help now and then.”
Mor smiled. “Alright, Fey show me your wardrobe.”
Feyre sighed, moving her phone to somewhere that allowed Mor to see as Feyre flicked through her clothes. She passed through item after item until she reached a black dress. The black dress. She knew this was the perfect one and if Mor’s gasp was any indication.
“That’s the one. I told you that dress would come in handy.”
Feyre chuckled. “You’re right, it's the one.” She walked off into her bathroom, mindless listening to Mor talk about the party she went to last night with Emerie. As she walked out of the bathroom, she heard Mor’s squeal as she walked to the full-length mirror. “You look hot.”
She really did. The dress flattered her body, the material hugged her curves. It was short, but not too short and gave a hint of cleavage. She paired it with a gold chain and pearl necklace that rested on her clavicle.
“So you’re really going to forget about your lifelong crush on the boys?” That broke her from her reverie. She didn’t want to think about the boys right now but she couldn’t ignore Mor.
Feyre sighed. “I’m not ever going to forget about them but— it’s time for me to move on. The feelings I want to be reciprocated were a fantasy, a dream. I’m going to focus on myself for a while.”
She turned around to find Mor’s smiling face on her screen. “I’m happy for you Feyre. Now go have some fun,” she paused to grab something. “Oh OH, and don’t forget to tell me how it goes. In detail!”
Feyre chuckled, taking her phone in hand. “I promise I won’t forget a thing. Love you, Mor.”
“Love you too Fey.”
*ೃ༄*:･
As Feyre walked down the stairs, she could hear the beginning of Christmas movie music playing in the background. She approached the lounge room and saw her mother and Rhiannon cuddled up on the couch.
“Mum, Rhiannon, I'm not joining the movie marathon tonight as I’m going out with the boys,” she lied. Feyre felt slightly bad lying to her mother and aunt but she couldn’t exactly point out she was going out alone at night.
“Alright honey, have fun. Be back before midnight,” Feyre walked up to her mother, placing a kiss on her cheek. She offered Rhiannon a smile which was returned as she left.
Feyre walked out of the house, closing the door behind her and began her long journey to the bonfire.
*ೃ༄*:･
The light was what caught her attention first. The raging flames so in contrast to the soft waves just off in the distance. The people were next. So many bodies. Sitting, standing, swaying. Moving to the beat of the music, the crackling of wood, the rolling of waves.
Feyre hadn't realised just how many people would be at the bonfire. This many people made her nervous, her earlier confidence vanished. She felt absurd in the dress, hastily pulling on the hem.
Auburn hair flashed in her peripheral. Eris. Only the self-proclaimed king of parties.
“Archeron is that you?” Eris swaggered up to her.
“Um y-yeah,” she stuttered.
“Archeron!” He laughed, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as if they were old friends. She barely knew him. She once attended a summer camp with her friend Lucien and on pick-up day, she met Eris. She was surprised he remembered her. “Damn, when did you get hot?”
“Uh…”
“Feyre?” She turned her head, hazel eyes met her own. Eris released her and she stumbled towards Cassian. “What are you doing here?” He asked. She noted the concern in his eye as she reached him.
Something white and hot flared inside her. “Since when do I need your permission to do something?” she snapped.
“You don’t. I just thought you wanted to watch Christmas movies with our mothers.”
“Did you give me any other choice before you decided what I wanted?” She watched as his eyes widened and he struggled to speak. Feyre rolled her eyes as she grabbed his drink, gulped it down and handed the cup back empty.
Cassian still hasn’t said a word so she huffed in annoyance and stormed off to admire the fire. One good thing might come out of this night and she would spend hours creating. She could already feel her excitement, her fingers longed to hold a brush.
The flickering flames illuminated faces around the fire. Some she knew, many she didn't. Her eyes wandered around the flames until they settled on black hair and drifted down to violet eyes. Eyes that were suddenly staring back at her own. She caught a glimpse of a sudden hand movement but it was too late. She has already seen the hand that was casually placed on another girl's thigh.
The damage was done. How could she ever believe Rhys would be interested in someone like her. Mor was right, she did look different but it would never be enough for him. For them. She may have given up on her fantasy but the truth still hurt. If Feyre was honest with herself, she knew coming tonight and wearing the little black dress wasn’t only for her, she wanted them to realise she wasn’t a little girl anymore but as always, her plan backfired and put a hole through her heart.
Rhysand stood up so fast, she wouldn’t be surprised if he had whiplash. His mouth opened and closed, words seemed to fail him. She turned and walked away, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
Only to bump into a hard chest. She glanced up, taking in his beautiful features. “Feyre…” Azriel whispered. The sound of his voice only made her more upset.
“Fuck off Azriel,” she said as she pushed past him. She walked and found a place hidden but still insight of the bonfire, a place to collect herself and her thoughts.
The crunching of sand pierced through her wandering mind. A male with deep brown skin, shining white hair and turquoise eyes approached her.
“Lady Stars?” he said. He had a voice that was rich and warm, it reminded her of soft sand on the beach and the sparkling water of the ocean. “Lord Summers,” he casually bowed at the waist.
“Excuse me?” Feyre's brows furrowed and her lips turned slightly down. A lord something? Who did he think he was…
“No, no, I was Lord Summers from sixth grade Lords and Ladies day,” Feyre still didn’t understand what was happening. “I danced with you during the ball. We were Lord Summers and Lady Stars.”
“Oh, yes, I remember you! You read that poem as your creative piece.”
Feyre watched as his cheeks flushed with colour. “Ah yes that silly poem,” he muttered, hand absently rubbing the back of his neck
“It was a beautiful poem,” he glanced up, she smiled struggling to rein in her laugh. “Really. The part about the crabs and the zebrafish salsa dancing was an interesting addition,” she chuckled at the memory. The poem was ridiculous but absolutely adorable.
He began to laugh with her, his cheeks still as red as a rose. “My real name is Tarquin.”
“I’m Feyre,” she smiled at him and he returned it. He didn’t move from his spot, almost as if he was unsure of himself. “You can sit down if you want.” Tarquin's eyes shone with relief, his posture relaxing as he sat next to her.
They sat in silence, listening to the waves crash against the shore. “Are you new this summer?” She asked, breaking the silence. Feyre hadn’t seen him before but then again she didn’t tend to look before.
“No, no I’m from here. Are you?”
“No, I’ve been coming up to Velaris since I was a baby.”
“What? How have we never met before? I would have remembered you,” Feyre blushed at his obvious compliment. Then again at her obvious lack of social interactions during her many summers in Velaris. She had been preoccupied with the Asra brothers.
“I mostly stick pretty close to home. It might be because I don’t really know anyone other than my family,” she finished, only just realising how that sounded.
Tarquin bumped her shoulder with his own. “Well, now you do,” his smile was as radiant as the sun, and she couldn’t help but smile back. She met his bright blue eyes, unclouded by shadows and filled with light.
Her mood dampened as her mind drifted to what happened before. “Hey, did everyone see the fight?”
“Uh, sort of.”
Feyre placed her head in her hands, the heel of her palm rubbing circles into her eyes. “God he can be such an asshole as can the other two,” she whispered.
“Were any of them your boyfriend?” he asked, he seemed genuinely curious.
A laugh blubbed up and out of her chest. If only the brothers looked at her in some other way, then maybe the statement could be true but she didn’t want that anymore, she didn’t want her life to be focused around them. A male had taken all her focus once before and it had ended in tragedy. “No, they are my mother's best friend's sons and I stay at their house every summer,” she said. “They’re just mad that I came to the bonfire,” she huffed a frustrated breath, her hand dragged through her wild curls.
“Well I'm really glad you came,” he said as he glanced towards the deep purples and blues that filled the sky, the dark water its reflections. Tarquin glanced back at her. “It's getting late, I don't want to leave but I have to be up early in the morning as I intern on a whale-watching boat,” he paused, he seemed hesitant about his next words. “It would be really, really nice if you came.”
“I–”
Loud sirens blared through the calm scenery. Everyone around the bonfire dashed off. Tarquin grabbed her hand and led her through the greenery of the beach, every now and then hiding behind bushes until they reached a car park filled with everyone from the party.
Tarquin didn’t let go of her hand as they walked through the carpark. She walked past a familiar car before she realised who it belonged to.
“Feyre?” She looked through the open window and met hazel eyes. Azriel was staring at her, then his eyes flicked to Tarquin, his gaze sharpened. “Feyre, let's go. Get in.”
“Uh, actually I was going to get a ride home with Tarquin.”
“No, you're not going to get in a car with a guy you just met.”
“Excuse me? First Cassian, now you? I can make my own choices and for the record, we met in sixth-grade lords and ladies day so we aren’t total strangers.”
A drunken voice piped up in the back of the car. “Feyre is coming home!” Rhysand slurred, eyes half-lidded, followed by Cassian's mumbling.
Azriel rolled his eyes. “Okay, no offence Tarquin but Feyre is coming home with us. Her mum wants her home,” Feyre glared at Rhysand, Cassian then Azriel, her mouth opened to snap back at his poor excuse.
The words died on her tongue as Tarquin brushed his hand up her arm, drawing her attention away from Azriel. “It's okay, Feyre. They're just looking out for you. I can't fault them for that,” he slightly drew her away from the car. He took a deep breath, his eyes downcast to her lips. “I would really like it if you came on the whaling boat I intern at. It leaves at dawn every morning,” he offered with a blush, his hand rubbing the side of his neck.
She hadn’t felt the urge to kiss someone this strongly in some time. So she listened to her body and kissed him. Feyre stood on her toes, brushing her lips against his. He absently rubbed his hands down her arms as he deepened the kiss. His lips were soft as they glided over hers.
A car honk broke them apart. She glanced over to the car, three sets of eyes were glaring murder at Tarquin. He didn’t notice, choosing to ignore them for her. “Yes, I would love to come. Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” he promised with a smile that could rival the sun. She placed another quick kiss on his lips before she got into the passenger side of the car. Azriel promptly started the car, she rolled down the window as she waved to Tarquin. She started thinking that maybe this summer wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Chapter 6
