It was a cool fall evening, and I was invited to a friend's place for a bonfire. I had been out of town, and hadn't seen everyone in a while. What better chance to reconnect, than a cold beverage, a warm fire and a few laughs?
Their place was out past the edge of town. Just far enough removed for the peace and quiet, while being close enough to get anything they may need.
I stopped at the corner store and picked up some s'mores and hot dogs, the bonfire essentials. I arrived about 8 o'clock to a yard full of familiar faces. Some I see regularly, though there were a few faces I hadn't seen in ages. One in particular stood out from the crowd.
Her name was Jessica. A beautiful brunette, fuller figured and confidence to match. She always was a diamond. Always dressed just right as to play the conservative, yet just a moment away from driving every man crazy.
I joined the crowd around the fire, catching up with a handful of old faces. Jessica and I made eye contact a few times, but nothing out of the ordinary. I continued the varied conversations.
As the clock rolled around 10 PM, several of the party goers faded away. Just like the old days, there were some that crashed out early, and some that crash out as the sun comes up. I always was part of the late crowd, though there were fewer of us these days. Jessica was always among the early birds, so I figured she'd be leaving as well.
I had been away long enough, that I no longer knew the dynamics of the crowd like I thought I had. Several people left, and even more went to hang out in the kitchen of the house. All that remained were Jessica and myself, and a gal that had fallen asleep around the fire.
"So where have you been hiding for all these years, Brian?" She enquired. Friends fall away over the years, but reunions can be a good thing.
Jessica and I started chatting across the fire for a bit, asking about where we worked, and such. The usual catching-up banter.
She was a successful radio personality in the area, which must bring her all sorts of wild opportunities. Being late and falling into our old routines, I started enquiring about what here craziest encounters with the radio station were.
She told me that there really weren't any crazy stories like I thought there might be. There was a bunch of charitable fundraisers that she worked, and that's about it. It was not as glorious as I might think, but she enjoyed it.
I told her a few of my more adventurous activities over the years. Some bored her, while others made her mouth fall agape. This little admission led to her spilling the beans on some of her own exploits.
This mutual confession brought us closer, in more way than one. We scooted closer for a more intimate conversation, as opposed to shouting across the fire. Krista, the gal who had fallen asleep got up and went inside with the rest of the partygoers. All that remained were Jessica and myself, the fire and a cooler.
We picked up the conversation, continuing somewhere between a game of truth or dare, and a comparison of who's deeds were wilder.
"If only we knew what sort of people we would grow up to be, right?" Jessica joked. If we could turn back the clock, we could literally write books on the exploits we would have had.
"I can only imagine, if I knew what I know now. So many things would have been different." I placed my hand on hers, having a moment of vulnerability.
Jessica merely smiled. "Brian, honey, if we knew then, we would break each other!" She took the opportunity to move my hand from hers, to her thigh. She was not rejecting my vulnerability, she was advancing on it.
