Chapter 22 - 22_Campfire Party

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Liam had a surprised countenance on his face as he stared at Charlotte holding his arms possessively. He knew she was doing this to make Ranella jealous, he looked up at Ranella but she looked nonchalant, instead, there was a glint of pity that flashed through her eyes when she glanced at him.

"Your brother just had to bring in the pig," Charlotte said in scorn. 

"Charlotte," he called.

"What, it's the truth!" She said again.

"Nice party girl!" Danielle said, jumping in her heels as she and Cassie walked towards Charlotte.

"Holy cow, you got the hottest boys to come here shirtless," Cassie said licking her lips seductively.

"Of course, they'll do anything for me," Charlotte said, resting her head on his chest and using her fingers to trail his arbs. 

"What is she doing here?" Danielle asked, looking at Ranella in disgust.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked Danielle while holding Ranella's hands.

"I'm here to enjoy my friend's party," Danielle said, taking a sip from the alcoholic drink in her hands.

"She's here with me, does any of you have a problem with that?" Alex asked with a smile on his face, but the tone was an angry one, one that showed he would soon lose his composure if anyone asked why Ranella was there. 

"Do you wanna go there?" Alex asked Ranella in a calm tone, pointing at the campfire flames and she nodded. They walked towards the flames still holding hands.

"Are--are they like, a thing?" Cassie asked.

"I don't think so, I hope not--Alex has a lot more taste than that," Charlotte said, pulling away from Liam and walking in the opposite direction of the conflagration and they followed suit.

There was a huge tree with spread branches and thick leaves with logs spread in a circle. They sat on the logs with Charlotte laying her head on Liam's shoulders.

"How about a game of Truth and Dare, a nasty one," Cassie suggested.

"I'm in," Leo said without wasting a moment.

"I wouldn't miss an opportunity to be intimate with one of these hotties, count me in!" Danielle said adjusting herself forward to sit comfortably.

Meanwhile, Edward and Bea showed up but instantly froze when they sighted Ranella there.

"Hey, guys!" Ranella, who was like ten metres away waved at them immediately her gaze caught them entering the backyard.

"I thought she didn't like parties," Ed said, shocked to see Ranella at the party.

"She never said that, my poor friend was never invited to one, I'm so glad she got to come to this one," Bea said with a wide smile, she looked like she couldn't wait to go hug her friend, if not for Ed holding her back with his questions.

"Isn't this Charlotte's party, how the hell did she get invited?!" 

"Ask her yourself," Bea said and as if the chains holding her broke off she ran to envelop her friend in a warm hug.

"Hey baby, it's nice to see you here," Bea said pulling away.

"I know right, I didn't expect myself to be here!!" Ranella said with a wide smile, embracing her friend again.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're here, I would have been so bored without you, you look so nice in that dress," Bea complimented.

"And so do you, that short green dress is to die for," Ranella returned the compliment, Bea looked so pretty in her short dress and black heels, her earrings were long and in a star shape, and her short hair was tired in an updo and there was light makeup on her face.

"Hey Ranella, you're here!" Ed said nervously.

"You didn't expect to find me here, did you?" Ranella suddenly asked.

"No one did," he replied just as fast as the question came.

"Great, you guys are here," Alex said walking towards them with two cups of punch. He gave Ranella one and then held her hand in his, she nervously tried to pull away but he held her hand firmly, causing Ed and Bea to glance at each other.

"Are you guys like...dating?" Ed asked.

"I don't know, are we?" Alex asked Ranella with a smile and she found strength to pull away.

"No, of course not!" Ranella said, her cheeks flushed, it wouldn't be a bad thing to date Alex, it'd even be one of the best achievements but doing that would put him in a bad spot, people would laugh at him and say he doesn't have taste. And besides, he didn't like her, he was just being nice to her as a friend. Who would like someone like her, chubby, ugly, and a nerd?

Bea glanced at their intertwined hands and something tugged at her heart, she reminded herself Alex was a telepath so she tried hiding her thoughts. Ranella was her friend who was bullied, criticized, and body-shamed, it'd be nice if she dated someone like Alex who was a kind soul, she should be happy for her friend.

"Bummer," Alex said, taking a sip out of his punch.

"Are those Alcoholic, Ranella doesn't take Alcohol," Bea said, pointing at Ranella's punch.

"Oh, I didn't know that, let me change that," Alex said and tried to take the drink away from Ranella but she moved it away.

"You know what, I'm gonna try it, there's a first time for everything, isn't there?" She asked before drinking the Alcoholic punch like a pro.

"Whoa, go girl," Ed said, as he joined Bea and Alex to chant for her.

"Nice," Alex said when she finished the cup, his face crept with different expressions that caused them to laugh

"What's in this?" She asked with a sour expression on her face.

"What else, Alcohol," Bea said.

"Well, it tastes bad, so gross," 

"You'll get used to it," Alex said.

Liam kept glancing at the Quartet, they looked like they were having a lot of fun. But he didn't know why but he was so drawn to that chubby girl, why?