Finding Isla

Part two

Isla

Ruby trudges her fork through her plate of lo main noodles and sighs, while glaring at the plate that was supposed to be, overflowing with pieces of potatoes covered in gravy and chicken toward high on top of a bed of wild rice.

I Sense Rubys dismay while trying not to look up from my plate. Archie sits right across from me and I know he's been looking at me, I can feel it. Feel his stare on the top of my head and sends tingles through my body. I resist the urge to look up at him, Instead I turn my head and look at Ruby on my right.

"This is great, girl." Eli says beaming at Ruby through chews, Cheeks packed to the brim with the ramen he ordered.

Ruby stares at the three of us with a pouty look. "Really? You're not just saying that?"

"Best spot in town." Archie says while shoveling down a mouth full of Korean fried chicken.

I nod my head in agreement. Unlike the boys I refuse to make a fool of myself and talk with my mouth full of Kimbap. I had never had it before and when I saw it on the menu it instantly caught my eye and I had to try it. It looks like sushi but is better! In its own way: pieces of cooked beef and egg sit inside of it, snuggly hugged close to various colored vegetables.

My taste buds jolt to life from the flavors on my tongue.

Ruby must of found our answers acceptable because after minutes of frowning at her plate. She finally wasted no time in trying the contents of her dish.

"This is delicious." She says while swallowing down her mouthful.

Eli nods his head and shakes his shoulders in a seated dance while giving Ruby a thumbs up.

.................

"Anyone need another beer while I go inside?" Ruby asks while getting up from her chair. The four of us migrated to the outdoors and huddled ourselves under blankets while sitting around a bon fire. A gift from her mom for her birthday last year. Ruby finally has a reason to use it for once.

"Ill come with you." Eli downs the remainder of his beer and places it in Archies hands. "Throw that away for me. Will you boo?" Eli says while he taps Archie on the chest.

Archie glares up at him and puts the bottle back in his friends hand. "Your the one going inside."

"Yes but you're the one next to the trash can out here."

Archie gives Eli a pointed look. "I knew that." He takes the bottle and pivots his body to the right. The trash can stands glaring back at him. Archie scoffs at it before tossing the bottle into the bin.

Eli smirks at Archie, "You treat me so well."

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Eli halts his motions and looks back towards the spot where Ruby was standing next to my seated body.

"Where did she go?"

I point my finger towards the open screen door. "She went inside already."

"Right." Eli scampers towards the lit indoors and shuts the screen door behind himself.

"That was something." I blurt out trying to hold back the laugh that so desperately wants to pass through my lips being held together by my bottom teeth.

Archie leans forward in his chair next to mine and gently reaches out and tugs my lip from between my teeth. I gasp from the contact, startled by his warm caress. My trained down eyes rake his seated body. His chiseled defined chest is hugged tightly by his shirt. Slowly trailing my eyes up further his plush pink lips come into view until finally I settle on his eyes. Blue meets green.