Buzzed Hearts

32: all star team

CAMILA'S THE FIRST to get to him after he and Jeremy step into the restaurant, after deciding to go to dinner first with Roma and Elle.

"Congratulations!" she says as hugs him, taking Laurent off guard and unbalanced, his heavy varsity bag making him lean to the right.

Jeremy gives her a side eye and says something about loyalties.

"Nice job, King," Elle says, omitting Jeremy from the praise.

"So what did you order me? You know I'm allergic to—"

"About everything. I got you a goddamn burger. Don't be picky and you owe me interest," she says. Laurent shrugs and sets his bag down before going to wash his hands. Elle's about the only person that can say that leaving unscathed and Camila gets a refill for her lemonade.

"You did well too, Jer," Roma chimes in as she sees the pout forming across his face.

"Whatever."

"Babe, you don't have to lie. We all know he gets benched every game and we just...kinda accept it. He's like the child you've given up on," Elle says.

"You wanna take this outside? Cause I will," Jeremy glares but remains in his seat.

Camila laughs and they wait for Laurent to return from the bathroom.

"So." Roma leans in. It causes a chain reaction and all of them do the same, Elle's hair dangerously close to the candle flame.

"So?" Elle asks.

"Something you're telling all of us at once and not just Elle first? I'm ready," Jeremy whispers.

"I'm going to Duke. They gave me a scholarship."

"Goddamn!"

"Congratulations! Like really!"

"I didn't want to say until I was certain but I figured you guys should know," Roma says, chin tipped down.

Warmth spreads through an even deeper layer between the five of them, even though the restaurant's stuffy enough on a spring day and the air's still playing with static after today's buzz.

"Hey, look. We're the dream team," Jeremy says suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Camila asks.

"We're all stars at something. You at piano, Roma at tennis, Laurent and me at soccer. Elle..." he pauses.

"Oh, fuck off."

"She's a star at staying alive," Laurent grins through a mouthful of his dinner.

"Actually, Cam's the star of being desperately romantic. What a shame," Elle says, pinning the spotlight onto Camila.

"Yes. What a shame it's wasted on you." Jeremy pats Laurent's back.

With his mouth still full, he stops chewing and looks up at Camila. A spin travels across the room and down her spine and she can barely make out the different hues of his eyes. He swallows and offers her a smile to which she returns and wonders if perhaps, he had any intention behind that.

Jeremy coughs and asks for the dessert menu, which Laurent slaps out of his hand.

***

hey guys! i don't normally do author notes for this but sorry for the absence, i was away on a trip and i'll be right back to updating. i might be spotty over the next few weeks because i have a ton of work to do so i hope you are willing to accommodate. check me out at twitter @spookysaints (in my bio) and i hope you have a wonderful day xx