The Gathering

A bonfire had been built in the middle of the school field in an attempt to keep everyone warm. It was New Years Eve, with less than two minutes until the New Year. The school get-together was only meant for the seniors – what the teachers failed to comprehend was that some of those seniors decided to bring their mates along.

It was chaotic - unruly teens pushing and shoving to get closer to the heat source, waiting for the countdown to begin, gathering in small huddles, a buzz of excitement had filled the air.

“10!” The countdown had started.

“9!” More people had begun to join in.

“8!” Now my friends and I had started shouting the countdown.

“7!” Seven seconds left, seven seconds until the year 2007, seven seconds until...

“6!” Everyone was shouting at the top of their voices.

“5!” It was so close!

“4!” I grabbed hold of my best friends’ hands.

“3!” Just three seconds left!

“2!” Come on! Come on!

“1!” The hands I was holding tightened on either side.

“Happy New Year!” Everyone was shouting and screaming, hugging and laughing, texting and talking.

I looked around me – I was tall, so I could see over people’s heads – scanning every face. He should be here by now. He promised he would be here.

“Lacy? What’s wrong?” My friend, Charlotte, asked me.

I shook my head, “Nothing, Lottie.”

“It’s Ben, isn’t it? He said he would be here. Lacy, you don’t need him. He’s a player, you deserve much more than that.”

Everyone called her Lottie, even the teachers. She said she didn’t like her real name, Charlotte. I was the one who called her Lottie first – I guess it stuck.

I was still searching for him- there he was, but he was with another girl. The Red-haired Wonder, Rebecca Samuels, to be exact. Man, I hated her, she was head of the hockey, netball and tennis clubs. I was fuming. Everyone who knows me, knows that when I get mad – I blow. No-one wanted to get on the wrong side of me.

Lottie obviously saw my expression, because she stepped back, looking frantic.

Lacy, calm down. Like Lottie said – you don’t need...that. I told myself, my anger slowly subsided.

“Lacy? I think we had better go Hunter. We need to get out of here.” Lottie said over the fireworks and shouting kids.

Hunter’s parents were American – hence the American sounding name. The three of us had been best friends since primary school. The two of them hauled me out of the field, and towards my car.

We were all at my house, my parents had both gone to Hawaii for the New Year – I was left behind because of my coursework – so I had the whole house to myself. As soon as I entered living room, I threw myself onto the sofa, groaning in frustration.

“I’m sorry Lacy. He’s a total idiot if he can’t see the real ‘you’.” Hunter said, sitting down next to me. I didn’t understand half of what he said, but somehow it comforted me.

I smiled weakly, “Thanks, Hunter.”

I was pulled into a hug, Lottie also joined in – so it was like a Lacy sandwich. I laughed inwardly. I loved these guys, they were the two best friends anyone could ask for.

“Hey, look on the bright side.” Lottie said, pulling back.

“Which is...?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You get to spend your 17th birthday with us!” Hunter finished, grinning, immediately brightening the room. Okay, I admit it, I had a soft spot for Hunter Jameson, him and his dark, mysterious ways.

“Yeah! Happy birthday, Lacy.” Lottie said, pulling out a shiny purple wrapped present from her bag, her light green eyes glinting.

“Aww! Thanks Lottie.” I gave her a hug. She had given me two CD’s –one by ‘The Summer Obsession’ and the other by ‘HelloGoodbye’ – two of my favourite bands.

“No prob, I know you’ve been looking for them for a while.” She grinned, I gave her another hug.

“Here you go Lacy,” Hunter smiled, handing me a small, pearly black box, “it isn’t much, sorry. Happy birthday.”

Inside the box was the most beautiful bracelet I had ever seen – it was antique silver with a small, oval onyx stone set in the centre, carved into the silver band, were tiny, intricate Celtic designs.

I gasped, “I-it’s beautiful,” I whispered, blinking back tears, “thankyou Hunter, thankyou so much.” I surprised him by kissing him on the cheek, “Thankyou both, so much.” I stood up, wiping tears from my eyes with the back of my hand, “Now, who wants cake?” I had made a big chocolate fudge cake the day before. I received a duet of ‘me’s’ and laughed, walking into the kitchen to get the cake, silently vowing never to take Hunter’s bracelet off.

The three of us gathered around the open fire, eating cake and listening to my new CD’s. It was January 1st 2007, my 17th birthday, and I was spending it with my two closest friends, I smiled. I didn’t need Ben. I just needed this: a small gathering of friends, a crackling fire, and some chocolate fudge cake.