Chapter Two- The Burn

Forest:

"I think they should be waiting for us in the pizza parlor." Mel says to us, basically jolting to get their sooner.

"Whose they." I ask, regretting that I caved in once again and joined.

The place was packed. Full of hormonal young adults looking for the next best thing. Sometimes I feel like I'm years ahead of what I should be, but this, doesn't do it for me. I'm not the conquest after conquest type. I'm a romantic.

I can feel the eyes falling on my two friends, wondering when would be the right time to come up and take a shot. I also feel the sympathy they feel for them because I'm once again, dragging along.

"Just these billionaire twins we met at a weekend away. They are crazy hot, fun and really down to earth. You will love them I swear. They bringing along the rest of their gang."

Hearing Lara describe someone as gorgeous really zings my ears.

She's never been superficial enough to comment on one's looks, but rather personality hit it for her. Definitely Mel but not her.

How gorgeous are these twins then.

My thinking gets interrupted by Mel's comment.

"Well we really just know the one. The other twin doesn't do much talking or anything. I suppose his brother just drags him along, he always looks bored by our presence. Running their families fortune has him uptight. Like we not good enough to waste time on."

"Ha!!!!" I can't help the laughter that bursts out in me from absolute disbelief. They both turn to look at me, as if I've finally gone cuckoo.

"What's so funny, chuck?" Lara eyes me, as if she's absolutely not sure what I found humorous.

"Really? You two. Not good enough. Do you even hear yourself. Every single person has been eyeing you since we came here wondering when would be the perfect moment. And you really think you have the right to make a comment, only us average Joe's can make."

Mel and Lara look at me, almost disturbed and disappointed in my statement.

"Babe, how many times have we told you, you are absolutely gorgeous and the right guy will know it. You are built like a goddess and anyone worth your salt will know your worth." Mel says to me.

Lara takes me on the shoulder, looking me straight in the eye.

"Yeah, these losers are not worth anyone's time, that's why we walk right past. Now let's get to it, I promise that you will believe in humanity again after this."

"And after you see these twins, you will definitely think we are more average than what you thought." Mel says.

"I don't know much about their family fortune or empire, but they could possibly be earning money from being that hot." Lara says, actually contemplating her ridiculous statement.

"Do you think they were genetically modified?" Mel asks Lara.

I'm beginning to feel more uncomfortable because hearing the two of them talk like this, them being nervous, is enough to make me uneasy.

"Now, I'm less convinced I want to meet snobby billionaires whose super powers seems to be hotness." I tell my friends.

"Trust me, they are anything but snobs. They are the nicest people we met. You will like them, promise." Lara reassures me again.

Somehow I want to believe Lara, but I feel life is too easy from her point of view.

As we walk into the pizza parlor, I spot a group of really good looking friends laughing and genuinely having a good time. We head towards their table and my insecurities start washing over me. Lara knows it too because she has her hand in the middle of my back basically pushing me forward.

Waiting for them to sense I'm an outsider, I stand behind my friends. They all get out of the booth to welcome us and greet.

"Forest, I'd like you to meet Jarrod Swanson. Jarrod, this is Forest Casey."

Good golly, he is gorgeous. Like an exotic I've never seen from here kind.

Definitely from out of town. What are they putting in their water to make offspring come out looking so good. I've always thought Lara and Mel would be the best looking in any room but they definitely have given them a run for their money.

So busy running my mouth in my head, I don't realize Jarrod's hand is reached out to me, with a gorgeous smile.

"Forest, great to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you. You three are definitely a fierce trio."

I've never heard anyone include me as part of my best friends and not like a parasite. This day could be good. They could be a welcoming breathe of fresh air.

"HI." Is all I can get myself to say right now.

Jarrod introduces us to the rest of his gang and they really all seem great. They make eye contact with me and not just to get closer to my friends. My dad always said that you can tell a lot about the integrity of someone's character, by their ability to look you into your eyes.

They all are extremely attractive, male and female, but I don't see one of them as Jarrod's twin. I think Mel is thinking on the same line as me when she asks.

"Jarrod where is James? I don't recall you two ever being separated for too long."

Clearly Mel's next conquest is Jarrod. I know the tell tale signs by now, but who could blame her. Go for it girl.

"He is around here somewhere, with his girlfriend probably. She never likes to be around us." Jarrod says, shrugging his shoulders.

"She definitely needs to get her head checked then."

I immediately blush because I realized those words came out a lot louder than I had hoped.

They all burst out laughing and seem almost impressed by my verbal diarrhea.

"Well thank you for your honesty Forest. I think we great too. And ditto."

Jarrod flashes me a wink with a smile.

If I didn't clearly see Mel make a print on him, I might have gotten the wrong idea.

"Yeah no one is good enough to be around daddy's little princess who is better than everyone else." Lilly, their sister says.

Why would they refer to her as daddy's little princess, as if her entire existence relied on that fact.

I suppose in their line of wealth, it's not unusual to find those typical cliché girls, relying on their fathers wealth and being spoilt by them. They don't seem nearly us superficial as they should be, considering their fortune, which is very rare. A good indication on the people they are.

"Anyway, she's an absolute prune. Borderline psycho. She's doing us a favor. I could never understand why your brother keeps that under lock and key. He seems so unhappy." Tyler, their friend looks at Jarrod, waiting for an answer.

"Guys, we have discussed this already. James is secretive as hell, no one knows what's going on with him. But we cant spend our time bashing him or his girlfriend in front of our new friends." Jarrod smiles, but looks down at Mel's lips.

I look away, its not something I'd like to see right now. In fact, I've seen this happen so often, it became a bore.

The group goes on talking about this and that. Laughter and chatter fills the air. The conversations are light but intellectual and stimulating at the same time. Not like the one's Mel or Lara usually find us in where there is absolutely no substance in it.

I feel like I belong for the first time, amongst people whom I just met.

We head across the road to the outdoor cinema and find a patch on the grass, next to a huge Oak tree. We settle on the grass with a few bottles of bubbles and junk food. Everyone makes themselves comfortable as we await for the movie to begin. I take a glass of bubbly from Lara, put my head against the tree that I'm leaning on and close my eyes, soaking in the moment. They were right, I needed this.

I suddenly feel this burn and heat enrage in me. I look down to see if I ate something weird, trying to find a reason for this sensation. The groups chatter dims down, to absolute silence and I look up.

It's him.

Standing there.

His eyes fixated on me. And the burn intensifies.

James Swanson.