A Magical Night

SHAWN

The fire crackles softly, its warmth mingling with the cool air of the night. Each note I strum on my guitar seems to melt the tension from my body, and I get lost in the rhythm, my fingers moving instinctively. The buzz of voices surrounds me, students chatting, laughing, the clink of cups and plates, but I'm not really paying attention to any of that. Not when my eyes keep drifting back to one person.

Avery.

We met only yesterday, but there's something magnetic about her. She's standing a little off to the side, her focus shifting between the flames and the rest of the group, like she's trying to decide where she belongs. I watch her without meaning to, something about the way she carries herself pulling me in. There's something quiet about her, but it's not shy—it's like she's just… observing, processing. Maybe it's the same way I'm observing her, but I don't think I can help it.

I smile when our eyes meet, a small, almost imperceptible thing. She looks away quickly, like I've caught her in the act of thinking something private, and that makes me laugh a little under my breath.

I finish my song, the last note hanging in the air like an echo. For a moment, there's only silence around the fire. It's peaceful, almost too peaceful, but then I catch her, pulling out her phone, and I freeze. She's not texting or scrolling through something like I'd expect. She's filming me.

I raise an eyebrow, unsure how to react. "Did you like it?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. But there's something about her gaze, the way she's looking at me, that makes me a little nervous.

She looks up, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Such a nice melody it is," she says, amused.

It's not just a casual comment. I can tell she means it. Her voice isn't filled with the kind of polite pleasantries most people toss around.

This feels real.

I blink, surprised, "Really?" I ask, just to be sure. She nods, and that smile—genuine, warm—melts any doubts I had.

I take a deep breath and glance down at my guitar. "It's a song that I wrote". The words come without thinking.

"So what's the name of it?"

"Live Another Day." I say it like I've said it a hundred times, but this time it feels different. It's like I'm giving her a part of me, something I've never really shared before.

She looks up at me then, her eyes shining under the soft glow of the campfire. "It's beautiful," she says.

"Thanks," I say softly, my voice blending with the hum of the night. She nods, the faintest blush creeping up her neck as she pulls her phone back into her pocket.

Before I can say anything else, Avery steps back toward the group, disappearing into the crowd. "I'll just check around. Be back in a minute".

I'm left holding my guitar, fingers still resting on the strings, but my mind focused on her. I don't get it. Why does she feel so different?

The night goes on, and I continue to play, the music filling the space between the laughter and chatter. Avery is talking to some of the other students now, as I watch her fit in the crowd, laughing, smiling. She's no longer just on the edge of the group. She's part of it now.

I set my guitar aside for a moment, deciding I need a break.

As soon as I do, I see her—Avery—walking over, and for a second, I can't figure out why she's coming toward me. She doesn't look like she's in a rush, but there's a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Hey, Shawn?" she says when she's close enough. Her voice is soft, almost cautious, like she's not sure what to expect from me.

"Yes?," I reply, sitting up a little straighter. I don't want to seem awkward, but there's no denying it—the space between us feels charged. "Wanna say something?"

She shrugs lightly. "Not much. Just enjoying the fire. It's a nice night. I just wanted to ask if you're free so we can go and walk around the place." Her gaze flickers to the flames, like she's taking it all in—just being present.

"Yeah, it's one of the best parts of the night, and sure, I'll follow you." I say, glancing around at the students hanging out by the fire. "The campus is quiet after hours, but here—it's like this little escape. People get together, laugh, play games. It's not much, but it's something." I say as we start walking side by side.

I can feel the heat of her body, even without touching her, in the increasing cold of the night.

"So what were you upto before coming down here?," I say, my voice breaking the quiet as we pass under a tree with long, drooping branches. The shadows stretch out behind us, but there's a calmness to the night,

Avery shifts slightly, her gaze still on the sky, "Before I came down here, I was watching a movie," she says, her voice soft but with a hint of nostalgia in it. "A Walk to Remember."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh yeah? Classic movie. What did you think of it?"

She lets out a small, almost amused sigh, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the bench. "It's one of those movies that gets to you, you know? It's not just the love story—it's the whole idea of... well, life, I guess. The whole 'live like you're dying' thing. It makes you think. Also it's my favorite movie".

I nod, letting her words sink in. "Glad to know one of your favorites I guess." I speed up and walk towards a bench infront of us. I grab some leaves and clean the seat for her. "Yeah, I get that. I've seen it before. It's one of those movies that's sad, but in a way that feels... real."

Avery looks at me, her eyes a little more serious now. "Exactly. I mean, I know it's just a movie, but... the idea of leaving something behind, of making your life matter, it hits hard." She pauses for a moment, her fingers now tapping gently on the bench. "I think that's why I like it. It reminds me that we're all here for a reason, even if we don't always know what that is."

I nod.

For a moment, the silence between us is comfortable. Not awkward, just two people who understand that sometimes, no words are needed. We sit there, taking in the quiet.

"So," I say after a beat, "How did you find your first day here?"

Avery laughs, a soft sound that makes the night feel warmer. "I haven't seen much yet. It's all so new to me," she admits. " History class, a little bit of the usual first-day madness."

"Yeah," I say with a laugh, leaning back on the log. "The first day's always a bit overwhelming. But you'll get into the swing of things."

"But I definitely didn't expect to see such a night to be honest."

I lean back slightly, "Yeah. This is how it is on Thursdays. But just so you know not every Thursdays. Most students visit their homes and the rest enjoys campfire here."

"Do you sing every time?" she asks curiously.

"No no not every time. It a occasional things."

"So what's the occasion for today?"

I don't answer that. I went back to the campfire side just to bring a drink for myself. I want to get drunk probably.

It's not long before someone calls out from across the fire, their voice ringing with excitement. "Truth or dare?"

I look over, confused for a second, but then I see the bottle spinning, the group huddled together with grins on their faces, ready to play. It feels like something that's almost too trivial to bother with, but then I glance at Avery. She's looking at me with a mix of curiosity and amusement, and I suddenly don't want to back out. 

We join the group.

On the first turn the pointer stops at Avery. I look at her while I take a sip from my drink. 

"Truth," she says, the glint in her eyes daring anyone to come up with something good.

I raise an eyebrow. Of course, Avery's not the type to go for dare I think.

Sam was sitting on the opposite side Avery so she asks her, "When was the last time you kissed someone?"

I laugh as the crowd starts making noises for her. That's a bit for the first one, I must say.

"I think that was an year ago."

"Are you not dating anymore?" Sam asks.

"One question at a time, Sam." She shrugs.

The bottle spins again, faster this time, and when it finally slows to a stop, I can feel everyone's eyes on me.

"Dare!" I call out, louder this time, feeling the energy from the group sweep over me.

There's a beat of silence before someone grins widely, clearly having thought of something that'll make me squirm. "Read the last text message you sent out loud." 

I take out my phone and open the last text I sent to Jose. I don't want to read it out loud but I don't have a choice right now as the guy beside me is keeping an eye for the whole group. My stomach drops for a second, but I can't back out now. Not with everyone looking on.

"A friend like you is like a good bra… Hard to find, Supportive, Comfortable, Always lifts you up, Makes you look better… and always close to your heart!"

Please, Avery. Don't think weirdly about me! I glance at Avery, a mix of embarrassment and amusement on my face.

She laughs so hard, clearly enjoying the situation. The whole crowd joins her as well. 

God! WHY??

The laughter ripples through the group, loud and unfiltered, and I feel my face heat up. I run a hand down my face, shaking my head as if that'll somehow erase the moment. Of all the texts I could have sent today, of course it had to be that one.

Avery's still laughing, her eyes crinkled at the corners, "Wow, Shawn," she manages between breaths, wiping at her eyes. "That was… beautiful. Poetic, even. A true work of art."

"Oh, shut up," I groan, but I'm grinning too. The others are still teasing me, calling me supportive and uplifting. 

The guy beside me, Edward, claps me on the back, still grinning. "Man, you and your poetic soul. Didn't know you had it in you."

"Shut up," I mutter, shaking my head. "I'm never texting anything like that again."

Across the fire, a couple of students start pulling out bags of chips and some leftover pizza from earlier. The smell drifts through the air, mixing with the smoke and cool night breeze. My stomach rumbles, reminding me that I haven't eaten much since lunch.

I push myself up, stretching out my legs. "I'm getting food," I announce to no one in particular, already making my way toward the snack pile. 

I grab a slice of pizza and a handful of chips before stepping away from the crowd. The night air feels nice, and after sitting by the fire for so long, I need to move a little. As I take a bite of my pizza, I glance around, noticing the way some students have broken off into smaller groups—some talking quietly, others wandering around the yard.