Below the fullness of the moon, yellows and oranges sparkled, crackling the burning wood of the raging bonfire. 

After a long five years of everyone traveling and doing their own thing, they planned a grand reunion to talk about their ventures. The entire gang was there, at least almost everyone, but tonight, even though he was still in a good relationship with Veronica, Arch could not stop himself from looking over at where she quietly sat. A yearning pull kept turning his face towards hers, and his eyes, like magnets, could not leave the curve of her profile.

A slow smile crossed her lips as he stood, hypnotized, placing one foot in front of the other, in their attempt to reach her. What was wrong with him? Why her? He always found her a little immature and young. Not his type. But tonight, it wasn't he who was making the calls, it was a force outside himself.

"Hey Cheryl, where's Toni?" He casually scratched the back of his neck nervously looking around.

"Hey Archie! Long time no see..." An uncomfortable laugh filled the air before she gave him an answer. "We, we took a break. A year ago..."

"Really? Sorry to hear." Weirdly, he wasn't.

"Not a big deal. I'm mostly over it. Veronica? Is she coming?" Her heart pitter-pattered in her chest.

"Nah. She got held up."

Absentmindedly she nodded. The intensity between them grew and the pit of her stomach fluttered a million butterflies. She never cared for him before, not in that way. Why now? As uncomfortable as she felt, as much curiosity she had to explore the growing feelings further.

Her eyes shifted to the brightness of the moon again. The fire popped a few times and the breeze picked up the smell of campfire and food.

"I love that smell." She said closing her lids inhaling deeply. "It brings me comfort."

He placed a casual hand of her shoulder and squeezed. "May I sit with you?"

"Sure, yes." Her voice more eager than she wanted it to be.

For a moment they sat quietly enjoying each other's company. Veronica and Toni, obstacles, and a distant memory at the back of their brains.

"Strange night."

"You feel it too Arch?"

"I do." He nodded.

The wind picked up the scent of her hair and his head swoon. He longed to run his fingers through it and bury his face in the crook of her shoulder. Oddly, he'd forgotten there were other people there. People he should be talking to instead of her, but the gravitational pull she was having on him, was unstoppable.

His fingers curiously lifted to touch the smooth skin on her shoulder, and he liked t. A little too much. She swallowed nervously and looked him in the eye. The sparks palpable and thick.

"I somehow feel connected to you. An attraction I hadn't before." He admitted shifting closer to her goose-bumped body.

"Me too." Cheryl whispered close to his ear looking around, making sure no one would notice anything strange between them. But they didn't. 

Everyone was in their own make-believe fantasy. As Archie and Cheryl scan about, they realize everyone was oddly paired. Not one of them speaking with the person they'd come with, dangerously close and aroused. The energy, palpable.

"Are we the only ones noticing this?" She asked lifting an eyebrow. 

"I think so." Mischievously he smiled.  He wanted to press his lips to hers and think of nothing else. Even, Veronica.

"You know? I heard a full moon on Friday the 13th can have this kind of- effect..."

"What effect?" His face came closer, barely an inch from hers.

"This." Cheryl turned to face him. Her breath on his face.

His body trembled slightly. He wanted to blame it on the sweet caress of the wind, but it was her energy he could not shake. Mesmerized he felt the pull of her lips and softly, his descended on hers barely touching them, asking for her permission to move further.

"So, when Veronica or Toni ask, we can blame it on the moon? The date?"

"I guess so" Her laughter was light and airy.

Pulpy lips descend on his with intention and force. Their heads spin and their breathing quickened.

"We shouldn't" Her voice out of breath. "Veronica-"

"I know. I can't help myself. Just like everyone else here..." 

They glance around again, everyone cozily comfortable with someone other than who they came with.

"No use fighting it Cheryl." 

Their lips unite in a slow tender kiss that became passionate and deep. The minutes ticked away. Never ending. Unstoppable by the magic this night had brought. Their lips meet over and over, until the stroke of midnight, plus one. 

A jolt and the realization that maybe, some kind of curse had been cast. Had it even been a curse? In a quick move, they both retract from one another. Perhaps the moon had nothing to do with their attraction, and it was just a wish, a desire when reconnecting after such a long period of time.

Maybe, it was their own obstacles and hurdles which stopped them from taking the situation further. At this point, it did not matter. The magic gone. The spell broken, and, the understanding that after tonight, it would never again, come to be.