About twenty minutes later I’m lying on the concrete, bathing in the sun, my feet in the pool. Felix is doing laps with his goggles on, and Drew's swimming lazy circles. I’m surprisingly content considering Dad beat the shit out of me yesterday. But I don’t feel like ripping the skin off my wrist, and my brain isn’t so loud I can’t think or hear the noise around me. I sigh in contentment.
And then because he just knows when I’m happy and apparently wants to ruin it, Aaron comes out the back doors, Amber in tow.
“Cutie Bear,” she sings. “Do you mind if we use these two chairs and tan? I can’t stand the public pool.” I smile at her. I really do like Amber.
“Afternoon, Amber—I don’t mind at all. This isn’t my house anyway.” She lays her towel on one of those fold out chairs you can lay on with your upper body still propped up, tanning oil shining like a second skin and a paper fan in her hand.
Aaron lies on the one next to her, closest to us, about fifteen feet from the pool. He’s got on his trunks and some dark aviators, so I have no clue what he’s looking at once he settles in. His arms go up and he rests his hands behind his head.
“Is that Felix’s brother and his girlfriend?” Drew asks, out of the pool and now sitting beside where I’m laying. On the opposite side of me from where Aaron lays, so unfortunately, I can still see him if I am tempted to. And Iamtempted to. Instead, I turn my head to Drew who has his knees pulled to his chest.
“Yeah, but Amber’s not his girlfriend. She’s too cool for him.” Drew laughs lightly, looking at them for a moment before smiling down at me. He really is quite handsome.
“Do you not like Aaron, then?” Hm. I’m not sure how to answer. How honest to be. What says too much? What makes me suspicious?
“I wouldn’t say that.” Is my lame response. Drew nods and thankfully doesn’t pry anymore.
“So,” he starts, reaching down to play with my hair (he is quite the toucher, not that I mind). “Everyone calls you Bear?” I shrug, my skin dragging on the concrete.
“Yeah, I guess.” There's a beat or two of silence. “Well, Aaron doesn’t.” Drew raises a brow, tugging on a section of hair on top of my head. Now that Aaron’s been brought up, I can’t seem to stop bringing the conversation back to him.
“Then what does he call you?”
“Button.” Drew and I are staring into each other’s eyes as we talk, have been this whole time, and I realize at this moment I haven’t once thought about my dad.
“He calls you Button? Why?” I shrug again.
“Actually, I don’t know. He just always has.” Drew makes a humming noise, running his fingers through my fringe, dragging it off of my forehead and doing it again as it falls back down.
“I want to have a name for you too. Unless you want me to call you Bear. Or maybe just Benjamin.” I laugh, staring at his flushed face. Slowly, his smile comes back.
“You can call me whatever you want, Drew.” His eyes widen slightly, his hand pausing for half a second. Even I’m acutely aware that that sounded a little flirty, but Drew just smiles again and resumes his hand.
“In that case, I’ll brainstorm and get back to you. Until then, you are Benjamin.”
“Oh, you’ll allow it? You’re so generous.” He laughs, slapping my stomach once without much force.
“You know what I meant, asshole.” He then turns and slides back into the pool, staying at the ledge I move to sit at and talking about how his English teacher is a massive bitch.
Felix comes to join us, sitting next to me.
“Dude, it sucks we don’t get to see you at all. Why the hell is Lancaster so fucking big?”
“Right, I was—wait. Didn’t you guys have a bet going on?”
“AH!” Felix jumps up and runs inside, presumably to get the paper. I grin down at Drew.
“Nice.” He just smiles back. Felix returns, plops back down next to me and sets his narrowed gaze onto Drew.
“Okay Drew, you’re the last voter. Who do you pick?” Drew raises his hands in defense.
“Wait! I don’t even know what I’m voting for.” I sigh, rolling my eyes. Fucking Felix, always ahead of himself.
“Damnit Drew, here it is: do you think that even when Bear’s got afucked-upfacelike he has today,” I give him a look and Drew snickers. “That he is still prettier than me?” Drew looks shocked that that would be the end of this question, stunned to silence for at least ten seconds.
“That’s the fucking bet?”
“That’s the bet.” I confirm.
