Ashton and I both got dressed and then headed for everyone else. I’m not sure what Jacely had in mind but hopefully it’s something fun and relaxing and not active as hell.

I’m not here to over exert myself now.

“About fucking time Ari.” Have I ever mentioned that I don’t like Lydia?

“Eat a dick Lydia.” I said as I went straight to Jacely.

“Before I say anything else today is gonna be fun, and no arguing with anyone.” Both me and Lydia scoffed at her words but instantly we were being stared at with the eyes of Satan.

“I fucking mean it you two. None, we are all gonna get along and be the obnoxious family that we are. Now with that being said, I hope you all brought your swims suits!”

“Where are we going swimming at Jace?” Parker asked her before anyone else could.

“So this cabin actually has a private pool down the hill and it is super hella nice and it has a slide!” Of course it has a slide or else she wouldn’t have wanted to go.

I swear Jacely is a child on the inside sometimes, but I mean who isn’t at this point in life.

“Now we do gotta drive down there or else it would take too long to get there so everyone let’s go!” She quickly got into Lydias car while everyone else was moving at a snails pace.

Once again I was not gonna ride with all of them when I was very much capable of driving my own vehicle. Ashton started for Lydias car but I grabbed his arm and pulled him the way I was going, I don’t know who he thinks he is.

When we got inside I just looked at him like he was insane.

“What?” He said oh so innocently.

“Don’t you dare what me! Did you honestly believe that we were gonna ride with them?”

“Uh, no?” Wait a second.

“Let me rephrase that, did you honestly believe that you were gonna ride in that car with them?”

“Well—“

“No. You weren’t. Don’t even think about it.” With that being said I started the car and began driving behind Jacely because I had no idea where this place even was, I just knew it was down the road or something like that.

On the way to this pool I could see Ashton keep glancing over at me, he was trying to be nonchalant about it but I could clearly see him doing it I don’t even think he realized he was doing it.

“If you have something to say Ashton just go on and say it. You don’t have to keep staring at me.” He quickly turned his head to the window probably so I couldn’t see those red cheeks of his.

“I don’t mean to be so infatuated with you Ari, I just can’t get over how handsome you are.” Wow I wasn’t expecting all of that one bit. I looked at him for a moment and then back at the road.

I wasn’t too sure what to say so I said nothing at all. Not saying that he made me speechless but that is kind of what had happened.

We finally arrived at the pool that Jace was talking about and it was pretty nice. It wasn’t huge or anything but it was a decent size for all of us.

I looked at Ashton and he was smiling like a whole child which was actually really cute. Seeing him this excited over something so small shows me that he truly appreciates the little things in life.

As I was grabbing the things I would need for this Jace and Alex were already taking clothes off and jumping into the pool, which was then followed by toothpick Lydia.

Ashton and I walked over there and put our things on two of the chairs and sat down for a moment.

“You gonna get in Ari?” Ashton had asked me.

“Are you gonna stare at me the entire time Ashton?” His cheeks once again went red, I love doing this to him I can not resist doing it to him at all.

“You know that is nearly impossible Ari, I mean just look at you. Besides, all I can think about it the way you look when your hair is all wet and in your face and the way the water rolls down your body. Jesus...” What is happening right now?

Ashton had to close his eyes for a moment to regain his composure, did he really just say all of that to me? I love how he made himself so excited just by saying it too, boost my confidence a bit why don’t ya.

“Look at what you are doing to yourself Ashton, you really gonna get all hard in front of all of our loving friends? I mean I wouldn’t mind I’ll take you right here I don’t care about an audience.” Ashton cleared his throat and adjusted himself.

“I think I’m gonna go get in the water for a moment, it’s a bit hot out here.” I laughed at him as I took my shirt off.

Ashton was looking at everyone that was here with us and smiling, why is he so sweet?

“I’m glad you came here with me Ashton.” I said it before I could even stop myself. He turned his head to me with wide eyes.

“I wouldn’t have came if you hadn’t. Ari, I love spending time with you, and I mean genuine time with you. So you saying that really does mean so much to me.” I smiled and looked down at my hands.

What does any of this mean right now? What is it that I am feeling for this guy?

“Why don’t you go jump in Ashton? I’ll be in there in just a moment.” Ashton nodded, took his shirt off and got inside of the water.

Alex and Jacely swam over to him and began talking to the man, he was smiling at them but his smile was so warm and it was so relaxed. I’m happy to see him like this, I’m so happy to be able to witness him like this because it seems like he doesn’t get to do that too often.

I’m sure I can be part of the blame somewhere in the mix.

Parker the swam over to where they were and jumped into the conversation they were having. I do wish Ashton wouldn’t talk to him but this is all of our nice little trip and I don’t wanna ruin it all because I don’t like someone.

He is in the group as well and I always try to remind myself that but you know, sometimes that is so hard when he opens his stupid mouth.

“Come on Ari man, get in with us.” Parker said to me, I took a deep breath and gave him a smile that was pretty forced.

“Alright I’m coming.” Ashton turned his head to me and just smiled. I couldn’t help but to just stand there and smile back at him as I walked over to the edge.

I sat down and then slid inside of the water which felt pretty amazing if I don’t say so myself.

Jacely swam over to me and got on my back like the little monkey that she was.

“Ari, take me away!” She said as she held her arms in the air.

Okay, don’t call us childish because I promise we are not. But Jace and I love to play this game where I’m the ship taking her away from the world. It’s lame I know but we like it.

“Well hold on tight.” I started running through the water and then I began swimming as she sat down on my back like she was Rose or something.

This time she won’t bring making it though.

“Oh no! We’ve been hit Jacely! This is it! This is the end!”

“What the he—“ Before she could say anything I went under the water taking her with me.

When we both came up she was laughing at me, but then she slapped my arm for no reason.

“Jerk, you can’t change our thing like that!”

“I didn’t change anything, we were hit Jace what was I supposed to do?” She laughed at me before trying to take me under water.

Jacely always likes to wrestle with me in the water even though she can not take me.

“My money is on Jacely.” I stopped what I was doing for a moment and looked to see who said those awful words. Oh how dare he?

“Really Ashton?” I sounded so hurt. Everyone started laughing at us and this gave Jace an advantaged. She once again jumped on my back only this time she wanted to choke me out which was not going to happen.

I didn’t want to hurt her so I did the one thing I knew would work. I started to tickle her, and let me tell you she is so damn ticklish it’s unreal.

“Ari stop!” She didn’t let go but her grip on me did loosen up so this was my chance.

I grabbed her arms and swung her to where she was in front of me like a baby.

“Give me the money Ashton.” Was all I said before I made Jacely flip out of my arms.

“I don’t know man, that looked like cheating. Didn’t it Alex?” Is he kidding me right now? I won!

“How about some chicken fight?” Where did that even come from? Lydia has been quiet this whole time and then she comes out of nowhere like that.

“Seriously?” Was all that Parker said to her.

“Oh hell yeah! Let’s see, Parker will have Alex on his shoulders and Ari will have Ashton on his. Let’s do this!” Jacely and Lydia were way too excited for my liking.

Ashton came next to me and nudged me. “I think we can take them Ari.” Did he really just have to whisper that to me?

“Why are you whispering?”

“You are gonna distract Parker, making him lose focus and I’m just gonna take down Alex. I’m stronger than him.” He is taking this way too serious, not to mention he ignored what I had said to him.

“Uh okay captain Ashton.” He looked at me with the cutest red cheeks I’ve ever seen.

“We got this Ari. Now let me top.” Hold the fuck up, come again?

“What was that Ashton? I don’t think I quite heard you.” He began laughing before he said anything else.

“I’m sorry, I just really wanted to say that. Please put up on your shoulders Ari.” I shook my head before getting low enough to where he could easily slide on me.

“Y’all ready over there?” Parker said to us. I guess Ashton nodded because I didn’t hear a thing come out of him.

He got on me so I stood on and did my best to make sure he wasn’t gonna go anywhere.

“Ashton?”

“Yes Ari?”

“If we lose, I’m gonna punish you.” I felt him tense up on me before taking a deep breath.

“We won’t lose.” With that being said we met the other team in the middle.

Parker was looking right at me which was making me uncomfortable. This is not how this should have went to be honest.

He never took his eyes off me, if this is his strategy it was really working on me. I can’t let this guy beat me he will always throw it in my face if he wins.

Jacely came in the middle and told us the rules and stuff before telling us to go. There was a lot of movement up there but I wasn’t gonna let him get lose at all.

Parker kept looking at me so I stared back.

“Ready to lose Ari?” He smirked at me, god he’s gross.

“Not to you.” I could see his foot begin to move which meant he was gonna try to trip me, this little bitch.

When I seen it come at me I took a step back and when it was safe I got even closer this time to them. I was very close to Parker which I wasn’t completely okay with but I wanna win.

“Parker.” I said it very low and husky to him. I’m grossing myself out that’s for sure.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.” He looked so confused, I saw that he lost a little grip on Alex so I tapped Ashtons foot with a finger. Thank goodness he knew what I was meaning because he took advantage and knocked down Alex.

Ashton began cheering as I let him down off of my shoulders.

“Oh hell yeah! Talk about a power couple!” A power what? Ashton came over to me and gave me a High five. “Look at us Ari, you and I together can make things happen.” I don’t think he realized what he was saying to me.

He was so excited that he was saying things that I honestly did not wanna hear and Jacely could tell. While everyone was smiling she was looking at me with worry on her face.

She knows how uncomfortable the talk of being a couple makes me so she was doing her best to read my face.

I tried to laugh it off but that didn’t go so well at all. “Yeah Ashton, keep this up and no one will be able to beat us.” I said as I swam away from everyone else.

It’s the little things like that that trigger me and I hate it, I know he doesn’t mean to cause this to happen to me and I know that he doesn’t realize it because he is just doing what is normal.

I’m the one who is being a little bitch about it, I can’t even hear the word couple without wanting to just leave. I want that to stop, I want to be able to hear certain words or be touched without wanting to lose my shit.

Ashton is doing his best to be by my side through this but I’m scared I’m gonna push him away, I’m scared I’m gonna lose the only pure thing that I have in this world.

And it would be all if my fault.