Now that they were sitting in plain sight, Blaise felt the nerves return. As Raine caught his skittish glance, he raised his eyebrows questioningly. Blaise leaned over the table, as if others would catch his words otherwise.
"It's just... I'm from New York, my whole club knows that. Your uncle is a Warrior, you grew up with your President’s son.... They know you're not from the east coast."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I've been part of an exchange project in high school, for two months. I'm sure nobody remembers where exactly that was. Just relax."
Blaise felt the heat gather in his cheeks, he was really looking like a coward. He just didn't like to lie to his brothers, but if Raine didn't want to admit that they'd just met, it meant he also believed there was a future for their growing friendship, right? Something warm nestled inside his stomach, making his lips curl up again.
"Your friend said you bought a Rubik's Cube yourself, too. I'm happy it's so helpful."
Blaise fought against the urge to glance down. If he was completely honest, he wasn't sure what was really calming him down when he felt restless; the puzzle itself or the memory of the Warrior. He took a bite of his hotdog, wiping away a bit of sauce from his bottom lip. Frantically he looked for a change of subject; one that had nothing to do with his panic attacks.
Earlier today an idea had crossed his mind, but part of him was afraid that Raine had already looked at all possibilities; making him look like an idiot for suggesting something so obvious. The silence, however, threatened to suffocate him as well, so after swallowing another bite he said: "I was thinking... You ever considered to organize a fundraiser? I mean – as a club? To support the family members of terminally ill patients who live abroad? I'm sure your sister isn't the only one with family in another country. That way you can raise money for your family, and give your sister the chance to say goodbye to them. I mean – if that's something she would want." He worried his lip, but he pulled through: "I'm not sure if I can be around, but I wouldn't mind to help behind the scenes. For example, Mouse's doing puppet shows; little kids love it. And Bridgewater is big; I'm sure it will attract a lot of people."
Something about the look in Raine's eyes, made his heart skip a beat and his breathing falter. Something fluttered in his stomach; something he wanted to beat to death because it made his cheeks flush.
"That's an amazing idea! I dunno – I never gave it much thought. Of course my sister is worth it, but I dunno... I never felt like other people would be willing to pay for the tickets. But if we organize something on a bigger scale, just turning it into some cool event... Dude, that's an amazing idea!"
His enthusiasm fueled Blaise's enthusiasm as well, and before they knew it, they were brainstorming about possible activities. Blaise was so immersed in the conversation, that for a moment he forget where he was. He almost jumped when a Warrior flopped down on the bench next to Raine, wrapping an arm around the man's shoulders, and looking curiously back and forth between Raine and him.
"Are the guys of our founding charter so boring you're cozyin' up to the Foxes?" The brown haired man smirked at Blaise, although there was no threatening glance in his eyes. His kutte told Blaise that he was a member of the Addersfield charter. Blaise estimated him a few years older than them; in his early 30's.
"Hard to find a new homie, Ang," Raine answered lightly. "Already know everything about Axle; I hoped to find my meal outside the door this time."
His eyes shot to Blaise, a smirk playing around his lips.
Blaise felt flaming hot. Raine made it sound like he was some kind of exotic snack. He had no idea where to look or what to say.
The Warrior started to laugh. "Well, doesn't sound like there's a lot comin' out of that mouth."
"Still waters run deep, huh?"
The other prattled something in Spanish, making Raine laugh harder, giving his brother the finger.
"This is Blaise," Raine introduced him. "Haven't seen the guy in years. Got to know him back in high school when I was part of some exchange program. He's cool, although he's wearing the wrong kutte." He gave Blaise a playful wink, giving Blaise the feeling his heart could jump out of his chest at any moment. Man, what the hell was wrong with him today?! He felt so... self-conscious... even more than he usually did.
"I'm Angel," the other man said, holding out his hand. Blaise shook it.
Raine aimed his attention to his friend. "So... You're here to disrupt my new bromance, you little jealous bitch?"
Smirking, the Warrior shrugged his shoulders. "I was curious. You never leave Sasha alone this long, especially not when Axle is showing her around."
"Axle? I asked Sammy to keep an eye on her."
"C'mon... Like she ever says no to Axle."
Sighing, Raine got on his feet. "Where are they?"
"Where do you think? There's a water fight goin' on by the lake. All those chicks with soaking wet clothes... where else would he be?"
Angel stood up as well, fishing a cigarette out of a pack and nodding to them, before he turned around and sat down next to a girl that had apparently attracted his attention.
Blaise got up too and increased his pace, so he could walk next to Raine. "You don't trust your best friend with your niece?"
"Somehow Axle's a chick magnet when he's walkin' around with a little kid. Which he knows all too well. Last week he promised to look after her for a few hours; later I found out that he'd hooked up with some girl, banging her in his room, while he left Sasha alone with the TV for two hours. She was watching something that was way too scary for her; she still has nightmares. So if he sees another hot chick... he'll only think with his dick, not paying attention to Sas at all."
Walking through the crowd, they headed over to the lake where mainly children were running around, squirting each other with super soaker water pistols and throwing buckets of water. Blaise's eyes glided across the screeching little ones to find Sasha. Suddenly, he got a bucket of water thrown over him.
Cursing, he turned around. Mouse stood there, and a moment later Sammy showed up next to her, treating her brother to the same amount of water. Squealing, the girls ran away.
"Oh, just you wait!" Raine laughed, wiping the water from his face. He looked around, and his shoulders relaxed. "Ah, Sas is with my uncle." He nodded to the side. A few Warriors were sitting on the side, a man with black shoulder-length hair was playing with the girl. "So how about throwing those girls into the lake?"
There was a boyish spark in Raine's eyes, causing a wide grin on Blaise's face. For a moment it felt like there was no club at all, like they were just a bunch of big lugs who wanted to get back at their little sisters.
They found the two girls at the edge of the lake. As Mouse was bending over to fill a bucket, Blaise grabbed her, simply swung her over his shoulder and ran away to a place where the water looked deeper. He smirked at Raine who was following him, his little sister screeching and struggling in his arms. On three, they threw the girls into the lake, laughing as they went under.
After the two recovered from the shock, they shrugged their shoulders and decided to swim to the other side of the lake.
"Well, seems like they've found each other too." Blaise bit the inside of his cheek when he heard his own words. Too. He felt the heat creep to his face and didn't dare to look at Raine anymore.
Raine chuckled. "What a broken elevator is good for. Although I'm soaking wet now." He tugged at his wet shirt and pulled it over his head.
Blaise sucked in his breath as more and more of Raine's body was revealed. Especially now that he had raised his arms to take off his shirt and was showing off his abs. Damn – that guy really had the body of a god, like it was sculpted in marble; all perfect lines. He even had V-lines disappearing into his jeans.
"Holy fuck," he stammered, breaking out in sweat as he stared at the body he wished he had himself – and for which he was absolutely working out.
When he heard his own words, it felt like he had run into a wall. He had only thought those words, right? He hadn't said them out loud, right?!
"Yeah, it's a pretty one, huh?" Raine had pressed his shirt together, wringing it out. Water was leaking down. When most of the water had left the piece of cloth, he laid it over his right shoulder. With his fingers, he stroked across the tattoo starting on his left shoulder, spreading over his chest. It was an enormous octopus, of which the tentacles circled down the left side of his chest. "I got it a few weeks ago. It's my own design."
He thinks I was admiring his tattoo. Thank god he thinks I was admiring his tattoo.
His breathing was burning in his throat; only after a few moments, he realized he was watching breathlessly how Raine's fingertips were tracing the new ink, and how badly he wanted to trace the lines himself.
He swallowed.
Not only his eyes were impressed; to his bewilderment, he noticed how the blood around his waist was also on the move and that his pants were becoming incredibly tight.
No way. No fucking way that a guy is turning me on!
"You're a real artist," he managed to say; doing everything in his power to divert his thoughts away from what the hell was going on in his pants.
"Thanks. Before my mom got sick, I was trying to become a tattoo artist. However, afterwards there were bills I had to pay and dad told me to get a 'real job'." Raine sat down in the grass, spreading his shirt out on the grass to dry and leaned back.
Blaise wished he wouldn't because he was emphasizing his abs now. He sat down next to his new friend. His shirt was sticking to his skin and after a short hesitation, he pulled the thing over his head to leave it to dry. Up until today, he had never worried about his body; although he might be not as good-looking as Raine, he knew he didn't look bad.
Raine lifted the corner of his mouth as he looked at the two grinning skulls on Blaise's chest. "Those are cool, too."
"Thanks. Well – I think it's too bad you never proceeded with it," he muttered. "Looks like you're really talented."
"Maybe I'll get back into it soon. I miss it."
"Well maybe I'll go for some new ink then," Blaise blurted out. The idea that Raine's fingers would brush over his skin, leaving a piece of beauty on his body that would never go away... Suddenly, he felt like he was on fire, and all he wanted right now was to jump into the water. He couldn't even hear Raine's answer. Blood was ringing in his ears, his heart hammering in his chest.
Suddenly he was close to tears. He didn't understand his feelings; his sudden desires terrified him. Grabbing his shirt from the ground, he got up.
"I'm going back," he said shortly.
He turned around, but before he could rush away, Raine jumped up too. His fingers locked themselves around his wrist and he pulled Blaise towards him. Their bodies were almost touching, the heat radiating from Raine hitting his skin, the bulge in his pants so close to Raine's waist that he stepped back. His hands were itching; he wanted to slide them across that perfect body, he wanted... His own thoughts made him feel sick. Stop it!! Stop this bullshit!!
"What's wrong Blaise?"
"I don't know!" he yelled. "I don't fucking know!!" He yanked away his arm, tears jumping in his eyes. "I can't do this. You're a fucking Warrior! Why the fuck are you hanging out with me? You think you can turn me into a rat?!"
Sure – Blaise knew damn well that his accusations had nothing to do with the fight inside him. He however couldn't tell him that he wanted to claim every inch of that perfect body with his lips; that he wanted to hear him sigh because of his touches; that he wanted to shake in pleasure at the touch of Raine's lips across his neck.
"W-what?" Raine stared at him, completely overwhelmed. Defeated, he lowered his arm.
Blaise spun around; he was afraid that he would start to cry if he looked him in the eye a second longer. Without looking over his shoulder, he rushed towards his bike. Mouse would find a way to get home. He just needed to leave this place. He needed to get his thoughts straight, before he was really standing here crying like an angsty teenager.
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