It’s so damn hot.
Even with the AC on I feel like my internal organs are slowly cooking inside me. The pool is a definite bet today though, thankfully, I don’t have to drag Brody along with me this time. He’s at a friends house while I...I kind of don’t want to invite the guys to come hang out.
Groaning, I throw my hands over my face, childishly kicking my legs in the air while I think over the dumb plan I have. I was going to send Preston a facebook message, since that’s the only damn social media he has, and see if he wanted to go swimming. That’s stupid right? Didn’t I say the other day that I didn’t want a response from him? Yet here I am fretting over the idea of inviting him while wondering if I even should.
The answer is obvious, I shouldn’t. What if I’m actually hurting his feelings? If I confessed to someone and they didn’t respond but then tried to hang out with me I think I’d be hurt.
The thought of that makes me frown.
At the same time, it would hurt if that person treated me differently. If they avoided me or stopped being friends with me I’m pretty sure I’d hate myself because of it.
Sitting up, I decide the hell with it. If Preston doesn’t want to hang out he’ll say no. If he does want to spend time with me then he’ll say yes. It’s as simple as that, all I have to do is give him a choice so, with a deep breath, I quickly type out a message and press send before I can change my mind.
U busy? Want 2 go swimming?
I don’t know whether to sit my phone aside or hold it in my grasp like it’s the holy grail. I end up doing the latter because I’m too nervous that I’ll miss his response. A minute passes then five then ten then twenty and my hope has slowly dwindled away. I guess no response is its own kind of response. Frowning, I lower my phone into my lap just as it lights up to say that he responded to me!
I am not smiling like an idiot when I read the message, however, I do laugh when I see how different we are. I shouldn’t be surprised that Preston doesn’t use shorthand.
I’m not busy. When do you want to go?
Pool opens @ 1, lets go now, I reply seeing as it’s 12:30 so we’ll be early but whatever.
Preston quickly agrees to meet me down there, it will take him a little longer to walk since he’s in the other direction but I’m bolting out of the house without even thinking about it. I actually think I set a record for how quickly I get the park, sitting on the swings while looking to the left of the parking lot, which should be where Preston is coming from.
A couple minutes pass before I see him come into view. He’s slowly making his way over to me, waving slightly when he catches my own frantic wave. Upon realizing how dumb I likely look I drop my hand, gripping the chain of the swing while kicking my legs to propel me. By the time Preston arrives I’m airborne, swinging back and forth quickly enough to cause the chains to catch and my swing to shake when I fly back.
“What a rebel,” Preston teases, leaning against the metal of the swing with a slight smirk. “Careful, you may fall off.”
“I have fallen off these swings more times than I can count.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Preston looks around, seeming to be searching for something. He mustn't find it because he turns back to me. “When are the guys coming?”
“Oh, d-did you want them to come?” I didn’t think about that. Maybe he was only ok with hanging out if there were other people? Quickly, I bite my lip, ready to apologize for not telling him sooner but Preston shrugs it off.
“Not really.”
Ok, maybe my cheeks go from 0 to 100 real quick but I rather not think about it. Preston isn’t so great either, that light dusting of pink returns beneath his eyes that I only saw once before. It doesn’t help my blush and I doubt my blush helps his. Well shit, it’s a blushing fest up in here.
“You really didn’t have any plans today?” I inquire, twisting the swing back and forth while watching Preston.
He shakes his head. “I was at the library.”
“Old Ashtin’s library?” I recall the place being only a block away from Preston’s. It’s actually not really a library, more of a book lovers sanctuary. The owner, Richard Ashtin, is an old man that’s been living here for as long as I can remember. His home is massive yet he bought the shop next to his house a while back and turned it into his private collection. However, it is open to the public so long as they return his stuff. I’m sure Preston always does, as if he’d lose the chance of reading free books.
Preston hums in response. “It’s quiet there.”
I’m about to agree with him on that until I realize why Preston probably needs a quiet place. Judging by the slight tension in his shoulders I think it’s safe to say his parents are still fighting a lot. Well, I don’t know what their arguments are like, only that there’s word around town that they’re getting a divorce. If Preston needs a “quiet place” then it’s pretty obvious what the reason is. It bugs me a bit thinking about it too.
“H-How are things at home?” I ask, wondering if I’m overstepping my boundaries. When Preston doesn’t lash out on me but rather looks at me with a quiet gaze I take that as a chance to continue. “Your parents, are they doing ok or something?”
I don’t know how to ask because asking “are they ok” would be stupid. Obviously they aren’t ok, that’s why they’re getting a divorce but at the same time I’m sure Preston knows what I mean.
“It’s harder now that I’m not in school,” Preston admits, his arms crossing over his chest so that his fingers can squeeze at his biceps. He looks very out of place. “They yell a lot and I just...I don’t like being at home.”
Which explains his summer job. It may not be much but if he can get out of the house even a little I bet he takes that chance.
Without much thought, my mouth goes off without my consent, “You can come to my place.”
Both mine and Preston’s eyes grow wide, the two of us staring at one another like deer caught in headlights. Preston can’t seem to respond while I quickly turn away, forcing my gaze to the ground while I try to sputter an explanation, “I-I mean if, like, if y-you’re uncomfortable or w-want to talk or need a p-place for a bit I’m not that far away. Uh, just as an option, I know, um, maybe y-you don’t want to but, like, if you need to...yeah.”
I can’t bring myself to look at Preston after that whatever the hell it was. Biting my bottom lip, I ask myself why I can’t seem to keep my mouth shut. No matter how much I try to not mess something up, I do it anyway. Damn it, he probably thinks I’m we-
“Thanks,” Preston says so softly that I barely hear his voice.
Looking up, I turn to face Preston yet again to find him shyly looking away. That dark hair of his is ghosting over his hazel eyes, hiding them from me but not the blush that has grown on his cheeks. Seeing it makes my heart beat a little faster.
“Don’t regret offering that later,” he whispers before walking around me to head to the open pool doors.
I’m left a little stunned on the swing. That, uh, that went well...I think?
There’s not really any time to think about it since the pool’s now open. I hop up and follow after Preston, who is already inside. He has found a chair to rest his things on, removing his shirt afterwards to place it with the rest of his belongings. My eyes linger a little longer than necessary on the exposed skin that I don’t often see. When I realize what I’m doing, I quickly look away and follow Preston’s lead, removing my own shirt before resting my belongings with his.
“You sure it’s ok with just us?” Preston suddenly asks and that question makes the breath hitch in my throat. What does he mean by that? When Preston sees my questioning gaze, he elaborates. “I’m not as fun as the guys. I’m pretty boring, actually.”
“I don’t think you’re boring,” I respond instantly making Preston freeze. “You’re really interesting, actually.”
Preston doesn’t seem to know how to respond. He looks away like he can’t handle looking at me then turns back but his eyes can’t meet my own. Ruffling his hair, the boy clears his throat then makes his way to the pool without a word. The reaction makes me smile since he was pretty damn cute, in his own way.
Wait a second.
Inviting him to swim with me, just the two of us? Cute? I find him interesting? Blushing? Offering him to come to my house?
What the fuck am I doing? It’s like...like I...like I like…
My heart squeezes to the point that it’s physically painful. I slap my face so hard that it has Preston looking back at me with concern. I hear him asking if I’m all right but it’s not really registering. Shaking my head, I lightly pat my face hoping that’ll knock some sense into me. It doesn’t really work but it’s the effort that counts! Right? I hope so.
With a deep breath, I join Preston in the pool. To be honest, we haven’t spent a lot of time together with just the two of us. Sure, I can name a few like when he stayed with me after school when my bike had a flat tire. We sat outside handing out candy together once for Halloween. We were chosen as lab partners for a project in science class a year back. A few times I’ve seen him walking the bike trail so we walked it together instead yet compared to other people Preston and I have had only small amounts of time together one on one.
I begin to wonder why because I don’t find Preston boring at all. He’s nice. He knows how to take a joke and can dish it right back. Sometimes he’s a little hard to understand, we have different interests so I don’t see the fun in silently reading a book but it’s not like we don’t have anything to talk about. He’s quiet but when he talks about something he likes his eyes start to sparkle and his smile is soft yet so obviously there.
Today makes me wonder even more because being with Preston is actually a lot of fun.
“Brody always tries to steal my games too!”
“That’s what little siblings are for,” Preston argues, sinking into the pool so that the water reaches to just beneath his nose.
“You don’t understand cause you’re an only child.”
Preston hums, the action causing bubbles to erupt around his mouth. I chuckle at it until the boy comes back up to say, “I would like to have a sibling.”
“Really?”
“Having someone to talk to, play games with, I think I’d like that.”
“I guess but they also steal all your belongings, get you in trouble with your parents, eat your candy bars when you aren’t looking-”
Preston laughs, shaking his head with that soft smile of his. “Sounds like my cat. She likes to knock things off counters so my parents get mad thinking I did it.”
“Coco does?” I’ve seen pictures of her. She’s a pure brown cat with bright yellow eyes, absolutely gorgeous. “Cats have a ‘I don’t give a shit’ attitude.”
“Yeah, she likes to bite toes too.”
“Foot fetish?”
“Definitely.”
I’m not sure what makes Preston think he’s boring. Personally, I want to know even more.
“What kind of books do you read?” I ask, the two of us moving further into the deep end. A bit more kids and their families are coming in so they’re obviously sticking to the shallow end.
Preston shrugs, simply saying “all books” but I can tell he has a real answer but isn’t giving it. Frowning, I try to coax it out of him, “Come on, what genre do you read the most?”
Preston still appears reluctant, sinking into the water as if to dodge the question. I can’t help but laugh, watching him remain under there before slowly returning. He brushes back his hair, only causing his bright hazel eyes to be so easily seen that I swear they’re almost gold.
“You’ll tease me,” he says, flicking the water causing small shots of said water to shoot out, some of which hit me.
“I won’t, I promise.”
Preston looks away when he mumbles, “I...I mostly like romance books.”
“Why would I tease you for that?”
“Guys aren’t supposed to like romance books.”
“Says who?” I shrug, smiling when Preston looks almost relieved to hear my response. “Read whatever makes you happy, Preston. Romance is for everyone and anyone who teases you for liking romance books is obviously a jerk.”
Preston does it again, the action that makes my chest warm. He looks away bashfully once again only this time his hair can’t hide the pure happiness in his eyes. There’s a blush again, a small upward tilt of his lips followed by a soft sigh of relief. Ah, my heart is beating like crazy! Stop that, I need to be calm here, calm I say!
“So you like stuff like The Notebook?” I ask, clearing my throat afterwards, my mom had me watch the movie, wasn’t really my thing.
“Mhm.”
“That one movie with that chick from Divergent in it?”
“The Fault in Our Stars?” Preston nods. “I cried.”
“Twilight?” That's romance, right? I don't know but I grin at the immediate tension in Preston’s shoulders. He doesn’t seem to want to answer. “You love Twilight, I can see it written on your face.”
Preston slowly begins to sink back into the water.
“Were you Team Edward or Team Jacob?”
“Edward,” Preston answers immediately but refuses to look at me. “Robert Patterson is hot.”
Upon realizing what he said, Preston’s eyes go so wide that I fear they may pop out of his head. There’s panic in his eyes, like he honestly fears what he said. For a moment I’m confused as to why because I don’t see an issue with it but then I realize maybe it has to do with me? Before the boy can burst from sheer horror, I quickly try to lighten the situation by saying, “Not really my style, I’m more of a Chris guy.”
Preston looks confused, staring at me with a mixture of worry and curiosity.
“Y’know Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, Chris Pratt...a Chris guy.”
Preston stands up straight once more, the nerves slowly disappearing from his face. I give him the brightest smile I can, which seems to be enough because he smiles right back. For whatever reason, we both start to laugh, the tension disappearing to feel like it was never there to begin with. The rest of our day goes by so fast that I’m sad to see it go. The pool is closing and it’s time for me to get home so Preston and I say our goodbye’s.
Later that night I may go into my parents room to search for that The Fault in Our Stars book. I know my mom has it, she probably has The Notebook too so I search for that. Once I have both, I return to my room with every intention to read them...because I want to, yeah, that’s obviously why.
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