Kyle dries his hair with his towel and shakes it out after swimming practice. He tugs the curls behind his ear, out of his face.
Oliver watches him as he feels his face hot and red. 'How can he be so cute and hot at the same time?!'
"You know your hair is really long."Oliver says, clearing his throat, trying to hide his hunger for the beautiful curly-haired boy standing next to him.
"Ha, you're right. I hadn't really noticed."Kyle says, grabbing his wet curls. "Yours is too though."
"Yeah, I guess. But I've always preferred it long. I don't like it sho-huh-uhh w-what are you doing?!?"Oliver stutters as Kyle strokes his dark hair gently.
"Aaa-sorry. It just looked really soft and smooth."Kyle says, chuckling lightly and nervously.
"It's fine."Oliver says, looking away and pulling his shirt on.
They finish changing and head out. They spot Leah and Carson awkwardly.
"Aww I can literally feel the awkwardness from here."Kyle laughs.
"I know. It's making me cringe."Oliver says and they start walking up to them.
Carson and Leah get a look of relief as they spot Oliver and Kyle.
Leah stands up, her long mustard yellow dress falls to her feet, and she quickly starts walking to Kyle.
"Kyllle!"she chirps. "We should realllyy get going. Remember we have to meet Eddie today!"
She grabs his wrist and starts pulling him away from Carson and Oliver.
"B-but that's not until later-Leah!"
She doesn't stop walking and just keeps pulling Kyle.
Carson and Oliver watch as Kyle tries to get out of her tight grasp, but fails.
"Bye guyssss."she says.
"Leah! Ugh. See you later, guys!"Kyle shouts as he gets pulled by Leah.
They nod and Oliver laughs. 'Wow she really doesn't like me."
"Us, you mean. She kept glaring at me while I was just trying to make conversation. Honestly, I can see why Kyle is scared of her."
"To be honest, me too."Oliver laughs as they start walking back to the main building. "That girl is fierce and she's very protective of Kyle. She acts like his big sister."
"Yeah I know. So when are you holding the party?"Carson asks, grinning.
"Ugh. That. Do I have to?"Oliver whines.
"Uhm duh! Look we have to show Kyle how to live a little. How to enjoy life while we can because we're all growing up and we're not gonna stay this young."Carson responds. "Sooner or later, we're gonna have to start our adult lives. Getting jobs, getting a home, a family, paying bills, all that. Gotta enjoy life while we can."
Oliver stares at his best friend as if he's just turned into an alien or spoke a foreign language. "When did you get so poetic?"
"I don't know. It just came over me. It's the truth."Carson laughs.
"Yeah, Carson. When you get like this, it kinda freaks me out."
"We'll deal with it. Cause there's a lot more where that came from."
"Ugh."
'He is right, though. I want to be the one to show Kyle what it means to have fun. I don't want him to just study and act like a good student all the time. It causes too much stress. And I can't stand the idea of someone else showing him. It makes me feel...angry? Why?'
'After all, he doesn't belong to me. But for some reason I can't help but wish...he was mine.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leah continues to drag Kyle until they're far away enough.
She lets go and lets out a sigh of relief. "I think we're far away enough. Now let's go I'm hungry...Kyle?"she asks when her head turns to her best friend who's arms are crossed and scowling.
"You promised...."
"What?"
"You promised! You promised you'd give him a chance. Both of them."he says, his eyes filling up with anger, hurt, and annoyance.
"Kyle what is your problem? I'm trying to protect you for fuck's sake! That man touched you. Not once, but TWICE."she snaps, annoyed at her friend's innocence and stupidity.
"And I told you he had his reasons for that! Thank you for protecting me, but Oliver would never hurt me."
"You don't know that. You don't know him."
"Yes, I do. I know that he stopped a girl from hitting me even when he seemed like he hated me. And he comforted me afterwards."
"What?"she asks confused.
"When we went to the lake, there was a girl there who I'm pretty sure had a crush on Oliver. And she started saying....things that were my fault and was about to hit me. But Oliver stopped her."
Leah sucks in her breathe and steps back, not being able to believe a word coming out of Kyle's mouth.
"And then he comforted me and told me that none of what she said was my fault. And brought me back here."
Leah shakes her head in disbelief. "Wait...what?"
She pauses for a moment to wrap her head around everything that was just said. "Really?"
"Yes! And Carson had also defended me. All of his friends did."
Leah takes a seat on the bench.
"I want us all to be friends. Including Eddie. I think it could workout."
She nods in a daze, still trying to piece everything together.
"Why did he touch you? I can't fully trust him until that question is answered."
"That's..uhh... that's not for me to say... There's more to it then him just being a creep, though. I just don't think it's my place to say it."he says, fumbling with his fingers.
"Hm."
"And you shouldn't pressure him. He'll tell you when he's ready. Ok?"
She nods slowly, as if trying her best to understand what Kyle is saying.
"And I'll talk to him about it."
"Ok fine."She says, giving up. "I'll...try my best...alright?"
Kyle smiles big and brightly. "Ok! That's all I ask of you!"
She nods and sighs. 'I'm always finding myself wrapped into Kyle's business.'
"Ok well we have to meet Eddie today and it's almost time so you should get back to get ready."Leah says.
"You're right. I'll text you when I'm done so we can go."He says and waves goodbye as he starts walking. But he suddenly stops as he gets an idea. An idea that Leah will probably not like.
"Um...Leah?"he asks, sounding like a little boy who's about to ask his mom for a toy he most likely won't get it. Like he's ready to beg for it.
"Oh no I know that tone and face."
"Ok just hear me out! So like I said, I want all of to be friends, including Eddie."he pauses, as if to let that sink in to see if Leah will catch on.
"Mhm."she says, hesitant.
"Sooo..since we're going to meet him...why not invite Carson and Oliver?"Kyle says slowly, being careful with his words so Leah doesn't explode.
Her eyes widen and she face palms. "I...Kyle-I really-"
"Pleaseeee!"he pleads.
She scrunches up her nose in annoyance and crosses her arms, but agrees hesitantly. "...Fine. But I don't have a good feeling about this."
"YAYYY! Thank you, Leah."he says happily and scurries off.
"Mgh."she groans. "Why, why do I do this to myself?!"she throws her hands up in the air and starts walking away.
"I hate this."