BEN looks to Jeff with large red and black eyes. He blushes. Something is different with the elf. He hates this feeling, but he can't push it off either. He always had the strong urge to kiss Jeff. Although, he wouldn't show it. He can't afford too. He always said he was straight...what is with him?
He looks at the pool in front of him. Swallowing out of fear, he takes a step forward. Jeff had asked him to go swimming with Eyeless Jack, Masky, and himself. BEN didn't want to, but he gave in. The water didn't look too deep anyway.
So, pushing aside his feelings, he walks to the edge of the pool and sits down, dangling his feet in the cool water. The fear bubble in his throat isn't going away.
"Hey, BEN! Come on!"
Jeff's rich deep voice booms to him from across the water. He gulps the big fear bubble down and pushes off into the water.
The water splashes into his face, covering every inch of him. He holds his breath as best as he can. Opening both his eyes, he sees the water bubbling around him. He lets out a gasp of air causing him to choke on the vile water he had come to hate. He flails his arms like a dying seal when Jeff appears under the water and swims straight towards him.
"Jeff!" he blubs into the water.
Jeff holds his hand up to BEN to silence him. Wrapping his arms under BEN's armpits, he swims the both of them to the top. Both reaches the fresh air. BEN gasps loudly for the air his lungs had been searching for. Jeff's arms continue to stay wrapped around BEN's body. It only takes a few seconds for BEN to realize what is going on. He blushes madly and hides his face from Jeff.
"Damnit, BEN! I thought I told you to tell me if you couldn't swim!"
BEN's heart sinks with every word Jeff yells. Guilt wraps itself all around him.
"I'm sorry..." is all he could manage to mutter from his sore throat.
Jeff swims them back to shore and helps BEN onto dry land. He looks back to the others and yells he would be over soon.
"Just tell me something like that again. You scared me when you didn't reach the top."
BEN keeps his gaze from Jeff. Letting Jeff see the tears forming in the corners of his eyes could put strain on their friendship.
Jeff lets out a sigh. "If you want me too, I can teach you to swim."
BEN shakes his head and shakily stands up. "I'm good." He tries to keep his voice steady so Jeff wouldn't notice the sadness rolling off him.
He walks away, not stopping until he was safely hidden behind the corner of the house. He peaks around it to see Jeff swimming back to Eyeless and Masky. The elf lowers his eyes once more and shrinks back to hiding behind to the house and lets the tears fall. It is obvious Jeff doesn't like him the way he wanted to be liked. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he heads inside. He would just have to except it.
BEN goes upstairs and opens the door to his and Jeff's room they were staying in while they crashed at Masky and Hoody's house. On the bedside table in-between the two twin beds in the room, he finds a small note addressed to him.