A/N: Same day as Chapter 3 at the barbecue, just Akeala's POV.
Chapter 4
Akeala POV
"You're here!" Alex yelled and we all went in for another group hug. "Ahh! This is so great. Come here," she said to Omar and Akeala "I'll show you where the other kids are."
Aunt Alex pulled us through a crowd of huge muscle men and then through the basement sliding door. A handful of beautiful, well developed girls, some junior muscle men and also regular kids our age were sitting on a couch, clearly hiding their beers. Aunt Alex rolled her eyes and grabbed a trash can.
"Hand it over," she said and the kids all complied. She set the trash can down and started to rock a bit in place, ever aware of baby Henry napping in the carrier strapped to her.
"Some of you may remember my niece and nephew Akeala and Omar. They live in Chicago." They mostly smiled at us. I clung to my skateboard, letting the fingers on my right hand play with the many Friendship bracelets inching up my left wrist.
"Guys, you remember Theo Uley from a few christmas?," She pointed to a tall, thick boy that really looked like a man. He looked nothing like he did a few years back, and somehow transformed into a total gym rat. He smiled only slightly, sitting on the arm of the sofa, still annoyed that Alex took his beer.
"His sister Olivia," Aunt Alex said, continuing introductions. Olivia did have big boobs, but also a really big warm smile that made me remember that I really liked her at that christmas party. We hung out most of the evening, mostly watching old Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift videos.
"Axle Call," she said pointing in the direction of a lanky boy with a messy mop of hair.
"Will and Leo Cameron," two very attractive boys smiled broadly at us, eyes sparkling. Will was much larger than Leo, but Leo's eyes were more sparkly.
"And Ava and Adam Black-Micheals," Ava, who was model gorgeous, sat on Will's lap and gave a friendly smile, flicking her long poker straight hair. Adam, briefly looked up from his video game and gave an indifferent "hey."
Omar nodded, pretending to be a tough guy, and I gave a half smirk and a wave, clinging my skateboard in one hand.
Henry started to fuss a bit despite Aunt Alex doing all the introductions while rocking in place. "I'm gonna get his fusspot down for a nap. Have fun guys. And no drinking!" They smiled and nodded as she left.
"She's gone," said Theo who immediately busted out another six pack and passed out some beers. He offered one to Omar and I. I shrugged it off, but Omar accepted.
"We're Playing Never Have I Ever!" Olivia said in a chipper tone. "You don't have to drink if you don't want to, you can just put a finger down or whatever." I nodded and looked at Omar, knowing that mom and Uncle Seth would be pissed he drank a beer, especially after Aunt Alex told us not to.
"It's ok," Leo said with his dazzling smile and sparkling eyes as he noticed my glance at Omar and his beer. "They never come down here." Still seated on the couch, he lifted up his Peal Jam shirt slightly to scratch his torso and revealed very lean and chiseled lower abs. Was that for my benefit? Or did he really have an itch? He saw me look, but I looked away before I could see his reaction.
Olivia motioned for us to come forward, so Omar and I joined their circle, me sitting on my skateboard rolling a bit with my feet planted.
"Do you do tricks on that?" asked Leo, getting up from the couch and moving next to me. Will and Ava shot each other a look.
"Uh, yeah," I said moving some braids out of my face, "I can do ollies, grinds. I did a blunt fakie on a mini ramp before we left yesterday."
"That's cool as fuck," he said. "I have no clue what that means. You must be a pretty tough chick." he slid his hand through his hair. He eyed my boots and my wrists adorned with multiple bracelets. I felt a really awkward smile on my face and shook my head no. I definitely wasn't a tough chick. I was a very very soft chick dressed up like a tough chick. I tried to look at him but my head felt heavy when I did. I could feel my heart race a little and noticed Theo and Will giving each other looks.
Olivia broke in. "Okay, let's play already. I'll start. Never have I ever skateboarded."
No one drank including Adam who wasn't playing and continued to be glued to the video game on his phone. I put a finger down.
Theo went next. "Never have I ever gone skinny dipping. Ava and Will looked at each other, started to giggle and then both drank. Omar also drank. I looked at him incredulously. He shrugged.
Ava adjusted herself on Will's lap, one arm on his shoulder, his hand on her bare knee. "Ok," she said. "Never have I ever vaped or smoked a cigarette. That shit's nasty." Everyone drank except for Ava and Omar.
"Totally agree," Omar said, "totally nasty. He eyed me as I put a finger down.
I shrugged. "Devin vaped…" I said quietly. "I did it once with him." Omar rolled his eyes.
"Ok," said Will, "Never have I ever been cheated on. Olivia drank.
"Fucking Ian Red Tree," she said as if it was a fresh wound.
I put a finger down. Before I could make any movement or say anything, Omar spoke.
"And the asshole posted fucking evidence,"
"Omar," I said, embarrassed.
"Sorry, Keal," he stammered, realizing his lack of filter.
"It's your turn Adam," said Ava. He said nothing, not looking up from his game.
"Never has Adam ever been laid," spat out Theo. They all burst into laughter. That got Adam's attention. He threw a pillow at Theo who swiftly ducked out of the way. They all drank except for Axel. I didn't put a finger down. Leo and Omar both took notice.
"I'll go," piped Leo. "Never have I ever slept with someone who's name I don't know."
Holy shit we're going there! I thought. I held my fingers firmly up with my eyes glued to Omar. He squinted at me, as if I expected him to drink. He didn't. Theo and Will both drank up. Ava rolled her eyes.
It was my turn next. I bit my lip, realizing most of the questions were sexual. Should mine be sexual? I thought. "Hmmm. Never have I ever had a friend with benefits," I said lightly. They all giggled and then all drank, including Omar.
"Cool" said Leo. "Relationship girl," I pursed my lips and nodded at him as he smiled back at me, his warm brown eyes twinkling. Jeez, why are they so twinkley?
"Cereal relationship girl," Omar interjected.
"Shut up, Omar," I muttered, softly whacking him in the side. They all giggled again.
"Why have most of these been sexual?" Said Axle, brave enough to say what I had been thinking and not go along with the sexual theme. I sunk a little into my skateboard. "Never have I ever been on an airplane," he said. They all groaned, alluding that he was utterly lame. Omar drank and I put down my finger. No one else did anything.
"Really," Omar asked. "None of you have been on an airplane?"
"Hashtag Rez life," said Olivia, with a cheeky smile.
Omar cleared his throat. "I'll go. Never have I ever gotten a tattoo. Theo and Will drank, then smiled proudly. Theo lifted his sleeve to show off a circular tattoo of a wolf. My eyes narrowed as I looked at it in surprise.
"Our mom and Uncle Seth have that tattoo." I said softly. "You don't say," said Will, sliding Ava from his lap so he could stand up. As if he was at a body builder competition at the beach, he took off his whole shirt and started to flex his muscles showcasing the tattoo. My eyes bulged at the sight and they all howled in laughter. Omar seemed confused.
"Tribal heritage thing," said Will, giving a flashy smile as us.
"Show off," said Leo, flinging an empty beer bottle at his brother.
He swatted it away, and then looked at Theo and said, "Shit. Paul and Seth are coming in. Hide it!" As he threw his shirt back on. They threw the beer cans under a sofa.
"How do you…" started Omar, but he was interrupted by a husky voice directed at Will and Theo.
"Don't even bother," said a massive muscle man, maybe 3 or 4 inches taller than uncle Seth. "I heard your whole stupid game. You two dipshits can't get drunk…" He stopped himself and looked at Omar and I. Uncle Seth was scowling at us behind him.
"I didn't drink!" I said, putting my hands up. He looked at Omar, who gulped. Uncle Seth saw a half full beer can next to Omar. He scratched his head and then offered a bribe to benefit both of them.
"I won't tell your mom, Omar, if you agree to babysit three times a week while you're here."
"Twice a week," he negotiated.
"Done," said Seth, adjusting as he stood. "Come outside with me Omar, I need you to help me lift some stuff in the garage," he followed Uncle Seth and the giant muscle man outside. Paul shot Theo and Will a look and they followed.
"Let's go get some food," said Ava and most of the others filed out after her. Before I could get up, Leo turned to me.
"So, tell me more about skateboarding," he asked, genuinely seeming interested.
"Oh," I said. "Well, it's just something I do to get around back home. There was a little silence. He curled his lips at me, seemingly wanting me to continue. "You have to wait for the bus, you have to lock up your bikes. But it's just easy to get around on a skateboard." He rested up against a wall, getting comfortable. "And I guess the more I did it, the better I got at it, so I started with some tricks and stuff." He ran a hand through the locks of his hair and licked his lips. "I'm not a pro or anything, but I like it a lot. I'm pretty good at getting around on it."
"That's so hot," he said, not concealing his feelings, "show me sometime?" I blushed and stretched out my legs in front of me, smoothing my skirt down.
"Ugh, sure," I say, hardly able to look up and look him in the eyes, which have become glistening pools. He inched closer to me and grazed my hand with his. Tingles went through my body. And then I froze.
"Um. Leo. I have to pee," I said, lying. I popped up looking at him down on the ground still, a combination of surprised and disappointed. "If you'll just excuse me," I said, sounding like my grandma.
He swung up quickly. "Yeah, sure Akeala, sure thing," he recovered, still smiling.
I head upstairs and splash water on my face in the hall power room, fully messing up my makeup.
Fucki me, I tell myself. Super hot junior muscle man makes the moves on you and you chicken out. Of course! I take a deep breath and take some make up out of my fanny pack and try to reapply.
The backdoor winds shut. "There's someone here," says Uncle Seth.
"You don't think I fucking know that?" said the angry giant muscle man, I think Paul is his name?
"Olivia Uley is taking a piss and she knows anyway." Oh, Shit. Knows what?
Uncle Seth sighs. "So, what do you think?" He brings his voice incredibly low. I can still make out what he is saying, just barely. "Is he about to phase?" There is that word again. Phase. What are they talking about?
"Possibly, he's not as big as Will and Theo were. Just watch him, ok? Or, I can," he pushes. "Your sister is still as hot as ever," Eww. gross. Muscle man likes mom?
"Shut up Paul, I got it. Okay?" He sounds more like a teenage caveman, then the adult I know. Why is he acting so strange? Then he said slowly, "why is Olivia's heart racing?"
The giant muscle man walked over and knocked on the door. "Olivia? Are you okay?"
Fuck me. I thought quickly and pulled out my phone and flipped on a makeup tutorial with the volume off. I went back to putting the makeup on, purposely messing some up around my eyebrow, so they'd see it. The knock was louder. This time I heard Uncle Seth's voice. "Can you open the door now?" I steadied myself and complied, slowly opening the door.
"Oh, hey, Uncle Seth. Sorry I was trying to do this makeup thing I saw on YouTube and …I Uh, messed up. Sorry, I didn't hear you. I was really focused on this."
They looked at me incredulously.
They're acting like cavemen. I told myself, Go for the sexist stereotype. I stammered on.
"There was just this really nice boy downstairs," I said looking at the floor. I just wanted to look nice… I was just really trying to focus on how to do this…" my eyes made their way back up to them and they both seemed more relaxed, with smirks in their faces.
"Theo or Will?" Asked the giant muscle man. I shook my head.
"Uhh…Leo. Please don't say anything." Ugh. I thought. I sound ridiculous. Way over the top and I am totally digging a whole for myself.
Big muscle man was now completely disinterested, shot Uncle Seth a look and left. Mission accomplished? Uncle Seth smiled at me.
"He's a super nice guy, Keal. I think 16. Perfect age for you. But you're beautiful, you don't need any of this junk," he smiled kindly, gesturing at my makeup. "Aunt Alex has some makeup remover upstairs in the hall closet."
"Oh, thanks Uncle Seth," I said breathing a sigh of relief, but for a different reason than he believed, I hoped.
A/N: What do you think? Should We find out how the convo with Leah and Sam/Emily went next?
