- Krys?
- Yes?
- You think you'll be able to sleep? Asked Gold.
- Today yes, I hope so, if I can't under those conditions, I'll never be able to.
- Mmh.
- Gold?
- What?
- Stay?
- As long as you want me, he answered while burying his face in her hair.
They had escaped the room quietly to the kitchen to eat, then went back to their room and laid down in the double bed while the night died away. He felt her calm down quickly, and kept his arm around her while she traced her fingers lazily down his back's skin, her other hand resting on his chest. He hesitated to put on a t-shirt, but finally decided on staying bare chested, as he remembered that Crystal made him really hot the night they spent together some days ago.
Like that night, he didn't really sleep, dozing off a few minutes, waking up often to check if she slept well. Each time she woke up, he was awake, reassuring her by letting some space between them or pulling her closer depending on what she needed. When she couldn't go back to sleep, he spent more than an hour talking, telling her about card games he played, his first billiards games, the first time he touched a video game. She ended up falling asleep again, and Gold followed suit. They got woken up in the middle of the day by a message on the boy's phone, asking if she felt ready to join them for movies in the living room. He hesitated a long time before asking her. She didn't really answered, and simply slipped her hand in his, then squeezed it. He locked himself in the toilet for less than a minute to change, and got surprised to see her dressed with his red parka, the one she wore last time at the party, and he found himself thinking it suited her perfectly, like an extension of himself to protect her. He put on his cap while she finished tying her hair in her usual pigtails and, after they picked up both phones, he unlocked the door, taking her hand and going outside of the room.
They found their friends in the living room, on a gigantic sofa with big popcorn bowls in front of them, soda and juice bottles on the table. Gold and Krystal sat at the end of the sofa next to Blue, and she smiled at them before going back to the movie about a super-computer inventor. He extended his arm and grabbed a bowl, putting it on his protegee's knees without letting go of her hand. Not that he could have, with the way she was squeezing it. They watched the end of the movie together, then Blue got up as soon as the end credits began, standing in front of Krystal.
- How are you?
- ...better. Unpanicked. But... Don't know if I can go... outside... yet... answered Krystal while lowering her head in the parka.
- That's not urgent right now. At least you could get out of the room. We'll try to go outside of the house this evening, in the garden, alright?
Krystal nodded, squeezing Gold's hand. Blue opened her eyes wide seeing her move, and met the boy's look, curious. He blushed a little and looked away, without letting go of Krystal. He felt he would get through a long and painful interview as soon as the victim would be far enough from him, and wasn't eager for it. They voted for another movie, and Gold took off his shoes, sitting completely in the back of the sofa. Krystal took the opportunity to move, and shifted right between his legs, her back leaning on his chest. He put his chin on her shoulder, and slipped his arms around her belly, securing her position. This time, it was Red and Ruby who looked at them with surprised looks, but Krystal didn't see them, and Gold decided to ignore their stare. Stomach full of popcorn and juice, he shifted more comfortably around the girl and fell asleep right away, not even seeing which movie they chose to watch.
He sleeped through two movies in a row, waking up only to recognize the credits of Tron Legacy. He felt Krystal shift against him and bent on the side to watch her. She seemed really uneasy, and she stood up right away when she saw he was awake, taking his hand and pulling him up under their friends' surprised look. He sighed when he saw she was running for the toilets, and she ordered him to stay in front of the door while she locked herself with a relieved sigh.
- You shouldn't have forced yourself to wait that long you know, we could have gone earlier, stated Gold with a smile.
- I didn't want to wake you up, she answered through the door. You were sleeping so well.
- Hum, I might have been lacking sleep.
- You could have slept last night.
- No, I wanted to be ready to react if you needed me.
She didn't answer, and he sighed as he slipped his hands in his shorts' pockets. The door opened, and she washed her hands before slipping one in his, mumbling a "thanks".
- Can I go too? Asked Gold pointing to the door.
- Be quick then, they'll start asking questions...
- If you're beginning to think about others' opinions, I suppose you're feeling better.
Krystal answered with a growl and slipped her hands in the kangaroo pocket of the parka. He wondered if she wasn't hot in long sleeves right in the middle of August, but she seemed to need to cover up. He got out less than a minute after, but she was still relieved to see him out, grabbing his arm like she was going to fall.
- You're sure you want to go back?
- Their presence doesn't bother me, she answered while shaking her head.
He looked at her determined look, and they went back to the living room. Their friends had stopped watching movies and were doing blind tests on the TV, Gold noticed more people than before, their kouhai were back from their class trip and were sitting with the others. He asked furtively to Krystal if they were there when they first arrived, and she nodded, a mocking gleam in her eyes. Rakustu was arguing with Black to choose the theme of the next test, Green seemed ready to go somewhere with Red, Ruby and Pearl, then Hecks, Diamond and Platina were coming back from the kitchen with large bowls filled with crisps and crackers. Yellow turned her head and smiled to Krystal, who waved at her with her free hand. Blue and Sapphire beckoned to her, and she pulled Gold with her, not letting go of his hand. Faitsu and Whai litteraly bugged on their joined hands, while Sun and Selene were coming back from outside, transporting bags with beverages. Blue giggled when she saw Gold and Krystal holding hands, and before Yellow could do anything to prevent her from doing so, she walked to the boy.
- Say, you're inside right now, you could let her go, don't you think?
Gold didn't answer and asked Krystal with a look. Her eyes went from the girls to their hands, and from their hands to the golden eyes as she was thinking. Then she stopped and stared into his eyes.
- Sorry, I can't for now.
- It's okay, don't worry about it, I ... I'll try not to listen, or talk with someone if you don't want me to overhear, answered Gold under Blue's astonished look.
- Wait. Wait wait wait. It's...
- It's Krystal who's holding onto him? Asked Sapphire, her namesake eyes nearly going out of their sockets.
Krystal nodded with an uncomfortable look, and Blue jumped to hold her tightly without a word, followed by Sapphire and Yellow. The other girls were smiling, and Platina gave a juice filled glass to Krystal who took it with a really thin smile, her hand clawed around Gold's. They finally sat on the sofa, and Diamond sat next to him, passing a crisps bolw, ending Black and Rakutsu's debate as he played a movie soundtrack blind test. Gold was pretty good in this category, and took upon himself to play at full capacity, almost yelling to answer before the others, while the girls began a whispering conversation next to him, making strange whistling noises and giggles he couldn't understand. Then, one of the girls had the idea to write on their common channel and they all went silent, typing to continue their conversation. Gold smiled as he saw Krystal writing with one hand easily, and went back to the game, almost missing an easy question.
After more than an hour of tests, Sun offered a swim in the pool, and Gold shouted like a kid, before remembering he wasn't completely alone and turned to Krystal.
- No I don't think so, maybe tomorrow.
- Oh. Okay then.
- But you can go, I'll just sit with my feet in the water.
- But you'll get wet, objected Gold.
- No, they'll be careful, smiled the girl. You need to relax, you're always running everywhere usually, and it's been 24 hours that I'm locking you inside.
- And I wouldn't trade my spot for anything in the world, replied the boy, without adding he would most certainly be the rowdier in the pool.
- Let's go, but you'll have to put on your swimsuit.
He nodded, and Gold challenged the others to be the last in the pool, before sprinting to their room. He changed in a flash, without closing the bathroom door, and took back Krystal's hand before running in the corridor as she ran faster than he thought she could. They were second at the pool, behind Sun and Selene already playing in the water as they had their swimsuits on already. Krystal sat on the edge of the stairs, sliding her bare feet on the cold water, and Gold entrusted her with his cap before walking around the pool and taking a few steps back. She didn't had time to ask what he was doing as he bomb-jumped in the middle of the pool, creating waves that made Faitsu yell, as she just got there a second earlier. He had calculated perfectly his landing spot, as Krystal didn't receive any droplets. Faitsu shouted against him, and Rakutsu jumped in to engage an aquatic fight with Gold. It went on for a few minutes, and no one was declared winner as the girls interrupted them to install a volleyball net. Gold swam to Krystal and straightened just enough so he could put his arms and chin on her knees. She giggled as she rummaged through his wet hair to make it unflat, and the petite blonde next to her blushed madly as she looked away. They didn't see her, and the boy had a bright smile as Krystal was styling his hair. He snatched her hand when she stopped, and brushed her fingers with his lips, as a really cliché kiss on the hand, while the others were making teams. He saw Yellow turn to Krystal with the corner of his eyes, and Green arrived with the others, loaded with towels they totally forgot to bring. They met them in the water, and while Red and Green were getting close to the net to take part in the match, Blue pulled Gold by his arm to interrogate him on the other side of the pool.
- So?
- So what?
- What did you do to her?
- I hope you're kidding, you really think I would do anything to Krystal after what she's been through? retorted Gold with an annoyed look, seeing the worry on Krystal's face on the other side.
- I don't know, you could have had the idea to comfort her a bit... Energically.
- Clearly not.
- It doesn't answer my question, did you do anything that isn't something you do between friends?
- It depends on your criteria, seeing your friendly relationship with Green...
- Gold!
- Alright, we kissed, there, happy?
- Who initiated ?
- WHAT?!?!
- Who initiated? Blue insisted.
- 't was her, you really think I'd take advantage ...?
- Hum, I was hoping you didn't, so I'm relieved that you're not a monster.
- Cool, what a trusting friend, grumbled Gold.
- Sorry, I had reasons to think that, seeing your past experiences...
- You know really well that I never went far, and rarely more than two weeks.
- Yeah, that's your... I don't know, player, bad boy, overly proud, violent, pervert side... it attracts them like flies at the beginning, I suppose they end up discovering that you won't change your behaviour for them. As you did for Krys.
- Right, I never really get what they wanted... what about Krys?
- You always stayed the same unruly boy with everyone, except with her.
- You're out of your mind...
- At the beginning, when we met her at work, she was getting on your nerves, you wouldn't stop getting at her, with each word she said, you would mumble about it all day and I'd never hear the end of it. Then when we went to high school at the same place, you began to get curious, and instead of provoking her purposefully, you just sat there silently, behaving nicely when she wasn't far, it was really fun to watch, laughed Blue.
- Alright, got it, I haven't been really discreet, that's what you telling me? Growled Gold while blushing.
- Oh yes you've been, changes weren't that obvious, I'm the only one who knows.
- So what?
- You're serious about it?
- Of course. Can I go now?
Blue let him go with a satisfied smile, and he plunged under the net, around the players underwater to go to Krystal. Yellow had left to talk with Whai and Faitsu on a chaise longue, and Krystal was splashing her feet on the water, playing with it. She stood on the first step of the pool as she saw him coming, curious, and took a step further as he stood to breathe. He saw her slip nearly in slow motion, trying to stabilize, then tilt towards him as he rushed to catch her. She fell on him, her hands grabbing his shoulders with a small shriek as he held her by her waist.
- You okay? Asked Gold, worried.
- Yes, I... I just... Slipped...
Her gaze fell on him, he could almost see her analyze each square centimeter of his skin, oblivious to the blush creeping on her cheeks. She slipped a hand on his arm, following his skin to his wrist slowly, and seemed to struggle to stop staring at his abs, before shifting her gaze to his face. Her stare was burning in his eyes, and he gulped hardly as she lifted her hand to slip her fingers through his wet hair. A splashing noise made her go back to reality, and Krystal stuttered before getting out of the pool without letting go of him. She shook himself mentally. Krystal couldn't have looked at him that way, like they were alone and she planned to devour him. She pulled him to a chaise longue and handed him a towel, her cheeks still red. He dried himself without a word, erasing the water drops that seemed to disturb her. He kept it around his neck and closed his eyes as he sat, trying to empty his mind. He felt something hot lean against his back, and opened his eyes, turning his head to see Krystal sitting with her back against his. He smiled and pushed her head with the back of his.
- Hey, your head's too heavy!
- That's Blue's fault, whined Gold.
- What did she say? It seemed serious from afar.
- She accused me wrongly, and almost didn't believe me when I told her the truth.
- Not like I didn't told my version, whispered Krystal.
- We don't have the same ?
- I... We should have the same, more or less, in the facts, except if one of us did something while the other was sleeping.
- That's not really my thing, smirked Gold.
- Neither mine, so the only difference might be in the feelings...
- In fact, said Gold after a few seconds of silence, we should come back to the pool later.
- Just the two of us? Asked Krystal with a slightly higher voice.
- Why not. At least no one would see you, you could swim without worrying.
- But, you...
- I'm not able to see in the dark yet, and the lights aren't automatic. It didn't make you want to swim, this pool?
- Indeed... but really late, I want to be sure everyone is sleeping, whispered the girl.
- No prob, we can even go late enough to see the sunrise before going back inside.
- I got a feeling that you're going to disrupt all my sleep rythm, but at least you help me sleep, so I'm not going to spit in the milk. But I'm not sure I have...
- What ?
- No, it's nothing, I'll check that when we go back to the room, at worst I'll improvise.
- Great, a date under the stars, whispered Gold with a big smile.
Krystal gave him a small hit, but didn't answer. Blue sat next to her, and decided to pick on Yellow and Red, sitting in front of them. Making them uneasy was her favourite activity, and Gold sighed as he picked up on Pearl, Diamond and Hecks' conversation, commenting on the pool jousting between Sapphire on Ruby and Selene on Sun. The match was unfair, as the islander's calm energy couldn't cope with the animal wilderness of Sapphire, even with the inverted difference between their respective supports. Moreover, Ruby seemed overly conscious of the contact between his skin and Sapphire's, whereas Sun and Selene couldn't be more indifferents. Sapphire ended up drowning Selene, making Sun drown with her as well. Pearl and Gold, who bet on Sapphire, ordered drinks to Diamond and Hecks, whose wager was to bring something to the winners. Gold ordered two glasses of water, but Pearl made them growl as he ordered a complicated cocktail without alcohol. They came back a few minutes later, and Gold slipped one glass to Krystal without a word. She took it with her left hand, and slipped her right hand behind her, against his wet shorts. He put his hand on hers, and she laced her fingers with his, entertwining. They lost their concentration for a few seconds, noticing it was their first time holding hands like that. Gold tried to resist to the smile creeping on his face, and moved slowly his thumb on the back of her hand before going back to his conversation.