A/N: Hey everyone, let me know what you think! I hope you're enjoying the story so far...
I am jolted awake by a pillow being thrown to my head.
"What the hell?" I exclaim, and Four gets a pillow to the face as well.
I sit up and see Zeke standing across the room, eating an apple and holding another pillow.
Four rubs his eyes and sits up too.
"Alright you two lovebirds, get your asses up." He starts walking away, and I attempt to throw a pillow back at him. It hits the wall, but I succeed in waking myself up a bit.
I'm wearing the same shorts as yesterday, so I try not to flash Four when I get up. Still, I walk to the kitchen door where Zeke went, and I turn to see Four watching me.
When I walk into the kitchen, I am met with curious looks, smiles, and even raised eyebrows. The grirls are sitting on the counter, and the guys stand around the kitchen.
"Well, looks like somebody got cozy last night," says Shauna when I get over to the girls. I look over at the guys, who are in their own conversation, as Four walks up to them. He glances at me, but I immediately look away and clear my throat.
"Oh my gosh, you are so into him," says Marlene. Christina adds, "no question."
Great. Now all of them know. "It was just to save space and get some comfortable sleep. Not my fault everyone pushed so close we couldn't breathe," I kinda snap.
"Mhmm, comfortable," Christina teases. I try to hide my smile.
"Well me and Four, it's not going anywhere so can we please talk about something else."
They look at each other, but decide to drop it.
"Oh I know, let's cool off in the pool! It's pretty hot today," proposes Shauna.
I didn't know Zeke and Uriah had a pool. Then again, I've never been to their house before. I notice it's similar to Tori's, but bigger house, less land.
"What about bathing suits?" I ask.
Marlene speaks up, "I keep some in Uri's room for days like this. And Shauna has some in Zeke's room."
"Hey guys, wanna go for a swim?" asks Christina, raising her voice so the guys can hear.
"Hey, sounds good, let's go get some suits on!" they all shout random things.
We go upstairs, and I immediately know I need one of Marlene's swimsuits. Shauna is way too tall and… busty for me to fit in any of her clothes.
After looking through Uri's closet, Marlene hands me a black bikini. I suddenly feel real uncomfortable at how revealing it is. I stare in the mirror at the bathing suit on my body. I should've known. Boobs too small to fit in Marlene's swimsuit.
"Stop staring and get your ass over here," says Christina oh so bluntly.
"This doesn't fit," I explain.
"It looks good on you! What are you talking about?"
I gulp audibly and turn towards her. She gives me a reassuring look, and I grab a cover-up that's also black, but sheer.
When all the girls are ready, we make our way downstairs. We get to the pool, with the guys sprawled out on lounge chairs.
And as per usual, my clumsiness has to get in the way of everything. While distracted by you know who, I trip over the edge of the pool, yelp a horrid sound that I really regret, and fall in.
When I come up they're all laughing at me, and I can't help but start laughing too. Although they don't know the embarrassing reason I fell, I still fell.
Soon after, Zeke, Will, and Shauna jump in. Four smiles at me, and jumps in soon after the others.
After playing tons of pool games and having an epic splash battle, we decide to have a chicken fight. I look around and of course all of the couples pair up, girls on top.
Four looks at me and smiles. "Come on, let's beat their asses," he whispers.
This puts me at ease and I laugh a little.
When he goes underwater, I try not to embarrass myself anymore and get on his shoulders. As he comes back up and I almost lose balance, he grabs my legs to keep me steady.
We both pause for a moment – the skin contact extremely close and sudden. He clears his throat, losens his grip, and we go to join the others.
We all laugh at Uriah failing to hold up Marlene, even though she's the second smallest in the group. You guessed it – I'm the smallest.
Funny because Four's kind of the biggest. Zeke is a bit more muscular (although Four is still very muscular), but Four's the tallest.
We all have fun and push each other and laugh our asses off.
In the end, when Four and I win, he gently puts me down when everyone goes crazy, and we yell in triumph. We jump and high five – well, I did because I'm short – and cheer while the others protest. I just laugh and get up and out of the pool.
I blush when I realize how dangerously close face was with my… butt.
I try not to think about it or I just might freak out.
I walk over to a chair and lie down. I put on some sunglasses and decide to tan for a bit while I dry.
Some time later, I catch a glisten in the corner of my eye. I look and see Four grilling up some hot dogs. I decide to go over, but not before Christina makes a snarky comment about me liking him.
Then there's Marlene's "Go get 'im tiger," earning an eye roll from both me and Shauna. They giggle and I just shake my head and go.
I open the patio screen door and go over to the barbecue. "Hey," I start.
"Hey," he replies with a smile.
"Mmmm, smells good," I stand next to him with my hands on my hips.
"Here," he says as he holds up a piece of hot dog right up to my face.
Out of instinct and because of the close proximity, I tilt my head up and he feeds it to me. "Oh my god," I say in the midst of chewing, "delicious."
He chuckles and stops watching me, and continues to cook. I smile and look down at the food. There really isn't much to say. Just being in his presence makes me content.
Out of the corner of my eye I see him look at me again. "What?" I smile bashfully.
"Nothing. Just that you look beautiful today."
This takes me by surprise and I look up at him in awe. His face is smirking, still looking down at the food.
He's really getting under my skin. Does he like me or not? I clear my throat and I don't really know how to respond.
After a moment of silence, I speak up. "Well the others are getting whiney, so come over when you're done with the food." I smile but it doesn't reach my eyes.
His face falls and I start towards the others. "Hey Tris, you ok?" he asks after I've taken about three steps.
"Mhmm," I respond, just wanting to get back to the patio.
When I do, I am bombarded with questions. "How'd it go?" "What'd he say?"
I look down, "he said I was beautiful."
They just stare out me with their mouths open. I know how it sounds, but I just feel uncomfortable. My heart is constantly inflating, deflating, inflating, deflating. Feelings always jumbled up. I wish I could just stop.
"Tris, that's great!" says Christina.
"But it makes no sense, he doesn't like me-"
"Well maybe he does, Tris."
Impossible. Not even considering it. I've had horrible experience with relationships. When a guy likes me. Four can't like me. Besides, what does he see in me?
I just walk inside and wash my face. It feels very hot not only because of my tomato red face, but also the weather today. The sun is beating down and this city girl is used to a working AC system.
Marlene comes into the kitchen while I'm drying my face off. "Everything ok, Tris?" she asks in a quiet, mellow voice, as if she's afraid I'll start crying or something.
I lean against the kitchen counter. Then I actually do feel like I'm gonna cry. "It's just… it's not that I don't like him, because I do. I really do," I pause and take a deep breath. "I've had bad experience with relationships. I don't wanna get hurt again, Mar."
I just am always in denial and overly cautious, and she obviously sees that this is a touchy subject. She comes over to me and hugs me. She's a bit taller, so I put my face in her shoulder.
I sniffle, and see Christina and Shauna at the patio door. It seems they were listening, and they join in on the hug.
"Well take it from us, Tris. Four is a really good guy, and he is the opposite of a heartbreaker," says Shauna.
Christina adds, "Unless he doesn't like the girl, and that's when girls throw themselves at him. And wear a crap ton of makeup. Honestly, it annoys the hell out of us too."
"Hey Tris, he likes you," says Marlene. "To us who have known him for a while, it's pretty damn obvious. And you make him smile – which has been rare since the thing with his dad."
I sniffle and they release the hug. I smile, "I suppose you're right. At least he won't be like a certain guy I used to know."
I wipe my face again and start towards the patio. "But he doesn't like me," I say as I smile and look back at the girls. They sigh and protest, but I'm already gone.
I start to set the patio table, just some plates and napkins. Four brings the food over, and I try not to act like an idiot. I smile and help put them in the middle of the table. We all sit and enjoy possibly the best hot dogs I've ever had. Ever.
A/N: Now I'm craving some hot dogs. Anyone? No? kay. Next chapter will be up at some point. Apologies for my irregular schedule!