"Can you believe today's youth? Poor boy was just walking down the street." Jackson's mother smoothes his hair causing him to tilt away sighing.
I shift in my seat uncomfortable. Our usual vacation days making me restless. We all sat at the large table eating dinner and socializing. While I usually love these all I wanted was to be away.
"The way youth carries themselves is enough to make one sick." Quinn's father replies making Quinn cringe.
"As today's youth I would like to mention we aren't all evil." He stabs his salad rubbing his temple.
I smile kicking his shoe under the table. He looks up and I stick out my tongue contorting my face. Jackson laughs sticking his thumbs in his ears and sliding his tongue from side to side. Gatsby shakes his head.
"Yes, some of today's youth aren't evil at all or mature for that matter." He takes my spoon I had been balancing on my nose placing it back down.
"I am quite mature." I defend reclaiming my spoon ignoring him. He mutters something and we all sit as the parents continued speaking. It was all I could do not to start bouncing in my seat.
Quinn drums his fingers on the table and Jackson sits with his head in his hand.
"I do believe our youth is growing restless. Perhaps we should allow them to have fun elsewhere?" Gatsby's mother offers a kind smile. She was breathtakingly beautiful with long dark hair she always wore flowers in. She possessed this wonderful ability to sense distress or boredom.
"The young and the restless. Well, if you wish it." My father smiled motioning we could go. Mother chuckled as we all jumped from our seats over eager to go. With polite formalities and pushed in chairs we bolt to the backyard.
"The way youth carries themselves..." Quinn mimicked in a deep throaty voice rolling his eyes as we move to our old tree house.
Jackie runs down the hill jumping on the tire swing looking so young. He lets out a war cry spinning on the tire. I come behind him giving the swing a good push. Gatsby smiles leaning against the tree. Quinn takes my place giving a Jackson a hard shove sending him toppling down. Jackson stands and tackles Quinn. They wrestle rolling about in the grass. Gatsby reaches for my hand and we leave them to walk down the small river behind the house. He sits on the bank taking off his shoes and rolling up his pants legs. I join him picking some clovers and tie them together. He hugs his knees looking to me.
"'And all above, watch with glistening eyes the world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most likely places.'"
I nod placing the clover tiara on his head. He takes my hand kissing it. Wrapping his arm over my shoulder he holds me letting me breath in his scent.
Even though I wanted to pretend the vague threat that repulsive insignificant twat uttered didn't bother me, I couldn't help but feel it in the back of my mind. It gnawed away at my sense of security and churned in my head.
"What is troubling you?" Gatsby tossed a pebble into the water letting it skip. He looked to me watching as I bit my thumb nail in deep thought.
"Thoughts..." I say leaning back on my hands.
He takes my words into consideration nodding and throwing another pebble.
"What have you discovered?"
"Thoughts are troublesome things." I take a rock hurling it. The water swallows it whole with a loud splash. Gatsby runs his fingers over my collar bone cradling my head and lowering me to the ground. He kisses my lips softly cupping my face.
"Forget all those petty thoughts." He kisses the negativity away pinning me as his kisses travel down my neck. I extend my throat allowing his attentions.
"Ahem..."
I feel my face flush when I look up seeing upside down versions of Quinn and Jackson. Jackson's face was bright red and Quinn seemed both amused and annoyed. Gatsby laughs resting his nose on my neck before pulling me to my feet with him.
"Whatcha doing?" Jackson rocks on his heels making me roll my eyes.
"Playing a rousing game of hide and seek." Gatsby says watching as I step into the water swirling around in my skirt.
"I suppose we won." Jackson laughs while Quinn joins me.
"More like an arousing game." He sniggers. I kick water at him making a face. He laughs taking my hands as we push against each other seeing who would fall first.
"My bet is on Atti." Jackson told Gatz as they watched. Gatz tilted his head and nodded.
"Atti can take him."
Quinn and I stare each other down laughing as we try to shift our weight. He comes close pushing hard against me. I try to grind my feet into the sand, but it's so slick I near slip. Tossing my weight I am able to throw off his balance, but before he falls he grabs my waist letting me fall with him.
The water consumes us as we fall. I stand only to have the boys grab my legs and arms.
"No! Don't you dare!" I shout as they start counting to three. I thrash, but regardless of my struggles I am tossed into the water on three. The water drenched through my thin dress. I stand sending glares their way.
"Get her!" Gatsby shouts causing me to run the other way.
Jackie being the fastest grabs my waist. I twist from his grasp and give him a solid shove making him fall. He yanks my arm pulling me with him. Quinn and Gatsby laugh as I stand shaking the water out of my hair. Spotting Gatsby's dry clothes I charge and leap into his arms giving him a big hug. He held me tight spinning me around.
Jackson runs to Quinn mimicking my actions. Quinn caught him lifting him.
"I won't let go Jack!" He laughs before dropping Jackson. "Oops."
Jackson stands drenched and lunges for Quinn. They fall into the shallow water rolling about. Gatsby joins them putting Quinn in a headlock. I plop beside them tickling Gatsby's sides.
"Trader!" He declares releasing Quinn and dunking me underwater.
Our rough housing continues until the adults come down seeing the lot of us all sopping wet and a mess. My dress had become completely translucent now and undergarments quite visible. The mothers look slightly uncomfortable by my current state, but it was obvious the boys weren't paying much attention and I no longer cared. We stand in a line all grinning.
"He started it." Quinn points to Jackson who points to me which leads me to blame Gatsby. Gatsby scowls sending us all a glare and motions my way.
"Totally her fault."
The adults simply laugh and nod. They no longer questioned our antic, but ushered us in. Dinner went off without too many hiccups. Jackson and Quinn went to watch something on the television and Gatz and I went to the tree house.
We climbed into the small room with a few pillows and blankets. Not to mention books everywhere. He cracked a window and sat against the wall smiling.
"Remember the last time we were here alone?"
"I try not to." I laugh coming beside him snuggling up on his chest.
"Ouch..." He jabs my arm kissing the top of my head. He pulls out a flask from his pocket offering me some.
I open the cap taking a swig smiling when I recognize the flavor.
"Sparkling grape juice?" I roll my eyes taking another sip. He shrugs taking it and chugging a few gulps.
"Fine, no juice for you." He holds the flask out of my reach.
I lay against him holding his hand and survey the room. Closing my eyes I could remember it.
"You're perfect."
"I love you"
The feeling of him touching me for the first time. Clothes were unbuttoned clumsily in the cramped space. He kissed my neck and touched my skin cautiously.
"It's okay."
He nodded becoming braver holding my hand and pushed in.
"Am I hurting you?"
I shook my head thrusting my hips into his until they were flushed together.
A blur of sensations and muttering of words.
"I love you Atticus."
"What are you thinking about?" Gatz brushed my hair aside holding me close.
"Us..." I wrap my arms around his torso feeling his muscles under his shirt.
"Me too."
HI!
Sorry it's so short this time.
Demonbarber: Atti strikes me as a girl with vast knowledge, but also very dorky. I'm glad you liked the Shakespeare quotes. It was actually my intentions to have her seemed a little taken back by his comment so the fact you picked up on it makes me super excited because I worried it wouldn't translate right. I will openly admit I love writing romance for Atti and Gatz. They're just so cute!
TheWeasleyBoys: You have no idea how tempted I am to do that now….
Nova Sinfonia: Whoa, thank you so much for all the reviews. I'll try to respond in a semi-understandable manner.
Glad you like Red's style and Atti's personality.
Gunner and Red have an interesting relationship, but I feel it's because they have known each other a while.
Having Alex out of his element was something I really wanted to explore. He never struck me as a book worm.
I love writing for Jackie (he's such a doll). Make up is definitely a mask for Red.
Alex is and will always be a creep. Ten points for you for catching the moon reference! Not sure what Red would do, I don't think she would let anyone close enough to have the opportunity to hurt any of her boys.
You will find out in time.