Speechless (GRETHAN)

Chapter 11: Fire and Water

Ethan Dolan

"Hey mom, I'm on my way to pick up Grayson.",I called out as I took my keys and tied the laces on my navy blue converse shoes. I nearly fell off the staircase since I had forgotten to lace my confounded sneakers.

"Grayson's coming over? Why didn't you tell me?",she snapped, running to me. "I would've taken the day off and spent time with you guys."

"Mom, he's my friend.",I replied, rolling my eyes at her. She further enquired about our arrangements for lunch and I simply stated that I'd order in.

Climbing into my car, I set off to Grayson's place. Being a Saturday, we decided to have a date at home—a 'stay-in-date' or 'indoor date'. I don't know what it's called but yeah. Dad was at work while mom was called in to her office to discuss the details of the case she's on, giving Grayson and me the clear to spend the day at home. It had been only a week since we had begun dating and things were looking bright. We kept the news to ourselves.

I was gay but closeted. I wasn't ready to break the news to my parents despite the fact that I knew I was gay since a few years. Grayson, on the other hand, had never disclosed his sexuality to anyone but me. The school just 'assumed' him to be gay because he couldn't speak—two distinctly opposite emotions that weren't even closely related. The school crowd was simply homophobic and thus, we stuck to a minimum hand-holding in public, giving us both the peace of mind. Grayson didn't mind this too; it made him happy when things didn't attract attention, giving us a backseat which I agreed to.

Quickly making my way to his apartment building, I ran up the stairs to his house. While I stood outside his door, I texted him.

To: Grayson❤️
'I'm outside, awaiting you.'

In an instant, he replied.

From: Grayson❤️
'Be right there!'

I stood, partially leaning against the wall when the apartment door opened, revealing Grayson in shorts and a singlet. He smiled at me as he shut the door lightly. I spread my arms open and he ran to me.

"I missed you.",I whispered as I pecked his soft and pink lips. He opened the Notes app on his phone.

'You saw me at school yesterday.' He passed me a playful frown.

Kissing his cheek once more because once was never enough, we walked to the car. He held my hand and I liked holding onto his as well. It made me feel happy.

"So you carrying your swim trunks, right?",I asked as I drove home. He nodded and waved the crumpled Target plastic bag in his hand.

"It's a good day to get in the pool." Grayson nodded. "My mom was wanting to spend the day home. She seems to have taken a fancy to you.",I laughed, nudging him with my elbow. He smiled and looked away. My guess would be, he was embarrassed.

As soon as we got home, we changed into our swim trunks and jumped into the pool like a bunch of kids. It was a hot and sunny day; just the perfect requirements to lounge around in the pool. I was the first to jump in and I splashed water around. Grayson was nervous and conscious about his body. While he slipped off his top and nearly placed it on one of the lounging chairs by the pool, I observed him in his blue swimming shorts. It was the first time I saw him without a top and boy, what a sight! Talk about fire and water!

He wasn't exactly toned, he wasn't muscly either but he was just perfect. His tanned skin and his fairly large biceps and that stomach with faint abs, he was just like a painting. His hunched shoulders and relaxed back muscles made me ogle at him. He signed 'Stop staring' while he got into the pool and I pretended that I didn't understand him. Of course, I did. I hadn't told him I was learning to sign because I wanted to surprise him one day when I would be good enough.