The "Enemy"

Chapter 15

As we entered the pool I stayed back behind the boys. I knew I had a good body and all, but that didn't mean I wasn't insecure. I don't like it when people stare at me, especially boys. It puts many nerves and stirs up unwanted emotions. Everything gets mixed up.

I saw Ham cannonball and splash a bunch of tall and slim girls. No not girls these were ladies. The kind of people that you would respect above most and the fact that Ham had the nerve to get water on them while they were tanning their delicate skin.

I led my way over to where the tables were. I set my stuff down with the rest and started to take off my over sized shirt. With it halfway up my torso I caught sight of Philips. I was forced to call him anything but his first name now. We met gazes and he looked me up and down. Making his way back to my eyes we had a mini staring contest, but it wasn't intense or mad. It was like we longed for something. There was something there that we had missed and had the desire to reach out for the magnet and wrap our fingers around it to never let it go. I however took the decision to let that something go. I looked away and down to my feet. I took my shirt completely off and threw it next to my other stuff. I looked back up and around to the pool when he was there again. This time closer. We were about 5 feet away.

"Nice shirt you got there. Where'd you get it?" I was confused at first. Out of all things he talks about my shirt? I looked back over to my shirt to see what was so significant. That was the moment. The dreaded moment. I had just realized this now. In public with the boys and Philips. My shirt wasn't really my shirt. It was Philips. Of course. I remembered him leaving it at my house from one of the many times he stayed over. He basically always had at least two outfits at my house. Same as his, but I had his whole closet to choose from. I felt the awkward silence between us. Although around us it wasn't silent, I could feel this silence.

I turned back around, let out a breathy laugh and walked over to the side of the pool. Without looking back I saw Benny's face of concern and jumped in to wash all my sins away. I stayed under a little too long to where my breath hitched a little signaling to head back up. I decided instead to swim over to a tan leg. I could only assume it was Benny's and grab a hold. Pulling the person into the water Benny and I slipped into eye contact. This eye contact though was more rigid and I could feel myself holding up a barrier, like most times. My lungs had started to shake and to tighten in my chest. Soon enough I would take in a reluctant breath of air, but it wouldn't be air, but water. I took the chance and shot straight up out of the water. Gasping for the much needed air I kept taking in short and choppy breaths. When Benny came up he realized and pulled me into a hug. It was tight and I tensed at his movement. He must have noticed and backed off back to the boys. He never said anything. Surprisingly. He had seemed to be studying my encounter with Philips very closely.

Finally catching my breath it didn't last long when I saw Squints jump into the deep end. I had obviously missed something major because last I knew Squints couldn't swim. I was the first to make a move and started heading his way when Wendy, the lifeguard jumped off in front of me. I was constricted from getting to the little man drowning. I instead followed everyone out of the pool to the deck where we waited for the lifeguard to bring him back up to safety.

Watching the lady with perfect red lipstick and hourglass body hand Squints to the male lifeguard was intense. At least this was because we couldn't see any movements from him. Laying him down Wendy had given him a few CPR movements. I looked back to the smiling Squints that rested his head again and when Wendy came back down he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her right on the lips. She and I were disgusted. I walked out before they could get kicked out. I had no part in this. I walked back to my towel and Philips shirt. Drying off the most I can seemed to be a struggle, but I managed and slipped the comfortable shirt back on. As I said it was considerably big for my body frame. I did rock the look though. I could tell when I saw Philips basically drooling from where he was across the pool. I gave him a little wave as most girls did and he had a giddy grin on his face. I let out a little laugh and rolled my eyes playfully. The most important part and hardest part of the bet was going to be staying away from him. It was as if my whole body, heart, and mind was set on keeping us together. Whether in a friend or foe kind of way it just seemed to pull us together. Right and left I saw him or something that made my mind race back to the beautiful blonde. Beautiful? What is wrong with me!

Seemingly lost in my thoughts I walked back home and up to my room. I took the time to take a shower and get into some comfy clothes. I was really trying to distance myself from Philips, so I had put on some sweatpants and a baseball tee that was cut off a little below my belly button. It was my shirt that my previous girl friend cut. I had a few. It was my first and last one. She always believed in women belonging in the kitchen. I always remembered that where the kitchen is is where the knives are. It made me snicker. I headed back downstairs and into the kitchen when I started to smell a great combination of homemade baked mac and cheese and cheesy green beans. One of my favorites of my mom's. It was a recipe we made together. Top secret. She looked back at me with a smirk and I smirked back.

I yelled up to Scottie that dinner was ready and to my surprise not only did he come down the stairs, but so did Benny, Ham, and Yeah Yeah. We made out greetings and sat down at the table.

"Where are the rest of the guys?" They looked up with their mouths full. Yeah Yeah was the first to finish his bite.

"Well Bertram, Timmy and Tommy, and Kenny didn't want to come. Squints is still swooning over his kiss with Wendy and well we are here." I let out a small giggle at the Squints part and shook my head with understanding to the rest.

We continued to eat a little here and there. Mostly about baseball or when Squints balls dropped for him to that stunt. My blood boiled a little bit beneath my smiley facade, but a little part of me had some respect that the man went after what he wanted and how he did it. Although a few other ways could have been better. I hadn't thought of Philips all night until we all crashed watching baseball in the living room.

Yeah Yeah was wrapped around Scotty and Ham had basically his whole lower body on top of them. Benny and I made a small bed kinda thing on the group in front of the couch to sleep. It was the winning hit when my heavy eyes hit the darkness.

My dream was full of Philip and his blue eyes that always seem to capture me and the warm embrace that just his shirt gives me. I had no idea why or what I had going on in my mind to think of only Phillips when I woke up in a tight embrace.

Philips? I turned my head around and saw Benny. He was sleeping so peacefully. I moved a piece of hair out of the way and kissed the top of his forehead. I always found Benny attractive. He was so nice and caring. I lightly caressed his cheek and he woke up. We didn't make eye contact and I wrapped myself tighter around him. My arm held him as he did me around the waist and my head against his chest. I was looking sideways at the wall when I fell asleep again. I this time dreamed of Benny. The mind did have a confusing way of expressing itself.

Anxiety rose inside me though when I realized that the warmth was gone and his eyes were different. A lie was caught. Jolting awake, I was still in his embrace, but it was cold now. I got up and left to make some breakfast. A little time away from that mess.