168 Hours of Miles Fonte

Chapter 7: Monday

I ended up outside by the pool. It was too hot inside and my cheeks felt numb. The cool breeze and the heated pool were the perfect combination. Interrupting my bliss, two skinny girls burst through the door, giggling on the porch. I turned back to the water and splashed my feet. The girls whispered back and forth a bit until they went back to the party and left me alone.
I was completely content in sitting here listening to the bustling of people behind me. It was relaxing to know that there was so much going on around me but I could sit here and, instead of actually making my way through the crowd, I could imagine others shuffling inside.

The door opened again, this time it was Miles.
"Hey," His hands were in his pockets. "Are you mad at me or something?" He asked.
"...I don't know Mr. Marriage man." I said while I splashed my feet, they were probably pruned.
He rolled his eyes. "I'm not against marriage." He said, sitting down to the left of me.
"It sounded like it." I said.
"I mean, I don't see why you care?" He looked at me.
"Yeah, it's not really my place...you just sounded so selfish they way you said-"
"I did?" He asked.
I nodded. He didn't realize?
He thought, his eyes squinting. "I don't know, I guess it is selfish. I just won't be ready to give up my friendship with Brandon."
What? "Just because Kali and Brandon get married doesn't mean you won't stay friends." I offered. He just shrugged.
"They will have their own life, their own family-" He drifted off. Dipping his hand in the water.
"Well...you will be a part of that family." I added. He looked at me doubtful, but I explained. "I'm sure Brandon doesn't want to lose you either, so stay in touch. And who knows, maybe their kids will call you Uncle Miles." I teased him while nudging his arm.
He laughed at that thought. "Thanks." He said.
We sat there still. Of course the water was moving and the crowd was loud, but we both stayed quiet.

He broke the silence first, by splashing some water up at me.
"What was that for!?" I squealed.
"For not talking to me for a stupid reason." He grinned.
I, being the child I am, stuck out my tongue.
"Oh man, that really hurt." He laughed.
I looked down at my shirt; half of it wet and dark blue in awkward places, more obvious than I'd like it to be. A gust of wind blew through us and now my shirt was not only wet but freezing.
"Are you cold?" He asked.
"Hah, what do you expect when I'm drenched." I said sourly.
"You're not drenched, come on." He rolled his eyes.
"You're right." I said. "You're drenched" I exclaimed as I used all my strength to push him into the pool.
When he came up for air, tossing wet hair out of his face, he looked mad. Uh oh. I was about to apologize when he smiled.
"Oh, you're dead Miller."
He tried to grab my ankles but I wailed and kicked water in his face.
He let go of my foot suddenly. I stopped kicking.
"Miles? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, um, you kicked me in my eye." His hand was pressing on his right eye.
My eyes widened and my voice squeaked as I said, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I reached out to touch his eye when he grabbed my arm and yanked me in.

That moment, being completely submerged in the pool, I didn't feel cold anymore.  The warmth surrounded me, but once I used my legs to shoot out of the water though, my entire upper half was shaking.
"Sorry I had to." He said smiling. "April, you're shaking? It's a heated pool!"
I laughed through my chattering teeth. "I was caught off guard!"
"Hmm...I'll say." He smiled again, proud.
I pressed my lips together in an attempt to stop them from chattering. I looked up to Miles staring at them.
"What? Do my lips match my sweater?" I asked, grinning.
He didn't respond. I shifted in the water uncomfortably.
"I need a drink." He said, suddenly, jumping out of the water.
Huh? "You're gonna go into the party like that?" I asked.
He shrugged, like it was normal. Maybe here that was normal.
"Well...can you find towels?" I asked.
He spun around and snapped his fingers. "Good idea, Miller."
Then he dashed inside. Water dripping off of him.
I wondered, if that moment had gone on any longer, would it have played out how I imagined? Either way...he stopped it.
I watched him pass by the same two skinny girls from earlier. He must've said something funny because they giggled excessively.

The wind started to pick back up. I ducked under the water again, getting a short lived warmth. I swam back and forth for a while. I caught a glimpse of myself in the pool's reflective stair handrail and I almost gagged. My makeup was practically non-existent. A few of my shirt buttons had come undone. Also, wet hair never did me justice...do girls ever look good with wet hair? Probably Kali.

I went back under the water and I wiped off what was left of my "eyebrows" and mascara. When I came back up, those two girls were still standing by the door, they had stopped Miles. I kept my head barely out of the pool, one reason for warmth, and another because it felt safer to stay hidden. They literally "poked" fun at his wet clothes and he smiled politely. The one on the right playfully shoved him while the one on the left twirled her hair. I cringed because I had never seen anyone hardcore flirt like this, outside of movies. It was so obvious, so hard to watch. I looked at the sky.
The moon is gorgeous tonight, full and bright, with small clouds spaced between.

I looked back to the door and Miles was pointing over at me, both girls' eyes followed his finger. I awkwardly waved. One girl rolled her eyes at me. Miles leaned over to the other and she laughed at my face, which hurt surprisingly, I shifted in the water wondering what Miles could've said to make them react that way. It turns out I'd never know for sure.

"Get ready to be happy." Miles smiled, sitting down at the edge of the pool.
I leaned my arms on the side of the pool. "Hmm, were those girls willing to take off their own dry clothes and give them to you?" I asked snarkily.
"Ugh, I hope not." he smirked. "But..." he pulled out two towels from behind his back.
"Wow! You actually found some!" I pulled myself up and out of the pool.
"Mmhmm, and they're hot towels."
"No way!" It was true. I wrapped it around my shoulders and just sat in pure bliss. Mmm. "Well done, Fonte." I guess our last names could now be naturally thrown into conversation.
"You're an easy girl to please." He laughed. "I found them in Liam's parents room. They had a container full of them."
I laughed, "so you just went through his family's house."
"Hey I wasn't the first one in that room if you know what I mean."
"I do. Please stop talking."
He laughed.

It's the little things in life, that can sometimes seem the most special. Little did I know that I would look back on this night so many times in the future; reminiscing on a simple hot towel provided, and the company I had.

"I don't understand you." I admitted, looking over the glowing pool. "Sometimes you're so nice and considerate, then next thing you know you're being a total jerk." This I blurted out. I don't know what got into me, I was never that forward. Miles brings out the worst in me I guess.
"Woah now!" he said through a laugh.
He can't even take me seriously. "You're constantly making me second guess myself!" I looked at him.
"Girls love that." He said matter-of-factly and took a swig of Pepsi.
"See!" My voice high, he laughed again. "What's up with that?" I asked. When he didn't reply I said, "I guess it does keep me on my feet. But still...it's obnoxious."
"You have to admit though, I'm entertaining as hell." He said, laughing.
"Yeah, you are." I said through a smile. I could feel him looking at me but I kept my eyes focused on the pool.

We began to hear people chanting. It grew louder and louder until both porch doors swung open. I heard the skinny girls from the porch scream.
"Uh oh." Miles said.
"What's happening?" I asked.
I turned to see two guys, one being Tyler, holding each other's shoulders flailing around while the party followed them from the house outside till they got near the pool.
"Get up, get up!" Miles grabbed my hand and we rushed out of their way.
"What's wrong with them?" I asked.
We turned around just in time to see the guy that's not Tyler get thrown into the pool. They all cheered. Tyler did a flip into the pool anyway.
Miles brought my hand up with his to cheer along with them. He shook my wrist rigorously, almost spilling his Pepsi. When I did not comply he rolled his eyes and dropped our hands, clearly annoyed that the moment was ruined.
"This happens all the time, always involving Tyler." He explained.
I gave him a concerned look and he let go of my hand.
"It's a game...loosen up." He said.

All the commotion around us screeched to a halt when a girl with purpled hair shouted, "CLEAR OUT!! The cops are coming!!"

Uh oh.
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