i know // jeremiah fisher

XXVI - Ooey Gooey

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SHOVED ICE CREAM IN MY FACE!" I shout at Jeremiah.

We're driving home, the car is pretty much the only place wee can be ourselves without getting caught.

"It was a joke!" He argues.

"NOT A FUNNY ONE!"

"Belly seemed to like it." He shrugs smugly.

"You know what else Belly would've liked?" I pause, "A GUY WHO JUST SHARES HIS ICE CREAM!"

"Cry about it." He laughs and turns the radio up.

I huff and stare out my window, silent for the rest of the drive.

***

When we get home I go up to my room and change into a swim suit.

It feels like a 'swim in the pool' afternoon.

I dip my foot into the water before walking down the steps. The water felt just right with a tingle of cold.

I submerge my head under the water and open my eyes, the blue of the pool in all directions.

I swim slightly to one side, just thinking.

Say what you want, opening your eyes in the water without goggles. Just being in the moment, it's surreal.

I bring my head back above the water and take a breath, my hair is slicked back since it got soaked, but there's one piece in the front that didn't follow the trend.

"What's going on with you and Jere?" Steven accuses.

I turn around to face the voice, "What?"

"You heard me. What's up with you two?" He asks.

"What do you mean?" I act like I have no idea what he's talking about.

"I brushed dancing off the other day at the rehearsal, but him picking you up from brunch and getting ice cream on the dock? You guys can't stand each other. You wouldn't willingly hang out." He says.

"Shayla and Belly reported to you?" I laugh.

He crosses his arms waiting for me to answer.

"I didn't realize it would be the talk of the town if we hung out." I say.

He raises his eyebrows, getting more impatient.

"He's not as bad as I thought... I guess." I say shyly.

"No."

"What?"

"I said, no." He says. "Absolutely not. I'm cutting you guys off, this isn't going any further."

"What isn't?" I ask.

"You two, being all, ooey gooey." He waves his hands.

"'Ooey gooey?" I ask.

"Yes! Stop it! No dating him!" He points his finger.

"That's what this is about?" I laugh. "We aren't dating, trust me."

He glares like he doesn't believe it.

"I swear! We're just getting to know each other since realizing the other one isn't as terrible as we thought."

"Sure," He points his fingers at his eyes and then at me saying 'I'm watching you' without words.

I put my hands up in surrender and slowly slip back under the water.