Sticks and Stones

Chapter 9

"You coming or what?" Cole's voice was smug as he watched me struggle into the icy water. I sucked in a sharp breath as the sea wicked up through the fabric of my boxers, soaking me before I was ready.

"It's kind of cold, asshat!" I grumbled under my breath as the water level rose past my waist. Cole was still a few yards away looking as happy as ever. His black locks were now plastered back in admittedly sexy disarray and the sun glinted brightly off of the water running down his chest. He bobbed with the rolling waves, sometimes ducking under one only to pop up again a few moments later. The boy was a bloody fish! No wonder he was going to try out for the swim team. I'd bet he had a pair of gills hidden somewhere on that deliciously muscular body of his.

"Come on, Princess. Just go for it!" Cole's voice held vibrant laughter as he watched me struggle to keep my head dry in the breaking waves. I scowled at him for a second before glancing back at shore. It wasn't too late to reconsider. Even in soaked boxers the beach would be warmer than this damn water. When I looked back toward Cole, mouth opening to tell him I was done, I found he wasn't there.

"Cole?" I waited for him to surface like he always had before but after a few moments I had yet to see the familiar head burst from the surf.

"Cole!" There was still no sign of him, no cocky smirk flashing from under dripping black locks as he surfaced. The water was as still as the ocean ever was with rolling, unbroken waves. I could feel my heart creep into my throat as the panic sank its greedy claws into my chest. What if he was hurt? What if a wave had pulled him out while my back was turned and I was too tuned out to hear him? Heart racing I surged out towards deeper water, peering into the now sinister depths.

"Ambush!" Out of nowhere a million pounds of soaking wet swimmer landed on my back, dragging me down under the surface. Salty, gritty water rushed into my unprepared nose and throat. Frantically I clawed towards fresh air, managing to climb up Cole's body in the process.

"Cole... you... dickhead!" I sputtered out between mouthfuls of ocean, still clinging to him for dear life. I hoped my glare was as baleful as it looked in my mind but I doubted it. I felt like a half drowned rat and no doubt looked just like one too.

"First you scare me half to death and then you try and drown me!"

"Aww were you worried about me?" Cole's voice was the very definition of cocky bastard, just the right balance of egotism, confidence, and smugness to make anyone want to smack him. Heat surged into my face, my ears burning a scalding red. I hadn't meant to say the first part out loud. Damn mouth thinking faster than my brain.

"Um yeah... I don't know how to drive your bike!" I finished lamely and I swore I saw his face fall for a moment before regaining its teasing smirk. But that wouldn't make any sense because Cole didn't like me. He said so himself. But then why did he ask me to skip with him? He probably just needed the company and I'm the only guy he knows. But what if-

"Earth to Ben, NASA wants its space ship back."

"Sorry." I grinned sheepishly at him when I realized I was still wrapped around his admittedly delicious torso. I dragged a hand through my damp blond locks and and tried to step away, only to find his hands clasped firmly behind my lower back.

"Ben..." I peered up at him, waiting and hoping for... Well I don't really know what. His mouth opened and then closed like he had censored his thoughts before they had even finished.

"I have to get back for my tryout." Cole finally said, not meeting my gaze as he dropped his arms from around me. I found myself missing the warm strength that I hadn't noticed until they were gone. When we reached shore I realized that the ride home would suck if both my pants and shirt were totally soaked through, not to mention the sand I'd managed to collect in oh so unpleasant places.

"Don't you dare look!" I gave Cole my most threatening death glare before turning around and stripping off my wet boxers to pull on my delightfully dry jeans. Grimacing slightly as the rough fabric slid over some more sensitive areas, I managed to get them on without a, falling over, and b, getting even more sand onto my person.

"Ok, I'm decent!"

"You're a hell of a lot better than that." My cheeks burned with a mixture of anger and embarassement as I glare at him. I couldn't tell if the fire lighting my face was more from the idea of him watching me change or the way his gaze held the faintest flicker of... lust?

"I said not to look!" I growled.

"Quiet princess, I've got an ass just like yours. Hotter actually, since it's mine." His previous expression vanished as his eyes gleamed with that cockiness that was becoming all too familiar.

"Don't you have a damn try-out to go to?" I shoved past Cole and started to pick my way though the rocky edge of the beach into the wooded path. A strong hand caught mine and I turned to find Cole's face meer inches from mine.

"You'll come to watch them right?" I swallowed hard and nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He had that look again, like he wanted to say something, but wouldn't.

"Good. I need someone to witness my total domination." And just like that the smug grin found its way back into his lips as he pushed by me to get to his bike. I shook my head and followed. How was it that this boy had such a hold on me already? He didn't even like me. One minute his eyes were clouded by something that could almost be mistaken for attraction and the next he seemed not to care for anything. Cole's mood swings were begining to give me whiplash. As I snuggled into the warm wall of his back I could only pray that my crush would pass soon, because Cole Delvin was made of fire and I couldn't afford to get burned.

*Author's Note*

I know this is short but it's like literally 1 am and I'm exhuasted. Hope this update finds all of you guys well. If you stuck with this story then you have my eternal gratitude. I owe you all *hugs*

Yours, Cameron